JP2012192900A - Car washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a car washing machine whose washing capacity by a brush is not reduced, even if the brush contacts with a washing object vehicle and the car washing machine body.SOLUTION: This car washing machine WA washes a car of the washing object vehicle while relatively moving the car washing machine body 1 having the rotating brush and the washing object vehicle CA in the longitudinal direction. The car washing machine includes an electric current detecting part 107 for detecting a driving current of the brush, separates when the driving current of the brush is larger than a predetermined separation threshold value, approaches when the driving current is smaller than a predetermined approach threshold value, and can vary a distance between the washing object vehicle CA and the brush. The separation threshold value of an interference washing area where the brush contacts with the car washing machine body 1 and the washing object vehicle CA, is larger than the separation threshold value of a noninterference washing area where the brush contacts with the washing object vehicle CA by separating from the car washing machine body 1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine that is installed in a gas station or the like to wash a vehicle to be cleaned.

  A conventional car wash machine installed in a gas station or the like is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In this car wash machine, when a car wash condition is set by an operation of a user of the car to be washed, the car wash of the car to be washed is accepted. Accordingly, the car wash is started, and the liquid agent and the wash water are sprayed on the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the vehicle to be cleaned and the car wash machine body in the front-rear direction based on the set car wash conditions.

  The car wash machine body is provided with a brush for cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned. The brush has brush bristles on the peripheral surface and is rotatably arranged. The approach and separation of the brush to the vehicle to be cleaned are controlled by detecting the load by the brush drive current and keeping the pressure value to the vehicle to be cleaned within a certain range. The brush rotates while spraying the liquid or cleaning water on the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the brush hair slides on the vehicle to be cleaned. As a result, the vehicle is washed while maintaining an appropriate distance for washing the brush with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned, and the vehicle is cleaned by blowing air after the vehicle is washed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-117637

  However, according to the above conventional car wash machine, the brush may come into contact with not only the car to be washed but also the car wash machine body when washing a large car to be washed. At this time, the pressure on the brush increases as much as it comes into contact with the car wash machine body. For this reason, the brush moves away from the vehicle to be cleaned. Thereby, there existed a problem that the washing | cleaning capability by the brush with which a car-washer main body was equipped fell.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine in which the cleaning ability of the brush does not deteriorate even if the brush is in contact with the vehicle to be cleaned and the car wash machine main body.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a car wash machine for washing a vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving a car wash main body having a rotating brush and a vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction, and driving the brush A current detection unit for detecting current, and when the driving current of the brush is larger than a predetermined separation threshold, move away, and approach when the brush driving current is smaller than a predetermined approach threshold; The separation threshold of the interference cleaning region where the brush contacts the car wash body and the vehicle to be cleaned is variable, and the separation threshold of the non-interference cleaning region where the brush contacts the vehicle to be cleaned away from the car wash body. It is larger than the separation threshold.

  According to this configuration, the car wash machine body moves relative to the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction based on the set car wash conditions, and performs the car wash of the vehicle to be cleaned. A current detector for detecting the brush drive current is provided. When the brush driving current is larger than a predetermined separation threshold, the brushes are separated, and when the brush driving current is smaller than the predetermined approach threshold, the brushes are approached to make the distance between the vehicle to be cleaned and the brush variable. That is, when the brush drive current becomes larger than the separation threshold, the brush is separated from the vehicle to be cleaned, and when the brush driving current becomes smaller than the approach threshold, the brush approaches the vehicle to be cleaned. Accordingly, the cleaning is performed while maintaining the brush at an appropriate distance for cleaning with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned. At this time, the separation threshold of the interference cleaning area where the brush contacts the car wash machine body and the vehicle to be cleaned is larger than the separation threshold of the non-interference cleaning area where the brush contacts the vehicle to be cleaned away from the car wash machine body.

  In the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the approach threshold value of the interference cleaning region is larger than the approach threshold value of the non-interference cleaning region. In the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the separation threshold is larger than the approach threshold.

In the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the present invention includes a measurement unit that measures the distance between the brush and the car wash machine body, and the interference cleaning region and the non-interference cleaning region based on the detection result of the measurement unit. It is characterized by having discriminated.

