JP2010070019A - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car wash machine that eliminates a deviation between vehicle shape data and an actual automobile by stabilizing a running start position to perform a washing process safely and certainly. <P>SOLUTION: The car wash machine includes a running control means 12a for performing a start position detecting process A for determining, when a body 1 of the car wash machine starts running, whether the running start position of the body 1 which is detected by a dog 10a and a running switch 11 is located at a normal start position P, and a position correcting process B for returning the body 1 to the normal start position P when it is determined in the start position detecting process A that the body 1 is not stopped at the normal start position P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine that creates car shape data of a car to be washed as the car wash machine travels and performs a car wash process such as washing and drying by operating a car wash processing device based on the car shape data. The present invention relates to a car wash machine that prevents a deviation from vehicle shape data by reliably detecting a travel position of a main body.

  In a car wash machine of the type that performs car wash processing based on the detected car shape data, in order to accurately recognize the travel position of the car wash machine body, means for detecting that the car wash machine body is at the running limit, Means for detecting the running position are provided. The travel limit detection means is composed of a travel switch attached to the car wash machine main body and a dog laid on the floor near the both ends of the travel rail, and the travel switch comes into contact with the dog and is turned on. Detects that the main unit has reached the driving limit. The travel position detection means is composed of an encoder that outputs a pulse every time the travel motor of the main body rotates a predetermined amount, and detects the travel position of the main body by counting the number of pulses output by the encoder.

  The car wash machine starts traveling with the travel limit position detected by the travel switch as a travel reference, counts the pulses output from the encoder according to the rotation of the travel motor, recognizes the travel position, The vehicle shape detection means detects the upper surface shape of the automobile and creates vehicle shape data. Then, the upper surface brush and the side surface brush are acted on the basis of the created vehicle shape data to clean the automobile.

  When the travel switch comes into contact with the dog and stops traveling, the dog must run long enough to absorb this idle travel distance because idle running occurs after the switch is activated until the main unit stops. It becomes. That is, the length of the dog is determined on the basis of the idling distance when the main body is traveling at high speed, and is set to stop when the switch comes to a position that is substantially at the center of the dock. Even when the main body is traveling at a low speed, the main body is instructed to stop after a predetermined time delay from the contact of the switch so that the main body stops at this position.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, when an abnormal stop occurs when the travel switch is at the position Pr before the dog is removed from the dog, the travel switch remains ON, so the car wash is restarted from this position Pr. Thus, a deviation occurs at the start position between the first and second forwards. That is, when the car wash is started from the normal start position P, the distance to the position Po where the travel switch is removed from the dog is La, whereas when the car wash is started from the abnormal position Pr, to the position Po. Lb (<La), and the difference (La−Lb) appears as a deviation, resulting in unwashed areas and damage to the vehicle body.

When the main body is run at a high speed as in Patent Document 1, the stop position is stabilized by decelerating the main body before the dog, so that the dog does not become longer than necessary and an abnormality occurs on the dog. However, there is a problem that the car wash time at high speeds is increased by the amount of deceleration of the main body.
JP-A-5-32157

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine that can perform a safe and reliable car wash process by stabilizing the start position of travel and eliminating the deviation between the car shape data and the automobile.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a car wash machine that includes various processing devices in a car wash machine body that travels back and forth across an automobile, and that performs a process such as washing and drying on the body surface as the car wash machine body travels. Position detecting means for detecting the running start position of the car wash machine body, running position detecting means for detecting the running position of the car wash machine body based on the position detecting means, and vehicle body detecting means for detecting the position of the upper surface of the car body. Vehicle shape detection means for creating vehicle shape data corresponding to the running position and the vehicle body upper surface position given by the running position detection detection means and the vehicle body detection means, and based on the vehicle shape data created by the vehicle shape detection means In the car wash machine having the car wash control means for causing the processing device to act, the travel start position of the main body detected by the position detection means is at a normal start position when the car wash machine main body starts running. Travel position control processing for executing a position correction process for returning the main body to a normal start position when it is determined that the main body has not stopped at a normal start position by the start position detection process Means are provided.

