JP2000159068A - Oversurface processing device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oversurface processing device for vehicle including a top brush, a guide rail supporting it, and a torque motor to make the elevation control of the top brush which thereby washes the vehicle body oversurface in such a way as tracing the oversurface in contact therewith through the rocking motion of the guide rail and the elevation control of the top brush, wherein the washing effect of the oversurface is enhanced by facilitating the return of the guide rail to the non-rocking position when the guide rail is rocked. SOLUTION: A returning means Re having a compression spring 64 is installed between a runner frame 1 and a guide rail 8 supported thereon swingably and furnished with a top brush 17 capable of elevation and exerts an upward directed force to the guide rail 8 so that the guide rail 8 can easily return to the non-rocking position N to heighten the brushing effect for the oversurface by the top brush 17.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a process in which an upper surface treatment body such as a top brush and a top buff supported by a frame and driven to rotate is brought into contact with and follows the upper surface of a vehicle body, and the upper surface is cleaned, polished and the like. And a vehicle upper surface processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a guide rail supported on a frame by a supporting member so as to be able to swing up and down around a lower end, an upper surface treatment body supported by the guide rail and capable of moving up and down along the guide rail, A return means for returning the guide rail to the non-oscillation position, and an elevating means for elevating and lowering the upper surface processing body. The upper surface processing body contacts and follows the upper surface of the vehicle body by swinging control of the guide rail and elevating control of the elevating means. A vehicle upper surface processing apparatus for processing the upper surface in such a manner is already known (see JP-A-8-99611).

In the above-described conventional vehicle upper surface processing apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, a guide rail 08 supported by a support shaft 07 so as to swing back and forth is returned to a non-swing position by a guide rail. It is constituted by a compression spring 035 _1, 035 ₂ having a substantially pair of horizontally installed between the 08 and the frame.

[0004]

However, when the return means is configured as in the above-described conventional vehicle upper surface processing apparatus, a pair of compression springs 035 ₁ , 03 constituting the return means are provided.
Since 5 ₂ is provided substantially horizontally, the rate of increase in the restoring force f of the guide rail 08 with respect to the increase of the swing angle θ of the guide rail 08 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 10, the swing angle θ It tends to decrease gradually with the increase. Therefore, the guide rail 08 swings from the non-oscillation position due to the increase in the force that the upper surface processing body 017 receives from the upper surface of the vehicle body, and then the force that the upper surface processing body 017 receives from the upper surface of the vehicle body decreases by the control of the lifting / lowering means. Therefore, when the guide rail 08 is returned to the non-oscillation position, the force for returning the guide rail 08 becomes small, and as a result, the return of the guide rail 08 becomes slow. There is a problem that the processing effect of the upper surface processing body 017 on the upper surface of the vehicle body is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a guide rail,
The return means effectively acts in a direction to cancel the moment around the support member of the guide rail due to the weight of the upper surface processing body or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle upper surface processing apparatus which improves the processing effect of the vehicle body upper surface.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a guide rail supported on a frame so as to be able to swing up and down with a lower end portion as a swing fulcrum, and the guide rail. An upper surface treatment body supported by a rail and capable of ascending and descending along the guide rail; return means for returning the guide rail to a non-oscillation position; and elevating means for elevating and lowering the upper surface treatment body; Movement and control of the elevating means, the upper surface processing body is brought into contact with and follows the upper surface of the vehicle body so as to process the upper surface. It is characterized in that it is an upward force applying means for applying a force, and according to this feature, the guide rail can easily return to the non-oscillation position, and the processing effect of the upper surface processing body on the upper surface of the vehicle body can be reduced. It can be greatly increased compared to the seed device.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the second aspect of the present invention, a guide rail supported on the frame so as to be able to swing up and down with a lower end portion as a swing fulcrum, and the guide rail supported by the guide rail An upper surface processing body that can move up and down along the axis, return means for returning the guide rail to a non-oscillation position, elevating means for raising and lowering the upper surface processing body, and swing detection means for detecting the swing of the guide rail; Control means for controlling the elevating means based on the detection of the swing detection means, wherein the upper surface processing body is configured to contact and follow the upper surface of the vehicle body to process the upper surface, wherein The return means is an upward force applying means for applying an upward force to the guide rail. According to such a feature, the same effect as that of the invention according to claim 1 is obtained. To.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the line of action of the upward force applied to the guide rail by the return means is the same as that of the first or second aspect. When the guide rail is at the non-swinging position, the guide rail passes through the swing center of the guide rail. According to such a feature, the same operation and effect as the invention of the first aspect are achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle top surface processing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the upward force applying means acts on the guide rail. It is characterized in that it has a tension member supported by the frame above the position where the upward force acts and pulls the guide rail. According to such a feature, the same operation and effect as the invention according to claim 1 can be obtained. .

