JP2512617Y2 - Car wash equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a car wash device for sequentially performing processes such as cleaning, wax coating, and drying on a vehicle body surface of a vehicle.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-20098 is known as a car washing device that efficiently performs car washing along the shape of a vehicle body. The device described here performs car washing by controlling the operating height of a car wash device such as a top brush for brushing or a top nozzle for drying which acts on the upper surface of the vehicle body according to the height of the vehicle, In the case of a wagon with a high height, the car was washed by keeping the operating height of the car wash equipment at a position separated from the roof by a predetermined distance.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, when a car wash device is made to act on the vehicle body surface depending on the height of the vehicle, especially when washing a wagon car, the car wash device does not act on the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body and remains unwashed. Alternatively, a dry residue was generated. Also, because the running speed of the car wash device is constant,
The operating time of the car wash equipment acting on the vehicle body surface was shorter in the steeply sloped window portion than in the gently sloped roof portion, and uneven cleaning or uneven drying occurred as a whole.

The present invention has been made to cope with such a problem, and aims to improve the efficiency of car washing by making the moving speed of the car washing device acting on the upper surface of the vehicle body uniform.

[Means for Solving Problems] In order to solve such problems, the present invention relates to a car wash device for reciprocating a gate-shaped frame that straddles a vehicle to wash a car. A traveling position detecting means for detecting a traveling position of the frame, a vehicle height detecting means for detecting a height of the vehicle, a storage means for sequentially storing the vehicle height with respect to the traveling position of the frame obtained from each of the detecting means, and the frame. Speed varying means for varying the traveling speed of the vehicle, an elevating means for vertically moving the car wash equipment such as a top brush for brushing the upper surface of the vehicle body or a top nozzle for drying the upper surface of the vehicle body arranged in the frame, and the elevating means. Of the car wash device according to the shape of the vehicle body stored in the storage means, and the moving speed of the car wash equipment that follows the shape of the vehicle body is constant. And a control means for variably controlling the traveling speed of the frame by the speed varying means so that the speed becomes the speed.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 is a frame formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the vehicle body, so that wheels 2 rotatably supported on the lower portions of both sides of the frame 1 can reciprocate on parallel rails 3 laid on the floor. Is formed. Reference numerals 4 and 4 denote electric motors capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions. The drive of the electric motors 4 and 4 is transmitted to wheels 2 and 2 via a transmission mechanism 5 and 5 to reciprocate the frame 1 along rails 3 and 3. . Reference numeral 6 denotes a rotary encoder forming a traveling position detecting means, which is connected to an output shaft of one of the electric motors 4 and outputs a pulse signal for every unit angle rotation while detecting the rotational direction of the electric motor 4 to detect the traveling position of the frame 1. I'm giving.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a vehicle height detecting means for detecting the height of the vehicle body, which is provided on the front portion of the frame 1. Numerals 8 and 8 are trolleys arranged so as to face each other on the front side of the frame 1, and guide rollers 9 and 9 which are rotatably supported on both sides of the trolleys 8 and 8 are arranged on both sides of the front side of the frame 1 to support rails 10. , 10 from the left and right, rails 10,10
It is formed so that it can be moved up and down. 11 and 11 are chains, each end of which is connected to the upper and lower ends of the bogies 8 and 8 to form an endless loop, and are axially supported on both sides of a rotary shaft 12 which is horizontally crossed above the front of the frame 1. Sprockets
It is suspended between 13, 13 and sprockets 14, 14 which are axially supported on both lower sides of the front part of the frame 1. Reference numeral 15 is an electric motor capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions.
And the carts 8 are moved up and down along the rails 10 and 10. Reference numerals 17a, 18a and 17b, 18b are optical sensors each comprising a light emitter and a light receiving switch. The light emitters 17a, 18a and the light receiving switch 17b are attached to brackets 19, 19 fixed to the inside of the frame 1 from the side surfaces of the carriages 8, 8, respectively. An optical sensor that is attached so that 18b faces each other and is located in front of the frame 1.
When 17a and 17b detect the vehicle body, the electric motor 15 is driven in the forward direction to raise the trucks 8 and 8, and when the vehicle body is not detected, the electric motor 15 is driven in the reverse direction to lower the trucks 8 and 8, while the vehicle is positioned rearward. When the optical sensors 18a and 18b detect the vehicle body, the driving of the electric motor 15 is stopped to hold the trucks 8 and 8 at a fixed position, and the trucks are relatively moved.
The 8 and 8 are made to follow the shape of the car body. 20 and 21 are limit switches provided near the upper and lower ends of one rail 10, respectively, and when the carriages 8 and 8 move up and down and the switches respond to the rotation of the switch levers, the drive of the electric motor 15 is stopped and the carriages 8, 8 is held at the upper limit position above the frame 1 or the lower limit position below the frame 1. 22 is a rotary encoder connected to one end of the rotary shaft 12
While detecting the rotation direction of the vehicle, a pulse signal is output for each unit angle rotation to give the amount of vertical movement of the carriages 8,8.

