JP2007153140A - Car washing method of car washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car washing method of a car washing machine, which has less unwashed parts even when the shape of a fore-end part of the car to be washed is round. <P>SOLUTION: The operation in which a car washing machine body is advanced while closing a pair of side brushes 7, the advancement is stopped when the bearing pressure applied to a front side of a car 4 by the contact of the pair of side brushes 7 with the front side of the car 4 reaches a predetermined value, and the pair of side brushes 7 are opened in the right-to-left direction to wash the front side of the car 4, and the operation in which the opening operation of the pair of side brushes 7 is stopped when the bearing pressure is below the predetermined value, and the advancement is restarted, are repeated. Thus, the side brushes 7 are moved along the shape of the front side of the car with the predetermined bearing pressure, the entire front side of the car 4 is continuously washed to the shape, and generation of any unwashed part is prevented even when the shape of a fore-end part of the car 4 is round. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash method for a car wash machine, and more particularly to a car wash method for a front surface of a vehicle to be washed with a side brush.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a car wash machine, a method described in Patent Document 1 is known as a car wash method for a front surface of a vehicle to be washed with a side brush.
That is, both the left and right side brushes (side brushes) are rotated and moved closer to each other, and the car wash machine main body is advanced with the left and right side brushes closed. As the car wash machine main body advances, both side brushes come into contact with the front surface of the vehicle to be washed and are tilted by being pushed in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the car wash machine main body. As a result, the drive shaft of the side brush tilts (swings) in the forward direction, and this swing is detected by the limit switch. The forward movement of the car wash machine body is stopped by the detection of the limit switch, and both side brushes are moved away from each other (opening operation) to clean the front surface of the vehicle.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-11794

  However, recently, as shown in FIG. 9, the shape of the tip of the vehicle 61 to be washed is often round. In the case of such a vehicle 61, in the conventional car wash method, the state in which the car wash main body is stopped by the detection of the limit switch is continued, and both side brushes 62 move away from each other to wash the front of the vehicle body. For this reason, when the pair of side brushes 62 cleans the front surface of the vehicle 61, there is a problem that unwashed parts are generated near the side surface of the front end portion of the vehicle 61.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a car wash method for a car wash machine capable of preventing unwashed even when the shape of the front end of the vehicle to be washed is round.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning the front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of a vehicle to be washed in the car wash machine body. It is movable in the left-right direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the vehicle and swingable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and moves at least one of the car wash machine body and the vehicle relative to the other. A car wash method for a car wash machine for performing a car wash, wherein the pair of side brushes are closed, the car wash machine body and the vehicle are moved relative to each other, and the pair of side brushes are placed on the front or rear surface of the vehicle. When the surface pressure that contacts and acts on the front or rear surface of the vehicle becomes a predetermined surface pressure, the relative movement is stopped, and the pair of side brushes are opened to the left and right to clean the front or rear surface of the vehicle. Operation and before By surface pressure is less than a predetermined surface pressure, the stop opening movement of the pair of side brushes, is characterized in that repeated operation and to resume said relative movement.

  According to the above method, when the side brush contacts the front or rear surface of the vehicle and the surface pressure acting on the front or rear surface of the vehicle reaches a predetermined surface pressure, the relative movement is stopped and the pair of side brushes are opened (separated). When the surface pressure becomes less than the predetermined surface pressure with the opening operation of the side brush, the opening operation is stopped, the relative movement is executed again, and when the surface pressure becomes the predetermined surface pressure again, the relative movement is It stops and the side brush opens. Therefore, at a predetermined surface pressure, the side brush is moved along the shape of the front or rear surface of the vehicle, and the entire front or rear surface of the vehicle is continuously washed in accordance with the shape. Even when the shape is a round shape, it is possible to prevent unwashing from occurring.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the side brush is in contact with the front or rear surface of the vehicle to check whether the surface pressure is a predetermined surface pressure. It swings from the front / rear neutral position to either the front / rear, and the swing angle is set to a predetermined angle.

