JP2002326566A - Car washing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To supply a delicate car wash by an automatic car washer in correspondence with an outline form of an automobile, and help anyone to get the service easily. SOLUTION: A server 1 has a database 6 for storing car wash information comprising data on an automobile A such as outline dimensions, headlight positions, front, rear, left and right window positions, tire positions and a body color, and data on an option part B such as a type, outline dimensions, a mounting position and a material. When a terminal device 3 installed in a store of car wash business or the like is used to access the server 1 via the Internet 2, the specification of a corresponding automobile model and the like captures data of a two-dimensional code C in which corresponding car wash information is recorded, and prints the two-dimensional code C on a card 7. When the two-dimensional code C on the card 7 is read into a two-dimensional code reader 12 to input the car wash information, the automatic car washer 5 executes a car washing operation corresponding to the car wash information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car washing system capable of performing car washing according to the shape of an automobile by an automatic car washing machine.

[0002]

For example, a conventional automatic car washer installed at a gas station or the like, for example, performs a so-called common divisor operation in order to cope with various types of vehicles. For this reason, it is not always possible to clean the entire outer surface of the automobile cleanly, and there has been a problem that the washing is left behind, and conversely, the brush is hit too strongly and the body is finely scratched.

[0003] In recent years, for example,
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 264174, a car washing machine in which a bar code representing a vehicle shape is attached to an inner surface of a side glass of a vehicle, and the bar code is read to perform car washing according to the vehicle shape is conceivable. ing.

However, in this case, the vehicle shape is 4
Car types (passenger car, jeep, one box,
Minivans), the presence or absence of a fender pole, the presence of a carrier or ceiling light, the presence or absence of a spoiler or visor, etc. Problems such as residual washing cannot be fundamentally solved. In particular, for parts that protrude outward from the vehicle body and are easily broken, such as fender poles and antennas, be sure to substantially avoid them (or wash them after removing them) in order to prevent damage. And such fine parts had to be washed manually.

Further, in the above-described car washing machine, for example, a specific gas station issues a bar code label only to a user who has become a car washing member, and is merely a service in a limited narrow range. But not everyone was able to get the service easily.
In this case, when a non-member user performs a car wash, the service cannot be used unless a vehicle type and a mounted part are designated by key input on an operation panel, and this is not a very effective service for non-members.

[0006] In the above-mentioned car washer, the user of the car may install or change optional parts,
The bar code (bar code label) must be updated (replaced) each time it is removed, which is not always easy to use as a system. Also, since the amount of information to be recorded is small, barcodes are not suitable for detailed settings such as discriminating vehicle types more finely. Further, sticking a barcode label on a window glass narrows the field of view of the driver. There is also a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable an automatic car washer to perform a detailed car wash according to the outer shape of an automobile, and that anyone can easily receive the service. To provide a car wash system that can.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a car wash system according to the present invention stores car wash information of various automobiles in a database of a server and accesses the server via communication means. A possible terminal device downloads the car wash information according to the designation of the vehicle type and the like from the server and outputs the information as an optically readable information code. Then, the information code is read and read by an automatic car wash machine. A function of controlling the car wash operation according to the car wash information is provided (the invention of claim 1).

[0010] According to this, the user can easily obtain the information code recording the car wash information of the corresponding vehicle type by operating the terminal device and accessing the server, and read the information code. As a result, the automatic car washer performs the car wash according to the car wash information. In this case, as long as the terminal device has a function of accessing the server, a personal computer owned by a car wash operator such as a gas station, a personal computer at the user's home, a mobile phone owned by the user, a convenience store, etc. Various devices such as a multimedia terminal installed in a car can be used, and anyone can easily obtain car wash information in various places at any time.

[0010] The car wash information is not a rough distinction of, for example, a passenger car or a one-box, but includes external shape data indicating the external dimensions of various automobiles and the positions of various parts such as windows and tires. It is possible to perform a detailed car wash according to each outer shape.