  In the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the interference cleaning area is divided into a plurality of stages according to the distance between the brush and the car wash machine body, and the closer the brush is to the car wash machine body, The separation threshold and the approach threshold are increased. According to this configuration, the interference cleaning region is provided in a plurality of stages according to the distance between the brush and the car wash machine body. The separation threshold and the approach threshold are gradually increased as the brush approaches the car wash machine body.

  In the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the brush is a top brush for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the top brush contacts the ceiling surface of the car wash machine main body in the interference cleaning area. And

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if the brush is contacting the to-be-cleaned vehicle and the car wash machine main body, the car wash machine which the washing | cleaning capability by a brush does not fall can be provided.

The side view which shows the whole structure of this embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the whole structure of this embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the structure of the top brush of this embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the car wash machine of this embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the car wash operation | movement of the car wash machine of this embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows the state at the time of car wash of the to-be-washed vehicle of this embodiment of this invention

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a side view and a front view showing the car wash machine of the present embodiment. The car wash machine WA includes a car wash machine main body 1, and a remote panel 7 </ b> A is disposed on the approach path of the car wash machine main body 1. The vehicle to be cleaned CA stops in front of the remote panel 7A, and receives a car wash by operating the remote panel 7A as will be described in detail later.

  The car wash machine main body 1 is formed in a gate shape straddling the vehicle to be cleaned CA. Wheels 3 arranged on a pair of left and right rails 2 provided on the ground are provided on the bottom surface of the car wash machine main body 1. Thereby, the car wash machine main body 1 travels on the rail 2 and relatively moves back and forth with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a top brush 4, a side brush 5 and a rocker brush 6 for brushing the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The top brush 4 cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and, as will be described later, the brush bristles made of cloth (woven fabric, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, etc.) or resin fibers are fixed radially to the rotating shaft 4A (see FIG. 3). Formed. The configuration of the top brush 4 will be further described later.

  A pair of left and right side brushes 5 is provided, and slides on both side surfaces and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned CA to clean the vehicle to be cleaned CA. A pair of left and right rocker brushes 6 are provided to clean the lower portion of the side surface including the tire of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The side brush 5 and the rocker brush 6 also have the same rotating shaft and brush hair as the top brush 4.

  On both sides of the car wash machine main body 1 are disposed tank storage portions 50 for storing a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) for storing various liquid agents such as detergents and waxes. Distributing piping 51 for distributing the city water and the liquid agent from each liquid storage tank via an electromagnetic valve or the like is provided above the tank storage 50. First and second water purification nozzles 11 and 13, first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15, a water-repellent coating nozzle 14, and a wax nozzle 16 are led out to the distribution pipe portion 51.

  The first and second water purification nozzles 11 and 12 are respectively arranged on the near side and the far side of the car wash machine body 1 and inject city water to the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15 are respectively arranged on the near side and the far side of the car wash machine main body 1 and spray detergent onto the vehicle to be cleaned CA. The water repellent coating nozzle 14 is disposed on the back side of the car wash machine body 1 and sprays a water repellent coating agent onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The wax nozzle 16 is disposed on the back side of the car wash machine body 1 and injects wax onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  Further, a top blowing nozzle 21 is provided at the center upper portion of the car wash machine main body 1, and side blowing nozzles 22 are provided on both sides. The top blowing nozzle 21 and the side blowing nozzle 22 are arranged so as to be movable up and down, and the blowing from the blower 20 is blown against the vehicle CA to be cleaned and dried.

  A vehicle sensor 8 is provided on the front upper portion of the car wash machine body 1. The vehicle sensor 8 is composed of a photoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like, and detects the presence or absence of the vehicle to be cleaned CA that enters the car wash machine main body 1.