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below based on the embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, description will be given of a first preferred embodiment when the present invention is applied to a so-called mobile car washer in which a frame is moved with respect to a vehicle to be processed. I do.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a mobile car washer equipped with the apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the car washer taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 5, FIG. 4 is a side view taken along line 4 in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a traveling frame 1 of a mobile car washer W is formed in a gate shape so that a vehicle V to be processed can pass through. _1, 1 ₁ of the front and back, a drive wheel 3, 3 and the driven wheels 4, 4 are respectively rotatably Jikuka, drive wheels 3, 3 supported by the left and right side frames 1 _1, 1 ₁ Are connected to the traveling motors 2 and 2 via a speed reduction transmission mechanism. The drive wheels 3, 3 and the driven wheels 4, 4 are rotatably mounted on traveling rails 5, 5 laid on an installation surface, and the traveling frame 1 rotates the traveling motors 2, 2 in forward and reverse directions. By driving, forced reciprocating traveling is possible.

The traveling frame 1 also has a gate
A guide frame 6 formed in a mold is provided. This guide
The frame 6 is a left and right side frame of the traveling frame 1
1₁, 1 ₁A pair of left and right guides extending vertically along
Rails 8, 8 and ceiling frame 1 of running frame 1_TwoTo
Extending in the left-right direction along the pair of guide rails
A connecting beam 9 that connects the upper ends of 8, 8 together in a bridge.
It is configured. Lower left and right of the guide frame 6,
A support member is provided below the pair of guide rails 8, 8.
Are fixed respectively. These supports
The shafts 7, 7 are supported by bearings P, P provided on the traveling frame 1.
Supported. Each bearing P has, as shown in FIG.
A V-shaped groove G is provided, and the support shaft 7 is rotated by the V-shaped groove G.
Rollably supported. Thereby, the guide frame 6
Can swing up and down in the running direction of the running frame 1.
Wear.

The coupling beam 9 is formed by a round pipe, and a synchronous shaft 11 is vertically passed through the inside thereof.
Both ends of the synchronous shaft 11 are connected to the pair of guide rails 8,
8 are rotatably supported by bearings 10 provided at the upper end.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 3, the pair of guide rails 8, 8 are formed by channel members having an open U-shape on their inner surfaces whose cross sections are opposed to each other. Guide plates 12, 12 extending in the vertical direction are fixed to the wall surface.

The pair of left and right guide rails 8 and 8
Paired left that is guided by
Right bogie C₁, C_TwoAre respectively provided. Right and left carriage
C₁, C _TwoAre both guide rails on the bogie bodies 15, 15.
Rollers 13, 13, 14 are provided, and one of the guide rollers
13 and 13 are inner walls of the guide plate 12 and the guide rail 8.
Surface and the other guide rail
The roller 14 is rotatably engaged with the inner wall surface of the guide rail 8.
The right and left bogie C₁, C_TwoAre each
Guided by left and right guide rails 8
Noh.

A top brush support shaft 16 extending across the guide rail 6 is fixedly supported on the left and right carriages C ₁ and C _2. The top brush support shaft 16 has a hollow top brush 17 to which a top brush 17 is attached. A rotating shaft 18 is rotatably inserted and supported. A driven sprocket 19 is fixed to one end (the right end in FIG. 1) of the rotating shaft 18. On the other hand, a supporting frame 15a is provided integrally with the bogie main body 15 of the bogie C ₂ (the right end in FIG. 1). The supporting frame 15a supports a rotation driving means of the top brush 17, that is, a motor 20. The driving sprocket 21 fixed to the driving shaft of the driven sprocket 20
Is connected to the motor 2 through an endless chain 22.
0, the top brush 17 is rotated by the rotating shaft 18.
It can be rotated forward and backward together with.

