JP2011020572A - Car washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car washing machine in which a pair of right and left side brushes are pushed against both side surfaces of a vehicle for washing, the width of a car is detected before the side brushes are pushed against the side surfaces of a vehicle, and the side brushes are not pressed too hard so that a door mirror is free from any damages and unwashed parts even if the door mirror is in a protruded state. <P>SOLUTION: The car washing machine WA is constituted as to be equipped with locker brushes 6 and side brushes 5. The width of the vehicle CA to be washed is found out from the working region of the locker brushes 6 and the amount of shift of the side brushes 5 with respect to both the side surfaces of the vehicle is regulated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine that performs a car wash while relatively moving a vehicle to be cleaned and a car wash machine body in the front-rear direction, and more particularly, to a car wash machine that includes a rocker brush that cleans an undercarriage and a side brush that cleans a side surface.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a car wash machine installed at a gas station, etc., sprays liquid or washing water stored in a liquid storage tank on the car to be washed while moving the car to be washed and the car washer body in the front-rear direction. It is set as the structure which performs. Further, brushing and washing while spraying a liquid agent and washing water, and drying by blowing air after washing are performed.

  In the washing step, first, dirt is removed using washing water, then washing is performed using a liquid agent, and further washing is performed using washing water. After this washing process, a drying process is performed in which air is blown from each blowing nozzle and dried. Various shampoos, waxes, and coats are used as the liquid agent used in car washing. Each shampoo, wax, and coat is stored in a dedicated liquid storage tank, and the tube is inserted into the tank. Sprayed and consumed. In addition, an operation panel and a remote panel are provided for selecting a desired mode from a plurality of car wash modes, selecting a type of liquid agent to be used, and setting a predetermined car wash mode. The operation panel is installed in the car wash machine body, but the remote panel is installed at a position away from the car wash machine body, and the remote panel is electrically connected to the operation panel. The car wash machine can be driven by the car wash mode.

  An example of a car wash machine including an operation panel and a remote panel will be described with reference to FIG. This car wash machine WA is equipped with a car wash machine main body 1 that is integrally mounted with a cleaning member having a plurality of brushes and a drying member having a blower and a plurality of blower nozzles, and has a gate shape so as to straddle the vehicle to be cleaned CA. The liquid agent stored in a plurality of liquid storage tanks is diluted with water and sprayed onto the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the car wash machine body 1 in the front-rear direction. The vehicle to be cleaned is washed.

  For example, the car wash machine main body 1 is configured to travel and move along the rails 2 via the wheels 3, and the pair of left and right rails of the car wash machine in which the vehicle to be cleaned CA is a gate type straddling the vehicle to be cleaned CA. Set the desired car wash mode on the operation panel 7 installed in the car wash machine body 1 or the remote panel 7A installed at a position away from the car wash machine body 1 and operate the start button. Start the car wash operation.

  The portal-type car wash machine main body 1 is, for example, a top brush 4 that cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and a pair of left and right surfaces that clean both side surfaces and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The side brush 5 and a pair of left and right rocker brushes 6 for cleaning the suspension around the lower portions of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned are provided.

  In addition, there are provided various nozzles for spraying cleaning water and various liquid agents used for brushing and a liquid storage tank for storing various liquid agents. A plurality of liquid storage tanks for storing various liquid agents are stored in a tank storage unit 50 provided in the car wash machine main body 1, and are supplied to each nozzle via a distribution pipe unit 51 including an electromagnetic valve and a sub-water supply hose. Distributing. As nozzles for spraying liquid or washing water, for example, a first water purification nozzle 11, a first detergent nozzle 12, a second water purification nozzle 13, a water repellent coating nozzle 14, a second detergent nozzle 15, a wax nozzle 16 and the like are disposed. Has been.

  Further, for drying, a blower 20, a freely movable top blower nozzle 21 that blows blown air from the blower 20, and a pair of left and right side blower nozzles 22 are provided. In addition, the driving condition of the car wash machine WA is set via the operation panel 7 disposed in the car wash machine body 1 or the remote panel 7A installed at a position away from the car wash machine body 1, and based on the set condition. The car wash machine WA is driven. Reference numeral 8 denotes a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the vehicle height, and for example, a photoelectric sensor or a sonic sensor using ultrasonic waves is preferably used.

  On the operation panel 7 and the remote panel 7A, there are selection buttons for selecting various car washing modes such as a water washing mode, a washing mode using a detergent, a wax mode for applying a wax, and a water repellent mode for coating a water repellent. A brush rotation switch for controlling the number of rotations of the brush, a start / stop button, and the like are provided.

