JP2884873B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car washer having a top nozzle installed at a gas station, for example, for drying the upper surface of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as this kind of car washer, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-20098. That is, an upper surface blowing nozzle (top nozzle) that opens inward is pivotally supported on the upper surface of the portal-type traveling frame of the car washer via a swingable parallel link mechanism. The parallel link mechanism is controlled to rotate up and down around a pivot point by extending and retracting an ascending and descending cylinder based on the distance to the upper surface of the vehicle body detected by the reflection type ultrasonic detecting device. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface blowing nozzle 60 (top nozzle) moves up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body 61 as the car wash machine body 59 travels, and dries the upper surface of the vehicle body 61.

[0003]

However, according to the above-mentioned conventional type, as shown in FIG. 10, the timing of raising and lowering the upper air blowing nozzle 60 (top nozzle) with respect to the traveling of the car wash machine body 59 is shifted. The lower end of the blowing nozzle 60 (top nozzle) contacts the front and rear ends 63 of the vehicle body ceiling 62, and the ceiling 62 and the lower end of the top blowing nozzle 60 (top nozzle) are damaged.

[0004] Further, an upper surface blowing nozzle 60 (top nozzle)
The lower end of the side mirror 64 or the carrier 65 attached to the ceiling 62
An accident occurred in which the lower end of 65 and the top blower nozzle 60 (top nozzle) was damaged.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a car washer capable of preventing a contact breakage accident that has occurred when a timing of elevating and lowering a top nozzle is shifted. .

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a car washer having a top nozzle for drying the upper surface of a vehicle body.
Providing a connecting tool that can swing in the front-rear direction, connecting the upper part of the top nozzle to this connecting tool, providing an urging tool for urging the top nozzle in a predetermined direction, and moving the top nozzle up and down via the connecting tool A lifting drive device is provided for
To detect that the front-back swing angle exceeds the allowable angle.
Output device, and a lifting drive device based on the detection of the detection device.
And a control unit that raises the top nozzle by controlling
It is what has been .

[0007]

With the above arrangement, the vertical drive device is operated to move the top nozzle up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body while moving the car washer body in the front-rear direction. Thus, the upper surface of the vehicle body is dried by the wind blown from the top nozzle.

[0008] In the event that the timing of raising the top nozzle is shifted with respect to the running of the car washer body and the lower end of the top nozzle contacts one end of the vehicle body ceiling, the top nozzle resists the urging force of the urging tool. Then, it swings from a predetermined direction in a direction opposite to the traveling of the car wash machine body. With this, the lower end of the top nozzle escapes in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the car wash machine body in a state in which the lower end of the top nozzle is in contact with one end of the vehicle body ceiling, and immediately thereafter, the top nozzle rises. By separating from one end, damage to one end of the vehicle body ceiling and the lower end of the top nozzle can be prevented.

Similarly, when the lowering timing of the top nozzle is shifted with respect to the subsequent travel of the car wash machine body and the lower end of the top nozzle comes into contact with the other end of the vehicle body ceiling, the top nozzle is moved by the urging tool. Against the urging force, the vehicle is swung from a predetermined direction in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the car wash machine body. As a result, the lower end of the top nozzle escapes in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the car washer body with the lower end portion of the top nozzle in contact with the other end of the vehicle body ceiling portion. The other end of the vehicle body ceiling and the lower end of the top nozzle can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, even if the lower end of the top nozzle is caught by a side mirror or a carrier provided on the upper surface of the vehicle body, the lower end of the top nozzle escapes in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the car washer body as described above. Damage to the mirror, the carrier and the lower end of the top nozzle can be prevented. Further
The bottom end of the top nozzle is
When it comes into contact with a mirror or carrier,
Large force is applied, and the front and rear swing angle of the top nozzle is allowed
If the angle is exceeded, the detection
The control unit detects the position of the
To raise the top nozzle urgently. This
As the top nozzle retracts above the vehicle body,
Ibe front and rear end, side mirror or carrier
Breakage of the lower end of the top nozzle can be reliably prevented.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.
Has a gate shape when viewed from the front, and is supported by wheels 2 provided on the front, rear, left and right, and is capable of traveling back and forth on a fixed path.
The car wash body 1 is provided with a top brush, a side brush, a rocker brush, a side nozzle, a vehicle height detecting device 3 (for example, a sonic sensor), and the like. A top nozzle 5 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the top nozzle 5 has a front surface 6 and a rear surface 7 which are narrowed downward, left and right side surfaces 8 are widened outward, and a lower end has left and right sides. A long and thin ejection port 9 is formed. One end of a blower tube 10 is connected to the upper surface of the top nozzle 5 so as to communicate with the inside of the top nozzle 5, and the other end of the blower tube 10 is connected to a blower device (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a pair of left and right guide rails 13 are provided in the car wash machine main body 1 in a vertical direction, and an elevating body 14 is guided by these guide rails 13 through running rollers 15 to move up and down. It is provided freely. The two lifting members 14 are connected by a support pipe 16, and a pair of left and right support arms 18 are provided at the center of the support pipe 16 in a forward direction.