At the lower part of one guide rail 8 (right side in FIG. 1), a torque motor 23 with a speed reducer as an elevating means for synchronizing and driving the left and right carriages C ₁ and C ₂ is supported. The motor 23 is connected to voltage changing means VR provided on the front surface of the traveling frame 1. The driving shaft of the torque motor 23, driving sprocket 24 ₁ is secured. The other guide rail 8 (left side in FIG. 1)
At the bottom of the lower sprockets 24 ₂ is rotatably provided in the drive sprocket 24 ₁ of the same axis. On the other hand, both ends of the synchronization shaft 11, between the drive sprocket 24 ₁ and correspond to the lower sprockets 24 ₂ is secured is driven sprockets 25, 25, drive sprocket 24 ₁ and one of the driven sprockets 25 and between the lower sprocket 24 ₂ and the other driven sprocket 25, which is wound suspension chain 26, 26 is accommodated in the guide rail 8, 8, respectively, one of the free end of the chain 26, 26, the other free end of the carriage C _1, respectively are bound to the underside of the C _2, also their chain 26 is bound respectively to the upper surface of the carriage C _1, C _2. In addition, chain 26, 26
The balance weights 28, 28 are respectively attached to the intermediate portions of. Therefore, according to the forward / reverse rotation drive of the torque motor 23 as the elevating means, the right and left carriages C
₁ and C ₂ can be driven up and down in synchronization.

Thus, the weight of the balance weights 28 and 28, the frictional resistance of the top brush 17 including the torque motor 23 with the speed reducer, and the weight of the top brush 17 are set so as to be substantially balanced. When the torque motor 23 is inactive and the top brush 17 is in a free state (a state in which the top brush 17 is not in contact with the upper surface of the vehicle V to be processed), and a lifting force of a predetermined amount or more acts on the top brush 17. When the top brush 17 does not move, the top brush 17 does not move in any of the up and down directions, and maintains the current position. On the other hand, the top brush 17 comes into contact with the upper surface of the vehicle body and a lifting force of a predetermined level or more is applied. At this time, the top brush 17 rises.

In a middle portion of one of the guide rails 8 (the left side in FIG. 1), a lower limit position detecting switch 32 for detecting a lower limit position of the top brush 17 at an interval vertically and an upper limit position detecting for detecting the upper limit position thereof. A switch 33 is provided, and these switches 32 and 33 are operated by magnets 34 provided on the bogie main body 15, respectively. In addition, upper limit stoppers 53, 53 are provided above the left and right guide rails 8, 8, respectively.
In addition, lower end stoppers 54, 54 are fixed to their lower portions, respectively.
The upper and lower positions of the top brush 17 can be regulated by hitting the carriage bodies 15, 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, spring brackets 60, 60 are fixed to the outer vertical surfaces of the left and right guide rails 8, 8, respectively. Holes 60 ₁ through the respective spring bracket 60 is bored, eye bolts 61 are inserted through the through hole 60 _1. The lower end of the threaded portion 61 ₁ of the eyebolt 61, there is a circular spring bearing 63 which is positioned by W nut 62 screwed mounting, between the circular spring receiver 63 and the spring bracket 60, eyebolt 61 Compression spring 64 through
Is provided. The ring 61 ₂ eyebolts 61, tensile one end attached wire 65 as member, the other end of the wire 65 is attached to the other eye bolt 66 fixed to the ceiling frame 1 ₂ traveling frame 1. The spring bracket 60 is in a position where an upward force acts on the guide rail (8).

The compression spring 64 resiliently holds the guide rails 8, 8 at a substantially vertical neutral position, that is, a non-swinging position N. That is, as shown in FIG. As viewed from the side surface in a direction orthogonal to the (traveling direction of the traveling frame 1), the line of action L of the upward force acting on the guide rail 8 by the left and right compression springs 64, 64.
-L is the swing center of the guide rails 8, 8 when the guide rails 8, 8 are at a neutral position, that is, a non-swing position, in which the vertical center line of the swing direction of the guide rails 8, 8 is substantially vertical. C is set to pass. The spring bracket 60, eye bolt 61W nut 62, circular spring receiver 63, compression spring 64, wire 65 and eye bolt 6
Numeral 6 constitutes return means (upward force applying means) Re for applying an upward force to the guide rail 8 to return the guide rail 8 to the non-swinging position N.