In addition, since the information code which can be read optically is used to input the car wash information to the automatic car washer, the information code can be easily output at a low cost by printing the information code with a printer of a personal computer, for example. Can also
There is a situation where an automatic car washer is generally installed in an environment where water or the like splashes outdoors.By using a paper medium or the like, the car wash information is transmitted to the automatic car washer using a communication device or a device that electromagnetically reads data. It is possible to make the system more suitable for the environment than when inputting.

[0012] The term "user" as used herein refers to any person who can operate the terminal device to obtain car wash information, that is, is limited to a vehicle user. Rather, it includes car wash operators (eg, gas station clerks, etc.), car dealers, car wash maker, car parts distributors, etc. In short, it provides those who receive car wash services and provides services to them. Everyone can be a user.

In this case, the information code is, for example, Q
It is desirable to adopt a two-dimensional code such as an R code (the invention of claim 2), whereby a large amount of data can be recorded in the information code.

Although the standard outer shape of an automobile is determined depending on the type of the automobile, various optional parts, such as a spoiler, a carrier, and an animal guard, to be mounted on the outer surface of the automobile can be arbitrarily mounted by a user of the automobile. Is available. Therefore, if the car wash information includes standard external shape data of various automobiles and position and shape data of various optional parts mounted on the outer surface of the automobile (the invention of claim 3), It is possible to perform more detailed car washing according to the parts, and it is easy to obtain data (car wash information) when the user newly installs, changes, or removes optional parts.

In this case, it is a matter of course that all the car wash information including the data of the optional parts may be recorded in one information code, but the information code indicates the standard outer shape data of the automobile. A plurality of information codes of a basic information code and an additional information code indicating the position and shape data of the optional part may be constituted (the invention of claim 4). In this case, instead of changing the entire information code, an additional information code may be added to the existing information code, and the convenience is improved.

The output form of the above information code is as follows.
The information code can be printed on the card (the invention of claim 5). According to this, since the information code can be obtained in the form of a card, it is convenient for the user to carry or store, and the operation for reading the information code becomes easy. Once the user has obtained the card, it can be used repeatedly as long as there is no change in optional parts and the like.

Alternatively, the information code may be displayed on a display unit of a portable information terminal device such as a portable telephone or a PDA (the invention of claim 6). According to this, the user who owns the portable information terminal device can easily obtain the information code anytime and anywhere.

If the car wash information includes information on the material of each part of the automobile and the automatic car washer is configured to execute a car wash operation according to the material (the invention of claim 7), In a car washer, it is possible to use a cleaner according to the material of each part of the automobile, change a washing method according to the material, or use a wax according to the type of coating, which is more effective. .

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Several embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (1) First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention (Claims 1, 2, 3, 5, and 5)
7) will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the car wash system according to the present embodiment.

Here, the car washing system is roughly divided into a server 1 (shown only in FIG. 2) installed for customer service by an automobile dealer, a car washing machine maker, a car washing company, an automobile parts distributor, and the like. The system includes terminal devices 3 and 4 that can access the server 1 via the Internet 2 as communication means, and an automatic car wash machine 5 installed by a car wash operator (for example, a gas station or the like) to wash the car.

The server 1 is provided with a database 6 for storing car wash information including external shape data indicating external dimensions of various automobiles and positions of various parts such as windows and tires. Then, as described later, necessary car wash information is taken out in response to access from the terminal devices 3 and 4, and an information code is generated. In the present embodiment, as the car wash information stored and stored in the database 6, the standard outer shape data of the vehicle body, the position and the position of various optional parts (spoiler, carrier, animal guard, etc.) mounted on the outer surface of the vehicle. And shape data.

More specifically, the standard external shape data of the automobile body includes the external dimensions of the automobile, the positions of headlights and tail lamps, the positions and sizes of front and rear windows, the positions of door mirrors (fender mirrors), and the positions of tires. -Consists of data on size, body color (type of coating), and other data (position of antenna, presence / absence of sunroof, presence / absence of roof rail, etc.). Also, the data of the optional parts includes the type, external dimensions,
It consists of data such as the mounting position, material, and color.
Note that FIG. 1 illustrates a sedan-type passenger car as the automobile A, and shows a spoiler B attached as an optional part.