23 is a drying means for removing water droplets attached to the vehicle body surface,
A top nozzle disposed in the center of the frame 1 behind the vehicle height detecting means 7 and in charge of drying the upper surface and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body.
24 and side nozzles 25, 25 that are in charge of drying the side surface of the vehicle body. The top nozzle 24 has support shafts 26, 26 extending from both ends thereof rotatably connected to and supported by carriages 27, 27 arranged on both sides of the frame 1, and a roller 28 pivotally supported by the carriages 27, 27. The top nozzle 24 is formed between the rails 29, 29 which are erected on both sides of the frame 1 via the rails 28, 28 so that the top nozzle 24 can be moved up and down on the rails 29, 29. 30 is the top nozzle 24
The variable means for varying the blowing direction of the high-pressure air blown out from the lot units 31a, 3 of the first and second air cylinders 31, 32.
One lot portion 32a of a two-stage cylinder in which 2a is connected to the opposite side is connected to an operating plate 33 fixed to a support shaft 26, and the other lot portion 31a is connected to a side surface of a trolley 27. The lot portion 31a of 31 is shortened and the lot portion 32a of the second air cylinder 32 is extended to direct the blowing direction of the top nozzle 24 vertically downward so that each air cylinder 31, 3 during operation
The lot parts 31a and 32a of 2 are shortened so that the blowing direction of the top nozzle 23 is directed diagonally downward toward the front of the frame 1 and the air cylinders 31 and 3
The second lot portions 31a, 32a are extended so that the blowing direction of the top nozzle 23 can be changed to the diagonally downward rearward of the frame 1. 34a, 34a and 34b, 34b are chains, respectively.The upper chains 34a, 34a are weights that balance one end with the upper ends of the trucks 27, 27 and the other end with the load of the top nozzle 24.
The lower chains 34b, 34b are connected to the upper ends of 35, 35 respectively, and one end of the lower chains 34b, 34b is attached to the lower ends of the carriages 27, 27, and the other end thereof is a weight.
Endless loops are formed by connecting to the lower ends of 35 and 35, respectively, and sprockets 37 and 37 are supported on both sides of a rotary shaft 36 that is horizontally extended above the frame 1 and shafts that are below both sides of the frame 1. Suspended between the supported sprockets 38,38. The reference numeral 39 designates a forward / reverse reversible electric motor corresponding to a lifting means for vertically moving the top nozzle 24 up and down.
The drive of the electric motor 39 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 36 via the carriage 27, 2
7 is moved up and down along rails 29, 29. 41 and 42
Are limit switches provided near the upper and lower ends of one rail 29, and when the carriages 27, 27 move up and down and the switch responds by the rotation of the switch lever, the drive of the electric motor 39 is stopped and the carriages 27, 27 are framed. It is held at the upper limit position above 1 or the lower limit position below frame 1. 43 is a rotary encoder connected to one end of the rotary shaft 36.
While detecting the rotation direction of 36, a pulse signal is output for each unit angle rotation to give the amount of vertical displacement of the top nozzle 24. 45,45 are blowers that generate high wind pressure air, 46,46,47,
Reference numeral 47 is a duct that connects the blowers 45, 45 and the nozzles 24, 25, 25, respectively, and includes the top nozzle 24 and the side nozzles 25, 25.
Blows high-pressure air supplied from the blowers 45, 45 toward the top, front, back, and sides of the vehicle body to remove water droplets adhering to the vehicle body.