The spring force of the compression spring 64 is such that the total weight Ea of the guide frame 6 and the supporting members such as the top brush 17 supported by the guide frame 6 is, for example, 200K.
If the vertical center line of the guide rails 8, 8 is substantially vertical, the force of one compression spring 64 is 75 kg, and the total force Eb of the two right and left is set to, for example, about 150 kg. . Incidentally, preferably through holes 60 ₁ bored in spring bracket 60 which is the point of force by the compression spring 64, may set to be above the center of gravity of the total weight Ea.

As described above, the guide rails 8, 8 can be elastically held at the neutral position, that is, the non-oscillating position N by the total force Eb of the left and right compression springs 64. The total force Eb acts as a force to return the guide rails 8, 8 to the neutral position N when the guide rails 8, 8 swing.

By the way, in order to easily understand the advantages of this embodiment, the means for returning the guide rail to the neutral position in the conventional vehicle upper surface processing apparatus will be described below with reference to FIG. The guide rail 08 supporting the upper surface processing body 017 is supported so that the support shaft 07 fixed to the lower end thereof can swing back and forth, that is, from the neutral position ON to the front OF and the rear OR from the neutral position ON. the upper end of the rail 08, is elastically supported at the neutral position oN by a compression spring 035 _1, 035 ₂ from the front and rear. In this conventional device, for example, when the guide rail 08 swings to the rear OR side, one of the compression springs 03
5 ₁ is compressed force to return the guide rail 08 by the compression spring 035 ₁ to the neutral position ON increases. The guide rail 08, the weight of the upper surface treatment and the like, in the direction of the force to return compression spring 035 ₁ and a direction opposite the guide rail 08
Since the direction of the force is generated to fall, in practice the return force f than the elastic force in a direction to return compression spring 035 ₁ smaller by the force of the fall direction. Further, the force in the direction in which the guide rail 08 falls down increases as the swing angle θ (see FIG. 10) of the guide rail 08 increases.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the force E
b, the total weight Ea of the members such as the guide rails 8, 8 and the top brush 17 can reduce the force with which the guide rail 08 falls down, or prevent the force with which the guide rails 08 fall down. Swing and compress spring 64,
The actual return force f of the guide rails 8, 8 can be reduced by the falling force, rather than the returning force generated by the compression of the guide rail 64, or the falling force can be prevented from occurring. it can.

When the guide rail 8 swings,
The force of the pair of compression springs 64 in the returning direction of the guide rail 8 is different from that of the conventional compression spring (see FIG. 9), and the swing angle θ of the guide rail 8 as shown by a solid line in FIG. And the return force f of the guide rail 8 with respect to
In the vicinity of the operation of the small angle switch 39 serving as the swing detecting means described later, the return force f
It becomes larger than the case (Fig. 10 dashed line) an increasing proportion of the conventional compression spring 035 _1, 035 _2. For this reason, when the force applied to the top brush 17 from the vehicle body decreases after the guide rail 8 swings and a small angle switch 39 described later is operated, the guide rails 8 and 8 quickly return to the non-oscillation position N, and the top brush 17 is moved. Before leaving the proper position with respect to the upper surface of the vehicle body, the small-angle switch 39 is deactivated.

[0029] Above the combined beam 9 of the guide frame 6, the ceiling frame 1 ₂ traveling frame 1, a small angle switch 39 is oppositely arranged with large angle switch 40 at intervals, while the combined beam 9 , The two switches 39, 4
An actuator 41 for operating them is interposed between 0 and 0. The small-angle switch 39 is configured to swing the guide frame 6 from the substantially vertical neutral position, that is, the non-swinging position N, to the front F or the rear R around the support shaft 7 by a predetermined small angle or more. The large-angle switch 40 is actuated by the actuator 41 to detect the angle thereof. The large-angle switch 40 is configured to move the guide frame 6 from the substantially vertical neutral position N around the support shaft 7 to the front F or the rear R from a small angle. When swinging by a predetermined large angle or more, the actuator can be operated by the actuator 41 to detect the angle.

The small-angle switch 39 constitutes a swing detecting means for the guide frame 6.