  The start position detection process is a process of determining which position of the dog the travel switch is in contact with, based on the travel distance or elapsed time from the start of travel of the car wash machine body until the travel switch is removed from the dog. The position correction process is a process for returning the car wash machine body to a normal start position by moving the car wash machine body backward for a predetermined time or a predetermined distance from a state in which the travel switch is removed from the dog.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to stabilize the traveling start position, eliminate the deviation between the vehicle shape data and the automobile, and perform a safe and reliable car washing process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view. Reference numeral 1 denotes a car wash machine body 1 formed in a gate shape, which reciprocates on a pair of left and right rails 2 and 2 so as to straddle an automobile stopped between the rails 2 and 2. 3, 4, and 4 are brushes as cleaning processing devices provided on the main body 1, 3 is a top surface brush that is disposed horizontally and moves up and down in the vertical direction to clean the upper surface of the vehicle body, It is a pair of left and right side brushes that cleans the side and front and rear sides of the vehicle body by opening and closing. Reference numerals 5, 6, 6 are blower nozzles as a drying processing apparatus provided in the main body 1, which blows air from a blower (not shown) on the body surface to dry the body. 5 is arranged horizontally and moves up and down in the vertical direction. Upper surface blower nozzles 6 and 6 for drying the upper surface of the vehicle body are a pair of left and right side blower nozzles provided on both sides of the main body 1 for drying the side surfaces of the vehicle body.

  7 is a vehicle shape detecting device that is positioned in front of the brushes 3, 4, and 4 of the main body 1 and reads the shape from the side of the automobile, 8 and 8 are motors that drive the main body 1, and 9 is one motor. 8 is an encoder that outputs a pulse every time the main body 1 travels a unit distance. Reference numerals 10a and 10b denote dogs that are provided at the front and rear ends of one rail 2, and detect the running end of the car wash machine main body 1. Reference numeral 11 denotes a travel switch that is provided at the lower part of the main body 1 and is switched by the dogs 10a and 10b.

  The vehicle shape detection device 7 includes a light emitting unit 7a in which a large number of light emitting elements are arranged vertically and a light receiving unit 7b that is arranged corresponding to the light emitting unit 7a and receives an optical signal from the light emitting unit 7a. Facing each other. Each time a pulse is output from the rotary encoder 9 as the main body 1 travels, the light emitting element of the light emitting unit 7a emits light in order up and down, and the light receiving state at the light receiving unit 7b is detected to be shielded from light by the vehicle body. The position of the light emitting / receiving element in the upper position is detected, stored as the height of the upper surface of the vehicle body, and the contour from the side of the automobile is read.

  The travel switch 11 is turned on when it is rotationally displaced in contact with the dogs 10a and 10b, and detects that the car wash machine body 1 has reached the travel end. The travel switch 11 can detect whether the travel switch 11 is in contact with the dog 10a or the dog 10b depending on the direction of displacement, and the car wash machine 1 normally has the travel switch 11 in contact with the dog 10a. The car is started from this position by waiting at the traveling end.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. Reference numeral 12 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer, a memory, and the like. Reference numeral 13 denotes a drive unit that drives a processing device such as a travel motor, a brush, and a blower nozzle in response to a signal from the control unit 12. This is an operation panel for inputting. The control unit 12 executes a car wash operation via the drive unit 13 in accordance with the stored car wash program when there is a car wash start input on the operation panel 14, and pulses output from the encoder 9 as the travel motor 8 is driven during the car wash. The signal is counted to detect the travel position of the main body 1, or the vehicle height data is taken from the vehicle shape detection device 7 using the pulse signal from the encoder 9 as a trigger, and the vehicle shape data of the automobile is combined with the travel position of the main body 1 Or the upper surface brush 3 and the upper surface blower nozzle 5 are controlled so as to follow the generated vehicle shape data.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a main part of the function of the control unit 12. The function performed by the control unit 12 will be described in detail based on this diagram.
12a is a travel control unit that switches the drive speed of the travel motor 8 according to the car wash course to be executed, detects that the travel switch 11 has come into contact with the dogs 10a and 10b, and travels at a stop timing according to the travel speed. 8 is stopped. Reference numeral 12b denotes a travel position detection unit that counts pulse signals from the encoder 9 to detect the travel position of the main body 1. Reference numeral 12c denotes a vehicle shape detection unit that takes in the vehicle height from the vehicle shape detection device 7 every time there is a pulse output from the encoder 9, and creates vehicle shape data together with the travel position given by the travel position detection unit 12b at that time. 12d is a car wash control unit, which causes each brush and blower nozzle to act on the vehicle body based on the vehicle shape data created by the vehicle shape detection unit 12c.

