JP2003312452A - Car washer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a fault of disturbance in drying by water splash from washing when conducting the drying while conducting the washing. <P>SOLUTION: A washer body 3 is separated into a front body 3a provided with washing brushes 11-13, and a rear body 3b provided with nozzles 21, 22 for the drying, the front body 3a and the rear body 3b are constituted respectively to travel individually by travel motors 14, 25, and a controller is provided to change a travel speed in at least one out of front body 3a and rear body 3b sides so as to correct a fore-and-aft space, when a fore-and-aft shift is detected between the front body 3a and the rear body 3b by detectors 30, 31, in the travel along the same direction under the condition where the front body 3a and the rear body 3b keep a prescribed space B. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a drive-through type car washer installed at a gas station and used for car washing (a vehicle to be washed that has entered into the main body of the car washes from the front after passing through the car and exits. Car wash machine to let).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this type of car wash machine, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, a stationary car wash machine body 71 and a vehicle 7 are used.
There is a car wash machine configured by a roller conveyor 73 that carries out 2 from the front to the rear through the car wash machine body 71.

A washing section 74 is provided at the front of the car wash body 71.
Is formed, and a drying part 75 is formed at the rear part. The cleaning unit 74 includes a rocker brush 76 and a top brush 7 for cleaning the surface of the vehicle (vehicle to be cleaned) 72.
7, a side brush 78, a spray device (not shown) for spraying cleaning water or detergent onto the surface of the vehicle 72, and the like are provided. Further, the drying section 75 is provided with a drying top nozzle 79, a drying side nozzle 80, and the like in order to blow air onto the surface of the vehicle 72 to dry it.
Further, a plurality of coating agent injection nozzles 81 for injecting a fluorine coating agent onto the surface of the vehicle 72 are provided on the front side of the drying top nozzle 79.

According to the above construction, when the vehicle 72 is carried into the car wash main body 71 by the roller conveyor 73, the brushes 76, 77 and 78 are actuated to spray the washing water and the detergent from the spraying device to the vehicle 72. As the surface is cleaned and further the vehicle 72 is transported to the downstream side, the fluorine coating agent is sprayed from the coating agent spray nozzle 81 onto the surface of the vehicle 72, and then the drying top nozzle 79 and the drying side nozzle. 80 is activated and vehicle 72
The surface of the vehicle is dried, and the vehicle 72 is carried out from the downstream end of the roller conveyor 73 to the rear of the car washer body 71.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned brush 7
6, 77, 78 and the drying nozzles 79, 80 are short in distance, and the drying nozzles 79, 80 are used even while the brushes 76, 77, 78 are cleaning the surface of the vehicle (vehicle to be cleaned) 72. Since the drying is carried out at 80, the vehicle 7 by the above-mentioned brushes 76, 77, 78 is
There was a problem that the water spray (water splash) generated by the brushing of No. 2 and the spraying of the washing water and the detergent reaches the drying section 75, and the drying cannot be satisfactorily performed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a car washing machine which can be dried well.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a car wash machine for washing a vehicle to be washed while relatively moving the vehicle to be washed and the car wash machine body. The car washing machine body is separated into a front body having a cleaning means for washing the vehicle to be washed and a rear body having a drying means for drying the vehicle to be washed, and the front body and the rear body are Each of the traveling devices is configured to be capable of traveling individually, and a detection unit is provided for detecting that the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body has been opened and closed to a predetermined predetermined distance, and the front body and the rear body are provided. At least one of the front main body and the rear main body when the detection means detects a change in the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body when traveling in the same direction while maintaining the predetermined distance between the main body and the main body. Change the running speed of Control means for correcting the serial longitudinal spacing in which is provided.

According to this, in the car washing process, by running at least one of the front main body and the rear main body, it is possible to increase or decrease the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body. Therefore, by carrying out car washing with the front-rear body and the rear body being sufficiently widened, the vehicle to be washed is washed by the front body washing means and the vehicle to be washed is dried by the rear body drying means. Are executed apart from each other. As a result, it is possible to prevent a problem that the finish of drying is deteriorated due to water splashes generated during cleaning.

Further, when washing the car while running the front body and the rear body in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body at a predetermined distance, the front body and the rear body are separated from each other. If the front-rear distance between the front body and the rear body changes (shifts) from the above-mentioned predetermined distance due to an error in traveling speed,
The detecting means detects the change (deviation) in the front-rear spacing, and based on this detection, the control means corrects the front-rear spacing by changing the traveling speed of at least one of the front main body and the rear main body. Accordingly, the front-rear interval between the front main body and the rear main body is maintained at a predetermined interval, and it is possible to prevent a problem in which the front-rear interval is inadvertently changed (shifted) and hinders car washing.

In the second aspect of the invention, the predetermined interval is
A predetermined interval on the closed side and a predetermined interval on the open side are set, and the detection means detects a close limit detecting device that detects that the front main body and the rear main body are closed to the close limit interval that is the minimum, A close-side interval detecting device that detects that the front-rear interval has reached a predetermined close-side interval that is larger than the close-limit interval, and an open-end detecting device that detects that the front-rear interval has reached the open-end interval that is the maximum. And an open-side interval detection device that detects that the front-rear interval has reached a predetermined interval on the open side that is smaller than the open-ended interval, and the front-rear interval between the front main body and the rear main body is the close-side interval of the closed side. When the front main body and the rear main body are run in the same direction while maintaining a predetermined interval, the change in the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body is detected by the closing limit detecting device and the closing-side interval detecting device. , The front-rear space between the front body and the rear body is maintained at a predetermined space on the open side. If that in a state to run a front body and a rear body in the same direction, the change before and after the interval between the front body and the rear body is intended to be detected by the above-mentioned open limit detector and the open-side distance detecting device.

