JP2006312357A - Car washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car washing machine capable of considerably preventing scattering of water splash from a cleaning unit to a drying unit, and making a car washing machine body compact without increasing the manufacturing cost. <P>SOLUTION: A sponge member 33 formed of a flexible material or foam is mounted on a lower portion of a curtain 22 so as to be located below the curtain 22. By providing the sponge member 33, any damage of a vehicle 2 can be avoided even when the lowered curtain 22 is brought into contact with the vehicle 2, and a space between a lower end of the sponge member 33 which forms a lower end of the curtain 22 and the vehicle 2 can be set to be very small, preventing water splash from being scattered from a cleaning unit 4 to a drying unit 5 when the vehicle 2 is cleaned. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine that is installed, for example, in a gas station and used for car washing.

An example of the conventional car wash machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
The car wash machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs a car wash operation (washing, drying, waxing, etc.) on a vehicle to be washed that is stopped at a predetermined position while the car washing machine body travels in the front-rear direction. A washing section comprising a plurality of brush devices for cleaning the front and rear surfaces, the top surface, and the side surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned, and a water spray nozzle for spraying cleaning water to the vehicle to be cleaned. , A drying unit comprising a plurality of blower nozzles for drying the upper surface and side surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned, and water droplets scattered from the brush device and the watering nozzle located behind the cleaning unit and in front of the drying unit to the drying unit having the blower nozzle And a shutter body that cuts off so as not to reach.

  Chains are integrally fixed to both side edges of the shutter body, and these chains are engaged with sprockets provided in front and rear, respectively, above the car wash machine body. Sprockets provided on both sides of the rear are connected by a shaft, and a gear motor that rotationally drives the shaft is provided. By rotating the gear motor, the shutter body is moved up and down via the shaft and the sprocket. The shutter body has a structure in which long and narrow steel plates arranged in the width direction of the car wash machine body are connected to each other in the vertical direction, and has at least rigidity that does not bend against air blown from the blower nozzle or strong wind in stormy weather. Yes. In addition, sensor boxes containing photoelectric switches are attached to the lower end portions on both sides of the shutter body so as to face each other.

  Based on the above configuration, when cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned, the shutter body lowered from the standby position to the lower limit position detects the vehicle to be cleaned by the photoelectric switch of the sensor box. It is lifted and lowered without contact with the vehicle to be cleaned along the shape.

  As a result, the shutter body is moved up and down, so that cleaning water or the like is not scattered from the cleaning unit to the drying unit, and air blown from the drying unit is blown into the cleaning unit to adversely affect the cleaning of the vehicle to be cleaned. Therefore, it is possible to perform a quick car wash in which washing and drying can be performed simultaneously before and after the shutter body, and there is no need to separate the washing unit and the drying unit, so the size of the car washing machine can be reduced. It becomes possible.

  In addition, the car wash machine disclosed in Patent Document 2 is provided with a movable curtain that is extended to a support roller that is rotationally driven by a prime mover through a transmission mechanism, and is suspended so as to be retracted. A vehicle body detection limit switch is fixed to the vehicle body, and a ring-shaped non-directional contact is provided on the vehicle body detection limit switch.

  Further, a limit switch for raising and lowering the movable curtain is fixed in parallel on the lower edge of the movable curtain, and upper and lower limit dogs for operating the limit switches are provided on the upper and lower sides of the inner surface of the traveling frame. When these limit switches are operated, the rotation of the prime mover is stopped and the upper limit and lower limit positions of the movable curtain can be regulated.

  In this configuration, the to-be-washed vehicle is detected by the above-described touch sensor (body detection limit switch) being directly in contact with the top surface of the to-be-washed vehicle, and the touch is repeatedly contacted and detached from the to-be-washed vehicle, The raising and lowering of the movable curtain is controlled.