Reference numeral 48 denotes a cleaning means for cleaning the vehicle body surface or applying wax. The cleaning means 48 is disposed in the rear portion of the frame 1 behind the drying means 23, and a top brush 49 for brushing the vehicle body upper surface and front and rear surfaces and a vehicle body side surface are brushed. It is provided with a pair of left and right side brushes 50, 50 in charge. Reference numerals 51, 51 denote swing arms that rotatably support a top brush 49 at the tip of the arms 52, 52 extending inward from the side surfaces of the carriages 53, 53 arranged on both sides of the frame 1. The other end is fixedly supported on the tip. The top brush 49 is formed so as to be able to move up and down on rails 55, 55 erected on both sides of the frame 1 via rollers 54, 54 pivotally supported by carriages 53, 53. 56 is an electric motor attached to one swing arm 51, and the top brush 49 is rotationally driven via a transmission mechanism (not shown) incorporated in the swing arm 51. 57a, 57a and 57b, 57b are chains, and the upper chains 57a, 57a have one end connected to the upper ends of the carriages 53, 53 and the other end connected to the upper ends of the weights 58, 58 that balance the load of the top brush 49, respectively. The lower chains 57b, 57b are connected to the lower ends of the carriages 53, 53 at one end and the lower ends of the weights 58, 58 at the other end to form an endless loop, and are horizontally crossed above the frame 1. Further, it is suspended between sprockets 60, 60 pivotally supported by the rotary shaft 59 and sprockets 61, 61 pivotally supported on both sides of the frame 1 below. 62 is the top nozzle 49
Is an electric motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, which is equivalent to an ascending / descending means for moving up and down in a vertical direction. It is moving up and down. 64 and 65 are one rail each
55 limit switches provided near the upper and lower ends of the
When the switch 3 moves up and down and the switch responds to the rotation of the switch lever, the driving of the electric motor 62 is stopped and the carriages 53, 53 are held at the upper limit position above the frame 1 or the lower limit position below the frame 1. Reference numeral 66 denotes a rotary encoder connected to one end of the rotary shaft 59, which outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction to give the amount of vertical displacement of the top brush 49. The side brushes 50, 50 are rotatably suspended by trolleys 68, 68 running on a rail 67 horizontally extending in the horizontal direction above the rear portion of the frame 1, and open / close in the horizontal direction.

Next, the control system of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 70 denotes a microcomputer as a control means, which includes a CPU 71 for performing arithmetic processing, a memory 72 for storing programs and various data, and input / output interfaces 73, 74. The input interface 73 includes light receiving switches 17b, 18b and a rotary encoder 6, 22,66 and limit switch 20,2
1, 64, 65, etc. are connected, and the output interface 74 is connected with the electric motors 4, 4, 15, 62, the projectors 17a, 18a, etc.
Reference numeral 75 denotes an inverter in which the speeds of the electric motors 4 and 4 are variable, and corresponds to speed varying means for varying the traveling speed of the frame 1, and the traveling speed of the frame 1 can be varied in several stages by varying the frequency of the supplied power source. It

 Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 shows a dolly 8,8 holding optical sensors 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b.
Fig. 8 is a flow chart for moving up and down along the shape of the top of the vehicle body. Figs. 8, 9, 11 are flow charts that are interrupted each time a pulse signal is input from each rotary encoder 22, 6, 66, and Fig. 10 is a top brush. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the control operation of 49.

When the frame 1 starts running due to the start of car washing, the flow chart shown in FIG. 7 is executed prior to the brushing cleaning of the vehicle body surface by the brushes 49, 50, 50.
First, the state of the light receiving switch 17b is determined (1).

As the frame 1 moves forward, the light emitted from the projector 17a located in front of the traveling direction of the frame 1 is blocked by the vehicle body, and when this is detected by the light receiving switch 17b, the electric motor 15 is normally driven to drive the carriage 8 , 8 are raised (2), and the state of the light receiving switch 17b is waited for to change to the vehicle body non-detection state (3). When the vehicle body detection state detected by the light receiving switch 17b changes to a non-detection state as the carriages 8 and 8 rise, the electric motor 15
To stop the carriages 8 and 8 at a fixed position (4).