The terminal device 3, as shown in FIG.
For example, the terminal device 4 is a general-purpose personal computer installed in an office of a car wash company or in a personal home, and the terminal device 4 is a multimedia terminal installed in, for example, a convenience store. At this time, the terminal device 3 has a printer 8 capable of printing an information code on a medium such as paper or plastic (such as a base paper of the card 7) as an output means. It has a built-in card issuer 9 for issuing printed cards 7.

The terminal devices 3 and 4 are connected to the server 1 via the Internet 2, and the user operates an operation unit of the terminal device to allow the user to obtain car wash information. Is designated, the car wash information corresponding to the designation can be downloaded from the server 1 and output as an optically readable information code. The input operation of the vehicle type and the optional parts is performed in a so-called interactive manner.

In this embodiment, a two-dimensional code C (in this case, a well-known QR code) is used as the optically readable information code.
Code) is used, and the card 7
Then, a two-dimensional code C that records car wash information on the corresponding automobile is output by printing. In this case, by using the two-dimensional code C (QR code), a large amount of data constituting the above-mentioned car wash information can be recorded in a small rectangular space on the card 7. Pieces of two-dimensional code C,
All standard external shape data and optional part data of the vehicle body are recorded.

Although not shown or described in detail, the automatic car washer 5 is constructed by incorporating a washing mechanism into a gate-shaped (downward U-shaped) machine frame 10 so that the machine frame 10 is mounted on a rail (not shown). By moving forward and backward, an automobile stopped at a predetermined washing position is washed. The cleaning mechanism includes a plurality of cleaning tools 11, such as a rotating brush and a cloth, a water jet device, a cleaner supply device, a wax supply device, a drying device, and the like, as shown only partially, and moves them freely. It is configured with a mechanism. At this time, the cleaning mechanism is controlled by a control device (not shown) mainly composed of a microcomputer.

The automatic car washer 5 (machine frame 10) incorporates a two-dimensional code reader 12 as an optical reader for reading the two-dimensional code C printed on the card 7. Although a detailed description is omitted, the two-dimensional code reader 12 has a card insertion slot 12a located at the front of the machine casing 10, and has a card insertion slot 12a inserted into the card insertion slot 12a. An area sensor that captures the dimension code C, a processing circuit that processes and decodes image data captured by the area sensor, and the like are provided.

Although not shown, a handy type two-dimensional code reader is used in the automatic car washer 5 (control device) instead of incorporating the two-dimensional code reader 12 in the machine frame 10.
, And in this case, the card 7
However, if the two-dimensional code C is printed on a paper medium, it can be used similarly.

The car wash information read by the two-dimensional code reader 12 is sent to the control device, and the control device controls the car wash operation based on the car wash information. . Specifically, the control device moves the cleaning tool 11 so as to follow the external shape of the vehicle including the mounted optional parts and obtain an appropriate pressing force, and moves the cleaning tool 11 to a glass portion such as a window, a headlight, and a mirror surface. The control according to the car wash information is performed, such as supplying the cleaner for the tire, supplying the cleaner for the tire to the tire portion, and supplying the wax according to the painting (metallic, white, black, etc.) of the body.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. First, an automobile user can obtain the card 7 on which the two-dimensional code C is printed by various methods as follows. That is, when the user performs car washing with the automatic car washer 5 for the first time, the card 7 can be received at a store (a gas station or the like) where the automatic car washer 5 is installed. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, an employee operates a terminal device (personal computer) 3 installed in an office or the like to access the server 1, and a corresponding vehicle type name (for example, “01 year type, Corolla”) , White, etc.) and the type of optional parts, etc., the data of the two-dimensional code C in which the car wash information is coded from the server 1 can be downloaded from the server 1. 8, the two-dimensional code C can be printed on the card 7.

Alternatively, the user of the car operates the terminal device (personal computer) 3 carried at home or the terminal device (multimedia terminal) 4 installed in a convenience store or the like, and the car wash information (two-dimensional code C ) Can be obtained.
Furthermore, when a car is purchased, the car can be received from a car dealer. In this case, the car dealer obtains the two-dimensional code C from the server 1 by the terminal device (personal computer) 3 and prints it on the card 7. Can be.