According to this, when the front main body and the rear main body travel in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear space between the front main body and the rear main body at a predetermined distance on the closed side, the front main body and the rear main body are separated from each other. The front-to-rear spacing between the front and rear bodies has changed (shifted) from the above-mentioned closed-side spacing due to errors in the running speed of the
In this case, the change (deviation) in the front-rear interval is detected by the closing limit detecting device and the closing-side interval detecting device, and based on this detection, the control means changes the traveling speed of at least one of the front main body and the rear main body. Correct the above-mentioned front-back interval. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body and the rear main body is maintained at the predetermined closed-side space.

When the front body and the rear body are made to travel in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body at a predetermined distance on the open side, the front body and the rear body travel. When the front-rear spacing between the front body and the rear body changes (shifts) from the predetermined spacing on the open side due to a speed error or the like, the change (shift) in the front-back spacing is detected by the open-end detection device and the open-side spacing detection device. Based on this detection, the control means changes the traveling speed of at least one of the front main body and the rear main body to correct the front-rear spacing. As a result, the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body is maintained at the predetermined space on the open side.

Further, in the third aspect of the present invention, the closing limit detecting device is
The limit switch for closing is composed of a limit switch for closing and a detection target for closing detected by the limit switch for closing. And the open-side detection device is composed of the open-side limit switch and the open-end detected object detected by the open-limit limit switch. The open side interval detection device is composed of an open side interval limit switch and an open side interval detected object detected by the open side interval limit switch, and each of the limit switches includes a front body and a rear body. Is provided on any one of the above, and each of the detection objects is provided on the other.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3
As shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a car wash machine that causes the car wash machine body 3 to travel in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned 2 to wash the car. The car wash machine body 3 is formed in a gate shape that straddles the vehicle 2.
It is separated into a front main body 3a having a cleaning means for cleaning the vehicle 2 and a rear main body 3b having a drying means for drying the vehicle 2, each of which is individually mounted on the floor rail 5 via a plurality of wheels 4. It is supposed to be able to run.

In the front main body 3a, as the cleaning means, a pair of left and right rocker brushes 11 for cleaning the tire and the lower side surface of the vehicle 2 in order from the front to the left and right, and moving vertically. A top brush 12 for freely cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle 2, a pair of left and right side brushes 13 for laterally traversing the front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of the vehicle 2, and a cleaning water spray for spraying cleaning water on the vehicle 2. The device 40 (see FIG. 5), the wax spray device 41 (see FIG. 5) for injecting wax to the vehicle 2, and the front traveling motor 14 for rotationally driving the wheel body 4 to drive the front body 3a.
(An example of a traveling device). Further, a vehicle height sensor 15 (such as an ultrasonic sensor) that detects the height (vehicle height) of the vehicle 2 is provided on the upper front portion of the front body 3a. Further, at the lower end of the front main body 3a, a front HP limit switch 17 for detecting that the front main body 3a is at the front home position HPa (running start position), and the front main body 3a at the opposite position OP (running). And an OP limit switch 18 for detecting that it is in the end position). Further, the side brush 13 is provided with a vehicle body detection limit switch 19 (see FIG. 5) that operates by the side brush 13 coming into contact with the vehicle 2 and tilting to detect the vehicle 2. The front main body 3a has a front pulse encoder 47a that generates a pulse corresponding to the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 and a front counter 48a that counts the number of pulses (see FIG. 5). And are provided. The pulse encoder 47a and the counter 48a constitute a front rotation speed detection device that detects the rotation speed of the front travel motor 14. Also,
The front counter 48a is reset to 0 when the front body 3a returns to the front home position HPa.

In the rear body 3b, as the drying means, a top nozzle 21 that is vertically movable and dries the upper surface of the vehicle 2, and a pair of left and right side nozzles 22 that dries both side surfaces of the vehicle 2. A blower (not shown) that supplies air to each of the nozzles 21 and 22 and a rear traveling motor 25 (an example of a traveling device) that rotationally drives the wheel body 4 to travel the rear body 3b are provided. Also, the rear body 3b
At the lower end of the rear main body 3b, the rear home position HP
A rear HP limit switch 23 for detecting that the vehicle is at the b (running start position) is provided. The rear body 3b
Is provided with a rear pulse encoder 47b that generates a pulse corresponding to the number of rotations of the rear traveling motor 25, and a rear counter 48b (see FIG. 5) that counts the number of pulses. Incidentally, the pulse encoder 4
7b and the counter 48b constitute a rear rotation speed detection device that detects the rotation speed of the rear traveling motor 25. The rear counter 48b is reset to 0 when the rear main body 3b returns to the rear home position HPb.

The front main body 3a includes the front main body 3a.
A pair of left and right side covers 7a and 7b (an example of a cover) that covers the left and right sides of the space created between a and the rear body 3b is attached.

