JP2967287B2 - Gas station - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a service station (S / S) for supplying fuel such as gasoline to a vehicle.

[Prior Art] At a gasoline filling station, in addition to providing refueling, a service man (operator) opens the hood of the customer's car and performs a simple inspection of the engine, and looks at the condition of the tire from the outside. In many cases, a service for determining whether or not safe driving is possible is provided.

In addition, many services such as simple cleaning such as wiping a window glass of an automobile and cleaning an ashtray so as to enable comfortable driving are also performed.

The service provided by these servicemen, which is called an attendant service, is performed in a short period of time including a period of about two to three minutes or a time before and after the refueling of the car is performed. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In recent years, it is difficult to secure human resources, and implementation of self-refueling or automatic refueling by a refueling robot that does not require a service person at a gas station has been studied.

As a result, there is a possibility that the service by the service person as described above cannot be sufficiently performed due to the automation of the gas station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a service station that can fully cope with customer needs without requiring a service person to work by automating services other than refueling in consideration of such circumstances.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, in a gas station equipped with a self-service or robot-type fueling device, tires and lamps of the vehicle between the islands provided on both sides of a running line during or before and after refueling of the vehicle. An inspection robot that performs a check is provided, and a cleaning service robot that wipes a window of a car, and cleans a tire and a locker unit is provided on the island so as to be movable in a three-dimensional direction. The gist of the present invention is that a display device for displaying the inspection result and other information from the user is installed.

[Action]

According to the present invention, an automobile before and after refueling or during refueling is automatically provided with a cleaning service such as wiping a window of an automobile, cleaning a tire, and a locker portion without human intervention by a cleaning service robot in the traveling line. Can receive. Further, in addition to the cleaning service, an inspection robot for inspecting tires and lamps can be received by an inspection robot for safe driving of the automobile without human intervention. In this case, since the cleaning service robot is movable in a three-dimensional direction, it is possible to cope with different types of automobiles depending on the types of vehicles.

In addition, before or during receiving such a service, a display device installed in front of the car, for example, indicates a stop point where the service should be received, an inspection result from an inspection robot, traffic information, and other information. Information is displayed.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a gas station of the present invention.
In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a running line of a vehicle during or before and after refueling.

This running line 1 is clearly defined by providing islands 2 on both sides so that the automobile 3 does not deviate on a side road.

Although not shown, an oil supply device is provided on the island 2.

The refueling device may be a self-self-operation type in which a driver operates the nozzle by himself or herself, or disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 59-74099.
As shown in the official gazette, the refueling port of an automobile is automatically detected, the arm of the refueling device having the refueling nozzle moves to open and close the refueling port lid, and refueling is performed by inserting the refueling nozzle into the refueling port. Robot-type refueling device.

In the present invention, such a traveling line 1 is provided with an inspection robot for safe traveling of the automobile 3 and a cleaning service robot for comfortable traveling, or only one of them.

First, an inspection robot for safe driving of a car will be described.

The inspection robot comprises a non-touch engine analyzer 4 for performing a simple diagnosis of the engine, a tire check sensor 5, and an inspection device for lamps.

The non-touch engine analyzer 4 embeds an antenna line for receiving an electromagnetic wave generated from an automobile engine in the running line 1 and embeds a high-frequency amplifier in the antenna line as a device that can easily diagnose the presence or absence of an automobile engine trouble. , A waveform shaper, an engine spark detection circuit including a level amplifier, a pulse measurement circuit, and an arithmetic circuit.

Then, an electromagnetic wave generated from the spark plug is received by the antenna line when the vehicle engine is driven, and the pulse is measured by high frequency amplification, waveform shaping, and level amplification, and the number of plug ignitions per second is detected. From this, the maximum, minimum and average speed of the engine is determined.

By comparing this numerical value with a set value in a normal case, the condition of the engine is diagnosed based on the strength of the rotation unevenness of the engine.

The tire check sensor 5 has a width enough for the tire 6 of the automobile 3 to rotate and contact therewith for at least one rotation, and includes a pressure gauge, a metal detector, a friction meter, and the like. The air pressure check, the foreign matter entrapment check, the residual groove check, the uneven wear check, and the like are performed.

The diagnosis results of the non-touch engine analyzer 4 and the tire check sensor 5 are displayed on a display device 32 described later.

In addition, the inspection device for the lamps includes a photometer 7 incorporated beside the display device 32 and an island 2 beside the traveling line 1.
When the photometer 7 and the electronic camera 8 receive the light of the light of the automobile 3, the operation state of the light and the battery state are determined based on the presence or absence of the luminous intensity and the change rate. to decide.

The photometer 7 is used to check the direction of the headlights of the automobile and the front lights, and the electronic camera 8 is used to check the rear lights.

In the battery check, the degree of the voltage drop at the time of lighting the lamps is known from the change in the illuminance of the lamp, and the deterioration of the battery is determined.

It should be noted that the judgment result of the lamps by the inspection device is also shown on the display device 32.