On the other hand, in the judgment of step (1), the light receiving switch
When the state of 17b is the vehicle body non-detection state, the state of the other light receiving switch 18b is determined (5). When the light receiving switch 18b detects the vehicle body in the determination of step (5), the driving of the electric motor 15 is stopped to hold the carriages 8 and 8 at a fixed position (6), and the light receiving switch 18b shifts to the vehicle body non-detection state. Wait for (7). Light receiving switch as frame 1 moves forward
When the vehicle body detection state detected by 18b changes to a non-detection state,
Alternatively, in the determination of step (5), the light receiving switch 18
When the state of b is the non-detection state, the carts 8 are lowered by the reverse driving of the electric motor 15 (8), and the state of the limit switch 21 is judged (9).

In this way, the processes of steps (1) to (9) are repeated to cause the carriages 8 and 8 to follow the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body, and eventually the frame 1 passes through the vehicle body and the state of the light receiving switch 18b is not detected. If the limit switch 21 detects the trolleys 8 and 8 by continuing the state and lowering the trolleys 8 and 8,
The driving of the electric motor 15 is stopped to hold the carriages 8 and 8 at the lower limit position (10), and the waiting of the end of the forward process is waited (11). When the forward process is completed, the carts 8 and 8 are raised by the normal rotation drive of the electric motor 15 (12), and the input from the limit switch 20 is awaited (13). When the limit switch 20 detects the trucks 8 and 8,
The drive of the electric motor 15 is stopped to hold the trucks 8 and 8 at the upper limit position (14).

On the other hand, the interrupt routine shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is executed each time a pulse signal is input from each rotary encoder 22 and 6 as the frame 1 travels and the carriages 8 and 8 are moved up and down. That is,
In FIG. 8, the counter C ₁ is used when the carriages 8 and 8 are raised (the rotation shaft 12 is normally rotated) each time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 22 which gives the vertical displacement of the optical sensors 17a, 17b, 18a and 18b. Add 1 to the value of (15) (16), and vice versa
When is decreased (rotating shaft 12 is reversely rotated), 1 is subtracted from the value of the counter C ₁ (15) (17). Further, in FIG. 9, each time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 6 which gives the traveling position of the frame 1 as the frame 1 travels, 1 is added to the value of the counter C ₂ when the frame 1 is moving forward (18). (19), counter C ₂ when frame 1 is in reverse
1 is subtracted from the value of (18) (20) and the counter C ₂ at that time is
The value of C ₁ is stored in the memory 72 (21).

In this way, the memory 72 sequentially stores the count value corresponding to the height (single height) of the carriages 8 and 8 with respect to the traveling position of the frame 1, that is, the vehicle height data with respect to the vehicle position. The nozzle 24 and the top brush 49 are made to follow the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is executed after the vehicle shape is grasped by the elevation control of the optical sensors 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b.
In the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the vertical height of the top brush 49 is given, and when the top brush 49 is raised (the rotation shaft 59 is forward), 1 is added to the value of the counter C ₃ (32) (33),
When the top brush 49 descends (the rotating shaft 59 rotates normally), 1 is subtracted from the value of the counter C ₃ (32) (34).

In FIG. 10, when the frame 1 starts traveling, the electric motor 62 is driven in reverse to lower the top brush 49 (2
2), waiting for detection from the limit switch 65 (2
3). When the limit switch 65 detects that the top brush 49 has reached the lower limit position, the reverse rotation drive of the electric motor 62 is stopped, the top brush 49 is held at the lower limit position (24), and the detection of the front end of the vehicle body is awaited (25). ). When the value of the counter C ₂ which gives the traveling position of the frame 1 reaches the count value corresponding to the vehicle body front end position calculated from the vehicle height data stored in the memory 72 in step (21), the elevation control of the top brush 49 is performed. The routine proceeds to a routine (26) to be performed and a routine (27) to control the traveling speed of the frame 1. Top brush 49
In the routine (26) for controlling the elevation of the optical sensor 1 from the count value of the counter C ₂ which gives the traveling position of the frame 1,
The count value obtained by subtracting the count number k corresponding to the distance between the 7a, 17b, 18a, 18b and the top brush 49 and the vehicle height data corresponding to the count value are sequentially read from the memory 72 to determine the height of the top brush 49. The electric motor 62 is driven to rotate in the forward and reverse directions so that the count value of the counter C ₃ which gives the above value is equal to the vehicle height data, and the top brush 49 acts on the vehicle body surface. By repeating this operation, the top brush 49 becomes the vehicle body upper surface shape. Followed along. Further, in the routine (27) for controlling the traveling speed of the frame 1, the inclination angle of the vehicle body surface is calculated from the average vehicle height difference per unit traveling count based on the vehicle height data stored in the memory 72, and the inclination angle is calculated as the inclination angle. The traveling speed of the corresponding frame 1 is determined from the table data registered in the memory 72 in advance, and the frequency corresponding to the determined traveling speed of the frame 1 is given to the inverter 75 to change the speeds of the electric motors 4, 4 to change the frame. The traveling speed of 1 is variably controlled. Table 1 below shows the correspondence between the inclination angle of the vehicle body surface (absolute value of the inclination angle of the upward inclination and the downward inclination with respect to the traveling direction of the frame 1) and the traveling speed of the frame (frequency given to the inverter 75) at that time. That is, the traveling speed of the frame 1 is decreased as the inclination angle of the vehicle body surface is steeper, and conversely, the traveling speed of the frame 1 is increased as the inclination angle is gentle to make the moving speed of the top brush 49 uniform.