  An operation panel 7 is disposed on the front surface of one side of the car wash machine body 1. The operation panel 7 has the same operation buttons as the remote panel 7A, and accepts a car wash and sets car wash conditions by the operation of a user who gets off the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  As setting of the car wash conditions, buttons for adding shampoo, waxing, water repellent coat, etc. to the water wash are provided on the operation panel 7 and the remote panel 7A. There are also buttons for high-end shampoo, high-grade wax, high-grade water repellent coat, special coat and the like. In addition, equipment setting buttons such as front guard, fender pole, door mirror, rear wiper, and no applicable equipment are provided. The operation panel 7 and the remote panel 7A constitute an operation unit 104 (see FIG. 4) for setting a car wash condition and receiving a car wash.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the top brush 4. The top brush 4 is connected to the lifting motor 123 via the wire relay portion 124. The wire 121 is configured to be movable up and down. Accordingly, the vehicle is moved up and down from the front position of the vehicle to be cleaned CA to the ceiling surface 25 (see FIG. 2) of the car wash machine body 1. Further, a lift pulse sensor 122 is provided in the path of the wire 121. The lift pulse sensor 122 measures the winding amount of the wire 121, thereby measuring the distance between the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1. The elevation pulse sensor 122 constitutes the measurement unit 108 (see FIG. 4).

  Bearings 120 are provided at both ends of the top brush 4 and are rotatably supported, and are rotated at a predetermined speed by the rotary motor 125. The drive current flowing through the rotary motor 125 is detected by the current detection unit 107 (see FIG. 4).

  The top brush 4 performs elevation control according to a value detected from the drive current of the rotary motor 125. For example, when the top brush 4 and the vehicle to be cleaned CA approach each other, the drive current of the rotary motor 125 increases. When the drive current of the rotary motor 125 exceeds a predetermined separation threshold, the top brush 4 is raised so as to lower the load (drive current value).

  On the other hand, when the top brush 4 and the vehicle to be cleaned CA are separated from each other, the load (drive current) applied to the rotary motor 125 becomes weak, and as a result, the drive current of the rotary motor 125 becomes low. When the drive current falls below a predetermined approach threshold, the top brush 4 is lowered so as to increase the load (drive current value). As a result, the top brush 4 moves up and down based on the drive current separation threshold and the approach threshold. As a result, the top brush 4 maintains a proper distance for cleaning with respect to the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and takes a predetermined locus TP (see FIG. 6).

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the car wash machine WA. The car wash WA includes a control unit 101 that controls each unit. A storage unit 102, an input / output unit 103, an operation unit 104, a car wash machine driving unit 105, a brush control unit 106, a current detection unit 107, and a measurement unit 108 are connected to the control unit 101.

  The storage unit 102 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores an operation program for the entire car wash machine WA, a car wash fee database, and the like, and temporarily stores calculations by the control unit 101. The input / output unit 103 communicates with the remote panel 7A and performs predetermined input / output processing. The car wash machine driving unit 105 relatively moves the car wash machine body 1 based on the car wash conditions, and drives each nozzle and the like. The brush control unit 106 controls the lifting operation and the rotation speed of each brush. The current detection unit 107 detects the drive current of the rotary motor 125.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the car wash operation of the car wash machine WA. The vehicle to be cleaned CA stops in front of the remote panel 7A, and the processing is started when the remote panel 7A detects the vehicle to be cleaned CA. In step S1, it waits until the setting of the washing condition of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is completed by the user's operation of the remote panel 7A or the operation panel 7.

  In step S2, cleaning of the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA is started under the car wash conditions set in step S1. In step S3, the drive current of the top brush 4 is detected from the rotary motor 125.

  In step S <b> 4, the distance between the top brush 4 and the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1 is measured by the elevation pulse sensor 122.

  In step S5, it is determined whether or not the drive current is larger than the separation threshold. If the drive current is greater than the separation threshold, the process proceeds to step S6. If the drive current is less than the separation threshold, the process proceeds to step S7. At this time, the separation threshold is determined by applying Table 1 each time according to the distance between the rotating shaft 4A (see FIG. 6) and the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1.

  As shown in Table 1, the drive current threshold value for the non-interference cleaning region L2 and the drive current threshold value for the interference cleaning region L1 are shown corresponding to the number of up and down pulses. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state when the vehicle to be cleaned CA is being washed. The interference cleaning region L1 is a region generated according to the size of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and is a region where the top brush 4 contacts both the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1.