  In addition, the car wash machine main body 1 is separated into a washing machine main body provided with a cleaning member and a dryer main body provided with a drying member, each of which has a gate shape so as to straddle the vehicle CA to be cleaned. There is also known a car wash machine configured to wash the vehicle to be cleaned CA while relatively moving the CA, the washing machine main body, and the dryer main body in the front-rear direction. Even if it is this structure, it is the same that it is provided with various brushes and various nozzles, and is provided with the operation panel 7 or the remote panel 7A.

  In the above-described car wash machine WA, an overhead traveling rail is provided in the width direction of the upper portion of the vehicle to be cleaned, a pair of left and right traveling bodies are installed on the traveling rail, and a brush is rotatably suspended on each of the traveling bodies. Thus, a pair of left and right side brushes 5 are formed. When cleaning the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA, the traveling body is moved to perform cleaning by bringing the rotating brush into contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned. At this time, if the side brush 5 has a suspended configuration, the left and right side brushes 5 are moved further in the closing direction from the contact state of the side surface of the vehicle, and are brought into contact with each other so as to be strongly pressed at a predetermined angle. Car wash effect can be improved. Further, the vehicle width is detected at a position where the pair of left and right side brushes 5 are strongly pressed against the side of the vehicle, and subsequent operations of the car wash machine are controlled.

  For example, a car washer that recognizes the position of the side surface of the vehicle based on the movement distance of the side brush and controls the drive region of the side blowing nozzle (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or the both side surfaces of the vehicle during the cleaning process. There has already been proposed a car wash machine (for example, refer to Patent Document 2) that detects a distance and performs drying by approaching a side drying nozzle (side blowing nozzle) in a non-contact state.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-273752 JP-A-1-306350

  When cleaning is performed by bringing the pair of left and right side brushes into contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, it is possible to detect the vehicle width by detecting the position of the pair of left and right side brushes. It is also possible to control the proximity position of the side blowing nozzle according to the width.

  However, the cleaning with the side brush is performed by rotating the brush while pressing the side brush against the side surface of the vehicle. Further, when the side brush is brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle, it is necessary to detect the vehicle width by strongly pressing the side brush against the side surface of the vehicle because the vehicle width is not yet known. At this time, depending on the type and shape of the vehicle, the side brush closing position and the door mirror portion overlap each other, and even when the door mirror is folded, the side brush strongly hits the door mirror, which may cause damage to the door mirror.

  In particular, in a short or short vehicle such as a wagon type or a minivan type, when the side brush is pressed against the side surface of the vehicle and the vehicle width is detected, it overlaps with the door mirror portion and becomes a problem.

  It is also possible to use a sensor that detects the door mirror part to clean the door mirror by pressing the side brush from a position that avoids the door mirror part, but this method increases the cost of installing the sensor and cleans the door mirror part. Becomes insufficient and causes a problem of unwashed areas.

  For this purpose, the vehicle width can be detected without pressing the side brush against the door mirror part, and even if the door mirror protrudes, the side brush is securely brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle and can be washed without generating any washing residue. A machine is desired.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, the present invention is a car wash machine that presses and cleans a pair of left and right side brushes against the side of a vehicle and detects the vehicle width before pressing the side brush against the side of the vehicle and strongly presses the side brush. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a car washing machine that does not cause damage even if the door mirror protrudes, and that does not leave behind washing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a car wash machine that performs a car wash while relatively moving the car wash body and the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction, and a pair of left and right rocker brushes that wash the undercarriage of the vehicle to be cleaned. And a pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, the vehicle width of the vehicle to be cleaned is determined from the operating region of the rocker brush, and the amount of movement of the side brush with respect to the vehicle side surface is defined. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, when the rocker brush is first brought into contact with the undercarriage of the vehicle, the vehicle width is determined from the operation region of the rocker brush and the movement amount of the side brush with respect to the side surface of the vehicle is regulated. It is possible to control to move to a position where it can be reliably washed without being over-pressed, and it is possible to obtain a car wash machine that does not damage the side face of the vehicle and does not generate a washing residue.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine configured as described above, the rocker brush is a rotary arm type in which a brush member is rotatably suspended on an arm that rotates about a support shaft, and a predetermined urging force is applied thereto. While rotating, the vehicle width of the to-be-cleaned vehicle is calculated from the rotation angle of the arm. According to this configuration, the pivot arm-type rocker brush that rotates with a predetermined urging force is brought into contact with the undercarriage and the side surface of the vehicle, so that it is reliably pressed with a weak contact force that does not damage the side surface or protrusions of the vehicle. The vehicle width can be easily determined.