  According to the above method, it is detected that the surface pressure has reached the predetermined surface pressure when the swinging angle of the side brush has reached the predetermined angle. Further, by changing the setting of the predetermined angle, the setting of the predetermined surface pressure can be easily changed, and the front or rear of the vehicle can be washed with an arbitrary surface pressure.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the side brush contacts the front or rear surface of the vehicle and swings from a neutral position in the front-rear direction to either the front-rear direction. When it is confirmed that the swing angle has reached an abnormal angle, the relative movement between the car wash machine body and the vehicle is stopped.

  According to the above method, when the swing angle of the side brush reaches an abnormal angle, the relative movement is urgently stopped. Therefore, the possibility that the surface pressure is excessively applied and the vehicle is damaged can be avoided.

  In the car wash method of the present invention, the side brush is moved along the shape of the front or rear surface of the vehicle to be washed at a predetermined surface pressure, and the entire front or rear surface of the vehicle is continuously washed according to the shape. Thus, even when the front end portion or the rear end portion of the vehicle has a round shape, there is an effect that it is possible to eliminate unwashed residue and to improve the washability.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a gate-shaped car wash machine body, which is supported and guided by the floor rail 2 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the front-rear direction. The car wash machine main body 1 includes a travel drive device 3 (travel drive motor or the like) for driving the car wash machine main body 1 and a sonic sensor 5 (vehicle height detection means) for detecting the vehicle height of the vehicle 4 to be washed. A top brush 6 for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle 4, a pair of left and right side brushes 7 for cleaning both side surfaces and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle 4, side brush driving means 8 for driving both side brushes 7, A pair of left and right rocker brushes 10 for cleaning the lower portions of both sides and the wheels 9, a plurality of drying nozzles 13 for injecting drying air to the vehicle 4, and an injection device (not shown) for injecting cleaning water, detergent and the like An operation panel 11 and a control device 12 (control means) are provided. The direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction in which the car wash machine body 1 travels is defined as the left-right direction (the width direction of the car wash machine body 1).
[Configuration of side brush]
The side brush 7 includes a brush shaft 17 that is rotatable around a longitudinal axis 16 and a brush body 18 that is implanted on the outer periphery of the brush shaft 17.

  The side brush drive means 8 includes a pair of left and right movable bodies 20 supported and guided by guide rails 19 and movable in the left and right directions, and a pair of left and right moving devices 21 for moving the side brushes 7 toward and away from each other. And a rotational drive device 22 that rotationally drives the side brushes 7 around the longitudinal axis 16.

  The guide rail 19 is formed long in the left-right direction, and is provided at the upper part of the car wash machine body 1. The support shaft 24 protrudes from both ends of the guide rail 19 through the flanges 23 a, 23 b. By supporting the shaft 24 via a bearing 25 provided on the car wash machine body 1 side, the guide rail 19 can be rotated around a horizontal axis 26 (left-right axis; see FIG. 6). 4, 6, and 7, the guide rail 19 is rotated against a pair of front and rear springs 27 that are attached between the flanges 23 a and 23 b and the car wash machine body 1. Done.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable bodies 20 include a plurality of upper and lower rollers 29 that roll along the guide rails 19, and a cylindrical bearing 30 that rotatably supports the brush shaft 17. The rotational drive device 22 is provided. The rotational drive device 22 includes a motor 31 and sprockets 32 and 33 and a chain 34 that interlock and connect the motor 31 and the brush shaft 17. According to this, by driving the motor 31, the brush shaft 17 rotates through the sprocket 32, the chain 34, and the sprocket 33, and both brush bodies 18 rotate around the vertical axis 16.

