JP2003252182A - Car shape detecting device and car washer with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car shape detecting device for discriminating that the external light such as sunlight is entered into a light receiving element, and regarding the car shape data obtained when the external light is entered, as proper one, and to provide a car washing machine being controlled on the basis of the car shape data to reduce an unwashed part. <P>SOLUTION: This car shape detecting device comprises a control device 17 for judging the light transmission or light shielding to an optical axis B of the light emitting element L and the light receiving element R on the basis of the difference (rc) between a first light receiving level (ra) received by the light receiving element R opposite to a light emitting element L not emitting the light, and a second light receiving level (rb) received by the light receiving element R opposite to the light emitting element L emitting the light, and judging that the strong external light is entered into the light receiving element R when the first light receiving level (ra) is more than a specified level (rh). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle shape detecting device for detecting the shape of an automobile and a car washing machine equipped with this vehicle shape detecting device. It realizes various vehicle shape detection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device shown in FIG. 11 is known as a device for detecting the shape of an automobile in a car washer or the like. This vehicle shape detecting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements L1
Light emitting device 101 in which Ln is arranged, and light emitting elements L1 to Ln
And a light receiving device 102 in which a plurality of light receiving elements R1 to Rn forming a pair are vertically arranged so as to face each other across the width of the automobile A, and whether the optical axes of the light emitting element and the light receiving element forming a pair respectively transmit light. It is configured to sequentially check whether the light is shielded from the upper part to the lower part and detect the upper surface position of the automobile A. Scanning driving units 103 and 104 are connected to the light emitting device 101 and the light receiving device 102, respectively, and the light emitting device L1 at the uppermost part to the light emitting device L at the lowermost part from the optical axis of the light receiving device R1.
The n-light receiving element Rn is sequentially scanned up to the optical axis Bn. Further, a light receiving detection circuit 105 is connected to the light receiving device 102, and the light receiving detection circuit 105 detects a light receiving level of the light receiving element before the light emitting element is turned on and a light receiving level when the light emitting element is turned on. Then, a difference light reception level between the two light reception levels is created, and the control unit 106 connected to the light reception detection circuit 105 determines whether or not the light emission of the light emitting element is received. Then, the light emitting device 101 and the light receiving device 102 are made to run, and detection is performed every time a unit distance is moved or a predetermined time elapses,
It is configured to detect a continuous vehicle contour.

[0003]

By the way, since such a vehicle shape detecting device and a car wash equipped with this device are used outdoors, when the vehicle body is being detected, sunlight or the like is reflected on the vehicle body. It may be reflected and incident on the light receiving element.
In the conventional device, when strong external light is incident on the light receiving element,
The light receiving detection circuit 105 cannot detect the light receiving level, and the differential light receiving level cannot be obtained. Then, the control unit 106
Then, it is determined that the light emitted from the light emitting element is not received, and binary data of light shielding "1" is given to the vehicle shape data of this portion. As a result, the incident of external light due to irregular reflection appears particularly near the rear glass, and the distorted vehicle shape data as shown in FIG. 12 is detected. In other words, in the conventional device, since it is not possible to detect that the ambient light is incident on the light receiving element, whether the vehicle shape data determined to be light blocking is actually the optical axis blocked by the vehicle body or the protrusion, It was not possible to judge whether it was the incident of outside light.

When this car shape detection device is adopted in a car wash machine, the car wash brush and the drying nozzle are controlled based on the car shape data, so that "shading" occurs at a position where strong external light enters. There has been a problem that the avoidance operation is given to the car wash brush and the drying nozzle based on the car shape data, and unwashed parts are left in that part. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to determine that external light such as sunlight has entered the light receiving element, and to make the vehicle shape data appropriate when the external light is incident. Another object of the present invention is to reduce unwashed residue in a car wash machine controlled based on such vehicle shape data.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged vertically and a plurality of light emitting elements forming a pair with the light emitting element of the light emitting device. A light receiving device configured by arranging light receiving elements vertically, a light emitting drive unit driving the light emitting device, a light receiving drive unit driving the light receiving device, and the light emitting device and the light receiving device sandwiching the vehicle in the width direction. And a light emitting element in the vehicle body detection device while traveling the vehicle body detection device or the automobile by the traveling means. A vehicle shape detection device for generating vehicle shape data by transmitting / shading an optical axis with a light receiving element to detect the shape of an automobile, wherein the light receiving element receives light when it is not emitting light. Based on the difference light receiving level between the first light receiving level and the second light receiving level received by the light receiving element facing the light emitting element when the light emitting element is made to emit light, light is transmitted through the optical axis between the light emitting element and the light receiving element or (EN) A vehicle shape detecting device provided with a control device which judges whether to block light and judges that strong external light has entered the light receiving element when the first light receiving level exceeds a prescribed level.

