JP2001158334A - Washing method of car wash - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing method of a car wash capable of reducing operators' burdens when applying a wax. SOLUTION: In washing and waxing a car, a wax solution is sprayed from a wax arch 7 to a vehicle 2 to be washed as a car wash body 1 is advanced, after the wax solution is sprayed, wash water to be sprinkled is sprayed from a sprinkling rinse arch 8 toward the vehicle 2 to be washed, and when the windshield part of the vehicle 2 is detected, the spraying of the wax solution is interrupted for the windshield part. This method interrupts the spraying of the wax solution to the windshield part and thereby avoids the spraying of wax to the windshield part, eliminating the need for the work of removing wax after washing the vehicle, and reducing operators' burdens.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for washing a car washer, for example, installed in a gas station and used for washing a car, and more particularly to a method for applying wax.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional car washer will be described with reference to the drawings. 9 and 10, reference numeral 1 denotes a gate-type vehicle which straddles a vehicle 2 to be washed and travels in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle 2 on a rail 5 laid on a floor 4 via a plurality of wheels 3. The gate-type car wash machine main body 1 includes a wash water (rinse) arch and a detergent arch (both shown in FIG. 1) as spray devices for spraying wash water (rinse), detergent, or wax liquid. (Not shown), a wax arch 7 for spraying a wax liquid onto the vehicle 2, a pouring rinse (washing water) arch 8 for spraying a rinse (washing water) into the wax liquid, and a top as a drying means for the vehicle 2. A nozzle 12, a pair of left and right side nozzles 13, and a pair of left and right blower devices 14 that simultaneously communicate with the two nozzles 12, 13 to supply wind are provided. As means for brushing the vehicle 2 in the car wash machine main body 1, a top brush 15 which is movable vertically and cleans the upper surface of the vehicle 2 to be washed and freely traverses in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the running direction of the car wash machine main body 1. A pair of side brushes 16 for cleaning the front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of the vehicle 2 are provided via swingable arms, and a pair of left and right rocker brushes 17 are provided at lower portions on both sides so as to approach and separate from each other. .

[0003] A car height sensor 18 comprising a sonic sensor for detecting the height of the vehicle 2 to be washed is provided at the upper front end of the car wash machine main body 1, and the car wash machine main body 1 is provided at the lower end of the car wash machine main body 1. A first limit switch 19 for detecting that the vehicle is at a home position (traveling start position) and a second limit switch 20 for detecting that the car wash machine body 1 is at an end position (traveling end position) are provided. 1
An operation panel 21 on which operation switches for inputting a start / stop command, a car wash mode, and the like are arranged is provided on a front side portion of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 11, the wax arch 7 and the pouring rinse arch 8 are respectively provided at one location on the left and right sides facing the side of the vehicle 2 and at two locations facing the upper part of the vehicle 2. A nozzle 24 is provided. The pouring rinse arch 8 is provided with a submersible pump 27 in a water tank 26 as shown in FIG.
The rinsing arch 8 is connected by opening and closing the solenoid valve 28.
Thus, the spraying of the rinse onto the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is controlled.

The wax arch 7 is connected to an ejector 32, as shown in FIG.
The submersible pump 27 is connected via a solenoid valve 33 to the wax liquid tank 35 via a solenoid valve. By opening and closing the solenoid valves 33 and 34, spraying of the wax liquid onto the vehicle 2 to be cleaned from the wax arch 7 is controlled.

As shown in the control block diagram of FIG. 12, the control system of the car washer includes a control device 51 comprising a microcomputer built in the car washer body 1, the operation panel 21, the vehicle height sensor 18, and the limit switch 19. , 20 and the like, a traveling drive device 53 having a traveling motor, a submersible pump 2
7. It comprises a drive system 54 including solenoid valves 28, 33, 34 of each spray device. The control device 51 operates signals such as start and stop from the operation panel 21 and a sensor system.
The detection signal from 52 is input and stored, and these operation signals,
In accordance with the detection signal, the drive system 54 is controlled to control the operation of the entire car wash machine main body 1 to execute the car wash operation.