  On the other hand, the non-interference cleaning region L2 is a region where the top brush 4 is separated from the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1 and contacts the vehicle CA to be cleaned. In the present embodiment, the interference cleaning region L1 is about 180 mm in the vertical direction, and the non-interference cleaning region L2 is about 1270 mm in the vertical direction.

  In the figure, TP indicates the locus of the rotating shaft 4A of the top brush 4. As indicated by the trajectory TP, the vehicle CA to be cleaned moves relatively in the direction of the arrow D1 toward the rear of the vehicle CA to be cleaned while moving up and down based on the separation threshold value and the approach threshold value of the drive current of the rotary motor 125.

  At this time, the top brush 4 relatively moves in the arrow D1 direction while rotating in the arrow r1 direction by driving of the rotary motor 125 connected to the rotating shaft 4A. Thereby, the top brush 4 rotates in the downward direction toward the moving direction (D1) and applies a predetermined pressure to the vehicle to be cleaned CA for cleaning. When the radius of the top brush is R and the distance between the rotating shaft 4A of the top brush 4 and the outer surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is d, the relationship of R> d is maintained.

  Further, when the top brush 4 passes through the vehicle to be cleaned CA, it moves relative to the front of the vehicle to be cleaned CA in the direction of the arrow D2. At this time, the top brush 4 rotates toward the arrow r2. Thus, the car wash machine main body 1 including the top brush 4 is reciprocated with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned CA to perform car wash.

  As shown in Table 1, the interference cleaning area L1 has a larger drive current separation threshold for separating the distance between the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the top brush 4 than in the non-interference cleaning area L2. Moreover, the approach threshold value of the drive current for making the distance between the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the top brush 4 approach is larger in the interference cleaning area L1 than in the non-interference cleaning area L2. Further, the separation threshold and the approach threshold are different.

  The interference cleaning region L1 is provided in four stages according to the distance between the top brush 4 and the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1. The separation threshold and the approach threshold increase as the top brush 4 approaches the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1. When approaching the fourth interference cleaning region, the distance from the ceiling surface 25 is also shortened, so that the top brush 4 comes into contact with the other region more strongly. For this reason, the value of the drive current is also increased, and the separation threshold and the approach threshold are increased. Accordingly, it is possible to clean the vehicle to be cleaned CA by applying an appropriate pressure.

  In step S6, since the drive current is larger than the separation threshold, the top brush 4 is separated from the vehicle CA to be cleaned. This reduces the value of the drive current.

  In step S7, it is determined whether the drive current is smaller than the approach threshold. When the drive current is smaller than the approach threshold, the process proceeds to step S8, and when the drive current is equal to or greater than the approach threshold, the process proceeds to step S9. At this time, as in step S5, the approach threshold value is determined by applying Table 1 each time according to the distance between the rotating shaft 4A (see FIG. 6) and the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1.

  In step S8, since the drive current is smaller than the approach threshold value, the top brush 4 approaches the vehicle CA to be cleaned. This increases the value of the drive current.

  In step S9, it is determined whether or not the cleaning is completed. If not completed, the process proceeds to step S3, and if completed, the flowchart ends.

  According to the present embodiment, the car wash machine WA for washing the car to be washed CA while moving the car wash machine body 1 having the rotating top brush 4 and the car to be washed CA in the front-rear direction. The current detection unit 107 for detecting the driving current of the vehicle and the distance between the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the top brush 4 according to the driving current of the top brush 4 are varied, and the top brush 4 is separated from the car wash machine main body 1 to be cleaned. The non-interference cleaning area L2 that contacts the vehicle CA and the interference cleaning area L1 where the top brush 4 contacts the car wash machine body 1 and the vehicle to be cleaned CA are provided, and the distance between the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the top brush 4 is determined. The separation threshold of the drive current to be separated is assumed to be larger in the interference cleaning region L1 than in the non-interference cleaning region L2. Thereby, even if the top brush 4 is in contact with the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the car wash machine main body 1, it is possible to provide the car wash machine WA in which the cleaning ability of the top brush 4 does not decrease.