In this control device, when it is determined that strong external light of a specified level or more is incident on the light receiving element, binary data of light transmission is given to the optical axis of the light receiving element. Further, with respect to the optical axis of the light receiving element, light transmission / light shielding is determined based on other normally determined vehicle shape data.

Further, such a car shape detecting device is provided in a car wash machine for cleaning the car body by relatively moving the car body and the car body to be cleaned, and the car detected by the car shape detecting device. The cleaning brush and the drying nozzle are controlled according to the shape of the vehicle body.

[0008]

According to the vehicle shape detecting device of the present invention, the light emitting device and the light receiving device are opposed to each other with the vehicle interposed therebetween, and the upper surface position of the vehicle is recognized by the position shielded by the vehicle body. The light receiving detection circuit connected to the light receiving device receives the light receiving level when the light emitting element is not emitting light and the light receiving level when the light emitting element is emitting light, and detects the differential light receiving level based on the light receiving levels of the two points. To do. The control device determines whether the optical axes of the light emitting element and the light receiving element are transparent or shielded based on the differential light receiving level.
If it is light-shielded, binarized vehicle shape data of "1" is given to the optical axis. Such vehicle shape data is detected while the light emitting device and the light receiving device are running or the vehicle is running, and the continuous shape of the vehicle is recognized.

In the light receiving detection circuit, if the received light level when the detected light emitting element is not emitting light is higher than the determination level set in the comparator, the control device determines that strong external light has entered the light receiving element. To do. The control device determines that the light receiving element (optical axis) in which such external light is incident is transparent and gives binary data of "0". This is because, basically, no external light is incident on a position where there is a shield such as a vehicle body or a projection, and the influence of the external light is likely to occur on a portion where there is no shield.

As another method, there is a method of judging light transmission / light shielding on the light receiving element (optical axis) for which external light is confirmed to be incident, based on the normally detected vehicle shape data. . First, if the data on which the outside light is incident is on the light-transmitting side that is far from the light-shielding and light-shielding boundary of the normally detected vehicle shape data, it is recognized as not a protrusion of the automobile and it is judged as light-transmitting. To give binary data of "0". On the other hand, if the data on which the external light is incident is at the boundary between the light transmission and the light shielding of the normally detected vehicle shape data, it is determined that the vehicle body or a portion having a projection is likely to be light-shielded and “1” is set. , The part that is unlikely to be a car body or a protrusion is judged to be translucent, and is "0".
Give value data.