[0007] When wax is applied to the vehicle 2 to be cleaned, the control device 51 causes the traveling drive unit 53 to move the car wash machine body 1 forward from the home position detected by the first limit switch 19, and at this time, the solenoid valves 33, When the end position is detected by the second limit switch 20, the opening operation of the valve 34 causes the wax liquid to be sprayed on the vehicle 2 to be cleaned, and the opening of the solenoid valve 28 causes the injection of the rinse liquid to the vehicle 2 to be cleaned. The car wash machine body 1 is stopped by the traveling drive device 53, and the solenoid valves 28, 33, and 34 are closed to finish spraying the wax liquid and the pouring rinse.

[0008]

However, when the wax is applied, since the wax is applied to the entire vehicle 2 to be cleaned, the window glass portion (the front window portion and the rear window portion) is also waxed. Therefore, especially when wax is applied to the front window, the visibility of the driver is deteriorated and driving is hindered.Therefore, after car washing, the work of removing the wax from the front window by hand, for example, applying an oil film removing solution to the window glass. The work of spraying and wiping has to be performed, and there is a problem that the labor of the worker increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for washing a car washer at the time of applying wax, which can reduce labor of an operator.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention relates to a vehicle to be washed and a car wash machine body which are moved relative to the vehicle to be washed. A method for washing a car washer for spraying a wax liquid, wherein when a front window of the vehicle to be washed is detected, spraying of the wax liquid in the front window is interrupted.

According to the above method, when the wax liquid is sprayed, the spraying of the wax liquid in the front window portion is interrupted, so that the spraying of the wax liquid into the front window portion can be avoided. You do not need to do this. The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the suspension of the spraying of the wax liquid is extended for a predetermined time after the tip of the ceiling of the vehicle to be cleaned is detected. Things.

According to the above method, the suspension of the spraying of the wax liquid is continued for a predetermined time after the front end of the ceiling portion of the vehicle to be cleaned is detected following the front window portion. Therefore,
The wax liquid is prevented from dripping from the ceiling to the front window, and the front liquid is prevented from fogging due to the wax liquid. The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after spraying the wax liquid, the spray amount of the wax liquid in the vehicle to be cleaned in a predetermined time is twice or more. It is characterized by spraying washing water for pouring in a spray amount.

According to the above method, the wax liquid is sprayed onto the vehicle to be cleaned at a spray amount of twice or more the spray amount of the wax liquid, so that the wax liquid falls from the ceiling to the front window. In this case, the wax liquid is thinned and the front window is prevented from fogging.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. [Embodiment 1] Embodiment 1 improves a control method at the time of wax application in a conventional configuration.

The method for washing a car in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation at the time of wax car washing. In the wax car washing, the spraying device for spraying the washing water (rinse) and the detergent and the brushing means are driven while the car washing machine body 1 is moved forward to wash the vehicle 2 to be washed. Is executed after the drying means is driven to dry the vehicle 2 to be washed while returning the.

As shown in FIG. 2, the detection signal of the vehicle height sensor 18 is turned off from the start of the forward movement of the car washer body 1, that is, the time t1 until the vehicle height sensor 18 is positioned at the front end of the front window. It is also assumed that the detection signal of the vehicle height sensor 18 is turned on again, that is, the time t2 until the vehicle height sensor 18 is located at the tip of the ceiling is counted. Further, the spray amount of the wax liquid from the wax arch 7 is set to 10 liter / min, and the spray amount of the wash water for pouring from the rinsing arch 8 is set to 20 liter / min. The amount is at least twice the spray amount of the wax liquid.

When the end of the drying operation is confirmed (step-
1) The submersible pump 27 is driven (step-2). Then, a forward command is output to the traveling drive device 53 to output the car wash machine body 1.
Is advanced (step-3), and measurement of a timer is started (step-4). Subsequently, the solenoid valves 33 and 34
, The spray operation of the wax liquid from the wax arch 7 is started (step-5), and the spray operation of the pouring rinse from the pouring rinse arch 8 is started by opening the solenoid valve 28 (step-6).

As a result, the vehicle 2 to be cleaned starts moving forward, and the spraying of the wax liquid and the spraying of the pouring rinse onto the vehicle 2 to be cleaned are started. When the measured value t of the timer is the time (t1 + T) obtained by adding the time T during which the car washer body 1 moves between the vehicle height sensor 18 and the wax arch 7 to the above-mentioned time t1 with the traveling of the car washer body 1, When the wax arch 7 reaches the tip of the front window of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned (step-7), the solenoid valves 33 and 34 are closed to stop spraying the wax liquid from the wax arch 7 (step-8).