This allows the lower edge of the movable curtain to be always close to the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, especially when cleaning the trunk or bonnet of the vehicle to be cleaned, where the cleaning water is likely to splash outside the car washer. Water can be prevented from splashing outside.
JP 11-29209 A Japanese Patent Publication No.53-2266

  However, according to the configuration of Patent Document 1 described above, the shutter body is controlled to move up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned to avoid contact with the vehicle to be cleaned. It is necessary to provide a gap with sufficient margin between the lower end of the shutter body and the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and water splashes from this gap should not be scattered to some extent from the cleaning section to the drying section. There was a problem that it was not possible.

  Further, according to the configuration of Patent Document 2, since the limit switch for detecting the vehicle body repeatedly contacts and separates from the vehicle to be cleaned in order to control the up and down movement of the movable curtain, there is a problem that a trace remains on the vehicle to be cleaned. There is.

  In addition, it is necessary to provide a sensor box composed of photoelectric switches, or a vehicle body detection limit switch and a touch sensor as a sensor for raising and lowering the shutter body or the movable curtain, and as a safety mechanism.

  In addition, when a photoelectric switch is provided at a position where water splashes such as the lower end of the shutter body, in order to avoid erroneous detection of the photoelectric switch due to water splash, the watering nozzle and the sensor box are spaced at a predetermined interval (water splashes to some extent). There is a problem that a space for separation is necessary, and the main body of the car wash machine increases in size to provide this space.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the car wash machine which can improve the scattering of a water droplet from the washing | cleaning part to a drying part, or can reduce a car wash machine main body without incurring manufacturing cost.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, a car wash machine according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a cleaning unit that performs a cleaning operation on a vehicle to be cleaned and a drying unit that performs a drying operation on the vehicle to be cleaned. A car wash machine for cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the car wash machine main body and the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction, near a boundary between the cleaning unit and the drying unit Further, a shielding body for blocking water droplets scattered from the cleaning section to the drying section in association with the cleaning operation is provided so as to be movable up and down, and is flexible so that the lower section of the shielding body is positioned below the shielding body. A shock-absorbing member made of a flexible material or foam is attached.

  According to the above configuration, the buffer member is attached to the lower part of the shielding body so as to be positioned below the shielding body, so that even when the lowered shielding body approaches the washed vehicle, It is possible to avoid scratching and to set the distance between the lower end of the buffer member, which is the lower end of the shield, and the vehicle to be cleaned very narrow.

  The car wash machine according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is formed in a folded bag shape having an opening, and the opening is a lateral width of the car wash machine body. It is attached so that it may face a direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the shock-absorbing member is formed in a folded bag shape having an opening, the shock-absorbing member is deformed when it comes into contact with the vehicle to be cleaned, and serves as a cushion. The influence of the wind blowing in the machine body can be prevented.

  The car wash machine according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or claim 2, and is a detection for detecting that the lower side portion of the shield is in contact with the vehicle to be cleaned. A limit switch provided with a bar is provided.

  According to the above configuration, when the detection rod comes into contact with the vehicle to be cleaned and the limit switch is operated, the descending movement of the shield is stopped, so that the buffer member continues to contact the vehicle to be cleaned and the buffer member moves up and down. When shrinking in the direction, the vehicle to be cleaned is detected by the limit switch before the lower end of the shield comes into contact with the vehicle to be cleaned.

  Furthermore, the car wash machine according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is formed on both front sides of the car wash machine body. A vehicle shape detecting means for detecting is provided, and the shield is moved up and down along the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned detected by the vehicle shape detecting means.

  According to the above configuration, the vehicle shape detecting means provided on both front sides of the car wash machine body detects the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned prior to the lifting and lowering of the shield, and based on the detected upper surface shape. The shield is moved up and down.

  The car wash machine of the present invention provides a buffer member between the shield and the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, even if the lowered shield comes into contact with the vehicle to be cleaned. Since it is possible to avoid scratching the vehicle, the distance between the lower end of the buffer member, which is the lower end of the shield, and the vehicle to be cleaned can be set very narrow. It has the effect that the splash of the water splash to a part can be prevented significantly.