On the front surface of the traveling frame 1, a traveling position detecting means 42, a start switch 48, a control means 47 for controlling the car washer W, and a voltage changing means V for the torque motor 23 are provided.
R and the like are collectively arranged, and the traveling position detecting means 4
2 adds the pulse of the rotary encoder 45 provided when the start position detecting means 43 provided on the traveling frame 1 is separated from the operating cam 44 when the traveling frame 1 is moving forward, In the case of a line, the travel position from the start position of the travel frame can be detected by subtraction, and a conventionally known travel position is used. Below the front portion of the traveling frame 1, the vehicle V to be cleaned is moved forward by a distance A (see FIGS. 6 and 7) from the center of rotation of the top brush 17 when the guide rails 8, 8 are in the neutral position N. Photoelectric sensor 4 for detecting the rear end of
The light projector 46A and the light receiver 46B of No. 6 are fixed. Stop position display devices 50, 50 indicating the stop positions of the front wheels of the vehicle V to be cleaned are fixed on the installation surface between the traveling rails 5, 5.

The control means 47 includes a top brush 1
7 is controlled so as to rotate forward (clockwise in FIG. 6) when the traveling frame 1 moves forward, and to reversely rotate (counterclockwise in FIG. 7) when moving backward as described later. When the traveling frame 1 moves in the forward direction, the top brush 17 rotates forward, so that the rotation direction of the top brush 17 on the contact side with the upper surface of the vehicle body is forward, that is, the relative movement direction of the traveling frame 1 with respect to the vehicle V. The direction is opposite to the direction X, and the top brush 17 rises along an upwardly inclined surface (for example, a windshield surface) of the upper surface of the vehicle body (see FIG. 6).

When the traveling frame 1 goes backward, the top brush 17 rotates in the reverse direction, so that the rotation direction of the contact surface of the top brush 17 with the upper surface of the vehicle body is the rearward direction R, that is, the traveling frame 1 moves relative to the vehicle V. Movement direction X '
, The top brush 17 rises along the upwardly inclined surface (for example, the rear glass surface) of the upper surface of the vehicle body (see FIG. 7).

Reference numeral 49 in the figure denotes a side brush for cleaning the front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of the vehicle V.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a cleaning process of the upper surface of the vehicle body when the traveling frame 1 travels forward.

[0037] The traveling frame 1 is stopped at a start position (FIG. 6, left end position). This position is detected when the start position detection switch 43 is operated by the cam 44. If you press the start switch 48 here,
The rotation of the motor 2 causes the top brush 17 at the upper limit position (a) to rotate forward (rotation clockwise in FIG. 6), and the elevating torque motor 23 is driven to rotate forward with the first voltage to rotate the top brush 17. Is the upper limit position (a)
Descend from position. When the top brush 17 is lowered to the lower limit position (b), the lower limit position detection switch 32
, The torque motor 23 is deactivated, and the bogies C ₁ , C ₂ abut against the lower limit stoppers 54, 54, thereby stopping the top brush 17 and the descent.
The traveling frame 1 starts going forward by the forward rotation drive 2.

[0038] As the traveling frame 1 moves forward, the top brush 17 at the lower limit position reaches the position (C), and the vehicle V
To the front end of the hood.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, when the height of the hood of the vehicle V is relatively low, the guide frame 6 is held at the substantially vertical neutral position N while the lower surface of the top brush 17 is kept. Reaches the front end of the hood of the vehicle V, and a contact lifting force acts on the top brush 17 by a predetermined or more lifting force.
7 rises along the guide rails 8,8. Next, when the lifting force acting on the top brush 17 decreases to a predetermined value or less due to the raising of the top brush 17, the raising of the top brush 17 stops. In this way, top brush 1
The reference numeral 7 moves along the hood surface of the vehicle V, and the top brush 17 can brush-clean the hood surface with an appropriate surface pressure.

As shown in FIG. 6C, in the case of the vehicle V 'having a relatively high bonnet surface, when the top brush 17 comes into contact with the front end surface of the bonnet, the contact reaction force is applied. It is pushed backward. As a result, the guide frame 6 swings rearward R (left side in FIG. 6) around the support shaft 7 from the substantially vertical neutral position, that is, the non-swinging position N, against the return force f by the compression springs 64, 64. As a result, the small-angle switch 39 is actuated, and the control means 47 receives a detection signal from the small-angle switch 39, and receives a control signal from the control means 47.
3 is driven in reverse with the second voltage and the top brush 1
7 is forcibly raised. As the top brush 17 is raised by this raising operation, the contact reaction force for pushing the top brush 17 backward R decreases, and the guide frame 6
Swings in the direction of returning to the neutral position N by the return force of the compression springs 64, 64 as return means. When the small-angle switch 39 becomes inoperative due to this swing, the elevating torque motor 23 also becomes inoperative, and the top brush 17 is raised by the lifting force due to the contact reaction force. At this time, as described above, since the guide rails 8 and 8 are likely to return to the non-oscillating position N direction, the guide frame 6 quickly returns to the neutral position, that is, the non-oscillating position N direction from the rear R oscillating position. The small-angle switch 39 is deactivated before the surface pressure at 17 falls below the appropriate surface pressure range. Thereby, the top brush 17 can always clean the bonnet surface with an appropriate surface pressure.
Next, when the lifting force acting on the top brush 17 decreases to a predetermined value or less due to the rising of the top brush 17, the rising of the top brush 17 stops.