When adopted in a car wash machine, the car wash brush and the drying nozzle are controlled based on the created car wash data.
Since the data on which the external light is incident is determined to be transparent, the unwashed residue and insufficient drying are reduced.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a known gate type car washing machine. 1 is a gate type car wash machine, 2 rails
Car 2 travels back and forth, and the car A parked between the rails 2 and 2 is automatically washed and dried. The car wash 1 includes a top brush 3 and a top nozzle 4 that are moved up and down along the top surface of the car.
Etc. are provided, and these processing devices are operated along the shape of A of the automobile. Reference numeral 5 denotes a vehicle body detection device, which is provided in front of the car wash machine 1 and has a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements facing each other vertically with the vehicle A sandwiched in the width direction. The vehicle body is detected by detecting that the optical signal is blocked by the vehicle body of the automobile A. Reference numeral 6 is a known rotary encoder that detects the rotation of the wheels 7 of the car wash machine 1, and outputs a pulse signal every time the car wash machine 1 travels a unit distance. By counting this pulse signal, the travel distance of the car wash machine 1 is increased. Can be detected.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view of an embodiment of the present invention used in the car wash machine. The vehicle body detection device 5 includes a light emitting element L.
Light emitting devices 5a in which a plurality of light emitting devices 1 to Ln are vertically arranged, and light receiving devices R1 to R corresponding to the light emitting devices L1 to Ln, respectively.
The light receiving device 5b is formed by arranging a plurality of n, and optical signals are transmitted and received between the corresponding light emitting elements L1 to Ln and the corresponding light receiving elements R1 to Rn to form the optical axis B. Reference numeral 8 denotes a scanning drive unit of the light emitting device 5a, which is sequentially turned on so as to scan downward (upper) than the upper (lower) light emitting element when the vehicle body is detected. Reference numeral 9 denotes a scanning drive unit of the light receiving device 5b, which sequentially brings the light receiving elements corresponding to the scanning of the light emitting elements into the light receiving state.

Reference numeral 10 is a moving distance detecting circuit for calculating the moving distance of the car wash machine 1 (vehicle body detection device 5) in accordance with the pulse signal from the rotary encoder 6, and counts the pulse signals to start running the car wash machine 1. Detects the movement distance from the position. Reference numeral 11 denotes a light receiving detection circuit for detecting the light receiving level at the light receiving element, an amplifier 12 for amplifying the received light receiving analog waveform, an S & H circuit 13 for holding the light receiving level in a state where the light emitting element is not made to emit light,
A differential amplifier 14 that amplifies only the received light level when the light emitting element emits light, a gain adjustment unit 15 that adjusts the resolution of the received light level amplified by the differential amplifier 14, and the S
The & H circuit 13 is provided with a comparator 16 for determining whether or not the received light level is at a detectable level.

Reference numeral 17 denotes a control unit composed of a microcomputer, which includes the scanning drive units 8 and 9, the moving distance detecting circuit 10, the light receiving detecting circuit 11, and the discrimination level value for judging light transmission / light shielding for each light receiving element and the detected vehicle. Memory 18 for storing shape data
Also, the image processing unit 24 is connected. This control unit 17
Then, the scan drive units 8 and 9 are driven at a constant cycle to give a scan operation to the vehicle body detection device 5, and the light receiving level of each light receiving element transmitted from the light receiving detection circuit 11 is digitalized by the built-in A / D conversion unit 19. The received light level value obtained by conversion is compared with the discrimination level value of the memory 18 to create binary data, and the created binary data and the car wash machine 1 (vehicle body detection device 5) given by the moving distance detection unit 10 The vehicle shape data of the car body is created based on the moving distance of. Further, the control unit 17 also detects that external light has entered the light receiving element based on the signal from the comparator 16 and performs control for correcting the vehicle shape data. The image processing unit 24 detects the contour of the vehicle based on the vehicle shape data created by the control unit 17.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b in more detail. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are arranged on the inner surface of the groove formed at a predetermined depth in the vertical direction of the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b, and each has a hole-shaped light emitting window corresponding to each light emitting surface / light receiving surface. 20 and a light receiving window 21 are provided. Further, a visible light cut filter 22 having hydrophilicity is provided on the surface of each of the light emitting window and the light receiving window, and the inner surface of the groove covers an infrared frequency band emitted from the light emitting element, and an infrared absorbing material having water absorbency. 23 are provided. Further, the depth of the groove is formed so that the light emitting / receiving element is less likely to be exposed to ambient light such as sunlight or lighting when the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b are incorporated in the gate type car wash 1. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent water droplets from adhering to the light emitting element and the light receiving element at the time of car washing, and to prevent the ambient light incident from the front of the car washing machine from reaching the light receiving element directly or by being reflected in the groove. Further, even if a small water droplet in the form of fog adheres to the light emitting / receiving window, its surface has a hydrophilic property, so that it is in a wet state and does not interfere with light emitting / receiving of the element.