As shown in FIG. 6, the car wash main body 3 is closed to a closed limit distance Amin (see the phantom line in FIG. 3) that minimizes the front-rear distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b. A closing limit detecting device 28 for detecting that the front-rear interval has reached a predetermined closing-side interval A (see the solid line in FIG. 3) that is greater than the closing limit interval Amin, and Opening interval Bmax that maximizes the front-to-back interval
(See the phantom line in FIG. 4) The open limit detection device 30 that detects that the open side is reached, and that the front-rear interval reaches a predetermined open-side interval B (see the solid line in FIG. 4) that is smaller than the open limit interval Bmax. And an open-side interval detection device 31 for detecting The magnitude relationship between the above intervals is as follows. Amin <A <B <Bmax As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG.
Is composed of a closing limit switch 28a and a closing dog 28b (an example of a closed detection object) for switching the closing limit switch 28a on and off. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (a), the closing-side distance detecting device 29 has a closing-side distance limit switch 29a.
And a closing-side spacing dog 29b (an example of a closed-side spacing detection object) that switches on / off the closing-side spacing limit switch 29a.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 10 (a),
The open limit detection device 30 includes a limit switch 30 for open limit.
a and an open-end dog 30b (an example of an open-ended detection object) for switching the open-close limit switch 30a on and off. Furthermore, FIG. 6 and FIG. 10 (b)
As shown in FIG. 3, the open-side distance detecting device 31 includes an open-side distance limit switch 31a and an open-side distance dog 31b (open-side distance detected switch 31a) for switching on / off of the open-side distance limit switch 31a. An example of the body) and.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the closing limit switch 28a and the closing side distance limit switch 29a are provided on the left and right rear sides of the upper end of the rear body 3b. It is attached to the mounting bracket 33 so as to be vertically and forwardly and backwardly distributed. That is, the closing side distance limit switch 29a is located above and in front of the closing limit switch 28a. Also,
The closing dog 28b and the closing gap dog 29b are attached to a mounting bracket 34 provided at the upper rear portion of one of the side covers 7a so as to be vertically and forwardly and backwardly distributed. That is, the close side interval dog 2
9b is located above the closing dog 28b.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 and 10, the limit switch for opening limit 30a and the limit switch for opening side gap 31a are mounted on the left and right front sides of the upper end of the rear body 3b. The bracket 35 is attached so as to be divided into upper and lower parts and front and rear parts. That is, the open side interval limit switch 31a is located below and in front of the open limit switch 30a. The open-end dog 30b and the open-side interval dog 31b are attached to the attachment bracket 36 provided at the rear end of the upper end of the other side cover 7b in such a manner as to be divided vertically and forward and backward. That is, the open side interval dog 31b is located below the open limit dog 30b.

As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 3, when the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b becomes the closing limit interval Amin, the closing limit switch 28a is closed as shown in FIG. Is in contact with the closing-end dog 28b to be turned on, and the closing-side interval limit switch 29a is in contact with the closing-side interval dog 29b to be turned on. Further, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, when the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b becomes the predetermined distance A on the closing side, as shown in FIG. 7, the closing limit switch 28a is closed. It is turned off by separating from the limit dog 28b rearward, and the close-side interval limit switch 29a is brought into contact with the close-side interval dog 29b and turned on. In the case of the closed limit interval Amin or the closed side predetermined interval A, both the open limit switch 30a and the open side limit switch 31a are turned off.

Further, as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 4, the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is the open interval Bmax.
11, the limit switch 30a for opening limit is in contact with the dog 30b for opening limit and is turned on, and the limit switch 31a for opening side interval is provided.
Is in contact with the open side spacing dog 31b and is turned on. Further, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, when the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b becomes a predetermined distance B on the open side, as shown in FIG.
0a is separated from the opening limit dog 30b to the front and is turned off, and the limit switch 31a for the opening side gap is provided.
Is in contact with the open side spacing dog 31b and is turned on. In the case of the above-mentioned open limit interval Bmax or the predetermined open-side interval B, both the limit switch for closing limit 28a and the limit switch for closing interval 29a are off.

Further, as shown in FIG.
a and the rear main body 3b are a pair of left and right spacing regulating wires 37.
Are linked by. In the unlikely event that the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is the above-mentioned open-ended interval Bmax (see
(See the phantom line), the wire 37 for restricting both gaps is tensioned and finally regulates the front-rear space. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, stopper bodies 38a and 38b are provided at the upper rear end of the front main body 3a and the upper front end of the rear main body 3b, respectively. Of these, the front stopper body 38a is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and in the unlikely event that the front-rear spacing between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is smaller than the closing limit distance Amin (see the phantom line in FIG. 3). When contracted, both the front and rear stopper bodies 38a, 38b come into contact with each other to prevent a collision between the front body 3a and the rear body 3b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in front of the tip of the floor rail 5, there is provided a remote panel 42 in which operation switches for inputting a start / stop command and a car wash mode are arranged.

