JP2020164041A - Full trailer determination method, method for washing vehicle to be washed, and vehicle washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To determine whether or not a vehicle to be washed is a full trailer, without installing a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a trailer part on a ground surface in a vehicle washing station, or providing the sensor in such a manner that it protrudes long from a vehicle washing machine body to the rear side of the vehicle; and to make it possible to omit the designation, by a driver, of the vehicle to be washed at the time of the washing of the vehicle to be washed.SOLUTION: In a trailer part detection step, a vehicle washing machine body is made to travel in one direction from the front side of a vehicle CA to be washed toward the rear side thereof. Thereby, when a vehicle sensor mounted on the vehicle washing machine body detects the rear end of a head vehicle TR1 at a position beyond a prescribed distance from the front end of the head vehicle TR1, a vehicle washing machine body 1 is made to travel further in the one direction, and the presence or absence of a trailer part TR2 is detected by a vehicle sensor 8 at a position P4 beyond a connection space D as the trailer part TR2 is connected to the head vehicle TR1, from the rear end of the head vehicle TR1. In a full trailer determination step, on the basis of a detection result in the trailer part detection step, it is determined whether or not the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a full trailer determination method for determining whether or not a vehicle to be washed in a car wash machine is a full trailer, a method for cleaning the vehicle to be washed including the full trailer determination method, and a car wash machine. ..

Conventionally, in the transportation industry, a full trailer in which a trailer section is connected to a leading vehicle such as a large truck has been used. By using a full trailer, one large truck (one driver) can carry the luggage of two trucks, so compared to the case where two trucks (two drivers) carry the same amount of luggage separately. As a result, truck fuel can be saved, exhaust gas emissions can be reduced to contribute to the prevention of global warming, and the number of drivers required can be reduced to eliminate driver shortages. it can. From this, it is expected that the use of full trailers will increase in the transportation industry in the future. In addition, due to deregulation in recent years, the total length of the full trailer has been allowed from a maximum of 21 m to a maximum of 25 m, and it has become possible to carry a larger amount of luggage at one time, so the use of the full trailer is expected to increase further in the future. ..

With the increase in the use of full trailers, the demand for car wash machines for washing full trailers is also expected to increase. When trying to wash the full trailer with a car wash machine, if the rear end of the leading vehicle is mistakenly detected as the rear end of the vehicle to be washed (full trailer) and the left and right side brushes of the car wash machine are closed or the top brush is lowered, The side brush and the top brush (hereinafter collectively referred to as "rotating brush") may come into contact with the connecting portion between the leading vehicle and the trailer portion, and at least one of the rotating brush and the connecting portion may be damaged.

Various car wash machines for washing large vehicles such as panel vans have been conventionally proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1), but when washing a full trailer with a car wash machine, at present, it is set to specify washing of the full trailer. A button is provided on the operation panel of a conventional car wash machine, and when the driver presses the above setting button, washing is performed according to the setting of the full trailer. In the full trailer setting, in order to prevent the inconvenience caused by the above false detection, the rear end of the vehicle to be washed is detected from the time when the car wash machine body sufficiently passes the leading vehicle and reaches a position where the trailer can be detected. I am trying to start. More specifically, from the position behind the tip of the leading vehicle by, for example, 12 m (the length of the leading vehicle) + 2 m (the length of the connecting portion between the leading vehicle and the trailer + margin), behind the vehicle to be washed. The edge detection is started.

JP-A-7-156763

However, in the method of cleaning the full trailer by providing the above setting button on the operation panel, if the driver of the vehicle to be washed, which is a full trailer, forgets to press the above setting button, the car wash machine uses the trailer of the vehicle to be washed. When it is mistakenly recognized as another vehicle and the rear end of the leading vehicle is detected as usual, the rotating brush moves to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle. In this case, even though the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer, the rotating brush may come into contact with the connecting portion between the leading vehicle and the trailer portion, and at least one of the rotating brush and the connecting portion may be damaged. Therefore, even if the driver does not specify the vehicle to be washed (even if he forgets to specify the vehicle to be washed), it is automatically determined whether the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer and the vehicle to be washed. It is necessary to be able to perform full trailer cleaning if is determined to be a full trailer.

Here, in order to determine whether or not the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer, it is necessary to detect whether or not the trailer portion is connected to the rear of the leading vehicle, that is, the presence or absence of the trailer portion. .. As a method for detecting the trailer portion, for example, a method in which a sensor is installed on the ground of a car wash and the trailer portion is detected by the above sensor can be considered. In addition, a sensor is formed to project rearward from the main body of the car wash machine running on the rail (in the direction from the leading vehicle to the trailer), and the brush of the main body of the car wash reaches the gap between the leading vehicle and the trailer. A method of detecting the trailer portion by the above-mentioned sensor is also conceivable.

However, if the sensor is installed on the ground, the driver is required to drive the vehicle so as not to hit the sensor in order to prevent the sensor from being damaged, which makes it difficult for the vehicle to enter and exit the car wash machine. There is a risk. Further, if the sensor is formed so as to project long from the rear of the vehicle with respect to the main body of the car wash machine, the sensor may prevent the driver of the leading vehicle from getting on and off.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to install a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a trailer on the ground of a car wash, or to extend the length from the car wash body to the rear of the vehicle. It is possible to determine whether or not the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer without projecting it, thereby avoiding the inconvenience caused by installing the sensor on the ground or forming a protrusion on the main body of the car wash machine, and the vehicle to be washed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a full trailer discriminating method capable of omitting designation of a vehicle to be washed by a driver at the time of washing, a washing method of a vehicle to be washed including the full trailer discriminating method, and a car wash machine.

The full trailer discrimination method according to one aspect of the present invention is a full trailer discriminating method for discriminating whether or not the vehicle to be washed in the car wash machine is a full trailer in which a trailer portion is connected to a leading vehicle. By moving the car wash machine main body in one direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle to be washed, the vehicle sensor mounted on the car wash machine main body sets the rear end of the leading vehicle at a predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle. When it is detected beyond, the car wash machine main body is further driven in the one direction, and the trailer portion is connected to the leading vehicle from the rear end of the leading vehicle at a position exceeding the connection interval when the trailer portion is connected to the leading vehicle. A trailer section detection step of detecting the presence or absence of the trailer section by a vehicle sensor, and a full trailer determination step of determining whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer based on the detection result in the trailer section detection step. And include.

In the full trailer determination step, when the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is present in the trailer portion detection step, the vehicle to be washed is determined to be the full trailer, while the trailer portion determines. When the vehicle sensor detects that there is no such vehicle, it may be determined that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle.