Subsequently, when the measured value t of the timer reaches the time (t2 + T) obtained by adding the time T to the time t2, that is, when the wax arch 7 reaches the top end of the ceiling of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned (step-9). ), Solenoid valve
The spraying of the wax liquid from the wax arch 7 is restarted with the opening operations of 33 and 34 (step-10). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, spraying of the wax liquid on the front window of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is avoided. At this time, since the wax residual liquid flows out of the nozzle 24 on the side surface of the wax arch 7, the wax liquid can be applied to the side surface of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned.

When it is confirmed by the limit switch 20 that the car washer body 1 has reached the traveling end position (step 11), a stop command is output to the traveling drive unit 53 to stop the car washer body 1. (Step-12), the spraying of the wax liquid from the wax arch 7 and the spraying of the rinse from the pouring rinse arch 8 are stopped by closing the solenoid valves 28, 33 and 34 (step-13).

Thus, when the car washer body 1 reaches the traveling end position, the car washer body 1 stops, and the spraying of the wax liquid from the wax arch 7 and the spraying of the rinse from the pouring rinse arch 8 are stopped. As described above, when the wax liquid is sprayed, the spraying of the wax liquid onto the front window of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is avoided, so that the front window is prevented from being fogged by the wax liquid, which causes the driver to have poor visibility. It is not necessary to perform the work of removing the wax after the end of the car washing, and the work amount of the worker can be reduced. In addition, by making the spray amount of the washing water for pouring in a predetermined time at least twice the spray amount of the wax, even when the wax solution drips from the ceiling portion of the vehicle 2 to be washed to the front window portion, the wax solution can be sprayed. Due to the thinning effect, it is possible to minimize the fogging of the front window due to the dripping wax liquid. Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a car washer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, instead of the vehicle height sensor,
A first photoelectric switch 9 for detecting the front end of the front window portion by blocking the light beam at the front end portion of the normal car at the front end portion of the car wash machine body 1, and a light beam at the front end portion of the ceiling portion of the normal car. Is shut off,
A second photoelectric switch 10 for detecting the tip of the ceiling is provided.

A wax arch 11 is provided instead of the wax arch 7. As shown in FIG. 4, the wax arch 11 has two nozzles 24, a ceiling nozzle 24A for spraying a wax liquid on the ceiling of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned, and a side nozzle 24B for spraying a wax liquid on a side surface. Separated, the ceiling nozzle 24A is connected to a solenoid valve 36, which is connected to an ejector 32. The side nozzle 24B is connected to the ejector 32 as in the prior art. By opening and closing the solenoid valves 33 and 34, spraying of the wax liquid onto the side surface of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned from the side nozzle 24B of the wax arch 11 is controlled.
By opening and closing the solenoid valves 33 and 34 and the solenoid valve 36, the spraying of the wax liquid on the ceiling of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11 is controlled.

FIG. 5 shows a control block of the car washer. In the sensor system 52, photoelectric switches 9 and 10 are added instead of the vehicle height sensor, and a solenoid valve 36 is connected to the drive system 54.
Has been added. The car wash method of the car wash in the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of wax car washing.

As shown in FIG. 3, the detection signal of the first photoelectric switch 9 is turned off when the car washer body 1 starts to move forward.
That is, the time t1 until the first photoelectric switch 9 is positioned at the tip of the front window, and the second photoelectric switch
It is assumed that the time t2 until the detection signal of 10 is turned off, that is, the second photoelectric switch 10 is positioned at the tip of the ceiling is counted.

When the end of the drying operation is confirmed (step-
1) The submersible pump 27 is driven (step-2). Then, a forward command is output to the traveling drive device 53 to output the car wash machine body 1.
Is advanced (step-3), and measurement of a timer is started (step-4). Subsequently, the solenoid valves 33 and 34
Then, the spraying of the wax liquid from both the ceiling nozzle 24A and the side nozzles 24B of the wax arch 11 is started by opening the solenoid valve 36 (step-5), and the solenoid valve 28 is opened by pouring and the pouring from the rinse arch 8 is performed. Rinse spraying is started (step-6).