  The moving device 21 includes a left and right swingable arm 35 provided on the car wash machine main body 1 side, a cylinder device 36 that swings the arm 35, a free end portion of the arm 35, and the movable body 20. It is comprised with the link 37 connected so that relative rotation was possible between them. Both movable bodies 20 are urged by a weight 39 connected via a wire 38 so as to approach the closing limit position S set at the left and right central portion of the car wash machine body 1. According to this, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the piston rods 36 a of both the cylinder devices 36 are retracted, so that both the movable bodies 20 move outwardly against the urging force of the weights 39. Therefore, both the side brushes 7 move away from each other, and the distance between the side brushes 7 increases. Further, as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 4, since the piston rod 36a protrudes, the urging force of the weight 39 is also applied, so that both the movable bodies 20 move inward in the left and right directions. Move closer to each other and the distance between the side brushes 7 closes.

  The both side brushes 7 are swingable back and forth as the guide rail 19 rotates about the horizontal axis 26. The spring 27 elastically maintains the neutral rotation of the guide rail 19 and is an example of an urging unit that urges the side brushes 7 to the front-rear neutral position N.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a swing angle measuring device 42 (an inclination sensor; an example of detection means) that measures the swing angle of both side brushes 7 in the front-rear direction, and the both side brushes 7 move apart. An opening limit sensor 44 that detects that the opening limit position O has been reached (opening operation), and a closing sensor that detects that the side brushes 7 have approached (closed) and reached the closing position S. 45, (an example of the abnormality detecting means) abnormality detection sensor 47 for detecting that the oscillation angle reaches a preset abnormal angle theta _C and is provided.

  The swing angle measuring device 42 is composed of a rotary encoder in which a rotating shaft is coupled to a horizontal axis 26 of one support shaft 24 of the guide rail 19, and a pulse output from the rotary encoder is received. By counting, the positive and negative swing angles θ in the front-rear direction are obtained with the swing angle when the side brushes 7 are in the neutral position N being 0 °.

  The open limit sensor 44 detects that the movable body 20 (side brush 7) has moved to the open limit position O. The open limit sensor 44 includes a proximity sensor disposed on the guide rail 19. Detects that the movable body 20 (side brush 7) has moved to the closed limit position S, and includes a proximity sensor disposed on the guide rail 19.

The abnormality detection sensor 47 has a limit switch 48 and a switching piece 49 for switching the limit switch 48 on and off. The limit switch 48 is attached to the car wash machine body 1. Further, the switching piece 49 is formed in a U shape having a pair of front and rear vertical plate portions 51, is attached to one end portion of the guide rail 19 via a bracket 52, and is rotated by the rotation of the guide rail 19. Swing back and forth. The abnormal angle θ _C is set to be larger than the surface pressure setting angles θ _A and θ _B for setting the surface pressure described later (for example, the abnormal angle θ _C = 12 °).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the control device 12 is connected with the keys of the sonic sensor 5, the swing angle measuring device 42, the open limit sensor 44, the close limit sensor 45, the abnormality detection sensor 47, and the operation panel 11. Furthermore, the travel drive device 3, the motor 31, the cylinder device 36, the drive device (not shown) for the top brush 6, the drive device (not shown) for the rocker brush 10, etc. are connected. The control device 12 is based on the detection data input from the sensors 44, 45, 47 and the swing angle measuring device 42 and the operation data of each key, and the travel drive device 3, the motor 31, the cylinder device 36, and the top brush 6. The drive unit (not shown) and the drive unit (not shown) of the rocker brush 10 are controlled to perform car washing. Each key of the operation panel 11 includes a plurality of car wash course setting keys for selecting a desired car wash course from a plurality of car wash courses having different car wash contents, a plurality of car type setting keys for selecting the vehicle type of the vehicle 4, and the vehicle 4 A plurality of equipment setting keys, a start key, a stop key, and the like to be selected if there are equipment such as a rear mirror.

A car wash method when the front surface of the vehicle 4 is washed by the side brush 7 by the control device 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
As described above, the control device 12 counts the pulses output from the swing angle measuring device (rotary encoder) 42, thereby setting the swing angle when both side brushes 7 are in the neutral position N to 0 °. As described above, the positive and negative swing angles θ in the front-rear direction are obtained. In addition, when the side brush 7 inclines (swings) in the forward direction, it is positive.

