JP3152805B2 - Car wash equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gate-type car washing apparatus for automatically washing a car body by reciprocating across a car, and more particularly to a self-operating type apparatus operated by a car driver. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a conventional car washing apparatus of this type. 1 is a known portal type car wash device,
It is laid out in a drive-through system in which vehicles that enter from the front pass through and then exits after cleaning, reciprocates on the rails 2.2 laid in the passing space, and brush-cleans vehicles stopped between the rails 2.2. And work to dry. The car washing apparatus 1 is normally located at the rear end of the rails 2 as shown in the figure, starts car washing from this position, reciprocates a predetermined number of times, returns to the same position, and ends the car washing. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation box installed before the laying portion of the rails 2 and 2, and accepts operations such as input of a fee and selection input of car washing contents.

[0003] First, a car wash user puts the automobile A sideways on the operation box 9 and performs operations such as charging a fee. Car wash starts after a predetermined delay time after this car wash reception,
In the meantime, the vehicle enters a predetermined position between the rails 2 and 2 as shown in the drawing, stops the vehicle, and receives a car wash. When the car washing is completed, the car may be passed through the car washing apparatus 1 and exited.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional apparatus, the vehicle must be stopped at two positions, that is, a position where the car is washed and a position where the car is received, and there is an inconvenience that it takes time to wash the car. In addition, there is a possibility that an unfamiliar driver may perform a car wash operation in the operation box 9 before the preceding vehicle leaves, and may cause troubles such as disturbing the previous driver and being unable to receive the car wash. Further, since the operation box 9 obstructs the traveling of the car washing apparatus main body 1, the operation box 9 must be installed in front of the traveling range of the apparatus main body 1 provided by the rails 2.2. There was an inconvenience that required.

[0005] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a car washing apparatus which can perform a self-operation at a position for receiving a car wash, eliminates the conventional labor and troubles, and does not require an extra site. It is in the point.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a car washing apparatus of the type in which a gate-shaped apparatus main body is reciprocated so as to straddle an automobile and the body of the automobile is automatically washed. A car wash reception position operable from the driver's seat of a stopped car, and an evacuation position that does not interfere with the car wash operation away from the car, an operation box for car wash reception, and the operation box for the car wash reception position. A driving unit for displacing between the evacuation position, a unit for detecting that the operation box is at the evacuation position, a reception of a car wash by placing the operation box at a car wash reception position, and activation of the drive unit when the car wash is received Means for retracting the operation box to the evacuation position and confirming that the operation box is at the evacuation position by the detection means, and then controlling to start car washing. Te, in which attempted to solve the above problems.

[0007]

As a result, the operation box is normally located at the car wash reception position, and the car can be washed from the vehicle stopped at the predetermined car wash position, so that the driver can directly enter the car wash position and perform the car wash operation. In addition, since the operation box is retracted to the evacuation position at the time of car washing, it does not hinder the car washing operation of the car washing device and does not contact surrounding buildings or the like.

[0008]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory front view of the embodiment. Reference numeral 1 denotes a car washing apparatus main body, which is formed in a gate shape and reciprocates on the rails 2.2 so as to straddle the automobile A. Various brushes 3 and 4 are provided in the apparatus body 1.
4, a spraying nozzle, a liquid agent tank, etc., including a blower nozzle 5, 6.6, and 6 are provided, and a washing operation of spraying water, a detergent, a wax and the like as the vehicle travels, and a drying operation of blowing air from the blower nozzle.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an approach guide light provided on the front of the main body 1, and reference numeral 8 denotes an exit guide light provided at a position behind the main body 1 and visible from a driver's seat of a car at a car washing position. 11
Is a detection switch for detecting a car wash start position of the main body 1, which detects a convex piece 10 provided at a predetermined position on a car wash apparatus installation surface.
2 is set at the rear end of the travel range given. 12a
B and 13a and 13b are body detectors provided before and after the main body 1, each of which is constituted by a transmission type photoelectric switch. The light emitters 12a and 13a and the light receivers 12b and 13b are opposed to each other so as to sandwich a car wash space. Then, the vehicle signal is detected by detecting that the beam signal transmitted and received between them is cut off by the vehicle.

[0010] The rails 2 are mounted in grooves C in which the car washing device installation surface is depressed, and are provided so that the vehicle can pass freely on the rails so as not to protrude from the installation surface. The groove C communicates with a drainage pit P disposed in the center between the rails 2 and 2, and collects washing water mainly scattered outside the rails 2 and 2, as can be seen from the inclination of the ground in FIG. It is formed so as to guide water to the drain port D, and also functions as a drain ditch. Reference numeral 15 denotes an approach guide for guiding the entry of a car.

Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation box, which is provided at a position corresponding to a predetermined car wash position in the main body 1, and accepts operations such as input of a fee and selection input of car wash contents. Operation box 9
Is supported via an arm 17 on a base 16 installed on the side of the car wash space which does not obstruct the running of the apparatus body 1. The arm 17 is rotatably supported with respect to the base 16, rotates about 90 ° as seen in FIG. 2, and as shown by a solid line in FIG. As shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, a retreat position Y where the device main body 1 and the operation box 9 do not come into contact with each other when the vehicle travels away from the vehicle A can be taken.
Since the operation box 9 is normally placed at the car wash reception position X, the car wash operation for the box 9 can be performed from the inside of the vehicle by opening the window of the driver's seat with the automobile A sideways. Here, the position where the car is placed sideways on the operation box 9 is the car wash position of the car.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an essential part for explaining a configuration for displacing the operation box 9. Arm 17 is base 1
6 is rotatably supported by a bearing portion 18 of the arm 1.
The protruding piece 19 provided integrally with the base 7 is connected to the air cylinder 20 in the base 16 and is driven to rotate. That is, when the air cylinder 20 is extended, the operation box 9 is extended.
Is placed at the car wash reception position X, and when retracted, is placed at the evacuation position Y. Reference numerals 21 and 21 'denote proximity switches attached to the air cylinder 20, which are reed switches responsive to a magnet built in the piston of the cylinder 20, and in which the operation box 9 of the switch 21 is a car wash reception position X.
, And the switch 21 'detects that it is at the retracted position Y.

The structure for displacing the operation box 9 between the car wash receiving position X and the retreat position Y is not limited to the above, and various structures can be considered. For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, an arm 17 for supporting the operation box 9 is provided as a link as shown in the drawing, and the air cylinder 20 is operated so as to linearly move toward and away from the automobile A. be able to. Further, as shown in a plan view of a main part in FIG. 6, the arm 17 may be rotatably supported by the apparatus main body 1, and the operation box 9 may be supported by the apparatus main body 1 side. In each of the embodiments described above, the operation box 9 is displaced by using the air cylinder as a driving means. However, if the rotating structure is as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. Can be made.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control system according to the embodiment. Reference numeral 22 denotes a control unit having a microcomputer;
Is a drive circuit of each unit. The control unit 22 receives a car wash in the operation box 9 and, based on signals from the detection switch 11, the vehicle body detectors 12 and 13, and the like, follows the sequence of the car wash device body 1, the brushes 3, 4, 4 and 4 according to a sequence programmed in advance. The operation of the blower nozzles 5, 6, 6, the discharge of water from the watering nozzle, the operation of the air cylinder 20, and the like are controlled via the drive circuit 23.

The operation panel 24 of the operation box 9 has a card slot 25 for accepting a car washing fee by a card, a course selection key 26 for selecting and inputting a desired car washing course (a) to (d), and a car washing of the selected content. Start key 27 to start
Is provided. Therefore, the car wash can be started by pressing the start key after inserting the card and selecting the car wash course. Reference numeral 28 denotes an object detection sensor provided on the front surface of the operation box 9 and includes a well-known infrared switch. When the vehicle enters and approaches a predetermined range, the reflected light of the emitted infrared light is caught and a detection signal is output.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for explaining the car washing operation of the embodiment. Here, the car washing operation including waxing is illustrated. The car wash operation that can be performed by the method and the apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to this example, and various operations can be performed according to a known car wash apparatus. Hereinafter, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

(1) The car wash apparatus main body 1 is normally stopped at a car wash start position given by the detection switch 11, and the operation box 9 is placed at the car wash reception position. When the car wash user confirms that the entry guide light 7 is illuminated and the entry is possible, the car wash is entered along the entry guide 15 and stopped at a position where the operation of the operation box 9 can be performed from the inside of the car. Accordingly, when the vehicle body is detected by the object detection sensor 28, the approach guide light 7 is turned off and thereafter kept off until the end of car washing.

(2) Here, the driver opens the window of the driver's seat and performs the necessary operations such as charging a fee on the operation panel 24. When the start key 27 is pressed on the operation panel 24, the air cylinder 20 is actuated and the operation box 9 is retracted to the retracted position. When this is confirmed by the proximity switch 21 ', car washing is started thereafter. The driver only needs to close the window after the operation and wait in the vehicle as it is. If the proximity switch 21 'does not enter the detection state after a certain period of time has elapsed since the operation of the air cylinder 20, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred and the accepted car wash is canceled.