  Moreover, the approach threshold value of the drive current that approaches the distance between the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the top brush 4 is larger in the interference cleaning area L1 than in the non-interference cleaning area L2. Thereby, even when the distance between the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the top brush 4 approaches, it is possible to provide the car wash machine WA in which the cleaning ability of the top brush 4 does not decrease.

  Further, since the separation threshold is larger than the approach threshold, the top brush 4 can be controlled more flexibly.

  Moreover, the measurement part 108 which measures the distance of the top brush 4 and the car wash machine main body 1 was provided. Thereby, the distance of the top brush 4 and the car-washing machine main body 1 can be measured correctly.

  The interference cleaning region L1 is provided in a plurality of stages according to the distance between the top brush 4 and the car wash machine body 1, and the separation threshold value and the approach threshold value increase as the top brush 4 approaches the car wash machine body 1. For this reason, since the top brush 4 has changed the threshold value according to the degree of contact of the car wash machine main body 1, it is possible to provide the car wash machine WA in which the washing ability does not deteriorate.

  The brush is a top brush 4 that cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and the top brush 4 contacts the ceiling surface 25 of the car wash machine body 1 in the interference cleaning region L1. For this reason, even if the top brush 4 is in contact with the ceiling surface 25 and the vehicle CA to be cleaned, it is possible to provide the car wash machine WA in which the cleaning capability does not decrease.

  The values in Table 1 are examples, and may be changed as appropriate unless the gist of the present embodiment is changed.

  In the present embodiment, the brush is the top brush 4, and the contact with the car wash machine body 1 is the ceiling surface 25, but is not limited thereto. For example, the brush may be a side brush 5 or a rocker brush 6 and may be in contact with the car wash machine main body 1.

  The approach threshold value of the interference cleaning region L1 and the approach threshold value of the non-interference cleaning region L2 may be the same. At this time, since the approach threshold needs to be set to be equal to or less than the separation threshold, the difference between the approach threshold and the separation threshold increases in the interference cleaning region L1. Thereby, even if a drive current falls, the timing which brings the top brush 4 close to the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA is delayed.

  Further, by reducing the approach threshold value of the non-interference cleaning region L2 from the approach threshold value of the interference cleaning region L1, when the driving current of the top brush 4 decreases in the interference cleaning region L1, the vehicle to be cleaned quickly. Proper cleaning can be performed close to CA.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can utilize for the car wash machine which installs in a gas station etc. and wash | cleans a to-be-washed vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 4 Top brush 4A Rotating shaft 5 Side brush 6 Rocker brush 7 Operation panel 7A Remote panel 101 Control part 102 Memory | storage part 103 Input / output part 104 Operation part 105 Car wash machine drive part 106 Brush control part 107 Current detection part 108 Measurement CA Cleaned vehicle d Separation width

Claims (6)

A car wash machine for washing a vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving a car wash machine main body having a rotating brush and a vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction,
A current detection unit for detecting the drive current of the brush;
When the driving current of the brush is larger than a predetermined separation threshold, the brush is separated, and when the brush driving current is smaller than a predetermined approach threshold, the distance between the vehicle to be cleaned and the brush is variable,
The separation threshold of the interference cleaning area where the brush contacts the car wash body and the vehicle to be cleaned is greater than the separation threshold of the non-interference cleaning area where the brush contacts the vehicle to be cleaned away from the car wash body. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein   The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the approach threshold value of the interference cleaning area is larger than the approach threshold value of the non-interference cleaning area.   The car wash machine according to claim 2, wherein the separation threshold is larger than the approach threshold.   The measurement unit for measuring the distance between the brush and the car wash machine body is provided, and the interference cleaning region and the non-interference cleaning region are discriminated based on a detection result of the measurement unit. 4. The car wash machine according to any one of 3 above.   The interference cleaning area is divided into a plurality of stages according to the distance between the brush and the car wash machine body, and the separation threshold and the approach threshold value of each stage are increased as the brush approaches the car wash machine body. The car wash machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The brush is a top brush for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned,
The car wash machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the top brush contacts the ceiling surface of the car wash machine body in the interference washing region.

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