[0041] When the top brush 17 comes to the position (d), which is the boundary between the hood and the windshield, from the position (c) due to the continuation of the traveling of the traveling frame 1, the top brush 17 contacts the inclined surface of the windshield, Due to the contact reaction force, the guide frame 6 swings to the left, that is, to the rear R, and the small-angle switch 39 is operated. As a result, the torque motor 23 is re-rotated with the second voltage via the control means 47, and the top brush 17 rises along the guide rails 8,8. As the top brush 17 rises, the contact reaction force pushing the top brush 17 backward R decreases, and the guide frame 6 returns to the neutral position, that is, the non-oscillating position N, by the return force of the compression springs 64, 64. Rocks. When the small angle switch 39 becomes inoperative due to this swing, the torque motor 23 also becomes inoperative. Then, the top brush 17 rises by receiving a repulsive force due to contact with the windshield of the vehicle body. In this manner, the top brush 17 rises along the windshield surface while brushing and cleaning the windshield surface by repeatedly operating and not operating the elevating torque motor 23 based on the swing of the guide frame 6 back and forth. At this time, as in the case of cleaning the hood, the guide rails 8 and 8 easily return to the non-oscillation position direction. The small angle switch 39 is deactivated before the pressure falls below the appropriate surface pressure range. Thereby, the top brush 17 can always brush-clean the front glass surface with an appropriate surface pressure.

[0042] As the traveling frame 1 continues to move forward, the top brush 17 moves to the position (e) in FIG. 6 and moves from the windshield to the roof. At this time, when the small angle switch 39 is actuated by the swing of the guide frame 6, the contact reaction force with the vehicle body pushing the top brush 17 backward R decreases as the top brush 17 rises by the operation of the lifting torque motor 23. Then, the guide frame 6 swings in the direction of returning to the neutral position N by the return force of the compression springs 64, 64. If the small angle switch 39 becomes inoperative due to this swing, the torque motor 23 also becomes inoperative. At this time, similarly to the bonnet, the guide rails 8 and 8 can easily return to the non-oscillation position direction, so that the guide frame 6 quickly returns to the neutral position N direction from the rear R oscillation position, and the top brush 17.
Since the small-angle switch 39 is deactivated before the surface pressure becomes smaller than the appropriate surface pressure range, the top brush 17 can always brush and wash the roof surface from the windshield surface with the appropriate surface pressure.

During this process, the guide frame 6 may swing to the left, that is, to the rear R depending on the shape of the vehicle body, and the large-angle switch 40 may be operated.
In such a case, the forward movement of the traveling frame 1 is temporarily stopped by stopping the operation of the traveling motor 2, and when the large-angle switch 40 is deactivated, the traveling frame 1 is restarted in the forward movement.

[0044] As the traveling frame 1 continues to travel, the top brush 17 reaches the (へ) position on the roof surface of the vehicle body,
As to clean the roof surface brushing, that traveling frame 1 has reached a predetermined distance L ₁ which is previously set from the start position, the traveling position detecting means 42 detects, thereby elevating the torque motor 23 is a third The top brush 17 is driven forward by the voltage, and the top brush 17 descends, and the top brush 17 comes into contact with the roof surface with an appropriate surface pressure by a balance between a descending force at that time and a contact reaction force received by the top brush 17 from the roof surface. Thus, the roof surface can be efficiently brushed and cleaned.

[0045] When the top brush 17 brushes and cleans the roof surface and reaches the rear end position (g) of the roof surface, the contact reaction force received from the vehicle body surface decreases and the top brush 17 descends along the rear glass surface. I do. At this time, since the elevating motor 23 continues the forward rotation drive from the (へ) position of the previous stroke, the top brush 17 can brush and clean the rear glass surface without leaving the rear glass surface.