FIG. 5 shows a control block diagram of the car wash machine 1 having the above structure. As shown in the figure, a control device 43 (an example of control means) including a microcomputer is built in the front body 3a. The control device 43 includes the remote panel 42, the vehicle height sensor 15 and the counter 48.
a, 48b and limit switches 17, 18, 19, 2
Sensor system 44 composed of 3, 24, 28a, 29a, 30a, 31a, etc., traveling motors 14, 25 and brushes 11
Drive system 4 composed of 13 to 13 and drying nozzles 21 and 22
And 5 are connected. In the control device 43, a front portion position calculation portion 50a for calculating the position of the front portion main body 3a based on the number of pulses counted by the front portion counter 48a and a rear portion counter 48b are used for counting. A rear position calculation unit 50b that calculates the position of the rear main body 3b based on the number of pulses, and a front main body 3a and a rear main body based on the difference between the calculated positions of the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b. 3b is provided, and the interval calculation part 51 which calculates | requires the front-back space | interval is provided.

Further, the control device 43 has a remote panel 42.
Input and store operation signals such as start and stop from the sensor system 44 and detection signals from the sensor system 44, and control the drive system 45 according to these operation signals and detection signals to control the overall operation of the car wash machine body 3. Then, the car wash operation is being performed.

The operation of the above structure will be described below.
During car washing, the control unit 43 controls the front body 3a and the rear body 3
The operations of b, the brushes 11 to 13, and the drying nozzles 21 and 22 will be described based on the operation explanatory diagrams shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b stop at the front home position HPa and the rear home position HPb, respectively, and the remote panel 42
It is assumed that the car wash mode necessary for car washing is set by the above, and the vehicle 2 has entered and stopped at the stop position in front of the front body 3a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13A, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are on standby at the front home position HPa and the rear home position HPb, respectively, and the front HP limit switch 17 and the rear HP are provided. Limit switch 23 and home position HPa, H respectively
Pb is detected and turned on.

First, when it is confirmed by the vehicle height sensor 15 that the vehicle 2 has stopped at the stop position, the brushes 11, 12, 13 rotate, and subsequently, FIG.
As shown in, the front traveling motor 14 is driven and the front main body 3a moves forward with the pair of side brushes 13 closed. When the front-to-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is expanded to the predetermined distance B on the open side, the rear traveling motor 25 is driven to move the rear main body 3b forward to maintain the predetermined distance B on the open side. In this state, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b advance together.

At this time, front and rear pulse encoders 47a,
Each front and rear position calculation unit 50 based on the number of pulses from 47b
The positions of the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are calculated by a and 50b, and the front-rear distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is calculated by the distance calculation unit 51. The control device 43 controls the rotational speeds of the front traveling motor 14 and the rear traveling motor 25 so that the front-rear spacing between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b thus obtained becomes the predetermined spacing B on the open side. Adjust. When the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is maintained at the above-mentioned predetermined open space B, the open-side space limit switch 31a is used for the open-side space as shown in FIG. 10 (b). While contacting with the dog 31b and turning on, the limit switch 30a for opening limit switches to the dog 30b for opening limit as shown in FIG. 10 (a).
It is turned off in the state of being separated from the front to.

However, when the wheel 4 of the front body 3a or the wheel 4 of the rear body 3b slips on the floor rail 5, an error may occur in the traveling speed of the front body 3a or the rear body 3b. . As a result, the front and rear position calculation units 50
a and 50b, the positions of the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are different from the actual positions of the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b. The distance may deviate (change) from the predetermined distance B on the open side.

For example, when the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is larger than the predetermined space B on the open side (see FIG. 4), the open-side space limit is set as shown in FIG. 11 (b). With the switch 31a turned on,
As shown in (a), the limit switch for opening 30a comes into contact with the dog for opening 30b to switch from OFF to ON, so that both of the limit switches 30a and 31a are turned ON. As a result, the control device 43 determines that the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is larger than the predetermined interval B on the open side, and reduces the rotation speed of the front travel motor 14. Decelerate the traveling speed of the front body 3a,
Alternatively, the rotational speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is increased to increase the traveling speed of the rear main body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is shortened to the predetermined space B on the open side.

On the contrary, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3a
When the front-rear spacing from b is smaller than the predetermined spacing B on the open side (see FIG. 4), as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the limit switch 31a for the opening side gap
Is separated from the open side spacing dog 31b forward and is switched from ON to OFF.
Both 1a are turned off. As a result, the control device 43
It is determined that the front-rear space between the front body 3a and the rear body 3b is smaller than the predetermined space B on the open side, and the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 is increased to increase the traveling speed of the front body 3a. The speed is increased, or the rotational speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is reduced to reduce the traveling speed of the rear main body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is expanded to become the predetermined space B on the open side. Therefore, the ring 4 of the front main body 3a and the ring 4 of the rear main body 3b are connected to the floor rail 5
On the other hand, even when slipping occurs, the front-rear spacing between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b can be maintained at the predetermined spacing B on the open side.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the limit switch 30a for open limit is turned off and the limit switch 31a for open side distance is turned on, the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 or the rear traveling motor 25 is changed. The original speed (predetermined speed) is restored, and the rotational speeds of the two traveling motors 14 and 25 are made the same.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13 (c), the side brush 13 comes into contact with the front surface of the vehicle 2 and tilts, whereby the body detection limit switch 19 is turned on, whereby the front body 3a and the front body 3a are turned on. The rear main body 3b and the rear main body 3b stop together while maintaining the above-mentioned predetermined distance B on the open side. After that, only the front main body 3a moves backward, and as shown in FIG.
By returning the inclined side brush 13 to the vertical posture, the vehicle body detection limit switch 19 is turned off, which stops the front main body 3a. In this state, the side brush 13 is in front of the vehicle 2. To wash.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13 (e), the front main body 3a moves backward, and the top brush 12 descends and is positioned at the tip of the vehicle 2. At this time, the side brush 13 is in the open state, and the distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is reduced by the distance that the front main body 3a moves backward.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13 (f), the front body 3a advances while the rocker brush 11, the top brush 12, and the side brush 13 clean the upper surface and both side surfaces of the vehicle 2. Then, the front body 3a and the rear body 3b
When the front-to-back distance between the front side main body 3a and the front side main body 3a is expanded to the predetermined distance B on the open side, the rear body 3b advances, and as shown in FIG. And the rear body 3b advance together.