Next, a vehicle body detection method of the vehicle body detection device 5 will be described. The vehicle body is detected depending on whether the optical axes of the light emitting element and the light receiving element transmit or block the light. In detecting whether or not the light-receiving element R has received the light emitted from the light-emitting element L facing the light-receiving element R, that is, whether or not the optical axis B is formed, the light-receiving element R before the light-emitting element L is caused to emit light by the light-receiving detection circuit 11 is detected. Of the light receiving level ra of the light receiving element R and the light receiving level rb of the light receiving element R when the light emitting element L emits light, and the light receiving level rc detected by the light receiving detection circuit 11 in the control unit 17 It is determined whether the axis B is transparent or light-shielded.

Before the vehicle body is detected, an initial setting operation for setting the discrimination threshold rh of the detected differential light receiving level rc is performed. Since the discrimination threshold rh is a reference value for discriminating light transmission / light shielding depending on the performance and accuracy of each light emitting element or light receiving element, the detection threshold value rh must always be detected before detection so that a reduction in light receiving level due to adhesion of dirt can be tolerated. It is executed and set for each light receiving element. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing this initial setting operation, and FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view thereof.

The initial setting operation is executed in a state where the shield (automobile) does not enter between the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b of the vehicle shape detecting device 5, and first, the light receiving scanning drive unit 9 is driven (1). , The light receiving element R before the light emitting element L1 emits light
The light reception level ra1 of 1 is captured. The received light level ra1 captured by the received light detection circuit 11 is amplified by the amplifier 12, and then temporarily held by the S & H circuit 13. Next, after driving the scanning drive unit 8 of the light emitting device 5a (2), the scanning drive unit 9 of the light receiving device 5b is driven (3), and the light receiving element R when the light emitting element L1 emits light.
The light reception level rb1 of 1 is taken in. The received light level rb1 taken into the received light detection circuit 11 is the amplifier 1
After being amplified by 2, the difference from the light receiving level ra1 held in the S & H circuit 13 is amplified by the differential amplifier 14 and the differential light receiving level rc1 is taken out. The differential light receiving level rc1 is adjusted to a desired resolution by the gain adjusting unit 15 and then transmitted to the control unit 17.

In the control unit 17, the differential light receiving level rc1 detected here is set to the maximum light receiving level r1m of the light receiving element R1.
Captured as ax (4), this maximum received light level r1m
What is the achievement rate for ax?
1 is set (5) and stored in the memory 18 as a discrimination threshold of the light receiving element R1 (6). After that, this process (1)
The operations from (6) to (6) are repeated (7) to receive the light receiving element R2.
The discrimination thresholds are set to rh1 to rh for each of the subsequent light receiving elements.
Set n. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the maximum light receiving level r1max of the light receiving element R1 detected in this initial setting operation is detected.
Is 10, the determination threshold rh1 of the light receiving element R1 is set to 5 when the achievement rate is 50%. Therefore, by the vehicle shape detection operation described later, if the differential light receiving level rc1 in the light receiving element R1 is 5 or more, the optical axis B1 is determined to be transparent, and if it is less than 5, it is determined to be light blocking. Although the achievement rate may be set to 50%, it can be dealt with to some extent. However, it is desirable to set each time depending on the environment in which the device is used (generation of steam, etc.) and the detection accuracy.

Next, the vehicle shape detecting operation will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing this vehicle shape detection operation, and FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view thereof. When the vehicle shape detection starts, similarly to the above-described initial setting operation, first, the light receiving scanning drive unit 9
Is driven (8). Then, in the light reception detection circuit 11,
The light reception level ra1 of the light receiving element R1 in a state where the light emitting element L1 is not made to emit light is captured. This received light level ra1
Is amplified by the amplifier 12 and then compared with the detection threshold value Rh set in the comparator 16 to detect the light reception level ra.
If 1 is higher than the detection threshold value Rh, it is determined that strong external light such as sunlight or headlamps is reflected by the vehicle body of the automobile and enters the light receiving element, and is transmitted to the control unit 17 for detection threshold value. If it is lower than the value Rh, it is once held in the S & H circuit 13.