  Further, the present invention is the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, wherein the side brush is suspended from a ceiling travel rail extending in the width direction of the upper portion of the vehicle to be cleaned so as to be openable and closable via the travel body. In accordance with the movement of the vehicle, the specified amount of movement moves the predetermined distance after the pair of left and right side brushes contact the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned. The cleaning is performed by inclining the side brush at a predetermined angle. According to this configuration, even when cleaning is performed with the side brush tilted, the amount of movement of the side brush is specified in advance, so that it is configured not to be pressed too strongly and without damage to projections such as door mirrors. It can be washed reliably.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine configured as described above, the contact force of the rocker brush with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned is weaker than the contact force of the side brush with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned. According to this configuration, it is not necessary to detect the vehicle width using a side brush with a strong contact force, and the vehicle width is determined from the operating area of the rocker brush with a weak contact force. The vehicle width can be easily detected. Also, since the amount of movement of the side brush with strong contact force is specified from the determined vehicle width, the side brush is firmly pressed against the side of the vehicle without over-pressing it and washed without generating washing residue. Can do.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine including the rocker brush and the side brush, the vehicle width of the vehicle to be cleaned is determined from the operation area of the rocker brush, and the movement amount of the side brush with respect to the vehicle side surface is defined. The vehicle width is calculated from the operating region of the rocker brush that is in contact with the vehicle's undercarriage, and the side brush is controlled to move to a position where it can be washed reliably without being pressed too hard according to the calculated vehicle width. Thus, it is possible to obtain a car washing machine that does not damage the side face of the vehicle and does not generate a washing residue.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the state of the washing | cleaning start of the car wash machine which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the contact state of a rocker brush. It is a principal part enlarged view, Comprising: (a) shows the schematic plan view which shows the structure of a rocker brush, (b) shows a schematic side view. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows progress of the movement of a side brush. It is a schematic front view of a car wash. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of a car wash machine.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Moreover, the same code | symbol is used about the same structural member, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The car wash machine of the present embodiment is a car wash machine that performs a car wash of a vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the car wash main body and the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. A top-type brush 4 for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and a pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning both side surfaces and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned 5 is a car wash machine WA having a structure including a blower 20, a top blower nozzle 21 that can be raised and lowered, and a pair of left and right side blower nozzles 22 for blowing air from the blower 20 for drying.

  Moreover, the rocker brush 6 which cleans the undercarriage of the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA is provided. 8A is a bonnet height detection sensor for detecting the hood height of the vehicle, and a photoelectric or ultrasonic reflection type sensor is used in the same manner as the sensor 8 for detecting the presence / absence of the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the vehicle height. Can be used. In addition, it is possible to detect the presence / absence of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the height of the bonnet by using one sensor in consideration of the arrangement positions of these sensors.

  Further, instead of the bonnet height detection sensor 8A, a vehicle shape detection sensor (not shown) made of a transmission type photoelectric sensor can be used. In this case, a projector is provided in the vertical direction on one side of the car wash machine main body, and a light receiver is provided in the vertical direction on the other side opposite to these projectors, thereby entering the cleaning position. It detects the vehicle shape and bonnet height of the vehicle to be cleaned.

  Next, the rocker brush 6 of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. 1 and FIG.

  The rocker brushes 6 (6A, 6B) are a pair of left and right rotating brushes provided at the lower part of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA for cleaning the undercarriage of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The arm 62 is a rotating arm type in which the brush member 60 is rotatably suspended. Further, a predetermined urging force is applied in a direction approaching the vehicle.

  For example, the rocker brush 6 includes a right rocker brush 6A disposed on the right side of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and a left rocker brush 6B provided on the left side, and each of the rocker brushes 6A and 6B is cleaned. It is made to contact | abut to the side part lower part of vehicle CA. Therefore, the vehicle width of the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA can be determined from the operation area of these rocker brushes 6A and 6B. Moreover, since the operation area | region of each rocker brush 6 (6A, 6B) can be detected from the rotation angle of each arm 62, in this embodiment, from the rotation angle of this arm 62, it is the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The vehicle width is determined.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to determine the vehicle width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned by detecting the movement distance L of the brush from the rotation angle AN of the arm 62 that rotates about the support shaft 61. Thus, since the vehicle width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be determined from the operation region of the pair of left and right rocker brushes 6 (6A, 6B), the pair of left and right side brushes 5 at a position corresponding to the obtained vehicle width. Can be moved and pressed against the side surface of the vehicle with an appropriate contact force.

