JP2628380B2 - Car wash equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car washing apparatus of a type in which an automobile is conveyed by a conveyor and the body of the automobile is automatically washed.

[Prior art and its problems] Generally, this type of device operates a car wash processing device such as a cleaning brush or a blower nozzle in accordance with the shape of the vehicle body. There was a danger that the brush or nozzle would be caught in this part and the protrusion would be damaged. For this reason, it has been necessary to wash a vehicle having a protrusion as described above by operating a brush or a nozzle which may cause damage so as not to act on the vehicle body in advance.

However, for example, in the case where the roof carrier or the taxi indicator light is provided as described above, since the car is washed without operating the upper surface cleaning brush and the upper surface blower nozzle, the entire upper surface of the vehicle body is left unwashed, and a long time of manual work is required. There is.

On the other hand, a so-called portal type car washer is disclosed in
As can be seen in JP-A-116542, a means for inputting to avoid the protrusion is provided to enable the avoidance operation, and if the avoidance operation is performed in the car wash in the first step, the protrusion is automatically avoided in the subsequent steps. Devices are known that perform this.

However, unlike a gate-type car washer, in this type of device, the car wash processing device does not repeatedly operate on the same vehicle, and the depth of the device becomes longer, and the avoidance operation is performed while checking the operation of the cleaning brush and the like. It is also difficult to carry out the operation (even if done, the operator will be accompanied by the operation during the car washing), so that the above-described conventional technology cannot be applied as it is.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention relates to a car washing apparatus of a type including an apparatus main body in which a car washing processing apparatus such as a cleaning brush and a blower nozzle is arranged, and a conveyor, and performing automatic washing as the automobile is moved by the conveyor. In the above, the entrance detection means for detecting that the car has entered the apparatus body, the travel distance detection means for detecting the travel distance of the car after detecting the entrance by the entrance detection means, car washing processing of protrusions and the like When an object to be avoided (hereinafter, referred to as an object to be avoided) is mounted on a vehicle, a position where the car wash processing device should be retracted from the vehicle body (hereinafter, referred to as a position to be avoided).
Input means capable of designating a retracted position) and a position for returning from the retracted state to a normal operating position (hereinafter referred to as a “return position”), and a vehicle body portion of the vehicle passing therethrough being the retracted position or the return position. A mark set at the entrance of the apparatus main body so as to perform designation input by the input means, a distance from the position of the mark to the car wash processing device, and a mark of the vehicle at the time of input at the input means. Avoidance position detection means for detecting an actual retreat position and a return position with respect to the avoidance target based on a movement distance; a movement distance of the vehicle given by the movement distance detection means and a withdrawal position and a return given by the avoidance position detection means Means for controlling the car wash processing device to perform an avoiding operation based on the position of the car wash processing device, thereby solving the above problem.

In the following examples, the entrance detection means admission detector 31, the input means may correspond to avoid input key 36 _2, also moving distance detecting means to the unit control section 26d for counting the pulses of the rotary encoder 30, The avoidance position detection means and the control means are provided in each of the car wash processing devices 5, 6, 9, 10, 15,
It is included in the unit control units 26a to 26d that control 16,20.

[Operation] With this, as the vehicle enters the apparatus main body, when the protrusions or the like provided on the vehicle pass the position of the mark of the entrance, the retreat position and the return position are designated and input before and after the protrusion. If the protrusions and the like reach the position of the car wash processing device thereafter, the car wash processing device is automatically retracted in front of the protrusions and the like and automatically returns to the normal operation position when the protrusions pass. It can operate and automatically avoid only the necessary part specified and input.

[Example] Hereinafter, the example will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of one embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a car wash device main body, and 2 is a conveyor. The car wash apparatus main body 1 is configured to be able to be divided into a first washing unit a, a second washing unit b, a wax unit c, and a drying unit d.

The first cleaning unit a includes a rinse nozzle 3 for discharging fresh water, a detergent nozzle 4 for discharging detergent water, a front side brush 5.5 for cleaning the front and side surfaces of the vehicle, and cleaning the side and rear surfaces of the vehicle. A car wash processing device such as a rear side brush 6, 6 is provided. Front side brush 5.5 and rear side brush 6
Numerals 6 are cantilevered by swing arms 7, 7, 8, 8, respectively, and are configured to be swingable from an inward operation position to a side retreat position (a state shown in the drawing).

The second washing unit b is provided with a pair of rocker brushes 9 and a top brush 10 as a car washing processing device. Both ends of the top brush 10 are supported by a pair of swing arms 11, 11 and are configured to be able to move up and down from a lower operating position to an upper retreat position.

The wax unit c includes rinse nozzles 12 and 13 for discharging fresh water and a wax nozzle 1 for discharging wax water.
4. A pair of side brushes 15 and 15 and a top brush 16 are provided as a car wash processing device. Side brush 15 ・
15 is swingably supported by swinging arms 17 and 17 similarly to the front and side brushes 5.5, and a top brush 16
Like the top brush 10, is supported by swing arms 18 so as to be able to move up and down.