The method for cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned according to another aspect of the present invention is a method for cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned including the above-mentioned full trailer discrimination method, and is a cleaning step for cleaning both sides of the vehicle to be cleaned with each side brush. In the cleaning step, after cleaning both side surfaces of the leading vehicle by the side brushes, the vehicle sensor extends the rear end of the leading vehicle beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle. When detected, the distance between the side brushes is constant to clean both sides of the vehicle to be washed until it is determined in the full trailer determination step whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. It may be held at intervals.

In the cleaning step, when the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is set to be cleaned by the top brush, after the top brush starts cleaning the upper surface of the leading vehicle, the vehicle sensor is behind the leading vehicle. When the end is detected beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle, the height of the top brush until it is determined in the full trailer determination step whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. May be held at a position where the upper surface of the leading vehicle is washed.

In the above-mentioned washing method of a vehicle to be washed, after the vehicle to be washed is determined to be the full trailer in the full trailer determination step, the car wash machine main body is further driven in the one direction, and the vehicle sensor. Further includes a rear end detection step of detecting the rear end of the trailer portion, and in the cleaning step, the distance between the side brushes is kept constant while the car wash machine main body is driven in the one direction, and the vehicle After the sensor detects the rear end of the trailer portion, the rear surface of the trailer portion may be cleaned by narrowing the distance between the side brushes.

In the cleaning step, after cleaning the rear surface of the trailer portion, the car wash machine main body is moved in the direction opposite to the one direction by holding the side brushes at intervals before narrowing, and the head portion is set according to the setting. At least one of the rear surface of the vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion may be cleaned by the side brushes.

In the cleaning step, when the front surface of the trailer portion is set to be cleaned, after the front end of the trailer portion is detected by the vehicle sensor, the distance between the side brushes is narrowed by a preset amount. The front surface of the trailer portion may be cleaned.

In the cleaning step, when the rear surface of the leading vehicle is set to be cleaned, the distance between the side brushes at the rear end of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor is narrowed by a preset amount. The rear surface of the leading vehicle may be cleaned.

In the cleaning step, when at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion is set to be cleaned by the top brush, the leading vehicle or the upper surface of the trailer portion, the leading vehicle, and the trailer portion are described. The top brush may be lowered by a preset distance shorter than the distance to the connecting portion connecting the trailer portion.

In the cleaning step, when the drive current of the drive motor for driving the rotary brush including at least one of the side brushes and the top brush exceeds a threshold value, the rotation of the rotary brush is stopped, and the vehicle sensor Based on the position of the rear end detection of the leading vehicle and the position of the front end detection of the trailer portion, the length of the gap between the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion is calculated and calculated. When the length of the gap is shorter than the brush diameter of the rotating brush, the threshold value may be raised above the reference value.

When the vehicle to be washed is determined to be only the leading vehicle in the full trailer determination step, and the vehicle sensor detects that the car wash machine main body does not have the trailer portion in the cleaning step. When the vehicle is set to travel in the direction opposite to the one direction from the position of 1 and clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle, the rear end positions of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor are used. The rear surface of the leading vehicle may be cleaned by narrowing the distance between the side brushes.

The car wash machine according to still another aspect of the present invention runs the car wash machine main body for washing the vehicle to be washed and the car wash machine main body in one direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle to be washed and vice versa. Based on the main body drive unit, the vehicle sensor mounted on the car wash machine main body and detecting the vehicle to be washed, and the detection result by the vehicle sensor, the vehicle to be washed has a trailer unit connected to the leading vehicle. A full trailer discriminating unit for determining whether or not the vehicle is a trailer is provided, and the main body driving unit causes the car washing machine main body to travel in the one direction so that the vehicle sensor makes the rear end of the leading vehicle lead. When it is detected beyond a predetermined distance from the tip of the vehicle, the car wash machine main body is further driven in the one direction, and the vehicle sensor connects the trailer portion to the leading vehicle from the rear end of the leading vehicle. The presence / absence of the trailer portion is detected at a position exceeding the connection interval, and the full trailer determination portion detects the presence / absence of the trailer portion by the vehicle sensor, and the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. Determine if it exists.

When the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is present, the full trailer determination unit determines that the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer, while the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is not present. At that time, it may be determined that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle.

The car wash machine main body includes each side brush that cleans both side surfaces of the vehicle to be washed, and a side brush drive control unit that controls the interval between the side brushes, and the side brush drive control unit is the side. After starting cleaning of both sides of the vehicle to be cleaned with a brush, when the vehicle sensor detects the rear end of the leading vehicle beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle, the vehicle to be cleaned said. The interval between the side brushes may be maintained at a constant interval for cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned until the full trailer discriminating unit determines whether or not the vehicle is a full trailer.

The car wash machine main body further includes a top brush that cleans the upper surface of the vehicle to be washed, a top brush elevating control unit that controls the elevating and lowering of the top brush, and an operation unit that receives setting input from the outside. When the brush elevating control unit is set to clean the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned by the operation unit, after the top brush starts cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, the vehicle sensor performs the cleaning. When the rear end of the leading vehicle is detected beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle, the top brush is used until the full trailer discriminating unit determines whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. The height may be held at a position where the upper surface of the leading vehicle is washed.

After the full trailer discriminating unit determines that the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer, the main body driving unit further causes the car wash machine main body to travel in the one direction, and the side brush drive control unit is used to wash the car. While the machine body travels in the one direction, the distance between the side brushes is kept constant, and after the vehicle sensor detects the rear end of the trailer portion, the distance between the side brushes is narrowed to reduce the distance between the side brushes. The rear surface of the trailer portion may be cleaned by a side brush.

After cleaning the rear surface of the trailer unit, the main body drive unit causes the car wash machine main body to travel in the direction opposite to the one direction, and the side brush drive control unit performs the operation after cleaning the rear surface of the trailer unit. Depending on the setting in the section, the side brushes may be used to clean at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer section.

When the side brush drive control unit is set to clean the front surface of the trailer unit by the operation unit, after the vehicle sensor detects the front end of the trailer unit, the distance between the side brushes is set in advance. The front surface of the trailer portion may be cleaned by the side brushes by narrowing the amount by a set amount.

When the side brush drive control unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle by the operating unit, the distance between the side brushes at the rear end of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor is set in advance. The rear surface of the leading vehicle may be cleaned by the side brushes, which are narrowed by a set amount.

When the operation unit is set to clean at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer unit with the top brush, the top brush elevating control unit is the upper surface of the leading vehicle or the trailer unit. The top brush may be lowered by a preset distance shorter than the distance between the leading vehicle and the connecting portion connecting the trailer portion.

A drive motor for driving a rotary brush including at least one of the side brushes and the top brush, a brush rotation control unit for stopping the rotation of the rotary brush when the drive current of the drive motor exceeds a threshold value, and a brush rotation control unit. Calculation of the length of the gap between the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion based on the position of the rear end detection of the leading vehicle by the vehicle sensor and the position of the front end detection of the trailer portion. The brush rotation control unit further includes a unit and a storage unit that stores the brush diameter of the rotating brush, and the length of the gap calculated by the calculation unit is larger than the brush diameter stored in the storage unit. When is short, the threshold value may be raised above the reference value.