As a result, the vehicle 2 to be cleaned starts moving forward, and the spraying of the wax liquid and the spraying of the pouring rinse to the front portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned are started. As the car washer body 1 travels, the measured value t of the timer becomes the first time t1.
When the time (t1 + T1) obtained by adding the time T1 during which the car washer body 1 moves between the photoelectric switch 9 and the wax arch 11 is reached, that is, when the wax arch 11 reaches the tip of the front window of the vehicle 2 to be washed (step-7). Then, the spraying of the wax liquid from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11 is interrupted by closing only the solenoid valve 36 (step-8).

Subsequently, the measured value t of the timer is, at the time t2, the time T2 during which the car washer body 1 moves between the second photoelectric switch 10 and the wax arch 11 and the length of the ceiling of the vehicle 2 in the vehicle length direction. Time T during which the car washer body 1 moves half the length
When the time (t2 + T2 + T3) obtained by adding 3 is reached, that is, when the wax arch 11 reaches the intermediate position of the ceiling of the vehicle 2 to be washed (step-9), the solenoid valve is turned off.
36 is opened again and the ceiling nozzle 24 of the wax arch 11 is opened.
The spraying of the wax liquid from A is restarted (step-1).
0).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, spraying of the wax liquid from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11 to the area between the front window and the ceiling of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is avoided. The spraying of the wax liquid from the side nozzle 24B of the wax arch 11 to the side surface of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is continued. When it is confirmed by the limit switch 20 that the car washer body 1 has reached the travel end position (step 11), a stop command is output to the travel drive device 53 to stop the car washer body 1 (step 11). 12),
Solenoid valves 28, 33, 34 and solenoid valve 36
To stop the spraying of the wax liquid from the wax arch 11 and the spraying of the rinse from the pouring rinse arch 8 (step-13).

As a result, when the car washer body 1 reaches the traveling end position, the car washer body 1 is stopped and the wax arch is stopped.
The spraying of the wax liquid from 11 and the spraying of the rinse from the pouring rinse arch 8 are stopped. In this manner, when the wax is sprayed, the spraying of the wax liquid from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11 to the area between the front window portion and the ceiling portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned can be avoided. It is possible to prevent the wax liquid from dripping from the front part to the front window part, avoid the fogging of the front window part due to the wax that causes poor visibility of the driver, and eliminate the need to perform the work of removing the wax after the end of car washing, work The work load of the staff can be reduced. Third Embodiment FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a car washer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 7, the car wash machine according to the third embodiment eliminates the pouring rinse arch 8 and places the wax arch 11 described in the second embodiment at the position of the arch 8. The cleaning water for pouring is not sprayed. The car washing method of the car washing machine according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of wax car washing.

As shown in FIG. 7, the detection signal of the first photoelectric switch 9 is detected at a time t0 when the wax arch 11 reaches the spray start position from the start of the forward movement of the car washer body 1 and the start of the forward movement of the car wash machine body 1. Is off, that is, time t1 until the first photoelectric switch 9 is located at the tip of the front window portion, and until the detection signal of the second photoelectric switch 10 is off, that is, until the second photoelectric switch 10 is located at the tip of the ceiling. It is assumed that the time t2 is counted.

When the end of the drying operation is confirmed (step-
1) The submersible pump 27 is driven (step-2). Then, a forward command is output to the traveling drive device 53 to output the car wash machine
Is advanced (step-3), and measurement of a timer is started (step-4). When the measured value t of the timer reaches the time t0 as the car wash machine body 1 travels (step-
5), solenoid valves 33 and 34 and solenoid valves
With the opening operation of 36, the spraying of the wax liquid from both the ceiling nozzle 24A and the side nozzle 24B of the wax arch 11 is started (step-6).

Thus, the vehicle 2 to be cleaned starts moving forward, and the spraying of the wax liquid and the spraying of the pouring rinse to the front portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned are started from the spray start position.
As the car washer body 1 travels, the measured value t of the timer is added to the time t0 by the time t1 and the time T1 by which the car washer body 1 moves between the first photoelectric switch 9 and the wax arch spray start position. At the time (t0 + t1 + T1),
That is, when the wax arch 11 reaches the tip of the front window portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned (step-7), only the solenoid valve 36 is closed to suspend the spray of the wax liquid from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11 (step 7). 8).