Whether or not the surface pressure acting on the front or rear surface of the vehicle 4 when the pair of side brushes 7 contacts the front or rear surface of the vehicle 4 is optimal (whether it is a predetermined surface pressure) or not is determined. Detected. That is, the side brush 7 comes into contact with the front surface of the vehicle 4 and tilts (swings) in the forward direction, and a positive swing angle θ is the first surface pressure setting angle that is the optimum surface pressure to the front surface of the vehicle 4. It detects it became theta _a, and outputs a first surface pressure detection signal (controller internal signals). Further, the side brush 7 comes into contact with the rear surface of the vehicle 4 and tilts (swings) in the reverse direction, and the negative swing angle θ is the second surface pressure setting angle θ that is the optimum surface pressure to the rear surface of the vehicle 4. _B is detected and the second surface pressure detection signal (control device internal signal) is output. The first surface pressure setting angle θ _A and the second surface pressure setting angle θ _B can be arbitrarily set. As described above, the swing angle measuring device 42 and the control device 12 constitute a surface pressure detecting means.

Further, the side brush 7 oscillates in contact with the front or rear surface of the vehicle 4, and the absolute value of the oscillating angle θ becomes an abnormal set angle θ _C that may cause damage to the vehicle 4 by the side brush 7. At this time, an abnormal stop signal (control device internal signal) is output. Note that θ _C > θ _A and θ _C > | θ _B |.

Further, at the time of car washing, the vehicle 4 is stopped at a predetermined stop position, the car wash course and the vehicle type are selected by operating the keys on the operation panel 11, and the start key is operated.
Steps 1-4
When the motor 31 is driven to rotate the brush shaft 17 around the longitudinal axis 16 and the cylinder device 36 is driven to move both the side brushes 7 closer, and the closing sensor 45 is operated, the cylinder device 36 is stopped. Thereby, both the side brushes 7 are rotated and moved to the closed limit position S, and are brought into a closed state.
Step-5
The travel drive device 3 is driven to cause the car wash machine body 1 to travel forward.

As a result, the car wash machine main body 1 moves forward, and both side brushes 7 moved to the closed limit position S come into contact with the left and right central portions of the front surface of the vehicle 4 from the front and are pushed by the vehicle 4 to advance from the neutral position N. When the surface pressure acting on the front surface of the vehicle 4 reaches the optimum surface pressure (predetermined surface pressure), the swing angle θ of the side brush 7 is equal to the first surface pressure setting angle θ _A. As a result, the first surface pressure detection signal is output.
Step-6, 7
When the first surface pressure detection signal (ON) is confirmed, the traveling drive device 3 is stopped to stop the forward traveling of the car wash machine body 1.
Step-8, 9
The cylinder device 36 is driven to move both side brushes 7 away from the closed limit position S to the open limit position O (opening operation), and whether both side brushes 7 have moved to the open limit position O, that is, open. It is confirmed whether the limit sensor 44 has been operated. When the opening limit sensor 44 is not operating, the process returns to Step-6.

When both side brushes 7 are moved apart (opening operation), the front surface of the vehicle 4 is washed by both side brushes 7, but when the front shape of the vehicle 4 is round, the inclination of both side brushes 7 is increased. gradually become loose, i.e. start the return swing angle to 0 °, oscillation angle theta is smaller than the first surface pressure set angle theta _a, first surface pressure detection signal is turned off.
Step-10,11
When it is confirmed in the above step-6 that the first surface pressure detection signal is turned off, the cylinder device 36 is stopped, the separation movement of both side brushes 7 is stopped, and the traveling drive device 3 is driven again to wash the car. The machine body 1 is moved forward, and the process returns to Step-6.