  The side brush 5 is opened / closed by closing and moving the pair of left and right brushes, which are suspended from the overhead traveling rail 30 shown in FIG. Moreover, it is set as the structure which can be contacted / separated with respect to the side surface of the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA through this opening / closing operation.

  When the cleaning of the vehicle to be cleaned CA is started, the car wash machine main body 1 moves in the direction of arrow D1 in the figure, and first, the rocker brush 6 (6A, 6B) is rotated in the direction of arrow D3 to be cleaned. The undercarriage is cleaned by coming into contact with the CA undercarriage. At this time, the vehicle width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be determined from the operation region of the rocker brush 6 (6A, 6B).

  After the suspension is washed with the rocker brush 6 (6A, 6B), the side portions are washed with the side brush 5. At this time, the side brush 5 is closed and moved in the direction of the arrow D2 in the drawing along with the traveling movement of the car wash machine body 1 in the direction of the arrow D1, and according to the vehicle width previously determined from the operating region of the rocker brush 6. , Can be moved to an appropriate position desired.

  As described above, since the vehicle width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is determined in advance when the side brush 5 is closed and moved, the vehicle can be brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle with an appropriate contact force. Therefore, it does not press too hard and does not damage protrusions such as door mirrors. Further, since the cleaning is performed by exerting a desired appropriate abutting force, even if the door mirror is protruded without being washed, it is possible to surely perform the cleaning without generating a washing residue.

  Next, the structure of the rocker brush 6 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the rocker brush 6 (6 </ b> A, 6 </ b> B) has a support shaft 61 attached to a fixing member that is fixed to the fixing wall 1 </ b> A of the car wash machine body 1, and an arm 62 through the support shaft 61. It is the structure which supports so that rotation is possible. A cylinder mounting portion 64 is provided on the arm 62, and a shaft 66 of a cylinder 65 whose one end is supported by the fixed wall 1A is mounted on the cylinder mounting portion 64.

  For this purpose, the cylinder 65 can be driven to expand and contract the shaft 66, and the arm 62 can be moved to a standby position indicated by a solid line and an action position indicated by a broken line. At this time, the cylinder 65 is formed into an air cylinder type in which the shaft 66 is expanded and contracted using a spring member that supplies and discharges compressed air and exhibits a predetermined urging force, and the compressed air is discharged and extruded through the spring member for compression. The shaft 66 is retracted against the urging force of the spring member by supplying air. Therefore, when the rocker brush 6 (6A, 6B) is brought into contact with the vehicle, the brush member 60 can be pressed against the vehicle with a predetermined urging force exerted by the spring member.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the brush member 60 is, for example, a rotating brush including a rotating shaft 63 that is rotationally driven via a driving motor 67 and a driving force transmitting member 68. Reference numeral 69 denotes, for example, a rotary encoder, which is an angle sensor that detects a rotation angle AN (see FIG. 2) of the rotating arm 62. Further, instead of the rotary encoder 69, other angle sensors may be used.

  When both the right rocker brush 6A and the left rocker brush 6B configured as described above are brought into contact with the side surface portion of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the respective rotation angles AN are detected via the rotary encoder 69 provided in each. And the movement distance L (refer FIG. 2) of each rocker brush can be detected from this detected rotation angle AN, and the vehicle width of the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA can be determined. Further, the pair of left and right side brushes 5 can be moved to a predetermined position according to the determined vehicle width, and can be brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle with a predetermined contact force.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the side brush 5 suspended from the ceiling traveling rail 30 via the traveling body 31 is closed and moved in the direction of arrow D2 in the figure from the open position 5a to the contact position 5b. Further, the cleaning position is moved to the cleaning position 5c, tilted by a predetermined angle, and the brush is rotated while being pressed slightly to perform cleaning. In other words, the movement amount LS from the open position 5a to the cleaning position 5c is defined in advance, and the side brush 5 is moved by an amount corresponding to the movement amount and tilted by a predetermined angle to perform cleaning with a safe contact force that does not damage the vehicle. It can be carried out.

  Further, the amount of movement of the side brush 5 may be specified step by step according to a preset car wash mode, and there are a plurality of steps such as when a strong contact force is required or when cleaning with a weak contact force is desired. The movement amount LS can also be defined in advance.

  Thus, when the traveling body 31 travels from the open position 31A to the cleaning position 31C beyond the contact position 31B, the cleaning position 31C is determined in advance from the operating area of the rocker brush 6. Accordingly, the contact force of the side brush 5 with respect to the side surface of the vehicle can be adjusted to a predetermined safe magnitude.