At this time, as in the case of FIG. 13 (b), the wheel 4 of the front main body 3a and the wheel 4 of the rear main body 3b slip on the floor rail 5 and the front main body 3a and When an error occurs in the traveling speed of the rear main body 3b, the front-rear distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b may deviate (change) from the predetermined distance B on the open side. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, when both the open limit switch 30a and the open side interval limit switch 31a are turned on, the controller 43 determines that the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is the open side. Is determined to be larger than the predetermined interval B (see the solid line in FIG. 4), the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 is reduced to reduce the traveling speed of the front body 3a, or the rear traveling is performed. The rotation speed of the motor 25 is increased to increase the traveling speed of the rear body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is shortened to the predetermined space B on the open side. In addition, as shown in FIG.
When both of the limit switches 30a and 31a are turned off, the control device 43 causes the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3 to operate.
It is determined that the front-rear distance from b is smaller than the predetermined distance B on the open side, and the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 is increased to increase the traveling speed of the front main body 3a, or ,
The rotation speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is reduced to reduce the rear main body 3b.
Reduce the running speed of. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is expanded to become the predetermined space B on the open side.

Then, as shown in FIG. 10, when the limit switch 30a for open limit is turned off and the limit switch 31a for open side distance is turned on, the rotation speed of the front drive motor 14 or the rear drive motor 25 is changed. The original speed (predetermined speed) is restored, and the rotational speeds of the two traveling motors 14 and 25 are made the same.

In this state, FIG. 13 (h) and FIG. 14 (i)
As shown in, the top nozzle 21 descends to the tip of the vehicle 2, and the drying nozzles 21 and 22 dry the upper surface and both side surfaces of the vehicle 2. At this time, each brush 11, 12, 1
The vehicle 2 is being washed by the brushes 3 and
The distance between the nozzles 1, 12 and 13 and each of the drying nozzles 21 and 22 is the predetermined distance B on the open side.

After that, as shown in FIG. 14 (j), when the side brush 13 is rotated to the rear surface of the vehicle 2 and the cleaning of the rear surface of the vehicle 2 is completed, the brushes 11, 12, 13 are stopped, and subsequently, The front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b move forward while maintaining the predetermined distance B on the open side.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14 (k), when the front main body 3a reaches the opposite position OP and the OP limit switch 18 (see FIG. 1) is turned on (or the rear surface of the vehicle 2). Front body 3 from the position when cleaning
When a moves forward by a certain distance), the front main body 3a stops.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14 (l), the front main body 3a stopped at the opposite position OP.
The rear main body 3b approaches the front main body 3a from the state in which both the closing limit switch 28a and the closing side distance limit switch 29a are off as shown in FIG.
The distance between the rear body 3b and the rear body 3b is reduced to a predetermined distance A on the closing side, and as shown in FIG.
Is off, the closing-side interval limit switch 29a is switched on, and the rear body 3b is decelerated. further,
The distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is a closed interval Ami.
It is shortened to n and the limit switch 29a for the closing distance is
Is turned on, the limit switch for closing 28a is turned on, and the rear body 3b is stopped. As a result, as shown in FIG. 14 (m), the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are
Are stopped at the opposite position OP with the closing interval Amin opened, and the drying nozzles 21 and 22 and the blower device are stopped.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 14 (n), the driver of the vehicle 2 causes the vehicle 2 to run and exit. afterwards,
As shown in FIGS. 14 (o) and (p), the front main body 3 a and the rear main body 3 b both move backward, the front main body 3 a returns to the front home position HPa, and the front HP limit switch 1
7 (see FIG. 1) is turned on, whereby the front drive motor 14 is stopped, the front main body 3a is stopped at the front home position HPa, and the rear main body 3b is also returned to the rear home position HPb. Then, the rear HP limit switch 23 (see FIG. 1) is turned on, which causes
The rear traveling motor 25 stops, and the rear main body 3b stops at the rear home position HPb. Then the next vehicle 2
Is allowed and the same car wash is repeated.

As described above, the front part main body 3a and the rear part main body 3b are separately driven to travel, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 14 (i) and 14 (j), the distance between the cleaning means during cleaning and the drying means during drying is set to a predetermined distance B on the open side.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drying from being hindered by water splashes during washing, and the drying finish can always be good.

Further, both side covers 7a and 7b can prevent splashing of water from the gap between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b to the outside, and the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b operate integrally. You can make it look like you are.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. That is, in the car wash method according to the second embodiment, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are moved forward in a state where the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is maintained at a predetermined closed space A. While each brush 11, 12, 1
3 wash the vehicle 2 (washing step), then the front body 3
Wa is injected to the vehicle 2 while advancing a and the rear main body 3b (wax stroke), and then the vehicle 2 is dried by the nozzles 21 and 22 while advancing the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b ( (Drying process), and thereafter, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are moved backward to move to the home position HPa,
It returns to HPb.