When the full trailer discriminating unit determines that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle, the main body driving unit detects that the car wash machine main body does not have the trailer unit. When the side brush drive control unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle by the operation unit, the side brush drive control unit is detected by the vehicle sensor while traveling from the position in the direction opposite to the one direction. At the position of the rear end of the leading vehicle, the distance between the side brushes may be narrowed, and the rear surface of the leading vehicle may be cleaned by the side brushes.

By moving the car wash machine body in one direction, when the vehicle sensor mounted on the car wash machine body detects the rear end of the leading vehicle beyond a predetermined distance from the front end of the leading vehicle, the connection interval is determined from the rear end position. By detecting the presence or absence of the trailer portion by the vehicle sensor at the crossing position, it is automatically determined whether or not the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer in which the trailer portion is connected to the leading vehicle based on the presence or absence of the trailer portion. It can be determined. Therefore, in determining whether or not the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer, for example, a sensor for detecting the trailer portion is installed on the ground of the car wash, or a sensor for detecting the trailer portion is driven from the car wash machine main body. Protruding long in the direction (rear of the vehicle) eliminates the need to detect the trailer before the brush of the car wash body reaches the gap between the leading vehicle and the trailer. As a result, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience caused by the installation of the sensor on the ground or the formation of a protrusion on the main body of the car wash machine (a situation in which the vehicle to be washed is prevented from entering and exiting or the driver of the vehicle to be washed is prevented from getting on and off).

Further, since it can be automatically determined whether or not the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer, it is possible to omit the designation of the vehicle to be washed by the driver when cleaning the vehicle to be washed. As a result, it is possible to easily deal with the driver forgetting to specify the vehicle to be washed, and it is also possible to omit the installation of the setting button itself for making the above specification.

It is a side view which shows the schematic structure of the car wash machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the car wash machine main body which the car wash machine has. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the main part of the car wash machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the transition of the operation of the rotary brush when the vehicle to be washed is washed on the outbound route by the car wash machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the transition of the operation of the rotary brush at the time of cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned on the return path. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the transition of the operation of the said rotary brush at the time of cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned consisting only of the leading vehicle on the outbound route. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the transition of the operation of the rotary brush at the time of cleaning the vehicle to be cleaned on the return path.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the following contents.

[1. Car wash machine configuration]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the car wash machine WA of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the car wash machine main body 1 included in the car wash machine WA. The car wash machine WA is a car wash machine that cleans large vehicles such as trailers, buses, and trucks as well as full trailers as a vehicle CA to be washed. The car wash machine WA includes a car wash machine main body 1, a rail 2, and a remote panel 60 (see FIG. 3). The car wash machine main body 1 is formed in a gate shape having two opposite stand portions 90 on the left and right and a ceiling portion 91 connecting the upper ends of the stand portions 90, and is arranged so as to straddle the vehicle CA to be washed. Clean the vehicle CA to be cleaned. When the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer, the vehicle CA to be washed is configured by connecting the leading vehicle TR1 and the trailer portion TR2 via a connecting portion CN.

A pair of left and right rails 2 are laid on the ground, and wheels 3 provided on the bottom surface of the car wash machine main body 1 are arranged on the rails 2. As a result, the car wash machine main body 1 travels on the rail 2 by being driven by the traveling motor 25 (see FIG. 3) and moves relative to the vehicle to be washed CA back and forth.

The remote panel 60 (see FIG. 3) is an operation unit arranged on the approach path of the car wash machine main body 1 and accepting setting input from the outside. By stopping the vehicle CA to be cleaned in the vicinity of the remote panel 60, the driver of the vehicle to be cleaned can input various settings to the remote panel 60. By operating the remote panel 60, for example, car wash reception, vehicle type selection, car wash condition setting, and the like are performed. In the present embodiment, as will be described later, whether or not the vehicle to be cleaned CA is a full trailer is automatically determined. Therefore, a setting button for designating the cleaning of the full trailer is installed on the remote panel 60 (touch panel). (Display) can be omitted, but the details will be described later.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes that slide and brush on the vehicle CA to be washed. The rotating brush includes a top brush 4 and a side brush 5. The top brush 4 is rotationally driven by the top brush drive motor 4a (see FIG. 3). The side brush 5 is rotationally driven by the side brush drive motor 5a (see FIG. 3).

The top brush 4 has brush bristles (not shown) made of cloth (woven cloth, knitted cloth, non-woven fabric, etc.) or resin fibers radially fixed to a horizontal rotating shaft (not shown) supported by the car wash machine body 1. It is formed. The rotation shaft of the top brush 4 is connected to the top brush elevating motor 24 (see FIG. 3) via a wire (not shown). The top brush 4 is moved up and down by the drive of the top brush elevating motor 24, and is brought into contact with and separated from the vehicle CA to be cleaned. As a result, the top brush 4 moves along the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned by sliding the top brush 4.

A pair of left and right side brushes 5 are provided, and the same brush bristles as the top brush 4 are fixed to a vertical rotation shaft (not shown) supported by the car wash machine main body 1. Both sides of the vehicle CA to be cleaned are cleaned by sliding the side brush 5. The rotation axis of the side brush 5 is connected to the side brush moving motor 23 (see FIG. 3) via an arm (not shown). By driving the side brush moving motor 23, the side brush 5 moves in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the car wash machine main body 1 (width direction of the vehicle to be washed, left-right direction), and is brought into contact with and separated from the vehicle CA to be washed. .. Therefore, the side brush moving motor 23 constitutes a brush moving portion that brings the side brush 5 into contact with and separated from the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The car wash machine main body 1 may be provided with a rocker brush that cleans the lower side surface including the tires of the vehicle CA to be washed.

A vehicle sensor 8 is provided at the end of the two stand portions 90 of the car wash machine main body 1 on the vehicle entrance side. The vehicle sensor 8 is formed by a plurality of photoelectric sensors arranged side by side in the vertical direction on each stand 90. The vehicle to be cleaned passes through the light emitting portion of the vehicle sensor 8 provided on one stand portion 90 and the light receiving portion of the vehicle sensor 8 provided on the other stand portion 90 to block light from the vehicle to be cleaned. The presence / absence of CA (including the front end and the rear end), the vehicle shape (outer surface shape), and the vehicle length are detected, and the traveling range of the car wash machine main body 1 is determined. The vehicle sensor 8 may be formed by another device such as an ultrasonic sensor. Further, the light emitting parts (each light receiving part) of the vehicle sensor 8 may be arranged side by side in the traveling direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 1) of the car wash machine main body 1.