As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG.
A support pin 19 in the left-right direction is fixedly provided at the front end of the pillow, and a pillow-type unit 20 which is an example of a connecting tool that is swingable in the front-rear direction is fitted on the support pin 19. The lower part of the pillow type unit 20 is located on the upper surface 21 of the top nozzle 5.
It is connected to the upper surface 21 side of the top nozzle 5 via a base plate 22 and bolts and nuts 23 laid on the top nozzle 5. This allows the top nozzle 5 to swing back and forth about the support pin 19.

A horizontal plate is provided at the upper end of the front end of the support arm 18.
26, and a vertical plate portion 27 is connected to the rear end of the base plate 22. The horizontal plate part 26 and the vertical plate part 27
A tension coil spring 28, which is an example of an urging tool, is provided in the front-rear direction. The tension coil spring 28 urges the top nozzle 5 in a direction in which the ejection port 9 faces downward with respect to the swing of the top nozzle 5 in the front-rear direction.

The upper surface of the top nozzle 5 and the support pin
A proximity switch 29 (an example of a detection device) is provided in front of 19. The proximity switch 29 is attached to a bracket 30, and the base plate 22 and the bolts and nuts 31 are attached.
And is fixed to the upper surface 21 side of the top nozzle 5. A shield plate 32 is externally fitted to one end of the support pin 19, and the base end of the shield plate 32 is folded back into a U-shape, and a mounting bolt 34 is screwed into a nut 33 provided at the base end. By tightening together, the shielding plate 32 is pressed and fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the support pin 19. Then, the proximity switch 29
Is detected by the shielding plate 32 as the top nozzle 5 swings.
It can move close to and away from the tip of the. The proximity switch 29 is turned on when it moves away from the shielding plate 32, and outputs a signal.

On the upper surface 21 of the top nozzle 5, there is provided a cover 37 for covering the front part of the support arm 18, the support pin 19, the pillow type unit 20, the tension coil spring 28, the proximity switch 29 and the shielding plate 32. The cover 37 is detachably attached to a vertical plate 39 formed at the front end of the base plate 22 via bolts and nuts 38.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the car washer body 1 is provided with a lifting drive device 40 for raising and lowering the top nozzle 5. The lifting drive device 40 includes sprockets 41A to 41C provided at upper and lower ends of the both guide rails 13.
41D, a drive shaft 42 for connecting and linking the upper sprockets 41A and 41B, and an upper and lower sprocket 41
A, 41C and a chain 43 wound between 41B, 41D, and an electric motor 44 interlockingly connected to one upper sprocket 41A. As shown in FIG. 7, one end of the chain 43 is connected to the upper end of the elevating body 14, and the other end of the chain 43 is connected to the lower end of the elevating body 14.

A control unit 45 is provided in the car wash machine main body 1. When a signal from the proximity switch 29 is input, the control unit 45 drives the electric motor 44 to raise the top nozzle 5. Reference numeral 46 denotes a vehicle body, the upper surface of which is a bonnet part 47.
And a ceiling section 48 and a rear trunk section 49.

The operation of the above configuration will be described below.
While the car washer body 1 is running forward, the body is
Wash 46. Accordingly, the vehicle height detecting device 3 detects the vehicle height of the vehicle body 46. After the end of the washing process, the car washing machine body 1 is moved backward to start the drying process.

That is, the control unit 45 controls the drive of the electric motor 44 based on the vehicle height detected in the washing process while the car wash machine body 1 is traveling backward 51. This allows
The sprockets 41A to 41D rotate and the chain 43 rotates,
The elevating body 14 is guided by the guide rail 13 to move up and down, and at the same time, the top nozzle 5 moves up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body 46. That is, as shown in FIG.
After descending from the uppermost standby position (a) to the bonnet portion 47 and blowing air from the spout 9 to the upper surface of the bonnet portion 47 for drying, the ascending to the ceiling portion 48 and blowing air to the upper surface of the ceiling portion 48 for drying. Then, it descends to the rear trunk portion 49 and blows air on the upper surface of the rear trunk portion 49 to dry. After the upper surface of the vehicle body 46 has been dried in this way, the top nozzle 5 rises and waits again at the standby position (a), ending the drying process.

As shown in FIG. 9, the rising timing of the top nozzle 5 is shifted with respect to the backward traveling 51 of the car washer body 1, so that the lower end of the top nozzle 5 is positioned at the front end 48a of the ceiling 48.
The top nozzle 5 swings around the support pin 19 in the direction 52 (forward) opposite to the direction in which the car washer machine 1 runs, against the urging force of the extension coil spring 28.

As a result, the lower end of the top nozzle 5 escapes in the direction 52 (forward) opposite to the direction in which the car washer body 1 travels while being in contact with the front end 48a of the ceiling 48.
As shown by the phantom line in FIG. 9, the lower end of the top nozzle 5 is separated from the front end 48 a of the ceiling 48, and the top nozzle 5 is moved by the urging force of the extension coil spring 28.
Rocks until returns. Therefore, breakage of the front end 48a of the ceiling 48 and the lower end of the top nozzle 5 can be prevented.