As described above, it is possible for anyone to easily obtain the card 7 in which the car wash information is recorded by the two-dimensional code C at various places at any time. Once the card 7 is obtained, the user of the automobile can use the card 7 as many times as long as the external shape of the automobile is not changed (addition or change of optional parts). Even if the card 7 is lost or damaged, it can be easily obtained again. When the optional parts are changed (attachment, replacement with another type, removal), it is easy to return (discard) the previous card 7 and receive a new card 7.

When the car is actually washed by the automatic car washer 5, the employee or the user of the car inserts the card 7 into the card insertion slot 12a and reads the printed two-dimensional code C into the two-dimensional code reader. 12 to input car wash information. In this case, as long as a handy type two-dimensional code reader is provided, the two-dimensional code C can be stored on another paper medium or the like instead of the card 7.
Is printed, the two-dimensional code C can be read.

When car wash information is input in this manner,
The automatic car wash machine 5 executes a car wash operation according to the car wash information. At this time, as described above, according to the car wash information, the washing is performed by the washing tool 11 with an appropriate pressing force according to the outer shape of the automobile A including the optional parts such as the spoiler B, and the glass portion is made of glass. Is supplied, a tire cleaner is supplied to the tire portion, and a wax according to the painting of the body is supplied.

This enables the automatic car washer 5 to perform a fine car wash according to the outer shape and material of the car based on the car wash information, and the pressing force of the cleaning tool 11 is too strong to cause a fine scratch. Can be prevented from being attached or being too weak to be washed sufficiently, and the easily damaged parts such as fender poles and antennas do not need to be removed and can be washed without fear of damage. At the same time, even small parts are not left unwashed, so that it is not necessary to perform manual washing later.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the automatic car washer 5 is configured to control the car wash operation according to the car wash information based on reading the two-dimensional code C recorded on the card 7. The car wash information does not include a general distinction between a car and a one-box, but includes outside shape data indicating the outside dimensions of various vehicles and the positions of various parts such as windows and tires. Car wash can be performed finely. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the car wash information includes the position and shape data of the optional parts and the information of the material of each part, it is possible to perform a more detailed car wash.

When the user operates the terminal devices 3 and 4 to access the server 1, the user can obtain the two-dimensional code C in which the car wash information of the corresponding vehicle type is recorded. Anyone can get car wash information in various places, and anyone can easily receive the service. Further, in this embodiment, the two-dimensional code C that is optically read is stored on the card 7 (paper medium).
, The output can be made easily and inexpensively, and a system suitable for the environment of the automatic car washer 5 can be installed in a place where water or the like splashes outdoors.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment (corresponding to claim 4) of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the structure of the information code recorded on the card 21. That is, in the present embodiment, a basic information code C0 consisting of a two-dimensional code (QR code) indicating the standard external shape data of the car A as car wash information is printed in the upper right column of the card 21, and an option is printed below the basic information code C0. Parts column 21
a is provided.

In this optional part column 21a, an additional information code C1 consisting of a two-dimensional code (QR code) indicating the position and shape data of only the optional part B as the car wash information is recorded. In this case, it is possible to record a plurality of additional information codes C1. This additional information code C1 is
May be printed by a printer capable of printing, or a label (sticker) on which the additional information code C1 is printed.
May be attached to the optional component column 21a.

At this time, the two-dimensional code reader 12 provided in the automatic car washer 5 reads the basic information code C0 of the card 21 and also reads the additional information code C1 in the optional parts column 21a, if any. The control device of the automatic car wash machine 5 controls the car wash operation according to the car wash information. According to this, when the optional part B is changed (attached, replaced, removed), the basic information code C0 is printed instead of changing the entire two-dimensional code C as in the first embodiment. Information code C on the card 21
For example, adding 1 will make it more convenient.