Hereinafter, a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The car wash machine according to the present embodiment includes a car wash machine body provided with a washing unit that performs a washing operation on a vehicle to be cleaned (hereinafter referred to as a vehicle) and a drying unit that performs a drying operation on the vehicle to be cleaned. A car wash machine that cleans a vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the car washer main body and the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction. In the description of the operation in the present embodiment, a passenger vehicle system (sedan system) is used for the vehicle.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the car wash machine of the present embodiment is composed of a stationary car wash machine main body 1 and a roller conveyor 3 that carries the vehicle 2 from the front through the car wash machine main body 1 to the rear. A washing part 4 is formed at the front part of the car wash machine main body 1 and a drying part 5 is formed at the rear part.

  In the cleaning unit 4, in order to clean the surface of the vehicle 2, a pair of members that can traverse in the left-right direction perpendicular to the traveling direction (front-rear direction) of the car wash machine body 1 and clean the lower portions of both sides of the vehicle 2 and tires. A rocker brush 6, a top brush 7 that can move in the vertical direction and cleans the upper surface of the vehicle 2, and a pair of side brushes 8 that can traverse in the left and right direction (can be moved close to and away from each other) and clean the front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of the vehicle 2. And a spray device 13 for spraying cleaning water (rinse) and a spray device (not shown) for spraying detergent or wax.

  The drying unit 5 includes a top nozzle 9 that can move in the vertical direction and dry the upper surface of the vehicle 2, a pair of side nozzles 10 that can traverse in the left-right direction and cleans both side surfaces of the vehicle 2, and both nozzles A pair of left and right blower devices 11 are provided in communication with 9 and 10 to supply wind.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle shape detection sensor (also referred to as an area sensor) (an example of a vehicle shape detection means) 12 that detects the upper surface shape of the vehicle 2 is provided on both front sides in the car wash machine body 1. It has been. The vehicle shape detection sensor 12 is composed of a transmissive photoelectric sensor, and a projector group is provided in the vertical direction (vertical direction) on one (left side) side of the car wash machine body 1, and the other side of the car wash machine body 1. A light receiver group is provided in the vertical direction on the (right) side, and each light projector group and the light receiver group are arranged to face each other.

  Further, on the front side of the drying unit 5 (near the boundary between the drying unit 5 and the cleaning unit 4), a curtain (an example of a shielding body) 22 that blocks water droplets scattered from the cleaning unit 4 to the drying unit 5 during the cleaning operation. Is provided with a water splash shielding device (an example of a water splash shielding means) 21 that can be moved up and down.

Here, the structure of the water splash shielding device 21 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water splash shielding device 21 includes a curtain 22, a motor 23, a pair of left and right upper sprockets 24A and 24B, a pair of left and right lower sprockets 25A and 25B, and a curtain winding drum 26. A pair of left and right chains 27A and 27B, a pair of left and right guide rails 28A and 28B, a pair of left and right lifting bodies 29A and 29B, a support bar 31, and a sponge member (an example of a buffer member) 33. Yes.

The motor 23 is provided above the car wash machine body 1 and on one side in the left-right direction.
The upper sprockets 24 </ b> A and 24 </ b> B are rotatably provided above and on the left and right sides of the car wash machine body 1, and are connected to both ends of the rotating shaft of the curtain winding drum 26. Further, the upper sprocket 24 </ b> A is connected to the output shaft of the motor 23.

  The lower sprockets 25A and 25B are rotatably provided at positions below the upper sprockets 24A and 24B, respectively. The chain 27A is wound between the upper sprocket 24A and the lower sprocket 25A. 27B is wound between the upper sprocket 24B and the lower sprocket 25B.

The guide rails 28A, 28B are provided along the chains 27A, 27B on both sides of the car wash machine body 1 in the left-right direction.
The elevating bodies 29A and 29B are respectively fixed at the same height position of the chains 27A and 27B, and the elevating bodies 29A and 29B are respectively guided by the guide rails 28A and 28B and moved to a pair of upper and lower guide rollers 30A. , 30B are provided.

The support bar 31 is horizontally attached slightly upward from the lower end of the curtain 22, and is provided between the elevating bodies 29A and 29B via connecting members 32A and 32B.
As shown in FIG. 5, the sponge member 33 is formed in a folded bag shape (ring shape) having an opening 33 a with a flexible material or foam (for example, sponge), and is formed at the lower part of the curtain 22. It is attached to the support bar 31, that is, below the curtain 22 so as to be positioned below the curtain 22. The sponge member 33 is attached so that the opening 33a faces the left-right width direction of the car wash machine main body 1.