  The traveling control unit 12a stops the car wash machine body 1 at a fixed position regardless of the traveling speed. Therefore, when the vehicle is washed at a high speed, the traveling motor 8 is immediately turned on when the traveling switch 11 comes into contact with the dog 10 and is turned on. When the vehicle is washed by low-speed running, control is performed to stop the running motor 8 after a predetermined time delay after the running switch 11 comes into contact with the dog 10 and becomes ON. The target stop position is set based on an idle running distance (for example, 15 cm) due to inertia from when the travel switch 11 comes into contact with the dog 10 and becomes ON during high speed travel until the car wash machine body 1 actually stops. Will be. Here, the length of the dog 10 is set to about twice this idle travel distance (for example, 30 cm), and the position where the travel switch 11 stops near the center of the dog 10 is set as the target stop position. Therefore, the motor stop delay time is set so that the travel switch 11 stops at the target stop position in the center of the dog during low speed travel.

  Further, in the travel control unit 12a, a start position detection process for detecting whether or not the travel switch 11 has started the car wash from the normal start position (target stop position) with the start of the travel of the car wash machine body 1, and the start position detection When it is determined in the process that the travel switch 11 has not started the car wash from the normal start position, a position correction process for returning to the normal start position is executed. The start position detection process and the position correction process will be described later in the description of the operation.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case where a car wash course of two reciprocating car wash is executed is illustrated.
When there is a car wash start input on the operation panel 14, the traveling motor 8 is driven and the car wash machine body 1 starts going. When the car wash is started, the car wash machine main body 1 stands by at the start position Ps (target stop position) where the travel switch 11 is in contact with the vicinity of the center of the dog 10a. Therefore, the travel position detector 12b uses the start position Ps as a base point. As a result, the pulse signals from the encoder 9 are counted.

(First outbound-Fig. 5a)
In the first outbound, the travel position detection unit 12b detects the travel distance from the start position Ps, and the vehicle shape detection unit 12c uses the pulse signal from the encoder 9 as a trigger to determine the height of the upper surface of the vehicle from the vehicle shape detection device 7. The vehicle shape data is created together with the main body traveling position given by the capturing and traveling position detecting unit 12b. Further, the shampoo process is executed by causing the upper surface brush 3 and the side surface brushes 4 and 4 to act along the vehicle shape data created by the vehicle shape detection unit 12c while spraying detergent on the vehicle body by the car wash control unit 12d. When the main body 1 travels to a position Pe where the cleaning of the rear surface of the vehicle body by the side brushes 4 and 4 ends, the process proceeds to the first go-around.

(First Return-FIG. 5b)
In the first go-around, a wax process is performed in which the upper surface brush 3 and the side surface brushes 4 and 4 are made to act while spraying wax. During the first return, every time a pulse signal is output from the encoder 9 until the main body 1 returns to the start position Ps, the value of the travel position detection unit 12b is subtracted to detect the main body travel position and vehicle shape data in one forward pass. Car wash based on. When the main body 1 returns to the start position Ps, the process proceeds to the second forward.

(Second outbound-Fig. 5c)
In the second forward, a water repellent process is performed in which the upper surface brush 3 and the side brushes 4 and 4 act while spraying the water repellent. In the second forward, the value of the travel position detector 12b is reset, and the travel position of the main body 1 is detected by counting the pulse signal from the encoder 9 again with the start position Ps as the base point in the two forwards of the main body 1. To go. When the main body 1 travels to a position Pe where the cleaning of the rear surface of the vehicle body by the side brushes 4 and 4 ends, the process proceeds to the second return.

(Second return-FIG. 5d)
In the second return, a drying process is performed in which the upper blower nozzle 5 and the side blower nozzles 6 and 6 are operated. During the second return, similarly to the first return, every time a pulse signal is output from the encoder 9 until the main body 1 returns to the start position Ps, the value of the traveling position detector 12b is subtracted and detected in one forward. Drying is performed based on the main body travel position and vehicle shape data. When the main body 1 returns to the start position Ps, the car wash ends.

  Now, during such a car wash, if any abnormality occurs in the car wash machine and the main body 1 stops traveling, the value counted by the travel position detector 12b is reset so far, and the main body 1 is once returned to the start position Ps. Then restart. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, if an abnormal stop occurs when the travel switch 11 is at the position Pr before the dog 10a is removed, the travel switch 11 remains ON, so the car wash is restarted from this position Pr. It will start, and the start position of the 1st outbound and the 2nd outbound will shift. That is, when the car wash is started from the normal start position Ps, the distance to the position Po where the travel switch 11 is disengaged from the dog 10a is La, whereas when the car wash is started from the abnormal position Pr, the position is The distance to Po is Lb (<La), and the difference (La−Lb) appears as a deviation. If the normal start position Pa is substantially the center of the dog 10a and the length of the dog 10a is, for example, 30 cm, the difference (La−Lb) is shifted by a maximum of about 12 cm.