The control unit 17 confirms whether or not this light-reception level abnormality is transmitted from the light-reception detection circuit 11 (9). If there is no abnormality, after the light emission scanning drive unit 8 is driven (10), The light receiving scanning drive unit 9 is driven (1
1). Then, the light receiving detection circuit 11 captures the light receiving level rb1 of the light receiving element R1 in the state where the light emitting element L1 emits light. The received light level rb1 is amplified by the amplifier 12, and then the difference from the received light level ra1 held in the S & H circuit 13 is amplified by the differential amplifier 14 to extract the differential received light level rc1. The differential light receiving level rc1 is adjusted to a desired resolution by the gain adjusting unit 15 and then transmitted to the control unit 17.

In the control unit 17, the detected differential light receiving level rc1 is digitized by the A / D conversion unit 19 (12) and compared with the discrimination threshold rh1 stored in the memory 18 by the above-mentioned initial setting operation ( 13). Here, if the differential light receiving level rc1 is higher than the determination threshold value rh1, it is determined that the light is transmitted and binary data of “0” is given to the optical axis B1 (14). If it is low, it is determined that the light is shielded. Binary data of "1" is given to the optical axis B1 (15) and is sampled in the memory 18 (16). Such operations (8) to (16) are continuously performed from the light emitting element Ln to the optical axis Bn of the light receiving element Rn (17), and the vehicle shape data for one scan is created as binary data. It For example, in the example shown in FIG.
Since the light receiving element R1 detects the differential light receiving level rc1 which is higher than the discrimination threshold rh1, it is determined that the optical axis B1 is transparent, and binary data of "0" is given. On the other hand, in the light receiving element Rn, since the differential light receiving level rcn is not detected, it is judged that the optical axis Bn is shielded from light and the value is “0”.
Binary data is given.

In process (9), when an abnormal light receiving level ra is detected, it is determined that strong external light such as sunlight or headlamps is reflected by the vehicle body of the automobile and is incident on the light receiving element R. When external light is incident, it is determined that light is transmitted without a vehicle body or protrusions on the optical axis, binary data of "0" is given to the optical axis B (18), and sampling is performed in the memory 18 ( 1
6). For example, the data on the optical axis B6 in FIG. 7 corresponds to this. On the optical axis B6, since the outside light is incident, it exceeds the detection threshold value Rh. In this state, even if the light emitted from the light emitting element is received, it is saturated with the surrounding illuminance level and the differential light receiving level is not detected. However, since it is unlikely that a shield exists because the external light is incident, there is no problem even if it is determined that the light is transmitted. The same applies to the optical axis B7, and when external light that deviates from the limit level that can be detected by the light receiving element is incident, it is determined to be light transmission. The detection threshold Rh
Is about 50% of the detection limit level Rmax of the light receiving element
It is set to a degree, and it is desirable to set it according to the conditions such as daytime, nighttime, and season.

The operation of the car washer employing the vehicle shape detecting device having the above structure will be described below. When the car A is stopped at a predetermined stop position that is not detected by the car shape detection device 5, a car wash menu or a protrusion is specified on an operation panel (not shown) provided on the front of the car wash machine, and then a car wash start is input. Car wash operation starts. When the car wash starts, the control unit 17 controls according to the flowchart of FIG. First, the initialization operation of FIG. 4 described above is performed (20), the maximum light receiving levels of the light receiving elements R1 to Rn are detected, and the respective light receiving determination threshold values rh1 to rhn are stored in the memory 18. In this initial setting operation, the light emitting element L1-the light receiving element R1 to the light emitting element Ln-the light receiving element R at the same time.
Up to n, it is checked whether or not the optical axes B1 to Bn that are respectively configured are normally formed. If there is a portion where the optical axis B is not formed, it is determined that one or both of the light emitting element and the light receiving element has a failure or dirt, and the inspection and cleaning are urged.