Next, a cleaning service robot for comfortable running will be described. This robot is a combination of a vehicle window cleaning robot 9, a tire, a rocker cleaning robot 10, a lower cleaning device 11, a service box 12, and the like.

The window wiping robot 8 is provided with a robot arm 9a capable of traveling over a certain range along the traveling line 1 on the island 2 or the like, and a cleaning brush 13 and a wiping brush 14 are provided at the tip of the robot arm 9a.

In the drawing, reference numeral 15 denotes a traveling base serving as a support portion of the robot arm 9a. A vertical expansion / contraction portion of the robot arm 9a rises from the traveling base 15, and a first horizontal rotating portion is further connected to an upper end thereof. By connecting the second horizontal rotating unit to the horizontal rotating unit, the robot arm 9a has three ends X, Y and Z at its tip.
Can move freely in the dimension direction.

A reversing shaft is attached to the end of the robot arm 9a, and the cleaning brush 13 and the wiping brush 14 are attached to the tip of the reversing shaft 16.
In a different direction and rotate.

Further, cleaning water and air are sent to the cleaning brush 13 and the wiping brush 14 through the inside of the robot arm 9a.

Note that the robot arm 9a may be a single articulated robot arm and may have a shape completely different from that shown in the figure.

The cleaning robot 10 for a tire and a rocker unit has a traveling base 17 similar to the window cleaning robot 9, and projects a rotary drive shaft 19 provided with a rotating brush 18 at the tip from the traveling base 17 so as to extend horizontally and extendably. It was established. In that case, the height position of the rotary drive shaft 19 on the traveling base 17 can be made variable.

The cleaning robot 10 for the tire and the rocker also sends cleaning water and air to the rotating brush 18 through the rotation drive shaft 19.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower washing device 11 is provided with a footing member 20 in the shape of a cave on the ground surface in the traveling line 1 and a space 22 is formed below the footing member 20 so that the high-pressure water spray device 12 can be moved here. It is provided.

The water spraying device 21 performs injection of washing water and a rust preventive liquid on the lower surface of the automobile 3 through the footing member 20,
In addition to the liquid, air may be ejected.

 In the figure, reference numeral 23 denotes a drain groove formed on the side of the bottom of the cavity 22.

The service box 12 is erected on the island 2 on the side of the running line 1 and has a water heater / heater 24, a facsimile 25, a telephone 26,
Paper towel feeder 27, trash can 28, ashtray cleaner
29 etc. are provided here.

The window cleaning robot 9 and the cleaning robot 10 for the tire and the locker are computer-controlled by a control device (not shown). In this case, the electronic camera 8 is used as a sensor and the electronic camera 8 is used to control the vehicle 3. The operation of the vehicle is determined by recognizing the vehicle and grasping the positions of windows and tires in the image processing.

On the side of the exit of the traveling line 1 where the robots and various devices are provided, a telescopic moving arm 30 that stands in front of the automobile 3 with respect to the traveling line 1 is rotatably provided on a telescopic column 37. The arm 30 was provided with display devices 31 and 32 as an information robot.

In the illustrated example, the moving arm 30 rotates horizontally and expands and contracts.However, the moving arm 30 is not limited to this, and can be rotated in a vertical direction like a level crossing barrier, or can be opened like a gate. May be.

The display device 31 is a dot-type display device capable of displaying characters and graphics, and thereby displays road information and other information in detail.

Further, the display device 32 displays the inspection result of the inspection robot for the safe traveling by lighting a lamp or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a remote controller 33 as a device. The remote controller 33 is fitted as a receiving unit for a starting device 34 provided in, for example, the service box 12, and the customer activates the remote controller 33. Upon removal from the device 34, the device is activated.

By the way, in order to pay the refueling fee and the various service fees, the service box 12 or the like may be provided with a money settlement device 35 or a card reader / writer 36.

 Next, usage and operation will be described.

At the gas station, the car 3 is advanced along the traveling line 1, and when the car 3 first passes over the non-touch engine alanizer 4 during or before and after refueling, electromagnetic waves generated from the ignition plug are received by the antenna line, The condition of the engine is diagnosed by the strength of the uneven rotation.

Next, when the tire passes through the tire check sensor 5, diagnosis such as air pressure check of the tire 6, foreign matter entrapment check, remaining groove check, uneven wear check and the like are performed.

When the driver stops the automobile 3 at the service box 12 and removes and holds the remote controller 33 from the activation device 34, the activation device 34 operates and the moving arm 30 operates based on the vehicle type captured by the electronic camera 8. It automatically moves to an easy-to-see position, stands in front of the car 3, and displays the display devices 31 and 3
2 is located in front of the windshield of the car 3.

Then, the oscillation of the car 3 is regulated by the arm 30,
Inevitably, the car 3 will be stopped on the footing member 20.

 The robotic refueling device starts refueling.

Then, first, what kind of service can be received on the display device 31 will be described.