[0046] When the top brush 17 finishes the brushing of the rear glass surface and reaches the front position (h) on the trunk surface, the top brush 17 is in contact with the lowering force of the elevating motor 23 and the contact force received from the trunk surface. When the force is balanced, the lowering of the top brush 17 stops, and the top brush 17 can brush-clean the trunk surface with an appropriate surface pressure.

[0047] The forward stroke continues traveling frame 1, a photoelectric sensor 46 provided on the traveling frame 1 detects the rear end of the vehicle V, the travel position L ₂ to be detected by the traveling position detecting means 42 are stored.

When the top brush 17 passes the rear end of the vehicle V, its lowering is stopped by the lower limit stopper 54. When the traveling frame 1 reaches the forward stop position (FIG. 6, right end position, return start position), the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is stopped, and the top brush 17 reaches the (L) position. Finishes the brushing cleaning of the upper surface of the vehicle body by going forward.

2. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a process of cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle body when the traveling frame 1 is reversing.

'. Next, in the state where the traveling frame 1 is at the forward end position, that is, the backward start position (the right end position in FIG. 7), the top motor 17 is driven in the reverse direction (the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7) by disabling the elevating motor 23. The traveling frame 1 is moved backward. Thereafter, the trunk surface and the rear glass surface of the vehicle V can be brushed and cleaned by the same operation as (b) to (f) (see FIG. 6) when the traveling frame 1 moves forward. In this case, the guide frame 6 swings forward F (FIG. 7, right side) by contacting the vehicle body surface, and when returning from the swing position of the forward F to the neutral position (non-swing position) N direction. As described above, since the guide rails 8, 8 can easily return in the non-oscillation position direction, the return can be performed quickly.

'. Continued going back of the traveling frame 1,
Top brush 17 reaches the roof surface, the traveling position detecting means 42 detects that it is now only go-around the traveling position set distance B set in advance than the travel position L _2, the lifting torque motor 23 first It is driven forward by three voltages.
Thus, the top brush 17 brushes and cleans the roof surface and the bonnet surface by the same operation as (f) to (l) during the forward movement.

When the traveling frame 1 reaches the reversing end position, that is, the start position (the left end position in FIG. 7), the reversing of the traveling frame 1 and the rotation of the top brush 17 are stopped, and the torque motor 23 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction to drive the top. The brushes 17 are raised, and the carriages C ₁ , C ₂ hit the upper limit stoppers 53, 53, so that the top brushes 17 are stopped at the upper limit position, and the brushing cleaning in the retrace of the traveling frame 1 is completed.

In the first embodiment, the return means Re can obtain an upward force with a single compression spring 64, and the structure of the means Re can be simplified. In addition, the upward force by the return means Re can reduce the load on the support of the guide rail 8.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the same car washer as FIG. 5, and the same elements as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the guide rail return means, and the other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment.

The guide rail 8 is resiliently supported between the traveling frame 1 and a guide rail 8 which is swingably supported by a support shaft 7 at a substantially vertical neutral position, that is, a non-swing position. Return means Re 'is provided. The return means Re 'includes a pair of spring arms 71, 71 supported on the traveling frame 1 in the front and rear directions of the guide rail 8 so as to be able to swing back and forth with axes 70, 70. Screws 72, 72 are fixed to upper ends of the guide rails 8, 71, respectively.
Circular spring receivers 75, 75 positioned by W nuts 74, 74 are attached to the screws 72, 72, respectively. Compression springs 76, 7 are provided between the receivers 75, 75 and the spring brackets 73, 73, respectively.
6 are provided.

The return means Re 'includes the spring arms 71, 7
1. It is composed of screws 72, 72, spring brackets 73, 73, W nuts 74, 74, circular spring receivers 75, 75, and compression springs 76, 76. And this return means R
e 'has the same effect as the return means Re of the first embodiment.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, instead of controlling the lifting / lowering means based on the detection of the small angle switch 39, the detection of the load detection means for detecting the load of the motor 20 for rotating and driving the top brush 17 by current, power, rotation speed, and the like. Based on this, the lifting means may be controlled so that the load of the motor 20 falls within a predetermined load value.
Also in this case, the guide rail can be quickly returned from the swinging position to the neutral position, so that the top brush 17 does not repeatedly rise and fall when the top surface of the vehicle body is inclined up and down. Followability is improved. The small angle switch 39 and the load detecting means of the motor are contact state detecting means for detecting a state in which the top brush 17 is in contact with the upper surface of the vehicle body.