  If it is said structure, even if the closed position of the side brush 5 and the door mirror DM part overlap, it can predetermine the pressing force of the grade which does not damage the door mirror DM, and it does not press a side brush too strongly. Even if the door mirror protrudes, it is preferable to be a car washing machine that is not damaged and does not generate a washing residue.

  Further, since the swing arm type rocker brush 6 that rotates with a predetermined urging force is brought into contact with the undercarriage or the side surface of the vehicle, it can be reliably pressed with a weak contact force that does not damage the side surface or the projection of the vehicle. it can. Therefore, even if this rocker brush 6 is pressed against a projecting object such as a door mirror or equipment protruding from the side surface of the vehicle, for example, a spring member is pushed in and can be retracted, and a pressing force exceeding a predetermined biasing force is not applied. It becomes a structure, and a protrusion is not damaged. In this way, the vehicle width can be easily determined without damaging the side surface or the protrusion of the vehicle by reliably bringing the rocker brush 6 into contact with the underbody or side surface of the vehicle at the initial stage of the cleaning process. .

  Since the side brush 5 hangs a pair of left and right brushes on a ceiling traveling rail extending in the width direction of the upper portion of the vehicle to be cleaned CA, moves in the closing direction, presses against the side surface of the vehicle, and rotates to perform cleaning. The rotating arm type is configured to be pressed with a force stronger than the contact force of the rocker brush 6 that contacts the vehicle with a predetermined urging force.

  Further, since the vehicle width is determined from the operating region of the rocker brush having a weak abutting force without using the side brush having a strong abutting force, the vehicle width can be easily detected without damaging the vehicle side surface or the door mirror. Furthermore, since the side brush is moved to the safe position corresponding to the detected vehicle width and washed, the side brush can be reliably brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle and washed without generating a washing residue.

  As described above, according to the car wash machine according to the present embodiment, the vehicle width of the vehicle to be cleaned is determined from the operation region of the rocker brush, and the amount of movement of the side brush relative to the vehicle side surface is defined. Depending on the vehicle width, a car wash machine can be obtained in which the side brush is abutted with a safe abutment force that is not pressed too strongly against the side surface of the vehicle and is reliably washed to produce no washing residue.

  In addition, since the vehicle width is detected using a rocker brush that is a rotating arm type that rotates with a predetermined urging force, the vehicle width is determined by pressing the rocker brush with a weak contact force that does not damage the vehicle. Can be detected.

  Furthermore, since a sensor that detects the rotation angle of the arm of the rocker brush is used to detect the vehicle width, a relatively inexpensive sensor such as a rotary encoder can be used, and the cost of vehicle width detection can be reduced.

  A car wash machine according to the present invention includes a pair of left and right rocker brushes for cleaning the undercarriage of a vehicle to be cleaned and a pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning a side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned. The present invention is suitably applied to a car wash machine that performs washing of a vehicle using a rocker brush that comes into contact with and a side brush that comes into contact with the vehicle with a relatively strong contact force.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 2 Rail 3 Wheel 5 Side brush 6 Rocker brush 7 Operation panel 7A Remote panel 60 Brush member 61 Support shaft 62 Arm CA Washed vehicle WA Car wash machine

Claims (4)

A car wash machine that performs a car wash while relatively moving the car wash machine body and the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction,
A pair of left and right rocker brushes for cleaning the undercarriage of the vehicle to be cleaned, and a pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned,
A car washing machine, wherein a vehicle width of a vehicle to be cleaned is determined from an operation region of the rocker brush, and a moving amount of the side brush with respect to a side surface of the vehicle is defined.   The rocker brush is a rotary arm type in which a brush member is rotatably suspended on an arm that rotates about a support shaft, and the rotating brush member abuts against a vehicle to be cleaned to perform cleaning. 2. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the width of the vehicle to be cleaned is determined from the rotation angle of the vehicle.   The side brush is suspended from a traveling rail that extends in the width direction of the upper portion of the vehicle to be cleaned so as to be openable and closable via a traveling body, and is attached to the side of the vehicle to be cleaned according to the movement of the traveling body. In addition to the contact / separation, the prescribed movement amount is a movement amount for moving a predetermined distance after the pair of left and right side brushes are brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the side brush is inclined at a predetermined angle. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the car wash is performed.   4. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein a contact force of the rocker brush with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned is weaker than a contact force of the side brush with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned.

Images