The drying unit d is provided with a car wash processing device such as a blower 19 and a blower nozzle 20, 21 and 21. The blower nozzle 20 is supported so as to be able to move up and down via a link arm 22, and moves up and down from a lower operation position to an upper retreat position. Each of the units a to d includes the liquid material discharge nozzle 3
・ Electromagnetic valves for opening and closing the pipelines of 4, 12, 13, and 14; motors for driving the brushes and blowers; air cylinders for operating the swing arm or link arm to move the brushes and blower nozzles to the retracted position; Various controlled devices such as an actuating device are provided, and relay boards 23a to 23d for performing an energizing operation to these controlled devices are provided.

25 is a central control unit, 26a to 26d are unit control units provided in each unit, and 27 is an operation panel connected to the central control unit 25. 28 is a cable connecting these control units.
It functions as a system bus for transmitting various data and control signals. Therefore, each unit control unit 26a to 26d
A control signal is transmitted and received via the central control unit 25 and the system bus 28, and based on the control signal, the relay board 23a
To 23d to control the energization of the controlled equipment in that unit.

The conveyor 2 has a drive motor 29 at the rear of the apparatus main body 1 and is controlled by a unit control section 26d of the drying unit d. Numeral 30 denotes a rotary encoder attached to the transmission of the drive motor 29, which outputs a pulse each time the conveyor 2 moves a unit distance. This pulse signal is counted by the unit controller 26d, and the pulse signal is counted by the unit controller 26d. Used for detection.

31 is an entrance detector provided at the entrance of the apparatus main body 1;
It consists of a well-known photoelectric switch, and detects entry into a device of an automobile.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an operation surface of the operation board 27,
It is composed of a display 35, a key input unit 36, and a coin / card reception unit 37. According to the guide display on the display 35, a coin or a card is inserted, a car wash fee is processed, and a key is input for a desired car wash. ing.

In the key input section 36, 36 ₁ is a car wash course designation key, 3
6 ₂ avoid input key, in 36 ₃ setting key, specify the car wash course you want in the car wash course specified key 36 _1, it is possible to start a car wash by pressing the setting key 36 _3. Here, if the vehicle to be cleaned is a vehicle having a protrusion such as a brush that requires an avoiding operation, the range in which the protrusion is to be avoided is defined by the corner X at the entrance of the apparatus main body (in this example, the entrance detector 31). if the sensing device) specified in avoiding the input key 36 ₂ as a marker,
Car wash is performed by automatically avoiding the specified part. This avoids input key 36 ₂ is composed of a "top avoiding" key and the "side avoidance" key, the top brush is "top avoidance" key
Input the avoidance of 10 ・ 16 and the blower nozzle 20, and press the “Side avoidance” key.
・ Enter 15 avoidance inputs.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the above embodiment.

Central control unit 25, a transmission control section 25 ₁ for transmitting control between the unit control section 26a to 26d, made from the operation panel controller 25 ₂ which performs display to accept and display 35 of input in the operation board 27 Then, a keyed car wash course and avoidance input and an entrance detection signal from the entrance detector 31 are transmitted to the system bus 28.

One of the unit control units 26a to 26d is a transmission control unit 26 ₁ connected to the central control unit 25 via the system bus 28.
If, which is from the operation control unit 26 ₂ for outputting a control signal to the relay board 23 a to 23 d. Unit control unit 26d
Upon receiving the entrance detection signal from the central control unit 25, the pulse signal from the rotary encoder 30 is counted to detect the moving distance of the automobile from the start of washing,
It is sent to the system bus 28.

In addition, in each of the unit control units 26a to 26d, when the car wash course input from the central control unit 25 is transmitted, the relay board 23 follows a sequence corresponding to the car wash course.
Output control signals to a to 23d. The sequence performed here is executed based on the moving distance data transmitted from the drying unit d. Further, when the avoidance input is transmitted from the central control unit 25, the moving distance data immediately after the reception is stored as avoidance position data, and based on the stored position data, the avoidance target car wash processing device included in the unit is stored. To work around.

The data transmission performed via the system bus 28 is performed by a polling method, and the central control unit 25 transmits a normal polling sequence to transmit the unit control unit 26a
26d is transmitted, and if there is transmission data from the central control unit 25, a selecting sequence is transmitted to transmit the data.

4 to 8 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the above embodiment.
Here, the operations of the first and second washing units when washing a taxi are illustrated.

After receiving the input of the car wash course on the operation panel 27,
When the entrance detector 31 detects entry of a car, the first washing unit a starts car washing (see FIG. 4).