In step-9, when the opening limit sensor 44 operates, the process ends.
When the abnormal stop signal (control device internal signal) is confirmed during the execution of the above steps, the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped.

The effect | action by the said car wash method is demonstrated referring FIG. It is assumed that the front shape of the vehicle 4 is round.
When both side brushes 7 are rotated and moved to the closed limit position S and the car wash machine body 1 is advanced, both side brushes 7 come into contact with the left and right central portions of the front surface of the vehicle 4 from the front and are pushed by the vehicle 4. Thus, the fact that the surface pressure acting on the vehicle 4 has reached the optimum surface pressure (predetermined surface pressure) is swung (inclined) from the neutral position N in the forward direction. It is detected when the pressure setting angle θ _A is reached, and a first surface pressure detection signal is output.

Then, the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped, and both side brushes 7 are moved away from each other from the closed limit position S to the open limit position O (opening operation). When both side brushes 7 are moved apart (opening operation), the front surface of the vehicle 4 is cleaned by the both side brushes 7, but since the front shape of the vehicle 4 is round, the slopes of the both side brushes 7 are inclined. There gradually becomes loose, i.e. start the return swing angle to 0 °, oscillation angle theta is smaller than the first surface pressure set angle theta _a, first surface pressure detection signal is turned off.

Then, the cylinder device 36 is stopped, the separation movement of both side brushes 7 is stopped, the travel drive device 3 is re-driven, and the car wash machine main body 1 travels forward again. The two side brushes 7 are again pushed by the vehicle 4 and are swung (inclined) in the forward direction, so that the surface pressure acting on the vehicle 4 becomes the optimum surface pressure (predetermined surface pressure). oscillation angle theta of is detected by became first surface pressure set angle theta _a, first surface pressure detection signal is output. Thereby, the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped again, and both side brushes 7 are moved away from each other toward the open limit position O (opening operation).

  [First surface pressure detection → car wash machine main body stop → side brush separation movement] → [first surface pressure non-detection → side brush separation movement stop → car wash machine main body advancement] → [first surface pressure detection ...] By repeating the above, both side brushes 7 are moved along the round-shaped front surface, so that the entire front surface of the vehicle 4 is continuously washed according to the shape, and the shape of the front end portion of the vehicle 4 to be washed is changed. Even when the shape is round, there is no residue left.

  Note that the operation of cleaning the rear surface of the vehicle 4 by moving the car wash machine body 1 backward from the rear of the vehicle 4 is the same as the operation of cleaning the front surface, and the description thereof is omitted. At this time, the second surface pressure detection signal is used instead of the first surface pressure detection signal.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the car wash machine main body 1 is moved with the pair of side brushes 7 closed, and the pair of side brushes 7 come into contact with the front surface or the rear surface of the vehicle 4 to contact the front surface of the vehicle 4. Alternatively, when the surface pressure acting on the rear surface is the optimum surface pressure (predetermined surface pressure), the movement is stopped, and the pair of side brushes 7 are moved apart (opening operation) to perform front surface of the vehicle 4. Alternatively, the optimum surface pressure can be obtained by repeating the operation of cleaning the rear surface and the operation of stopping the separation of the pair of side brushes 7 and restarting the movement when the surface pressure is less than the predetermined surface pressure. Thus, even when both side brushes 7 are moved along the front surface of the round shape, the entire front or rear surface of the vehicle 4 is continuously washed, and the shape of the front end portion of the vehicle 4 to be washed is round. , You can eliminate the residue Come (can be prevented), thereby improving the detergency.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the surface pressure is changed because the swing angle θ of the side brush 7 becomes the first set angle θ _A (during forward movement) or the second set angle θ _B (during reverse movement). By detecting that the optimum surface pressure has been reached, the setting of the setting angles θ _A , θ _B can be easily performed to adjust the setting of the surface pressure acting on the vehicle 4. The front or rear surface of 4 can be washed. In addition, since the first set angle θ _A for forward travel and the second set angle θ _B for reverse travel can be set separately, optimal adjustment in accordance with the shape of the front surface and the rear surface of the vehicle 4 can be performed. it can.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the abnormal stop signal (control device internal signal) is confirmed, that is, when the swing angle θ of the side brush 7 reaches the abnormal angle, the car wash machine body 1 is stopped urgently. Thus, it is possible to avoid the possibility that the vehicle 4 is damaged due to excessive surface pressure.