Subsequently, the measured value t of the timer is changed to the time t.
0, the time t2 and the time T during which the car washer body 1 moves between the second photoelectric switch 10 and the wax arch spray start position.
2 and a time (t0 + t2) obtained by adding the time T3 during which the car washer body 1 moves half the length of the ceiling of the vehicle 2 in the vehicle length direction.
+ T2 + T3), that is, when the wax arch 11 reaches an intermediate position of the ceiling of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned (step-9), the solenoid valve 36 is opened again to spray the wax liquid from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11. Is resumed (step-10).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the spraying of the wax liquid from the ceiling nozzle 24A of the wax arch 11 to the area between the front window portion and the ceiling portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is avoided. The spraying of the wax liquid from the side nozzle 24B of the wax arch 11 to the side surface of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned is continued. When it is confirmed by the limit switch 20 that the car washer body 1 has reached the travel end position (step 11), a stop command is output to the travel drive device 53 to stop the car washer body 1 (step 11). 12),
The spraying of the wax liquid from the wax arch 11 is stopped by closing the solenoid valves 33 and 34 and the solenoid valve 36 (step-13).

As a result, when the car washer body 1 reaches the traveling end position, the car washer body 1 is stopped, and the wax arch is stopped.
Spraying of the wax liquid from 11 is stopped. in this way,
When spraying wax, the ceiling nozzle 24 of the wax arch 11
It is possible to avoid the spraying of the wax liquid from A to the area between the front window portion and the ceiling portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned, thereby preventing the wax liquid from dripping from the ceiling portion of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned to the front window portion. It is possible to avoid fogging of the front window portion due to wax which causes poor visibility of the user, and it is not necessary to perform a work of removing wax after the end of car washing, so that the amount of work of the worker can be reduced.

Although the wax arch 11 is used in the third embodiment, the wax arch 7 may be used. In the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention, only one submersible pump 27 is provided. However, a high-pressure submersible pump is added, and the wax arches 7, 11 are connected to the high-pressure submersible pump. Can be sprayed at high pressure.

In the first embodiment, the vehicle height sensor 18 is used in the first embodiment as a means for detecting the front end and the end (front end of the ceiling) of the front window of the vehicle 2 to be cleaned. In 3, the photoelectric switches 9 and 10 are used, but the invention is not limited to either one, and either one may be used.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the wax is sprayed, the spraying of the wax liquid on the front window portion of the vehicle to be cleaned is avoided, so that the wax which causes poor visibility of the driver is obtained. The front window can be prevented from fogging due to the liquid, and it is not necessary to perform the work of removing the wax after the end of car washing, so that the amount of work of the operator can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart sequentially showing a procedure of a car wash method for a car washer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the car washer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a car wash using a car wash method for a car washer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a piping diagram of each arch of the car washer.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system of the car washer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart sequentially showing a procedure of a control method of the car washer.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a car wash using a car wash method for a car washer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart sequentially showing a procedure of a control method of the car washer.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view of a conventional car washer.

FIG. 10 is a schematic front view of a conventional car washer.

FIG. 11 is a piping diagram of each arch of a conventional car wash machine.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control system of a conventional car washer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Car wash machine body 2 Vehicle to be washed 7,11 Wax arch 8 Pour rinse arch 9,10 Photoelectric switch 18 Vehicle height sensor 19,20 Limit switch 24,24A, 24B Nozzle 27 Submersible pump 28,33,34,36 Solenoid valve 32 Ejector 51 Controller 53 Travel drive

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A car washing method for a car washing machine which sprays a wax liquid onto the washing target vehicle while relatively moving the washing target vehicle and the car washing machine main body, wherein a front window portion of the washing target vehicle is detected. A method for washing a car washer, wherein the spraying of the wax liquid in the front window is interrupted. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the suspension of the spraying of the wax liquid is extended for a predetermined time after detecting the tip of the ceiling of the vehicle to be cleaned. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein after spraying the wax liquid, the vehicle to be cleaned is sprayed with a flushing amount of the pouring wash water which is at least twice the spray amount of the wax liquid in a predetermined time. Or the car wash method of the car wash machine according to claim 2.