An operation panel 7 is arranged on the front surface of one stand portion 90 of the car wash machine main body 1. The operation panel 7 is an operation unit provided with the same operation buttons as the remote panel 60, and accepts setting input from the outside. The operation panel 7 is operated by, for example, a driver who has disembarked from the vehicle to be washed CA or an employee or manager of a car wash place, thereby accepting a car wash, selecting a car model, setting car wash conditions, and the like. In the operation panel 7, as in the remote panel 60, the installation of the setting button (display on the touch panel) for designating the cleaning of the full trailer can be omitted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of the car wash machine WA. The car wash machine WA includes a control unit 10 that controls each unit. The control unit 10 includes an operation panel 7, a remote panel 60, a vehicle sensor 8, a current detection unit 26, a storage unit 9, a traveling motor 25, a top brush drive motor 4a, a side brush drive motor 5a, a top brush elevating motor 24, and a side. The brush moving motor 23 is connected. Further, the control unit 10 has a built-in timer for measuring time.

The current detection unit 26 is referred to as a drive current of the top brush drive motor 4a (hereinafter, simply referred to as “top brush 4 drive current”) and a drive current of the side brush drive motor 5a (hereinafter, simply referred to as “side brush 5 drive current”). ) Is detected. As a result, the load of each motor during rotation of the top brush 4 and the side brush 5 is detected.

The storage unit 9 is composed of a RAM, a ROM, a non-volatile memory, and the like, and stores an operation program and control data executed by the control unit 10, and temporarily stores the calculation result of the control unit 10. Further, the storage unit 9 stores in advance the brush diameters of the side brush 5 and the top brush 4 for comparison with the connection interval D (see FIG. 4) described later.

The traveling motor 25 constitutes a main body driving unit that runs the car wash machine main body 1 in one direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle CA to be washed and in the opposite direction.

The control unit 10 includes a main control unit 10a, a full trailer discrimination unit 10b, a side brush drive control unit 10c, a top brush elevating control unit 10d, a brush rotation control unit 10e, and a calculation unit 10f. .. Such a control unit 10 is composed of, for example, a CPU. The main control unit 10a controls the operation of each unit of the car wash machine WA.

The full trailer determination unit 10b determines whether or not the vehicle to be washed CA is a full trailer in which the trailer unit TR2 is connected to the leading vehicle TR1 based on the detection result of the presence / absence of the trailer unit TR2 by the vehicle sensor 8. .. The side brush drive control unit 10c controls the drive of the side brush movement motor 23 to control the movement of each side brush 5 in the contact / separation direction (vehicle width direction, left / right direction). The top brush elevating control unit 10d controls the drive of the top brush elevating motor 24 to control the elevating and lowering of the top brush 4. The brush rotation control unit 10e controls the drive of the side brush drive motor 5a and the top brush drive motor 4a to control the rotation of each side brush 5 and the rotation of the top brush 4. The calculation unit 10f calculates the connection interval D (gap) between the leading vehicle TR1 and the trailer unit TR2 based on the detection position of the vehicle sensor 8.

The detailed functions of the full trailer discrimination unit 10b, the side brush drive control unit 10c, the top brush elevating control unit 10d, the brush rotation control unit 10e, and the calculation unit 10f will be described together in the operation description described later.

Further, although not shown, the car wash machine main body 1 is provided with an injection nozzle for injecting city water, shampoo, wax, etc. into the vehicle CA to be washed. If necessary, the car wash machine main body 1 may be provided with a blower for drying the car to be washed CA.

In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, the car wash machine main body 1 travels in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle to be washed CA based on the set car wash conditions. Then, city water or liquid agent is sprayed from various nozzles onto the vehicle CA to be washed, and each rotating brush provided on the car wash machine main body 1 slides on the vehicle CA to be washed to wash the vehicle CA to be washed. For example, when a car wash course is set in which the car wash machine body 1 reciprocates once, the vehicle to be washed CA is washed (city water + liquid injection) on the outbound route of the car wash machine body 1 and rinsed on the return route (city water injection). Only) is performed to complete the car wash of the vehicle to be washed CA.

[2. Details of how to clean the vehicle to be cleaned]
In the present embodiment, in the car wash machine WA described above, it is automatically determined whether or not the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer, and the washing method is changed according to the determination result. Hereinafter, the details of the cleaning method of the vehicle to be cleaned CA of the present embodiment, including the full trailer determination method, will be described.

FIG. 4 schematically shows the transition of the operation of the rotating brush when the vehicle CA to be washed is washed on the outward route. First, the traveling motor 25 causes the car wash machine main body 1 to travel in one direction from the front side to the rear side of the car wash machine main body 1, so that the vehicle sensor 8 mounted on the car wash machine main body 1 moves at the position P1 of the car wash vehicle CA. When the tip of the (leading vehicle TR1) is detected, the vehicle sensor 8 starts from the position P2 where the car wash machine main body 1 further travels by a predetermined distance (here, 10 m as an example) in the above one direction from the tip of the vehicle CA to be washed. , Starts detection of the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1.

It should be noted that the detection of the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1 is started at the above timing for a large truck such as a 10-ton truck as the leading vehicle TR1 of the full trailer determined by the full trailer discrimination method of the present embodiment. Yes, medium-duty trucks such as 4-ton trucks and light-duty trucks such as 2-ton trucks can hardly be the target of connecting the trailer TR2 (a full trailer is a large amount that cannot be loaded by one large truck. It is positioned as a means for transporting luggage, and it is difficult to think of a form in which a trailer is connected to a medium-duty truck or a light-duty truck to transport the luggage, because it can usually be replaced by the transportation of one large truck). Most of the existing heavy-duty trucks have a total length of 11 to 12 m. Therefore, by starting the detection of the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1 at the above timing, when the leading vehicle TR1 is a heavy-duty truck, the heavy-duty truck It becomes possible to detect the rear end.

Subsequently, when the car wash machine main body 1 travels in the above one direction and the vehicle sensor 8 detects the rear end (position P3) of the leading vehicle TR1, the traveling motor 25 further travels the car wash machine main body 1 in the above one direction. At a position P4 (for example, a position 2 m behind the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1) that exceeds the connection interval D (m) when the trailer portion TR2 is connected to the leading vehicle TR1 from the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1. The presence or absence of the trailer portion TR2 is detected by the vehicle sensor 8. As the connection interval D at this time, for example, 0.9 to 1.9 m can be considered. The detection process from the positions P1 to P4 by the vehicle sensor 8 corresponds to the trailer unit detection process.