  Therefore, the travel control unit 12a executes a start position detection process at the start of the outward trip. This start position detection process is a process for detecting whether the main body 1 has started car wash from the normal start position Ps (target stop position). As shown in part A of FIG. The main body 1 is driven to travel (1), and every time the main body 1 travels a predetermined distance (for example, 1 mm) in the travel position detector 12b, the travel distance is detected by counting the pulse signal output from the encoder 9. (2). When the travel of the main body advances and the travel switch 11 is removed from the dog 10 and is turned OFF (3), the distance Ls detected by the travel position detector 12b up to that point is compared with the distance La to the start position Ps (4) ). If the measurement distance Ls is the same as the distance La to the start position Ps, it is determined that the car wash is started from the normal start position Ps, and the car wash operation is performed as it is. The measurement distance Ls is the distance La to the start position Ps. If they are different, it is determined that the car wash is not started from the normal start position Ps, and the position correction process is executed.

  The position correction process is a process for returning the car wash machine main body 1 to the normal start position Ps. As shown in part B of FIG. (5) When the travel switch 11 is turned on (6), the travel motor 8 is driven until a predetermined time T elapses (7), and then the travel motor 8 is stopped (8). The predetermined time T is determined by the traveling speed of the car wash machine main body 1. When the main body 1 is moved backward at a low speed (for example, 30 Hz), if the predetermined time T is set to about 1 second, the motor It is possible to return to the start position Ps including the free running distance after the stop.

  The present invention is configured as described above, and by making the car wash machine main body 1 always travel from a normal starting position, the relative position between the car wash machine main body and the automobile is stabilized, There is no gap between the actual car and safe car washing is possible. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the stop position detection process may be determined by the time from when the main body starts to travel until the travel switch 11 is removed from the dog 10a and turned off. In the position correction process, the pulse signal from the encoder 9 may be counted and the main body 1 may travel back a predetermined distance.

It is front explanatory drawing of an Example. It is side explanatory drawing of an Example. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of an Example. It is a block diagram explaining the function principal part of the control part of an Example. It is explanatory drawing of the operation example in an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the driving | running | working start position in an Example. It is a flowchart figure which shows the operation | movement in an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 3 Upper surface brush 4/4 Side brush 5 Upper surface blower nozzle 6/6 Side blower nozzle 7 Car shape detection device 8/8 Travel motor 9 Encoder 10a / 10b Dog 11 Travel switch 12 Control unit 12a Travel control unit 12b Travel position detection Part 12c Car shape detection part 12d Car wash control part 13 Drive part 14 Operation panel

Claims (5)

A car wash machine that reciprocates so as to straddle an automobile, is equipped with various processing devices, and performs a process such as washing and drying on the body surface as the car wash machine travels. Position detecting means for detecting, traveling position detecting means for detecting the traveling position of the car washer body based on the position detecting means, vehicle body detecting means for detecting the position of the upper surface of the vehicle body, the traveling position detection detecting means and the vehicle body detection Vehicle shape detection means for creating vehicle shape data corresponding to the travel position given by the means and the vehicle body upper surface position, and the processing device is operated based on the vehicle shape data created by the vehicle shape detection means In a car wash machine equipped with a car wash control means,
A start position detection process for determining whether or not the travel start position of the main body detected by the position detection means is at a normal start position with the start of travel of the car wash body, and the main body is normal by the start position detection process. A car wash machine comprising travel control means for executing position correction processing for returning the main body to a normal start position when it is determined that the vehicle has not stopped at the start position.
The position detection means comprises a dog installed on the floor, and a travel switch that is attached to the car wash machine body and switches in contact with the dog,
2. The start position detecting process according to claim 1, wherein a position of the travel switch in contact with the dog is determined based on a travel distance from the start of travel of the car wash machine body to the release of the travel switch from the dog. Car wash machine.
The position detection means comprises a dog installed on the floor, and a travel switch that is attached to the car wash machine body and switches in contact with the dog,
2. The start position detection process according to claim 1, wherein the position of the travel switch touching the dog is determined based on an elapsed time from the start of travel of the car wash machine body until the travel switch is removed from the dog. Car wash machine.
4. The car wash according to claim 2, wherein the position correction processing includes moving the car wash machine main body backward for a predetermined time from a state where the travel switch is removed from the dog to stop the car wash machine main body at a normal start position. Machine.
4. The car wash according to claim 2, wherein the position correction processing includes moving the car wash body backward by a predetermined distance from a state where the travel switch is removed from the dog to stop the car wash machine body at a normal start position. 5. Machine.

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