When this initial setting operation is completed, the car wash machine body 1 is made to travel (21), and when the moving distance detecting section 10 detects that the car wash machine body 1 has traveled a predetermined distance (22),
The vehicle shape detection operation of FIG. 4 is performed to create vehicle shape data (2
3). That is, the differential light receiving level rc is calculated from the light receiving level ra of the light receiving element R when the light emitting element L is not emitting light and the light receiving level rb of the light receiving element R when the light emitting element L is emitting light. By comparing the differential light receiving level rc with the discrimination threshold value rh stored in the memory 18,
Binary data is created with the light transmission "0" and the light shielding "1".
The vehicle shape data for one scan is created by sampling the optical axes B1 to Bn from the light emitting element L1-light receiving element R1 to the light emitting element Ln-light receiving element Rn. At this time, the received light level ra deviates from the detection threshold value Rh, so that all of the transmitted light is “0” with respect to the optical axis where the incident of the external light is detected.
Binary data is given. This is because, in general, the external light incident on the light receiving element is almost always diffused reflection light reflected on the vehicle body of the automobile, and if there is a vehicle body or a protrusion, the external light is incident on the light receiving element. Since the possibility of coming in is extremely low, it is possible to judge that all the optical axes where external light is recognized are transmitted.

In this way, the vehicle shape data is created every time the car wash machine 1 travels a predetermined distance. Then, the creation of the vehicle shape data is continuously executed while the car wash machine travels on the outward path (2
4) By this detection operation, the matrix screen is divided into the horizontal axis of the car wash movement pitch unit and the vertical axis of the optical axis arrangement pitch unit, and a binary value of "0" for light transmission and "1" for light shielding is displayed. A binary image (FIG. 9) is formed by applying the converted car shape data. Then, the created binary image is subjected to image processing by a known method (25), and a boundary between light transmission and light shielding is detected to obtain a continuous upper surface contour of the vehicle.

When the shape of the automobile is detected, a car wash operation is performed based on the detected outline of the automobile (26).
In the car washing operation, the vehicle body is brushed with shampoo injection in the first backward movement of the car wash machine 1, and the coating is performed with wax injection in the second outward movement.
On the return trip, blown air is blown with the high-speed wind.
Among these, the upper surface brush and the upper surface nozzle are vertically controlled along the detected contour of the vehicle. In this way, when the car wash operation is finished (27), the car A is prompted to leave and the car wash is finished. In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle shape is detected in the first forward process and the car wash operation is performed as the car wash machine travels thereafter. However, the vehicle shape is detected and brushing is performed simultaneously during the first forward process. May be.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned configuration, and various embodiments are conceivable particularly for the determination of the vehicle shape data in which the incidence of external light is detected. In the above-described embodiment, binary data of "0" for all light transmission is given to the optical axis in which the incident of external light is detected, but in another embodiment, the incident of external light is For the confirmed light receiving element (optical axis), the determination of light transmission / light blocking is temporarily suspended, and binary image data is created based on the other normally detected vehicle shape data. There is a method of performing light / light blocking judgment based on the created binary image data.

That is, in FIG. 10, when the optical axis (shaded portion) on which the outside light is incident is on the light transmitting side of the boundary between the light transmission and the light shielding of the normally detected vehicle shape data (portion A). Condition), we recognize that it is not a protrusion of the car,
It is judged to be transparent and binary data of "0" is given. On the other hand, in the case where there is a boundary between the light transmission and the light shielding of the vehicle shape data (state of B part), considering the possibility that there is a vehicle body or a protrusion, it is judged as light shielding and binary data of "1" give. Also, in the case where the vehicle shape data is surrounded by the light-shielding (the state of the portion C), it is determined that the light-shielding has occurred, and 2 of "1" is determined.
The value data is given.

In addition to the above, there is a method of making a determination according to which part of the automobile the optical axis on which the external light is incident is data of the automobile, or a type of the automobile. For example,
If the optical axis on which the external light is incident is the rear glass of the automobile, it is determined that there is no shield (protrusion) at the location of the car wash data on the rear glass of the ordinary automobile, and the external light is incident on the optical axis. Therefore, it is judged that all are transparent, and binary data of "0" is given. In addition, if you specify a vehicle type such as a sedan type vehicle or a wagon vehicle, and the optical axis where external light is incident is the rear glass of the wagon vehicle, consider the possibility that it is a rear mirror and consider the optical axis where external light is incident. It is judged as all shading and it is 2 of "1".
The value data is given.