Next, the full trailer determination unit 10b determines whether or not the vehicle to be washed CA is a full trailer based on the detection result of the presence / absence of the trailer unit TR2 at the position P4 by the vehicle sensor 8 (full trailer determination step). ). For example, when the vehicle sensor 8 detects that the trailer unit TR2 is present at the position P4, the full trailer determination unit 10b determines that the vehicle to be washed CA is a full trailer, while the vehicle sensor 8 determines that the trailer is at the position P4. When it is detected that there is no unit TR2 (when the vehicle sensor 8 does not detect the trailer unit TR2), it is determined that the vehicle to be washed CA is only the leading vehicle TR1.

On the other hand, a cleaning step is performed in parallel with the trailer section detection step described above. That is, when the vehicle sensor 8 detects the tip of the vehicle CA to be cleaned at the position P1, the side brush drive control unit 10c refers to the distance between the side brushes 5 in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter, referred to as "distance between the side brushes 5"). ) Is narrowed to start cleaning the front surface of the leading vehicle TR1, and the distance between the side brushes 5 is restored to complete the cleaning of the front surface of the leading vehicle TR1. After that, a cleaning step of cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned with each side brush 5 is performed. The cleaning of the vehicle to be cleaned CA on the outbound route is performed by injecting city water and a liquid agent.

In the cleaning step, after the side brush drive control unit 10c starts cleaning both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1, each until the full trailer determination unit 10b determines whether or not the vehicle CA to be cleaned is a full trailer. The distance between the side brushes 5 is maintained at a constant distance for cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Therefore, the cleaning of both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 by the side brushes 5 is completed, and the side brushes 5 are separated from both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 to the rear surface side by traveling in the above-mentioned one direction of the car wash machine main body 1. Even if the load of the brush drive motor 5a is reduced and the current flowing through the brush drive motor 5a is reduced, the side brush drive control unit 10c does not perform drive control for narrowing the distance between the side brushes 5. Therefore, at this point, the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 is not cleaned by each side brush 5. For the same reason, the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 is not cleaned by each side brush 5.

Further, when the remote panel 60 or the operation panel 7 is set to clean the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned by the top brush 4, the cleaning step also performs cleaning by the top brush 4. That is, first, when the vehicle sensor 8 detects the tip of the vehicle CA to be cleaned at the position P1, the top brush elevating control unit 10d lowers the top brush 4 and brings it into contact with the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 to start cleaning the upper surface. To do. Then, the top brush elevating control unit 10d cleans the height of the top brush 4 and the upper surface of the leading vehicle CA until the full trailer determination unit 10b determines whether or not the vehicle to be cleaned CA is a full trailer. Hold in position. Therefore, the cleaning of the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 by the top brush 4 is completed, and the top brush 4 is separated from the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 to the rear surface side by traveling in the above-mentioned one direction of the car wash machine main body 1, and the top brush drive motor 4a The top brush elevating control unit 10d does not perform drive control for lowering the top brush 4 even if the load of the top brush 4 is reduced and the current flowing therethrough is reduced. Therefore, at this point, the top brush 4 does not clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1. For the same reason, the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 is not cleaned by the top brush 4.

Next, after the full trailer discrimination unit 10b determines that the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer, the traveling motor 25 further drives the car wash machine main body 1 in the above one direction. Then, the side brush drive control unit 10c keeps the distance between the side brushes 5 constant while the car wash machine main body 1 travels in the one direction. As a result, both side surfaces of the trailer portion TR2 are cleaned by each side brush 5. Then, when the vehicle sensor 8 detects the rear end (position P5) of the trailer unit TR2, the side brush drive control unit 10c narrows the distance between the side brushes 5 and cleans the rear surface of the trailer unit TR2 by each side brush 5. To execute. When the distance between the side brushes 5 is restored, the cleaning of the vehicle CA to be cleaned on the outward route is completed.

Next, cleaning of the vehicle to be cleaned CA on the return route will be described. FIG. 5 schematically shows the transition of the operation of the rotating brush when the vehicle CA to be washed is washed on the return path. When the cleaning of the rear surface of the trailer portion TR2 is completed, the traveling motor 25 causes the car wash machine main body 1 to travel in the direction opposite to the above one direction, that is, from the rear side to the front side of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. As a result, both side surfaces of the trailer portion TR2 can be cleaned again by the side brushes 5. The washing at this time can be a rinse with city water. After that, the side brush drive control unit 10c cleans at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the front surface of the trailer unit TR2 by each side brush 5 according to the setting in the operation unit (remote panel 60 or operation panel 7). Let it run.

Specifically, for example, when the operation unit is set to clean the front surface of the trailer unit TR2, the side brush drive control unit 10c starts after the vehicle sensor 8 detects the front end (position P6) of the trailer unit TR2. The distance between the side brushes 5 is narrowed by a preset amount, and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 is washed by each side brush 5. The amount of narrowing each side brush 5 may be set to a value smaller than {(width of vehicle CA to be washed) − (width of connecting portion CN)} / 2.

For example, when the width of the connecting portion CN is 800 mm and the width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned (for example, the trailer portion TR2) is 2500 mm, the amount of narrowing each side brush 5 (movement amount) is {(2500-800). ) / 2} = 850 (mm) or less (for example, 800 mm) may be preset. In this case, even if each side brush 5 is moved by the above amount, the distance between the side brushes 5 remains larger than the width (800 mm) of the connecting portion CN (900 mm in the above example). Therefore, when cleaning the front surface of the trailer portion TR2, contact between each side brush 5 and the connecting portion CN can be avoided, and damage to each other can be avoided. After the side brush drive control unit 10c restores the distance between the side brushes 5, the traveling motor 25 further moves the car wash machine body 1 forward.

When the operation unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1, the side brush drive control unit 10c is at the rear end position P7 (= P3) of the leading vehicle TR1 detected by the vehicle sensor 8 on the outward route. The distance between the side brushes 5 is narrowed by a preset amount, and each side brush 5 is used to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1. At this time, the amount of narrowing each side brush 5 (movement amount) can be set to the same amount (for example, 800 mm) as when cleaning the front surface of the trailer portion TR2, but the width of the connecting portion CN is the width of the car wash machine main body 1. If it changes in the traveling direction, the amount may be set different from that at the time of cleaning the front surface of the trailer portion TR2. In this case, it is possible to avoid contact between each side brush 5 and the connecting portion CN when cleaning the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 as in the case of cleaning the front surface of the trailer portion TR2, and avoid damage to each other. ..

Further, when the operation unit is set to clean the front surface of the trailer unit TR2 with the top brush 4, the top brush elevating control unit 10d starts after the vehicle sensor 8 detects the front end (position P6) of the trailer unit TR2. The top brush 4 is lowered by a preset distance shorter than the distance between the upper surface of the trailer portion TR2 and the connecting portion CN, and then raised. Similarly, when the operation unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 with the top brush 4, the top brush elevating control unit 10d is located at the rear end position P7 of the leading vehicle TR1 detected by the vehicle sensor 8 on the outward route. At (= P3), the top brush 4 is lowered by a preset distance shorter than the distance between the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the connecting portion CN, and then raised. The raising and lowering of the top brush 4 is performed with a time lag from the detaching (opening and closing) operation of each side brush 5 in the vehicle width direction.