The details of the car washing method will be described below. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b have front and rear home positions HPa and H, respectively.
It is assumed that the vehicle 2 is stopped at Pb, the car wash mode required for car washing is set by the remote panel 42, and the vehicle 2 has entered and stopped at the stop position in front of the front body 3a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15A, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are
Are the front and rear home positions HPa,
Standing by at HPb, front HP limit switch 17
And the rear HP limit switch 23 detect the home positions HPa and HPb, respectively, and are turned on.

First, when it is confirmed by the vehicle height sensor 15 that the vehicle 2 has stopped at the stop position, the brushes 11, 12, 13 are rotated and the cleaning water is sprayed from the cleaning water spray device 40. And subsequently, FIG.
As shown in (b), when the front traveling motor 14 is driven to move the front main body 3a forward and the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b becomes a predetermined clearance A on the closed side, the rear travel motor is moved. 25 is driven to move the rear main body 3b forward, and the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3 are maintained in a state where the predetermined distance A on the closing side is maintained.
b and forward together.

As described above, while the front side main body 3a and the rear side main body 3b are both advanced while maintaining the predetermined distance A on the closed side, the cleaning water is sprayed onto the vehicle 2 and the rocker brush 1
1 cleans the tire of the vehicle 2 and the lower side surface, the side brush 13 cleans both front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of the vehicle 2, and the top brush 12 cleans the upper surface of the vehicle 2.

At this time, front and rear pulse encoders 47a,
Each front and rear position calculation unit 50 based on the number of pulses from 47b
The positions of the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are calculated by a and 50b, and the front-rear distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is calculated by the distance calculation unit 51. The control device 43 controls the rotational speeds of the front traveling motor 14 and the rear traveling motor 25 so that the front-rear spacing between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b thus obtained becomes the predetermined spacing A on the closing side. Adjust. When the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is maintained at the above-mentioned predetermined closed space A, as shown in FIG. While being in contact with the dog 29b to be turned on, as shown in FIG. 7B, the closing limit switch 28a is turned off in a state where the closing limit switch 28a is separated rearward from the closing dog 28b.

However, when the wheel body 4 of the front body 3a or the wheel body 4 of the rear body 3b slips on the floor rail 5, an error occurs in the traveling speed of the front body 3a or the rear body 3b. , The front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b deviates (changes) from the predetermined distance A on the closing side.
It may end up.

For example, when the front-rear distance between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is smaller than the predetermined distance A on the closing side,
As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the limit switch 2 for the closing side interval
9a is on, and further, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the closing limit switch 28a comes into contact with the closing dog 28b to switch from off to on, so that both of the limit switches 28a and 29a are turned on. Both are turned on. As a result, the control device 43 determines that the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is smaller than the predetermined interval A on the closing side, and increases the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14. The traveling speed of the front body 3a is increased, or the rotational speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is reduced to reduce the traveling speed of the rear body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is expanded to the predetermined distance A on the closing side.

On the contrary, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3a
When the front-rear distance from b is larger than the predetermined distance A on the closing side, as shown in FIG. 9B, the closing limit switch 28a is in the OFF state, and further as shown in FIG. 9A. In addition, since the closing-side interval limit switch 29a is separated rearward from the closing-side interval dog 29b and is switched from on to off, both the limit switches 28a and 29a are turned off. As a result, the control device 43 determines that the front-rear space between the front body 3a and the rear body 3b is larger than the predetermined space A on the closing side, and reduces the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14. Decelerate the traveling speed of the front body 3a,
Alternatively, the rotational speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is increased to increase the traveling speed of the rear main body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is shortened to the predetermined closed space A. Therefore, even when the wheel body 4 of the front body 3a or the wheel body 4 of the rear body 3b slips on the floor rail 5, the front-rear space between the front body 3a and the rear body 3b is set to a predetermined value on the closed side. The distance A can be maintained.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the closing limit switch 28a is turned off and the closing distance limit switch 29a is turned on, the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 or the rear traveling motor 25 is changed. Original speed (predetermined speed)
Then, the rotational speeds of the two traveling motors 14 and 25 are made the same.

Then, in the state where the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is maintained at the predetermined distance A on the closing side, FIG.
As shown in (c), when the front body 3a reaches the opposite position OP and the OP limit switch 18 (see FIG. 1) is turned on, both the front body 3a and the rear body 3b are temporarily stopped. While the brushes 11, 12, 13 are rotating, the injection of the cleaning water from the cleaning water spray device 40 is stopped, and the wax is sprayed from the wax spray device 41. Then, the front traveling motor 14 and the rear traveling motor 25 reversely rotate, and the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b.
And reverse while maintaining a predetermined distance A on the closed side.

In this manner, while the front side main body 3a and the rear side main body 3b are both moving backward while maintaining the predetermined distance A on the closed side, wax is sprayed from the wax spray device 41 to the vehicle 2 and each brush is Brushed at 11, 12, and 13.