Upon entering the vehicle, the operator performs an avoidance input on a part (a taxi indicator light T in this example) to be avoided. That is, before the object to be avoided (the taxi indicator light T) approaches the mark X at the entrance of the apparatus main body, the avoidance input key is pressed.
36 ₂ Press ( "top avoiding" key) (see FIG. 5), further the avoidance object is manipulated to push again around the input key 36 ₂ past the mark X (see Figure 6).

When there is this avoidance input, each of the unit controllers 26a to 26d reads the moving distance data at the time of the input and stores it as the avoidance position data. Thereafter, the moving distance data transmitted from the drying unit d is the top in the first when it reaches the value obtained by adding a predetermined value C ₁ which is programmed to position data L ₁ of a point in time of the input, car wash apparatus (figures to avoid brush 10) in its retracted position (see FIG. 7), also moving distance data, the predetermined value C ₂ which is programmed next position data L ₂ at the time for which the input has reached a value obtained by adding At this time, the avoided car wash processing device is returned to its operating position (see FIG. 8).

The predetermined values C ₁ and C ₂ are described based on the distance from the mark X to the operation position of the car wash processing device to be subjected to the avoiding operation. start the avoidance operation in front, is set to return from slightly delayed avoidance state, therefore, are C ₁ ≦ C ₂ the relationship.

This embodiment is configured as described above. When the entrance detector 31 detects the entrance of the vehicle, the pulse signal from the rotary encoder 30 is counted from this point to monitor the traveling distance of the vehicle, and the avoidance input key 36 ₂ When there is an avoidance input based on the mark X at the entrance of the apparatus main body, the avoidance position is detected based on the moving distance of the vehicle at the time of the input, and the car wash is performed by automatically avoiding only this avoidance position. .

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various embodiments can be considered without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, in the present example, a control unit is provided for each unit, and the units are separately controlled. However, the controlled devices of each unit may be connected to one control unit to perform unitary control. Further, in this example, the moving distance of the automobile is detected using a rotary encoder. However, the moving distance can be detected by other means such as timer counting. Furthermore, in this example, the position of the vehicle is detected only by the moving distance after entering the apparatus main body. However, each unit is provided with an entrance detector, and based on the detection operation, the vehicle is detected for each unit. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which finer control such as detection of a position can be performed.

Further, the mark used as a reference for the avoidance input does not need to be particularly provided for the avoidance input, and may be any mark as long as it is near the entrance of the device and can specify the positional relationship between the car and the device body.

[Effect of the Invention] The present invention is configured as described above. If the avoidance target is specified and input by the input means when passing through the mark of the main body entrance at the time of entry of the car, the position of the avoidance target can be changed. It is possible to automatically avoid the car wash processing device, and it is not necessary for the operator to look into the inside of the device main body and perform the avoidance operation during the car wash, and it is not necessary for the operator to follow along during the car wash. In particular, the avoidance input can be completed at the entrance of the device main body, making it easier and more reliable for even the unfamiliar operator to input the designation easily compared to the case of directly avoiding the car wash processing device inside the device as conventionally known. This makes it ideal for conveyor-type car washing equipment with a long depth. In addition, the avoidance operation is performed based on the designated input avoidance position and the return position, and the car wash processing device returns to the normal operation position when the avoidance target passes and continues the car wash processing, so that the car wash with little unwashed is performed. Is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. 4 to 8 are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the embodiment. 1 is a car washing device main body, 2 is a conveyor, 25 is a central control means,
26a~26d the unit control means, the system bus 28, 31 admission detectors, 36 ₂ around the input key, a is a first cleaning unit, b is the second cleaning unit, c is wax unit, d the drying The unit, X, is a landmark.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A car washing apparatus of a type including a machine main body in which a car washing processing device such as a cleaning brush and a blower nozzle is arranged, and a conveyor, wherein the car is automatically washed as the car is moved by the conveyor. Detecting means for detecting a vehicle, moving distance detecting means for detecting a moving distance of an automobile after detecting the entrance by the entrance detecting means, and an object such as a protrusion to avoid car washing processing (hereinafter referred to as an avoiding object). When the object is mounted on a vehicle, the position at which the car wash processing device is to be retracted from the vehicle body (hereinafter, referred to as an evacuation position) and a position at which the device is returned from the retracted state to a normal operating position (hereinafter, referred to as a return position). And an input means that allows the user to designate a position of the vehicle, and when the body portion of the vehicle passing therethrough corresponds to the evacuation position or the return position, the designation input is performed by the input means. The car wash processing for the avoidance target is performed based on the mark set at the entrance of the apparatus main body, the distance from the position of the mark to the car wash processing apparatus, and the moving distance of the car at the time when the input is made by the input means. Avoidance position detection means for detecting an actual evacuation position and a return position of the device; and the car wash processing device based on a movement distance of the vehicle given by the movement distance detection means and a withdrawal position and a return position given by the avoidance position detection means. And means for controlling the vehicle to perform the avoidance operation.