By raising and lowering the top brush 4 as described above, on the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1, the portion above the connection portion with the connecting portion CN, that is, the portion that cannot be washed by each side brush 5 is topped. It can be washed with the brush 4. Moreover, by lowering the top brush 4 by the above distance, it is possible to clean the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 while avoiding contact between the top brush 4 and the connecting portion CN, and the top due to the contact. Damage to the brush 4 and the connecting portion CN can be avoided.

By the way, the brush rotation control unit 10e of the control unit 10 usually has a side brush drive motor 5a and a top brush drive motor 4a detected by the current detection unit 26 (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as a "drive motor"). When the drive current of the above exceeds the threshold value, the rotation of the rotating brushes (each side brush 5 and the top brush 4) is stopped. This kind of control is performed because when the drive current exceeds the threshold value, that is, when the rotational load of the drive motor increases, the rotary brush may be caught by some member and an abnormality may occur. ..

Here, for example, when the gap (connection interval D) between the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 is narrower than the brush diameter of the rotating brush, the rotating brush is the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the trailer portion TR2. Since they come into contact with the front surface at the same time, the rotational load of the drive motor increases and the drive current increases. However, in this case, since the rotation of the rotating brush is not abnormal, it is necessary to continue cleaning with the rotating brush without stopping it.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the calculation unit 10f of the control unit 10 determines the leading vehicle based on the rear end detection position P3 (P7) of the leading vehicle TR1 by the vehicle sensor 8 and the front end detecting position P6 of the trailer unit TR2. The length of the gap (connection interval D) between the rear surface of TR1 and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 is calculated. Then, the brush rotation control unit 10e controls to raise the above threshold value above the reference value when the length of the gap calculated by the calculation unit 10f is shorter than the brush diameter of the rotating brush stored in the storage unit 9. I do. As a result, even if the gap is shorter than the brush diameter of the rotating brush and the driving current of the drive motor increases when cleaning the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2, the rotation of the rotating brush is not stopped. It is possible to simultaneously clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 with a rotating brush.

After cleaning the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1, each side brush 5 is maintained at intervals for cleaning both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1, and the top brush 4 has a height for cleaning the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1. Maintained in position. Then, by traveling forward of the car wash machine main body 1 by the traveling motor 25, each side brush 5 cleans both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 and the top brush 4 cleans the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1. When the vehicle sensor 8 detects the tip of the leading vehicle TR1 at the position P8, the cleaning of both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 by the side brushes 5 is completed, and the cleaning of the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 by the top brush 4 is completed.

If the operation unit is not set to clean the front surface of the trailer unit TR2 and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1, the side brush drive control unit 10c does not control to narrow the distance between the side brushes 5, and the top brush. The drive control unit 10d does not control the top brush 4 to be lowered. Then, the car wash machine main body 1 is moved forward by the traveling motor 25, both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 are washed by each side brush 5, and the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 is washed by the top brush 4, and the vehicle sensor 8 is used. When the tip of the leading vehicle TR1 is detected at the position P8, these cleanings are completed.

On the other hand, FIG. 6 schematically shows the transition of the operation of the rotating brush when the vehicle CA to be cleaned, which is composed of only the leading vehicle TR1, is cleaned on the outward route. Further, FIG. 7 schematically shows the transition of the operation of the rotating brush when the vehicle CA to be cleaned, which is composed of only the leading vehicle TR1, is cleaned on the return path. The trailer section detection steps (positions P1 to P4) and the cleaning step performed in parallel with the trailer section detection steps are exactly the same as in FIG.

At position P4, the vehicle sensor 8 detects that there is no trailer unit TR2, and based on this detection result, the full trailer determination unit 10b is a vehicle in which the vehicle to be washed CA is not a full trailer but only the leading vehicle TR1. When it is determined that the traveling motor 25 is present, the traveling motor 25 is in the direction opposite to the above one direction from the position P4 when the vehicle sensor 8 detects that the trailer portion TR2 is not present (in front of the vehicle to be washed CA). To run. Then, when the operation unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 by each side brush 5, the side brush drive control unit 10c is the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1 detected by the vehicle sensor 8. At the position P3 (= P5'), the distance between the side brushes 5 is narrowed, and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 is washed by each side brush 5. Further, when the operation unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 with the top brush 4, the top brush drive control unit 10d is the position of the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1 detected by the vehicle sensor 8. At P3 (= P5'), the top brush 4 is lowered to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1. The raising and lowering of the top brush 4 is performed with a time lag from the detaching (opening and closing) operation of each side brush 5 in the vehicle width direction.

After cleaning the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1, each side brush 5 is maintained at an interval for cleaning both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1, and the top brush 4 is maintained at a height position for cleaning the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1. .. Then, by traveling forward of the car wash machine main body 1 by the traveling motor 25, each side brush 5 cleans both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 and the top brush 4 cleans the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1. When the vehicle sensor 8 detects the tip of the leading vehicle TR1 at the position P6', the cleaning of both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 by the side brushes 5 is completed, and the cleaning of the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 by the top brush 4 is completed.

If the operation unit is not set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1, the side brush drive control unit 10c does not control to narrow the distance between the side brushes 5, and the top brush drive control unit 10d is the top. The control for lowering the brush 4 is not performed. Then, the car wash machine main body 1 is moved forward by the traveling motor 25, both side surfaces of the leading vehicle TR1 are washed by each side brush 5, and the upper surface of the leading vehicle TR1 is washed by the top brush 4, and the vehicle sensor 8 is used. When the tip of the leading vehicle TR1 is detected at the position P6', these cleanings are completed.

[3. effect〕
When the vehicle sensor 8 detects the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1 beyond a predetermined distance (for example, 10 m) from the tip of the leading vehicle TR1, the leading vehicle TR1 may be a large truck (so-called 10-ton vehicle). When the leading vehicle TR1 is a large truck, there are two types of vehicles to be washed CA to be cleaned: a full trailer in which the trailer portion TR2 is connected to the leading vehicle TR1 and only the leading vehicle TR1 in which the trailer portion R2 is not connected. Can be considered.