At this time, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is made smaller than the predetermined distance A on the closing side due to slip of the ring 4 of the front main body 3a or the ring 4 of the rear main body 3b. 8A, the closing side limit switch 29a is turned on as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the closing limit switch 28a comes into contact with the closing dog 28b to switch from OFF to ON, so that both of the limit switches 28a and 29a are turned ON. As a result, the control device 43 determines that the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is smaller than the predetermined space A on the closing side, and reduces the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14. Decelerate the traveling speed of the front body 3a,
Alternatively, the rotational speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is increased to increase the traveling speed of the rear main body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is expanded to the predetermined distance A on the closing side.

On the contrary, the front body 3a and the rear body 3
When the front-rear distance from b is larger than the predetermined distance A on the closing side, as shown in FIG. 9B, the closing limit switch 28a is in the OFF state, and further as shown in FIG. 9A. In addition, since the closing-side interval limit switch 29a is separated rearward from the closing-side interval dog 29b and is switched from on to off, both the limit switches 28a and 29a are turned off. As a result, the control device 43 determines that the front-rear interval between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is larger than the predetermined interval A on the closing side, and increases the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14. Whether to increase the traveling speed of the front body 3a,
Alternatively, the rotational speed of the rear traveling motor 25 is reduced to reduce the traveling speed of the rear main body 3b. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is shortened to the predetermined closed space A. Therefore, even when the wheel body 4 of the front body 3a or the wheel body 4 of the rear body 3b slips on the floor rail 5, the front-rear space between the front body 3a and the rear body 3b is set to a predetermined value on the closed side. The distance A can be maintained.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the closing limit switch 28a is turned off and the closing distance limit switch 29a is turned on, the rotation speed of the front traveling motor 14 or the rear traveling motor 25 is changed. Original speed (predetermined speed)
Then, the rotational speeds of the two traveling motors 14 and 25 are made the same.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15D, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b reach the front and rear home positions HPa and HPb, respectively, and the front and rear HP limit switches 17 and 23 ( (See FIG. 1) is turned on, both the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are temporarily stopped, the brushes 11, 12, 13 are stopped, and the injection of wax from the wax spray device 41 is stopped.
The blower operates and air is jetted from each of the drying nozzles 21 and 22.

In this state, as shown in FIG.
The front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b are closed at a predetermined distance A.
While advancing while maintaining the above condition, the top nozzle 21 dries the upper surface of the vehicle 2 and the side nozzles 22 dries both side surfaces of the vehicle 2.

Then, in the state where the front-rear space between the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b is maintained at the predetermined distance A on the closing side, FIG.
As shown in (f), when the front body 3a reaches the opposite position OP and the OP limit switch 18 (see FIG. 1) is turned on, both the front body 3a and the rear body 3b stop and , The blower is stopped, and the injection of air from the drying nozzles 21 and 22 is stopped.

Then, as shown in FIG. 15 (g), the driver of the vehicle 2 drives the vehicle 2 to leave. afterwards,
As shown in FIG. 15 (h), the front body 3a and the rear body 3
b and backward travel together, the front body 3a returns to the front home position HPa, the front HP limit switch 17 (see FIG. 1) is switched on, and the front traveling motor 14 is stopped. , The front main body 3a stops at the front home position HPa, the rear main body 3b also returns to the rear home position HPb, and the rear HP limit switch 23 (see FIG. 1) is turned on. 25 is stopped, and the rear body 3b is stopped at the rear home position HPb. Then, the next vehicle 2 is permitted to enter, and the same car wash is repeated.

In the second embodiment, the front body 3a is used.
Although the car wash is performed in a state where the front-rear spacing between the rear main body 3b and the rear main body 3b is maintained at the predetermined side A on the closing side, the car wash may be performed while maintaining the predetermined spacing B on the opening side.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3 are attached to the vehicle 2 stopped on the ground.
Although the car is washed while moving forward and backward with b, the car may be washed by moving the front main body 3a and the rear main body 3b forward and backward while conveying the vehicle 2 using a conveying device such as a roller conveyor. .

[0067]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the vehicle is washed with the front body and the rear body being sufficiently widened in the front-rear direction, whereby the vehicle to be cleaned is cleaned by the cleaning means of the front body. Since the cleaning and the drying of the vehicle to be cleaned by the drying means of the rear main body are performed in a state of being separated from each other, it is possible to prevent a problem that the finish of the drying is deteriorated due to the water splash generated during the cleaning.

Further, when the car body is washed while the front body and the rear body are running in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body at a predetermined space, the front-rear space is inadvertently changed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem that the car wash is disturbed (shifted).

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the front body and the rear body are made to travel in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body at a predetermined distance on the closed side, the front body is moved in the same direction. When the front-rear spacing between the front and rear bodies has changed (shifted) from the above-mentioned closed side due to an error in the running speed between the main body and rear body, etc., this change (shift) in the front-rear spacing is detected as the closing limit. The device and the closing-side gap detecting device detect the distance, and based on the detection, the control means changes the traveling speed of at least one of the front main body and the rear main body to correct the front-back distance. As a result, the front-rear space between the front main body and the rear main body is maintained at the predetermined closed-side space.