In the above embodiment, the small-angle switch 3
9, a vehicle height sensor for detecting the vehicle height of the vehicle is provided as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-164654, and the vehicle height sensor and the traveling position detection are performed. The lifting means may be controlled based on a detection signal of the means. Also in this case, since the guide rail can be quickly returned from the swinging position toward the neutral position,
When the upper surface of the vehicle body is inclined upward, the contact followability of the top brush 17 to the upper surface of the vehicle body is improved.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a mobile car washer has been described. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a fixed car wash in which the vehicle is moved back and forth with respect to a fixed frame. The upper surface treatment body may be a top buff, a top buff or other treatment body on the upper surface of the vehicle body, or a normal three-phase induction motor may be used instead of the lifting torque motor. Further, the guide frame for supporting the upper surface processing body such as the top brush need not be a gate type, and the frame may have only one guide rail. Further, in the case of a processing apparatus that performs processing with the upper surface processing body only at the time of going-back or only at the time of going-back, the guide frame only needs to be able to swing upward and downward from the neutral position either forward or backward.

The compression spring which is a component of the return means may be replaced by another known spring member or an elastic member such as rubber.

[0063]

As described above, according to the invention as set forth in the claims, the returning means for returning the guide rail to the non-oscillation position in the vehicle body upper surface treating apparatus applies an upward force to the guide rail. Since it is the upward force applying means to act, the guide rail can easily return to the non-swing position. Thereby, the processing effect of the upper surface processing body on the upper surface of the vehicle body can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway schematic front view of a mobile car washer equipped with the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the car washer taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view taken along line 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a cleaning process of the upper surface of the vehicle body when the traveling frame is moving forward

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a cleaning process of the upper surface of the vehicle body when the traveling frame is going backward

FIG. 8 is a side view of a car washer showing guide rail returning means (second embodiment).

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a mounting state of a return means to a guide rail in a conventional vehicle upper surface processing apparatus.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the swing angle of the guide rail and its return force.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Frame (travel frame) 8 Guide rail 17 Top surface treatment body (top brush) 23 Lifting means (Elevation torque motor) 39 ... Swing detection means (small angle switch) 47 ... Control means 60 ... Working position 65 ... Tensile member (wire) C ········ Swing center LL ························· Non-swinging position (neutral position) Re, Re '· ..Return means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A guide rail (8) supported on a frame (1) so as to be able to swing up and down with a lower end portion serving as a swing fulcrum, and a guide rail (8) supported by the guide rail (8). An upper surface processing body (17) capable of moving up and down, return means (Re, Re ') for returning the guide rail (8) to the non-oscillation position (N), and elevating means (elevating and lowering the upper surface processing body (17)) 23)
Swinging of the guide rail (8);
In the vehicle upper surface processing apparatus, wherein the upper surface processing body (17) is brought into contact with and follows the upper surface of the vehicle body by the control of (3) to process the upper surface, the return means (Re, Re ') includes: A vehicle upper surface processing device, which is an upward force applying means for applying an upward force to a rail (8). 2. A guide rail (8) supported on the frame (1) so as to be able to swing up and down with a lower end portion serving as a swing fulcrum, and along the guide rail (8) supported by the guide rail (8). An upper surface processing body (17) capable of moving up and down, return means (Re, Re ') for returning the guide rail (8) to the non-oscillation position (N), and elevating means (elevating and lowering the upper surface processing body (17)) 23)
Swing detecting means (39) for detecting the swing of the guide rail (8); and control means (47) for controlling the elevating means (23) based on the detection of the swing detecting means (39). Wherein the upper surface processing body (17) is configured to contact and follow the upper surface of the vehicle body so as to process the upper surface, wherein the return means (Re, Re ') includes: 8) A vehicle upper surface processing device, which is an upward force applying means for applying an upward force to 8). 3. A line of action (LL) of an upward force acting on the guide rail (8) by the return means (Re).
3. The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail passes through a swing center of the guide rail when the guide rail is at a non-swing position. Vehicle upper surface processing device. 4. The position (60) for applying an upward force acting on the guide rail (8).
The vehicle upper surface treatment device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, further comprising a tension member (65) supported by the frame (1) above and pulling the guide rail (8).