In the present embodiment, the car wash machine main body 1 is driven in one direction, the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1 is detected, and then the trailer portion TR2 is subjected to the vehicle sensor 8 at the position P4 exceeding the connection interval from the rear end position P3. The presence or absence is detected. As a result, it is possible to automatically determine whether the vehicle to be washed CA is a full trailer or only the leading vehicle TR1 based on the detection result of the trailer unit TR2. Therefore, in determining whether or not the vehicle to be washed CA is a full trailer, a sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the trailer portion TR2 is installed on the ground of the car wash, or a sensor for detecting the trailer portion TR2 is used as the main body of the car wash machine. It is not necessary to project from 1 in the traveling direction for a long time. As a result, inconvenience caused by the installation of the sensor on the ground or the formation of a protrusion on the main body of the car wash machine (a situation in which the sensor hinders the vehicle CA from entering and exiting the car wash area or the driver of the car wash CA from getting on and off. ) Can be avoided.

Further, even if the cleaning of the full trailer is forgotten to be set in the operation unit (remote panel 60, operation panel 7), it is automatically determined whether or not the vehicle to be cleaned CA is the full trailer. It is possible to eliminate the need for setting input by the operation unit. Therefore, not only can it be easily forgotten to make such a setting, but it is also possible to omit the installation (display) itself of the setting button in the operation unit.

Further, the full trailer determination unit 10b determines that the vehicle to be washed CA is a full trailer when the vehicle sensor 8 detects that the trailer unit TR2 is present at the position P4, while the trailer unit TR2 is not present at the position P4. When the vehicle sensor 8 detects this, it is determined that the vehicle to be washed CA is only the leading vehicle TR1. In this way, by determining whether or not the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer based on the detection result of the vehicle sensor 8 (presence or absence of the trailer unit TR2), the determination can be easily performed.

Further, after the side brush drive control unit 10c starts cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned by each side brush 5, each side brush is used until it is determined whether or not the vehicle CA to be cleaned is a full trailer. The interval of 5 is maintained at a constant interval for cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Even if the trailer portion TR2 is connected to the leading vehicle TR1, each side brush 5 does not close in the middle (between the leading vehicle TR1 and the trailer portion TR2), so that the leading vehicle TR1 and the trailer portion TR2 are connected. It is possible to avoid a situation in which the portion CN is damaged by each side brush 5 or each side brush 5 comes into contact with the connecting portion CN and is damaged.

Further, when the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA is set to be cleaned by the top brush 4, the top brush drive control unit 10d has started cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA (lead vehicle TR1) by the top brush 4. After that, the height of the top brush 3 is held at the position where the upper surface of the leading vehicle CA is washed until it is determined whether or not the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer. Even if the trailer portion TR2 is connected to the leading vehicle TR1, the top brush 4 does not descend in the middle, so that the connecting portion CN may be damaged by the top brush 4 or the top brush 4 may come into contact with the connecting portion CN and be damaged. It can be avoided.

Further, the side brush drive control unit 10c keeps the distance between the side brushes 5 constant while the car wash machine main body 1 travels in one direction, and after the vehicle sensor 8 detects the rear end of the trailer unit TR2, each The rear surface of the trailer portion TR2 is cleaned by narrowing the distance between the side brushes 5. When the vehicle CA to be washed is a full trailer, the rear surface of the trailer portion TR2 can be washed by each side brush 5.

Further, the side brush drive control unit 10c holds the side brushes 5 at intervals before narrowing after cleaning the rear surface of the trailer unit TR2, and causes the car wash machine main body 1 to travel in the direction opposite to one direction. At least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 is cleaned by each side brush 5 according to the setting of. After cleaning the rear surface of the trailer portion TR2, at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 and the front surface of the trailer portion TR2 can be cleaned by each side brush 5, if necessary.

Further, when the full trailer determination unit 10b determines that the vehicle CA to be cleaned is only the leading vehicle TR1 and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 is set to be cleaned, the side brush drive control unit 10c is set by the vehicle sensor 8. At the detected position P3 (= P5') of the rear end of the leading vehicle TR1, the distance between the side brushes 5 is narrowed, and the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 is washed by each side brush 5. As a result, even when the vehicle CA to be cleaned is not a full trailer, it is possible to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle TR1 as needed.

The present invention can be used in car wash machines that wash large trucks and full trailers in quantity.

1 Car wash machine body 4 Top brush 4a Top brush drive motor (drive motor)
5 Side brush 5a Side brush drive motor (drive motor)
7 Operation panel (operation unit)
8 Vehicle sensor 9 Storage unit 10b Full trailer discrimination unit 10c Side brush drive control unit 10d Top brush elevation control unit 10e Brush rotation control unit 10f Calculation unit 25 Travel motor (main unit drive unit)
60 Remote panel (operation unit)
CA Washed vehicle TR1 Leading vehicle TR2 Trailer part WA Car wash machine

Claims (22)