In the above embodiment, the car shape detecting device is adopted in the gate type car washer, but the car shape detecting device may be used alone or in a single unit. In this case, the vehicle shape detecting device may be fixed and the vehicle may be run between the light emitting device and the light receiving device to detect the vehicle shape of the vehicle, regardless of whether the vehicle type is adopted in the gate type car wash machine.

[0033]

As described above, the present invention is configured and provided with the comparator for detecting whether the light receiving level received by the light receiving element facing the light emitting element has reached the external light level when the light emitting element is not emitting light. Therefore, it is possible to detect that the external light diffusely reflected by the vehicle body is incident on the light receiving element, and it is possible to arbitrarily determine whether light is transmitted or shielded with respect to the optical axis at which the incident external light is detected. . Further, by equipping the car wash machine with the vehicle shape detection device, the influence of the incident of external light can be minimized, and it is possible to prevent the unwashed residue from occurring as compared with the conventional device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory diagram of a gate type car wash equipped with a vehicle shape detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view showing a vehicle shape detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration explanatory view showing a configuration of a light emitting device and a light receiving device in the same device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an initial setting operation in the same device.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating the initial setting operation of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a vehicle shape detection operation in the same device.

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram illustrating the vehicle shape detection operation of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of a gate type car wash machine equipped with the same device.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of vehicle shape data detected by the device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of correcting vehicle shape data detected by outside light according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a structural explanatory view showing a conventional vehicle shape detection device.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of vehicle shape data detected by a conventional vehicle shape detecting device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 car wash machine body 5 Body detection device 5a light emitting device 5b Light receiving device 6 rotary encoder 8 Light emission drive 9 Light receiving drive 10 Moving distance detection circuit 11 Light receiving detection circuit 16 comparator 17 Control unit L light emitting element R light receiving element B optical axis A car

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged vertically, a light receiving device having a plurality of light receiving elements paired with the light emitting elements of the light emitting device arranged vertically, and the light emitting device. And a light receiving drive unit for driving the light receiving device, a vehicle body detection device for detecting the vehicle body by making the light emitting device and the light receiving device face each other across the width direction of the vehicle, and the vehicle body detection device. Alternatively, a vehicle shape data is created by providing a traveling means for traveling an automobile, and transmitting / shading the optical axis of each light emitting element and light receiving element in the vehicle body detecting device while traveling the vehicle body detecting device or the automobile by the traveling means. A vehicle shape detecting device for detecting the shape of an automobile, wherein the first light receiving level received by a light receiving element facing the light emitting element when the light emitting element is not emitting light and the light receiving element facing the first light receiving level when the light emitting element is emitted. Based on the difference light receiving level from the second light receiving level received by the light receiving element, it is judged whether light is transmitted or blocked with respect to the optical axis of the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and the first light receiving level has a prescribed level. A vehicle shape detection device comprising a control device that determines that strong external light is incident on the light receiving element when it exceeds the limit. 2. The control device, when judging that strong external light is incident on the light receiving element, gives binary data of light transmission to the optical axis of the light receiving element. The vehicle shape detection device according to 1. 3. When the control device determines that strong external light is incident on the light receiving element,
The vehicle shape detection device according to claim 1, wherein light transmission / light shielding is determined based on the normally determined vehicle shape data. 4. A car washing machine for washing an automobile body by moving a car washing machine body and an automobile body to be washed relative to each other, comprising the vehicle shape detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Shape detection device in machine. 5. A car wash processing device such as a cleaning brush and a drying nozzle is provided in a car-washer body formed in a gate shape, and the car body is washed by moving the car-washer body and the car body to be washed relative to each other. A car washing machine comprising the vehicle shape detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning brush and the drying nozzle are controlled in accordance with the shape of the vehicle body detected by the vehicle shape detecting device. .