The diagnosis result of the non-touch engine analyzer 4 or the tire check sensor 5 is displayed on the display device 32 as to whether or not it is good.

The direction of the headlights of the automobile 3 is checked by the photometer 7 which is seen beside the display device 32, the front lights are checked, the rear lights are checked by the electronic camera 8, and the lamp is further turned on. A battery check is also performed based on the voltage drop at the time of the analog light. The result of the judgment by the inspection device for such lamps is also shown on the display device 32.

The image of the car 3 captured by the electronic camera 8 is processed by the control device, and the type of the vehicle is recognized.

The window wiping robot 9 is driven based on this recognition, and moves the robot arm 9a to bring the cleaning brush 13 into contact with the window glass for cleaning. Next, the reversing shaft 16 rotates, and the cleaning brush 13 is replaced with the wiping brush 14 to perform wiping.

Simultaneously with this, the cleaning robot 10 for the tires and the rocker unit is operated, the rockers for the tires and the surrounding body are washed by the rotating brush 18, and the lower cleaning device 11 is further operated to release the water from the water spray device 21. The lower surface of the automobile 3 is washed and rust-proofed with high-pressure water.

Control operations of the cleaning robot 10 and the lower cleaning device 11 for the tire and the rocker unit are also based on the recognition of the vehicle type by the electronic camera 8.

Note that the driver of the window-wiping robot 9 and the like can be controlled by the driver himself using the remote controller 33.

The driver or the like is in the automobile 3 and receives these washing services. Meanwhile, the driver operates the remote controller 33 to display traffic information such as road congestion information, weather information, or other information on the display device 31. You can see.

Further, on the gas station side, the display device 31 may display information necessary at the time of refueling, such as price, oil type, amount, and amount of money.

In the service box 12, you can receive hot and cold water service with the water heater 24, you can use the facsimile 25, telephone 26,
The towel is taken out from the paper towel supply device 27, and the ashtray can be cleaned by the ashtray cleaner 29.

The various services described above are performed within about 10 minutes, and after completion, the remote controller 33 is returned to the activation device 34, and the refueling fee is input to the cash adjuster 35 for cash settlement, or for customers.
IC card or magnetic card into card reader / writer 36
, The moving arm 30 moves to get off the traveling line 1 and the car 3 can start.

Note that all of the above services are often free, but they can also be paid.

In this case, the fee is displayed on the display device 31, and the displayed value is fed to the cash accountant 35 for cash settlement, as in the case of the refueling fee settlement, and the customer's IC card or magnetic card is read. If the card is inserted into the card reader writer 36 and the credit is settled, the moving arm 30 is automatically moved to open the traveling line 1.

It is also conceivable to insert an IC card into the card reader / writer 36, load information specific to a gas station including the inspection result of the inspection robot for safe driving into the IC card, and display the information on a device on the vehicle side. Can be

Although not shown, a printer may be provided to print out each information and hand it over to the customer, or this information may be filed as customer information at the gas station.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the refueling station of the present invention can fully cope with customer needs even if the refueling station becomes more unmanned by enabling automation of car cleaning services and inspection services other than refueling conventionally performed by service personnel. You can do it.

Robots that provide such services are installed on the running line for refueling cars and on the islands on both sides of the running lines, so there is no need to move the car separately to receive the service, and the service becomes effective. Can be something.

Furthermore, since the cleaning robot is movable in the three-dimensional direction on the island, the cleaning robot can flexibly cope with automobiles of different types of vehicles, and can prevent the window glass from being left behind.

In addition, since the display device is installed in front of the vehicle on the traveling line, the inspection result can be known from inside the vehicle.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a gas station, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a view seen from the driver's seat side. 1 ... running line, 2 ... island 3 ... car, 4 ... non-touch engine analyzer 5 ... tire check sensor, 6 ... tire 7 ... photometer, 8 ... electronic camera 9 ... window cleaning robot, 9a Robot arm 10 Cleaning robot for tires and lockers 11 Lower cleaning device 12, Service box 13 Cleaning brush 14, Wiping brush 15, 17 Running base 16, 16 Reversing shaft 18 Rotating brush 19 Rotating drive shaft 20 Footing member 21 Sprinkler 22 Void 23 Drainage 24 Water cooler 25 Facsimile 26 Telephone, 27… Paper towel dispenser 28… Recycle bin, 29… Ashtray cleaner 30… Moving arm, 31, 32… Display device 33… Remote control device, 34… Activation device 35… Cashier , 36 …… Card reader / writer 37 …… Prop

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60S 3/00-13/02

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An inspection for checking vehicle tires and lamps at a gas station equipped with a self-service or robot-type refueling device during refueling of a vehicle or between islands provided on both sides of a traveling line before and after refueling. A robot is provided, and a cleaning service robot for wiping a window, a tire, and a locker of an automobile on an island is provided so as to be movable in a three-dimensional direction, and an inspection result from the inspection robot is provided at a position in front of the automobile on a traveling line. A gas station characterized by having a display device for displaying other information.