In this case, for example, when selling the optional part B, it is possible to attach a sticker on which the additional information code C1 relating to the relevant optional part B is printed. Can be attached to the card 21 held by the user. It is needless to say that the basic information code C0 and the additional information code C1 may be recorded and read on a general sheet other than the card 21.

(3) Third Embodiment and Other Embodiments FIGS. 4 and 5 show a third embodiment (corresponding to claim 6) of the present invention. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, this third
In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a portable information terminal device is used as a terminal device for accessing the server 1 via, for example, the Internet (not shown) to obtain two-dimensional code data in which car wash information is recorded. For example, a mobile phone 22 owned by an individual can be used.

When two-dimensional code data in which car wash information is recorded is obtained by using the portable telephone 22, the two-dimensional code C is output by displaying the two-dimensional code C on the screen of the display unit 23 of the portable telephone 22. It is supposed to. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, a handy type two-dimensional code reader 24 is connected to the automatic car washer 5, and a reading window 24 a of the two-dimensional code reader 24 is provided with a display unit 23 of the mobile phone 22. , The two-dimensional code C displayed on the display unit 23 can be read. Note that the two-dimensional code reader 24 can of course also read the two-dimensional code C recorded on the card 7 or another paper medium.

According to this, the user who owns the mobile phone 24 can easily obtain the two-dimensional code C in which the car wash information is simply recorded anytime and anywhere. A medium such as a card can be omitted for inputting the car wash information to the user, so that the convenience can be further improved. Note that the two-dimensional code reader may be one that is incorporated in the automatic car washer 5 (machine frame 10) and has a reading window on the front surface. Further, as the portable information terminal device, various devices such as a so-called mobile terminal such as a PDA can be used.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the communication means is not limited to the one using the Internet, but uses a public line network or a communication network of a specific business operator. The information code may be received by facsimile, for example. Instead of acquiring the car wash information as two-dimensional code data, the terminal device that has acquired the car wash information may generate a two-dimensional code.

In each of the above embodiments, the QR code is used as the optically readable information code. However, the present invention is not limited to the QR code, and various codes can be used. Because the information of the
It is desirable to use a two-dimensional code. Furthermore, various modifications are also possible for the configuration of the automatic car washer, etc.
The present invention can be appropriately changed and implemented without departing from the gist.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is a view schematically showing an entire configuration of a car wash system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state when a two-dimensional code is obtained from a server by a terminal device;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a card showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the two-dimensional code displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone is read by the two-dimensional code reader.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 1 is a server, 2 is the Internet (communication means), 3 and 4 are terminal devices, 5 is an automatic car washer, 6 is a database, 7 and 21 are cards, 8 is a printer, 9 is a card issuer, and 12 and 24 is a two-dimensional code reader (optical reading means), 22 is a mobile phone (portable information terminal),
23 is a display unit, C is a two-dimensional code (information code), C0
Indicates a basic information code, and C1 indicates an additional information code.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A database which is installed by an automobile dealer, a car wash maker, a car wash operator, and the like, and which stores car wash information including external shape data indicating external dimensions of various automobiles and positions of windows, tires and the like. A server, provided so as to be accessible to the server via a communication means, and by designating a vehicle type name or the like by a user operation, car wash information corresponding to the designation can be downloaded from the server and optically readable. Terminal device for outputting a simple information code, and an automatic car washing machine installed by a car wash business operator and comprising an optical reading means for reading the information code, and controlling a car washing operation according to the car wash information recorded in the read information code. A car wash system comprising: 2. The car wash system according to claim 1, wherein said information code is a two-dimensional code. 3. The car wash information includes standard external shape data of various automobiles and position and shape data of various optional parts mounted on an outer surface of the automobile. The car wash system as described. 4. An information code recording the car wash information,
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of information codes including a basic information code indicating standard external shape data of the vehicle and additional information codes indicating position and shape data of the optional part. Car wash system. 5. The car washing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device outputs the information code by printing the information code on a card. 6. The car washing system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is a portable information terminal device, and outputs by displaying the information code on a display unit thereof. . 7. The car wash information includes information on a material of each part of an automobile, and the automatic car wash machine is configured to execute a car wash operation according to the material. The car wash system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.