  As a result, when the sponge member 33 and the vehicle 2 come into contact with each other, the sponge member 33 is deformed and acts as a cushion, so that damage to the vehicle 2 is avoided, and the vehicle washing machine main body 1 It is designed not to be affected by the wind blowing in the direction.

  The operation in the above embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, after the vehicle 2 is stopped at the vehicle stop position, the vehicle 2 is moved forward by the roller conveyor 3 and the vehicle is washed for 1 WAY (0.5 reciprocations). And

  First, when the vehicle 2 is carried into the car wash main body 1 by the roller conveyor 3, the brushes 6, 7, and 8 are actuated while detecting the upper surface shape of the vehicle 2 by the vehicle shape detection sensor 12, and from the spray device 13. Washing water is sprayed, detergent is sprayed to clean the surface of the vehicle 2, and the vehicle 2 is further transported downstream.

  Based on the top surface shape of the vehicle 2 detected by the vehicle shape detection sensor 12, the top nozzle 9 before the tip of the vehicle 2 reaches the front side of the drying unit 5 (near the boundary between the drying unit 5 and the cleaning unit 4). Then, the descent of the curtain 22 of the water splash shielding device 21 is started, and the blower device 11 is driven. Further, when the vehicle 2 is transported downstream and enters the drying unit 5, wind is blown against the vehicle 2 from the top nozzle 9 and the side nozzle 10, and the drying operation is performed together with the cleaning operation. Further, the top nozzle 9 and the curtain 22 are moved up and down in accordance with the upper surface shape of the vehicle 2.

  When the curtain 22 is moved up and down, a sponge member 33 is provided at the lower part of the curtain 22, and even when the lowered curtain 22 comes into contact with the vehicle 2, the vehicle 2 is prevented from being damaged. Therefore, the position where the curtain 22 (sponge member 33) is lowered based on the upper surface shape of the vehicle 2 is a position close to the vehicle 2 (a position just before contact with the vehicle 2), that is, the lower end of the sponge member 33 which is the lower end of the curtain 22. The distance between the vehicle 2 and the vehicle 2 is set to be very narrow.

  Then, when the vehicle 2 is further conveyed downstream and the rear end of the vehicle 2 passes through the cleaning unit 4, the brushes 6, 7, and 8 are stopped, and the spray of cleaning water from the spray device (reference numeral) and the detergent Spraying is finished and the cleaning operation is finished. Subsequently, when the vehicle 2 is further conveyed to the downstream side and the rear end of the vehicle 2 passes through the drying unit 5, the blower device 11 is stopped, and the top nozzle 9 and the curtain 22 of the water splash shielding device 21 are raised to the upper limit and dried. The work is finished.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, even when the lowered curtain 22 contacts the vehicle 2 below the curtain 22 and between the curtain 22 and the vehicle 2, the vehicle 2 is damaged. By providing the sponge member 33 capable of avoiding the above, it becomes possible to set the distance between the lower end of the sponge member 33 that is the lower end of the curtain 22 and the vehicle 2 to be very narrow. When performing, it is possible to significantly prevent water splash from being scattered from the cleaning unit 4 to the drying unit 5.

  Further, according to the above embodiment, the curtain 22 is moved up and down based on the upper surface shape detected by the vehicle shape detection sensor 12, and the sponge member 33 is provided at the lower end of the curtain 22. It is no longer necessary to provide a photoelectric switch or the like for avoiding contact between the curtain 22 and the vehicle 2 at the lower portion of the vehicle, and the number of devices provided in the car wash machine main body 1 can be reduced, thus reducing the manufacturing cost of the car wash machine main body 1. be able to.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, since it becomes unnecessary to provide the said photoelectric switch etc. in the lower end part of the curtain 22, it becomes unnecessary to consider the misdetection etc. of the photoelectric switch by water splash, and the washing | cleaning part 4 and the drying part 5 Can be arranged close to each other via the curtain 22, and thus the car wash machine main body 1 can be miniaturized.