In the above embodiment, the means for detecting the swing angle θ of the side brush 7 is configured by the swing angle measuring device (rotary encoder) 42, but it may be configured by a magnetic detector and a shielding plate. It is. That is, the shielding plate is made of a magnetic material and attached to one of the flanges 23a or 23b so as to swing back and forth as the guide rail 19 rotates. The magnetic detector is adapted to detect the magnetic approached shielding plate, mounted on the car washing machine body 1 side, if the swing angle of the shield plate has reached the first set angle theta _A magnetic detector It does not detect the magnetism shielding plate, if less than the first set angle theta _a, the magnetic detector is configured to detect the magnetic shielding plate. Further, in place of the swing angle measuring device (rotary encoder) 42, a pressure sensor in which a detecting portion (for example, a diaphragm surface) is actuated by tilting the guide rail 19 may be used.

  In the above-described embodiment, the car wash machine body 1 that can run back and forth is cited. However, the stationary car wash machine body fixed on the ground includes the side brush 7, and the car wash is performed while the vehicle 4 is conveyed by the conveying device. It may be a type of car wash machine. Moreover, the car wash machine of the type wash | cleaned while moving the car wash main body 1 and the vehicle 4 simultaneously may be sufficient.

It is explanatory drawing of the car wash method of the car wash machine in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the car wash method of the car wash machine. It is a side view of the car wash machine. It is a top view of the side brush and side brush drive means of the car wash. It is a XX arrow line view in FIG. 4 of the car wash machine. It is a figure of the one end part of the guide rail of the car wash machine. It is a figure of the spring which urges the guide rail of the car wash machine to the neutral position. It is a control block diagram of the car wash. It is explanatory drawing of the subject of the conventional car wash machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 3 Travel drive device 4 Vehicle 7 Side brush 12 Control device (control means)
31 Motor 36 Cylinder device 42 Swing angle measuring device (detection means)
44 Open limit sensor 45 Close limit sensor 47 Abnormality detection sensor (abnormality detection means)
θ _A First surface pressure setting angle θ _B Second surface pressure setting angle θ _C Abnormal setting angle N Neutral position O Open limit position S Close position

Claims (3)

A pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning the front and rear surfaces and both side surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned are movable in the left and right direction perpendicular to the front and rear direction of the vehicle and in the front and rear direction of the vehicle. A car wash method of a car wash machine that is provided so as to be able to swing, and moves at least one of the car wash machine body and the vehicle relative to the other to perform car wash,
With the pair of side brushes closed, the car wash machine body and the vehicle are moved relative to each other,
When the pair of side brushes contacts the front or rear surface of the vehicle and the surface pressure acting on the front or rear surface of the vehicle becomes a predetermined surface pressure, the relative movement is stopped, and the pair of side brushes An operation of opening left and right to clean the front or rear surface of the vehicle, and an operation of stopping the opening operation of the pair of side brushes and resuming the relative movement when the surface pressure is less than a predetermined surface pressure. The car wash method of the car wash machine characterized by repeating. Whether or not the surface pressure is a predetermined surface pressure is determined by checking whether the side brush contacts the front or rear surface of the vehicle and swings from the front / rear neutral position to either the front / rear. The car wash method for a car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the car wash is performed when the angle is reached. When the side brush contacts the front or rear surface of the vehicle and swings from the front / rear neutral position to either the front / rear, and confirms that the swing angle has reached an abnormal angle, the car wash machine body and the The car wash method for a car wash machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the relative movement of the vehicle is stopped.

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