This is a full trailer determination method for determining whether or not the vehicle to be washed in the car wash machine is a full trailer in which a trailer unit is connected to the leading vehicle.
By moving the car wash machine body in one direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle to be washed, the vehicle sensor mounted on the car wash machine body exceeds the rear end of the leading vehicle by a predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle. When the detection is made, the car wash machine main body is further driven in the one direction, and the vehicle is located at a position exceeding the connection interval when the trailer portion is connected to the leading vehicle from the rear end of the leading vehicle. A trailer unit detection process that detects the presence or absence of the trailer unit by a sensor,
A full trailer determination method comprising a full trailer determination step of determining whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer based on the detection result in the trailer unit detection step. In the full trailer determination step, when the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is present in the trailer portion detection step, the vehicle to be washed is determined to be the full trailer, while the trailer portion determines. The full trailer determination method according to claim 1, wherein when the vehicle sensor detects that there is no vehicle, it is determined that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle. A method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned, which comprises the method for determining a full trailer according to claim 1 or 2.
It further includes a cleaning step of cleaning both sides of the vehicle to be cleaned with each side brush.
In the cleaning step, when cleaning of both side surfaces of the leading vehicle is started by the side brushes and then the vehicle sensor detects the rear end of the leading vehicle beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle. The distance between the side brushes is maintained at a constant interval for cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle to be washed until it is determined in the full trailer determination step whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. A method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned. In the cleaning step, when the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is set to be cleaned by the top brush, after the top brush starts cleaning the upper surface of the leading vehicle, the vehicle sensor is behind the leading vehicle. When the end is detected beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle, the height of the top brush until it is determined in the full trailer determination step whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to claim 3, wherein the upper surface of the leading vehicle is held at a position to be cleaned. After the vehicle to be washed is determined to be the full trailer in the full trailer determination step, the car wash machine main body is further driven in the one direction, and the rear end of the trailer portion is detected by the vehicle sensor. Including the rear end detection process
In the washing step, the distance between the side brushes is kept constant while the car wash machine main body is driven in the one direction, and after the vehicle sensor detects the rear end of the trailer portion, the side brushes of the side brushes are used. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to claim 4, wherein the rear surface of the trailer portion is cleaned by narrowing the interval. In the cleaning step, after cleaning the rear surface of the trailer portion, the car wash machine main body is moved in the direction opposite to the one direction by holding the side brushes at intervals before narrowing, and the head portion is set according to the setting. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the rear surface of the vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion is cleaned by the side brushes. In the cleaning step, when the front surface of the trailer portion is set to be cleaned, after the front end of the trailer portion is detected by the vehicle sensor, the distance between the side brushes is narrowed by a preset amount. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to claim 6, wherein the front surface of the trailer portion is cleaned. In the cleaning step, when the rear surface of the leading vehicle is set to be cleaned, the distance between the side brushes at the rear end of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor is narrowed by a preset amount. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the rear surface of the leading vehicle is cleaned. In the cleaning step, when at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion is set to be cleaned by the top brush, the leading vehicle or the upper surface of the trailer portion, the leading vehicle, and the trailer portion are described. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the top brush is lowered by a preset distance shorter than the distance to the connecting portion connecting the trailer portion. In the cleaning step, when the drive current of the drive motor for driving the rotary brush including at least one of the side brushes and the top brush exceeds a threshold value, the rotation of the rotary brush is stopped, and the vehicle sensor Based on the position of the rear end detection of the leading vehicle and the position of the front end detection of the trailer portion, the length of the gap between the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion is calculated and calculated. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein when the length of the gap is shorter than the brush diameter of the rotating brush, the threshold value is raised above the reference value. When it is determined in the full trailer determination step that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle,
In the washing step, the car wash machine main body is set to run in the direction opposite to the one direction from the position when the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is absent, and the rear surface of the leading vehicle is washed. In the case of the above, claims 3 to 10 are characterized in that the rear surface of the leading vehicle is washed by narrowing the distance between the side brushes at the position of the rear end of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor. The method for cleaning a vehicle to be cleaned according to any one of. The main body of the car wash machine that cleans the vehicle to be washed,
A main body drive unit that runs the car wash machine main body in one direction from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle to be washed and in the opposite direction.
A vehicle sensor mounted on the main body of the car wash machine to detect the vehicle to be washed,
A full trailer determination unit for determining whether or not the vehicle to be washed is a full trailer in which a trailer unit is connected to a leading vehicle based on the detection result of the vehicle sensor.
The main body drive unit causes the car wash machine main body to travel in the one direction, and when the vehicle sensor detects the rear end of the leading vehicle beyond a predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle, the car wash machine Further run the main body in the above direction,
The vehicle sensor detects the presence or absence of the trailer portion from the rear end of the leading vehicle at a position exceeding the connection interval when the trailer portion is connected to the leading vehicle.
The car wash machine is characterized in that the full trailer discriminating unit determines whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer based on the detection result of the presence or absence of the trailer unit by the vehicle sensor. When the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is present, the full trailer determination unit determines that the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer, while the vehicle sensor detects that the trailer portion is not present. The car wash machine according to claim 12, wherein it is determined that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle. The car wash machine body
Each side brush that cleans both sides of the vehicle to be washed,
A side brush drive control unit that controls the interval between the side brushes is provided.
After the side brush drive control unit starts cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned by the side brushes, the vehicle sensor makes the rear end of the leading vehicle exceed the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle. When detected, the intervals between the side brushes are set to a fixed interval for cleaning both sides of the vehicle to be cleaned until the full trailer discriminating unit determines whether or not the vehicle to be cleaned is the full trailer. The car wash machine according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that it is held in. The car wash machine body
A top brush that cleans the upper surface of the vehicle to be washed,
A top brush elevating control unit that controls the elevating and lowering of the top brush,
It also has an operation unit that accepts setting input from the outside.
When the operation unit is set to clean the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, the top brush elevating control unit starts cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned by the top brush, and then the vehicle sensor. When the rear end of the leading vehicle is detected beyond the predetermined distance from the tip of the leading vehicle, the full trailer discriminating unit determines whether or not the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer. The car wash machine according to claim 14, wherein the height of the top brush is held at a position where the upper surface of the leading vehicle is washed. After the full trailer discriminating unit determines that the vehicle to be washed is the full trailer, the main body driving unit further causes the car wash machine main body to travel in the one direction.
The side brush drive control unit keeps the distance between the side brushes constant while the car wash machine main body travels in the one direction, and after the vehicle sensor detects the rear end of the trailer unit, each of the side brushes The car wash machine according to claim 15, wherein the distance between the side brushes is narrowed, and the rear surface of the trailer portion is washed by each of the side brushes. After cleaning the rear surface of the trailer portion, the main body driving unit causes the car wash machine main body to travel in the direction opposite to the one direction.
After cleaning the rear surface of the trailer unit, the side brush drive control unit cleans at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer unit by the side brushes according to the setting in the operation unit. The car wash machine according to claim 16, wherein the car wash machine is made to run. When the side brush drive control unit is set to clean the front surface of the trailer unit by the operation unit, after the vehicle sensor detects the front end of the trailer unit, the distance between the side brushes is set in advance. The car wash machine according to claim 17, wherein the front surface of the trailer portion is washed by the side brushes by narrowing the size by a set amount. When the side brush drive control unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle by the operating unit, the distance between the side brushes at the rear end of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor is set in advance. The car wash machine according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the side brushes are used to wash the rear surface of the leading vehicle by narrowing the size by a set amount. When the operation unit is set to clean at least one of the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer unit with the top brush, the top brush elevating control unit is the upper surface of the leading vehicle or the trailer unit. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the top brush is lowered by a preset distance shorter than the distance between the leading vehicle and the connecting portion connecting the trailer portion. Car wash machine. A drive motor that drives a rotary brush that includes at least one of the side brushes and the top brush.
A brush rotation control unit that stops the rotation of the rotating brush when the drive current of the drive motor exceeds the threshold value.
Calculation of the length of the gap between the rear surface of the leading vehicle and the front surface of the trailer portion based on the position of the rear end detection of the leading vehicle by the vehicle sensor and the position of the front end detection of the trailer portion. Department and
Further provided with a storage unit for storing the brush diameter of the rotating brush,
A claim that the brush rotation control unit raises the threshold value to a reference value when the length of the gap calculated by the calculation unit is shorter than the brush diameter stored in the storage unit. Item 8. The car wash machine according to any one of Items 18 to 20. When the full trailer discriminating unit determines that the vehicle to be washed is only the leading vehicle, the main body driving unit detects that the car wash machine main body does not have the trailer unit. Run from the position in the direction opposite to the one direction,
When the operation unit is set to clean the rear surface of the leading vehicle, the side brush drive control unit is located at the rear end position of the leading vehicle detected by the vehicle sensor. The car wash machine according to any one of claims 15 to 21, wherein the gap between the two is narrowed and the rear surface of the leading vehicle is washed by the side brushes.

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