Eventually, a counter C ₂ which gives the traveling position of the frame 1
When the value of reaches the count value corresponding to the vehicle body rear end position calculated from the vehicle height data stored in the memory 72 in step (21) (28), the top brush 49 is raised by the forward rotation drive of the electric motor 62. (29), and wait for the top brush 49 to reach the upper limit position (30). When the limit switch 64 detects that the top brush 49 has reached the upper limit position, the forward rotation drive of the electric motor 62 is stopped to keep the top brush 49 at the upper limit position and the traveling of the frame 1 is stopped to perform the forward process. It ends (31).

In this way, the top brush 49 is made to follow the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body, and the moving speed of the top brush is controlled to a constant speed to uniformly and uniformly clean the vehicle body surface by brushing.

[Advantages of the Invention] The present invention is configured as described above, and in a car wash device that reciprocally travels a frame formed in a gate shape so as to straddle a vehicle to wash a car, a travel position for detecting a travel position of the frame. Detecting means, vehicle height detecting means for detecting the height of the vehicle, storage means for sequentially storing the vehicle height with respect to the traveling position of the frame obtained from each of the detecting means, and speed varying means for varying the traveling speed of the frame. And an elevating means for vertically moving a car wash device such as a top brush for brushing the car body upper surface or a top nozzle for drying the car body upper surface arranged in the frame, and storing the car washing device by the operation of the elevating device. The vehicle is made to follow the body shape stored in the means, and the movement speed of the car wash equipment that follows the body shape is set to a constant speed. By providing the control means for variably controlling the traveling speed of the vehicle with the speed varying means, it is possible to cause the car wash equipment to act evenly on the vehicle body surface in any vehicle shape and to uniformly and uniformly wash the entire vehicle body. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an internal mechanism of a car wash apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a vehicle shape detecting means 7 in the car wash apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a drying means 23 in the car wash apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the cleaning means 48 in the car wash device, and FIG.
The drawing is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the control system of the car wash device, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the lifting operation of the bogies 8 and 8, 9 and 10. FIG. 11 is a flow chart for interrupting each time a pulse signal is input from each rotary encoder 22, 6, 66. FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the control operation of the top brush 49. 1 is a frame, 6 is a running position detection. A rotary encoder forming means, 7 is a vehicle height detecting means, 49 is a top brush corresponding to car washing equipment, 62 is an electric motor corresponding to lifting means,
70 is a microcomputer corresponding to control means, 72 is a memory corresponding to storage means, and 75 is an inverter corresponding to speed varying means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A car-washing device for washing a car by reciprocating a gate-shaped frame that straddles a vehicle and detecting a running position of the frame.
Vehicle height detection means for detecting the height of the vehicle, storage means for sequentially storing the vehicle height with respect to the traveling position of the frame obtained by the detection means, speed varying means for varying the traveling speed of the frame, and the frame An elevating means for vertically moving the car wash equipment such as a top brush for brushing the car body upper surface or a top nozzle for drying the car body upper surface, and the car wash equipment stored in the storage means by the operation of the elevating means. And a control means for variably controlling the traveling speed of the frame by the speed varying means such that the traveling speed of the car-washing equipment that follows the body shape is kept constant. Car wash device characterized by.