When the front main body and the rear main body travel in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear spacing between the front main body and the rear main body at a predetermined distance on the open side, the front main body and the rear main body travel. When the front-rear spacing between the front body and the rear body changes (shifts) from the predetermined spacing on the open side due to a speed error or the like, the change (shift) in the front-back spacing is detected by the open-end detection device and the open-side spacing detection device. Based on this detection, the control means changes the traveling speed of at least one of the front main body and the rear main body to correct the front-rear spacing. As a result, the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body is maintained at the predetermined space on the open side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a car wash machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the car washing machine.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the same car wash, showing a state in which the front-rear space between the front body and the rear body is set to a predetermined distance on the closed side.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same car wash, showing a state in which the front-rear interval between the front main body and the rear main body is set to a predetermined interval on the open side.

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

FIG. 6 is a view on arrow XX in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the closing side distance detecting device and the closing limit detecting device of the car washing machine, FIG. 7 (a) corresponds to a WW arrow view in FIG. 6, and FIG. It corresponds to a view taken along the line XX, and shows a state in which the front-rear interval between the front main body and the rear main body is a predetermined interval on the closed side.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the closing side distance detecting device and the closing limit detecting device of the same, showing a state in which the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body is smaller than the predetermined distance on the closing side.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the closing side distance detecting device and the closing limit detecting device of the car washing machine, showing a state in which the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body is wider than the predetermined distance on the closing side.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the open-side spacing detection device and the open-end detection device of the car washing machine, FIG. 10 (a) corresponds to the YY arrow view in FIG. 6, and FIG. It corresponds to the ZZ arrow view and shows a state in which the front-rear interval between the front main body and the rear main body is a predetermined interval on the open side.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the open side gap detection device and the open limit detection device of the car wash machine, showing a state in which the front-rear gap between the front main body and the rear main body is wider than a predetermined gap on the open side.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the open-side gap detection device and the open-end detection device of the car wash machine, showing a state in which the front-rear gap between the front main body and the rear main body is smaller than a predetermined gap on the open side.

FIG. 13 is a side view showing, in sequence, the operation of the car wash main body when carrying out a car wash with the car wash machine.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing, in sequence, the operation of the car wash main body when the car wash is performed by the car wash machine.

FIG. 15 is a side view sequentially showing the operation of the car wash body when the car wash is performed by the car wash machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view of a conventional car wash machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 car wash machine 2 Vehicle to be washed 3 Car wash machine body 3a front body 3b Rear body 11-13 Brush (cleaning means) 14 Front drive motor (travel device) 21,22 nozzle (drying means) 25 Rear drive motor (travel device) 28 Closed limit detector 28a Limit switch for closing 28b Closing dog (detection object for closing) 29 Closing side interval detector 29a Limit switch for closing distance 29b Closed side interval dog (closed side interval detected object) 30 Open limit detector 30a Limit switch for opening limit 30b Opening limit dog (detection target for opening limit) 31 Open side interval detector 31a Open side limit switch 31b Open side interval dog (detected object for open side interval) 43 Control device (control means) Amin Closed interval A predetermined interval on the closed side Bmax open interval B Predetermined interval on the open side

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takeda Yamada             1225 Nakazaiji, Hino-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga Prefecture             Daifuku Shiga Works F term (reference) 3D026 AA03 AA13 AA34 AA40 AA76

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A car wash machine for washing a vehicle to be washed while moving the vehicle to be washed and the vehicle wash machine body relative to each other, wherein the vehicle wash machine body includes a washing means for washing the vehicle to be washed. Front body and a rear body provided with a drying means for drying the vehicle to be washed, and the front body and the rear body are configured to be individually movable by a traveling device. When the front body and the rear body are traveling in the same direction while the front body and the rear body are maintained at the predetermined distance, a detection means is provided for detecting that the front-rear distance from the rear body is opened and closed to a preset predetermined distance. When the detection means detects a change in the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body, a control means is provided for correcting the front-rear distance by changing the traveling speed of at least one of the front main body and the rear main body. Characterized by And a car wash machine. 2. The predetermined interval is set to a predetermined interval on the closed side and a predetermined interval on the open side, and the detection means closes to a closing interval at which the front-rear interval between the front main body and the rear main body is minimized. A closing limit detecting device that detects that the front-rear interval has reached a predetermined closing-side interval that is larger than the closing limit interval; And a front side main body and a rear side main body, which are configured by an opening limit detecting device that detects that the front and rear intervals have reached a predetermined opening-side interval that is smaller than the opening limit interval. When the front main body and the rear main body travel in the same direction while maintaining the front-rear distance between the front-rear main body and the rear main body in the state where the front-rear main body and the rear main body are kept in the predetermined distance, It is detected by the closing side distance detection device, and it is detected between the front body and the rear body. When the front main body and the rear main body travel in the same direction while maintaining the distance at the predetermined distance on the open side, the change in the front-rear distance between the front main body and the rear main body is changed by the above-mentioned open limit detection device and the open side distance. The car washing machine according to claim 1, which is detected by a detection device. 3. The closing limit detecting device comprises a closing limit switch and a closing limit detection target detected by the closing limit switch. The limit switch and the closed-side distance detection target detected by the closing-side distance limit switch, the open-end detection device, the open-limit limit switch,
The open-side interval detection device includes an open-side interval detection device that is detected by the open-side interval limit switch and an open-side interval detected by the open-side interval limit switch. 3. An object to be detected for use, each of the limit switches is provided on either one of a front body and a rear body, and each of the object to be detected is provided on the other. Car wash machine.