  Moreover, according to the said embodiment, since the sponge member 33 is formed in the folded bag shape which has the opening part 33a, when it contacts with the vehicle 2, the sponge member 33 is deform | transformed and plays the role as a cushion. Therefore, it is possible to avoid damaging the vehicle 2, and it is possible to make the vehicle 2 less susceptible to the influence of wind blowing in the front-rear direction in the car wash machine body 1.

  In the embodiment, the sponge member 33, which is a buffer member, is formed of a flexible material or foam (for example, sponge), but is not limited thereto, and may be formed of a nonwoven fabric.

In the embodiment, the sponge member 33 as the buffer member is formed in a folded bag shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the sponge member 33 may be formed in a plate shape.
In the embodiment, the sponge member 33 is arranged so that the opening 33a is in the left-right direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the opening 33a may be arranged in the front-rear direction.

  Further, in the embodiment, the sponge member 33 is provided at the lower end portion of the curtain 22, but by providing the sponge member 33 at the lower end of the top nozzle 9, that is, at the lower portion of the ejection port that blows out the wind at the top nozzle 9, The effect similar to the effect acquired by providing the sponge member 33 in the lower part of the curtain 22 can be show | played.

  Further, in the embodiment, only the sponge member 33 is provided at the lower end portion of the curtain 22, but as shown in FIG. 6, for detecting that the vehicle 2 is in contact with the lower side portion of the curtain 22. You may provide the limit switch 42 provided with the detection stick | rod 41. FIG. The detection rod 41 is provided from the lower part of the limit switch 42 to between the sponge members 33 or the opening 33a. At this time, for example, when the detection rod 41 comes into contact with the vehicle 2 and the limit switch 42 is operated, the downward movement of the curtain 22 is stopped.

  Accordingly, when the sponge member 33 continues to contact the vehicle 2 and the sponge member 33 contracts in the vertical direction, the vehicle 2 can be detected by the limit switch 42 before the lower end of the curtain 22 contacts the vehicle 2. Therefore, the vehicle 2 can be prevented from being damaged, and the safety of the cleaning operation and the drying operation for the vehicle 2 can be improved.

  Further, in the embodiment, there is shown a form in which the vehicle 2 is cleaned using the stationary car wash body 1 and the roller conveyor 3 that carries the vehicle 2 from the front through the car wash machine body 1 to the rear. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle 2 may be stopped at a predetermined position, and the vehicle 2 may be cleaned by moving only the car wash machine main body 1 in the front-rear direction.

It is a schematic side view of the car wash machine in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the car wash machine. It is a front view of the water splash shielding device in the car wash. It is an inner side view of the water splash shielding apparatus in the car wash. It is a side view of the sponge member. It is a side view at the time of providing the limit switch in the curtain of the car wash machine.

Explanation of symbols

1 Car Wash Machine Body 2 Vehicle (Washed Vehicle)
4 Washing section 5 Drying section 12 Vehicle detection sensor (vehicle detection means)
22 Curtain
33 Sponge member (buffer member)
33a Opening 41 Detection rod 42 Limit switch

Claims (4)

There is provided a car wash machine body provided with a washing section for performing a washing operation on the vehicle to be washed and a drying section for carrying out a drying operation on the vehicle to be washed. A car wash machine for cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned while being moved,
In the vicinity of the boundary between the cleaning unit and the drying unit, a shield for blocking water splashes scattered from the cleaning unit to the drying unit with the cleaning operation is provided so as to be movable up and down.
A car wash machine, wherein a buffer member made of a flexible material or foam is attached to a lower part of the shield so as to be positioned below the shield. 2. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is formed in a folded bag shape having an opening, and the opening is attached so as to face a lateral width direction of the car wash body. . The car wash according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a limit switch including a detection rod for detecting contact with the vehicle to be cleaned is provided on a lower side portion of the shield. Machine. Vehicle shape detection means for detecting the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is provided on both front sides of the car wash machine body,
The car wash machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shield is moved up and down along an upper surface shape of the vehicle to be cleaned detected by the vehicle shape detection means.

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