Similarly, when the lowering timing of the top nozzle 5 is shifted with respect to the backward travel 51 of the car wash machine body 1 and the lower end of the top nozzle 5 contacts the rear end 48b of the ceiling 48, the top nozzle 5 , Against the urging force of the tension coil spring 28,
52 around the support pin 19 in the direction opposite to the direction in which the car washer body 1 runs.
Swing (forward).

As a result, the lower end of the top nozzle 5 escapes in the direction 52 (forward) opposite to the direction in which the car washer body 1 travels while contacting the rear end 48b of the ceiling 48, and immediately thereafter, the car wash machine body 1 moves backward. By traveling 51, the lower end of the top nozzle 5 becomes the ceiling 48
From the rear end 48b, the top nozzle 5 swings by the urging force of the extension coil spring 28 until the ejection port 9 returns downward. Therefore, breakage of the rear end 48b of the ceiling 48 and the lower end of the top nozzle 5 can be prevented.

As described above, even if the lower end of the top nozzle 5 is caught by the side mirror 50 provided on the bonnet 47 or the carrier 53 provided on the ceiling 48, as described above.
Since the lower end of the top nozzle 5 escapes in the direction 52 (forward) opposite to the direction in which the car washer body 1 travels, the side mirror 50 and the carrier
Damage to the lower end of the top nozzle 5 and 53 can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the lower end of the top nozzle 5 comes into contact with the front and rear ends 48a, 48b of the ceiling 48, the side mirror 50, the carrier 53 and the like, an unexpectedly large force is applied. When the swing angle of the proximity switch exceeds the allowable angle, the detection unit of the proximity switch 29 moves away from the shielding plate 32, and the proximity switch 29 is turned on to output a signal to the control unit 45. Then, the control unit 45 that has received this signal drives the electric motor 44 to raise the top nozzle 5 urgently. Thus, the front and rear ends 48a and 48b of the ceiling 48, the side mirror 50, the carrier 53, and the lower end of the top nozzle 5 can be prevented from being damaged.

In the above embodiment, the mounting bolt 34 shown in FIG.
And the position of the shield plate 32 is changed around the support pin 19, whereby the swing angle of the top nozzle 5 when the proximity switch 29 is turned on can be easily changed.

In the above embodiment, in the drying process, the car wash machine body 1 is moved backward 51 and the top nozzle 5
The lower end portion of the car washer is swung forward, but this may be a car washer in which the car washer body 1 is moved forward and the lower end of the top nozzle 5 is swung back.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, the upper part of the top nozzle is connected to the car wash machine main body that can travel in the front-rear direction via a connecting tool that is swingable in the front-rear direction. Even if the timing of raising and lowering the top nozzle is shifted with respect to the traveling of the car washer body, even if the lower end of the top nozzle contacts the front and rear ends of the vehicle body ceiling, the top nozzle is in the opposite direction to the traveling of the car washing machine body Rocks. This allows the lower end of the top nozzle to escape in a direction opposite to the traveling direction of the car wash machine body in a state in which the lower end of the top nozzle is in contact with the front and rear ends of the vehicle body ceiling.

Even if the lower end of the top nozzle is caught by a side mirror or a carrier mounted on the ceiling of the vehicle body, the lower end of the top nozzle escapes in the direction opposite to the direction in which the car washer is running. Accidental damage to the lower end of the top nozzle can be prevented. In addition, top
The lower end of the nozzle is the front and rear end of the vehicle body ceiling and the side mirror
Or when it comes into contact with a carrier, etc.
In addition, the front and rear swing angle of the top nozzle exceeds the allowable angle
Detection device detects that the allowable angle has been exceeded.
The control unit controls the lifting drive based on this detection.
Raise the top nozzle urgently. This allows the top
In front of the car body ceiling because the nozzle is retracted above the car body.
Rear edge, side mirror or carrier and top
Breakage of the lower end of the chil can be reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a connector for connecting a car wash machine main body and a top nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connector.

FIG. 3 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of the car wash machine main body.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway front view of the car wash machine main body.

6 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows CC in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the movement of a top nozzle in a drying process.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the escape swing of the top nozzle when the top nozzle comes into contact with the vehicle body.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing movement of a top nozzle in a drying process in a conventional car washer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 5 Top nozzle 20 Pillow type unit (connecting tool) 28 Tension coil spring (biasing tool) 40 Elevating drive

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A car washing machine having a top nozzle for drying the upper surface of a vehicle body, wherein a connecting member swingable in a front-rear direction is provided on a side of the car washing machine main body which can run in a front-rear direction, and the connecting member has an upper portion of the top nozzle. And an urging device for urging the top nozzle in a predetermined direction is provided, and an elevating drive device for elevating and lowering the top nozzle via the connecting device is provided .
Detects that the nozzle swing angle exceeds the allowable angle.
Detection device, and a lifting drive based on the detection of the detection device.
A control unit that controls the device and raises the top nozzle
A car wash characterized by being obtained.