(3) Step A: With the start of car washing, the car washing apparatus main body 1 first moves forward from the rear end position of the rails 2.2,
A first cleaning step of operating the brushes 3, 4, 4 while spraying water and detergent is performed. When the brushes 3, 4, 4 reach the rear end of the vehicle and come into contact with the vehicle body, the operation is temporarily stopped by detecting this by a sensor (not shown).

(4) Step B: Subsequently, the car washing apparatus main body 1 moves backward, and while brushing water and detergent, brushes 3, 4, 4
Is performed to perform a second cleaning step. When the brushes 3, 4, 4 reach the front end of the vehicle and come into contact with the vehicle body, the operation of the brushes is stopped, and when the main body 1 returns to the start position given by the detection switch 11, the running is stopped.

(5) Step C: The car washing device body 1 goes forward again and sprays water and wax while brushes 3, 4,.
4 is performed. The operation stops when the vehicle reaches the rear end, as in step A.

(6) Step D: Subsequently, the car wash apparatus main body 1 goes backward and performs a drying step of injecting air from the blower nozzles 5, 6, 6. When the main body 1 reaches the car wash start position following the return path, the main body 1 continuously moves forward while continuing the drying operation. With this forward movement, the front vehicle body detector 12 reaches the rear end of the vehicle and turns to non-detection, and then stops the running and drying operations and ends the car washing operation.

(7) When the car wash is completed in this way, the exit guide light 8 is turned on to prompt the exit, so that the vehicle may be advanced by exiting. At this time, the car A and the car wash apparatus main body 1 are in a positional relationship as shown in FIG.
Can exit on rails 2.2.

(8) The car leaves and the car body detector 12.1.
If any one of the cylinders 3 is not detected, the car washing device main body 1 is moved backward and returned to the starting position, and then the air cylinder 2 is returned.
0 to return the operation box 9 to the car wash reception position,
If this is confirmed by the proximity switch 21, the entrance guide light 7 is returned to the lit state, and the next car wash can be accepted.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a main part of another embodiment.
The operation box 9 is supported by basically the same support structure as shown in FIG. 1, and the operation box 9 is configured to linearly advance and retreat with respect to the automobile. The air cylinder 20
The operation box 9 is composed of a two-stage cylinder having two cylinders 20a and 20b connected in series, and the operation box 9 can be placed at the car wash receiving position X, the retreat position Y, and the intermediate position Z between both positions.
30 is a vehicle body detector 3 provided below the operation box 9
At 0, a vehicle body is detected by detecting that a beam signal emitted from a light emitting element is reflected by an entering automobile and received by a light receiving element, which is composed of a reflection type photoelectric switch.

In this embodiment, usually, only the cylinder 20a of the two-stage cylinder is extended to place the operation box 9 at the intermediate position Z, the vehicle A enters, and both the vehicle body detectors 12 and 30 detect the vehicle body. Then, cylinder 20
b is also extended so that the operation box 9 is moved to the car wash reception position X. Thereafter, when the car wash is received in the operation box 9 and the car wash is started, the cylinder 2
Both 0a and 20b are contracted, the operation box 9 is moved to the retracted position Y, and the apparatus main body 1 travels to perform car washing.

According to the above-described embodiments,
An operation box 9 is provided at a position corresponding to the car wash position in the apparatus main body 1, and the car wash operation can be performed after directly entering the car wash position. Further, there is no inconvenience that the operation box 9 retreats to the retreat position before the start of the car washing and interferes with the car washing. Furthermore,
Exit is possible in a state where the device body 1 goes forward,
There is no need to pass through the inside of the narrow apparatus main body 1 and FIG.
As can be seen from FIG. 1, the required passing space behind the apparatus main body 1 can be greatly reduced as compared with the conventional apparatus of FIG.

[0028]

As is clear from the above description, since the operation box is normally located at the car wash reception position and the car can be washed from the vehicle stopped at the predetermined car wash position, the driver can directly enter the car wash position and wash the car. It only has to be operated, and there is no need to stop at a plurality of places as in the past. Also,
Since the car wash operation position and the car wash receiving position are the same,
There is no trouble such as car washing operation before the car washing of the previous car is completed, and there is no need to install an operation box outside the traveling range of the device main body as in the past, and the site area occupied by the entire device is reduced. Can be smaller. Since the operation box is retracted to the evacuation position at the time of car washing, there is no fear that the operation box may interfere with the car washing operation of the car washing device or may come into contact with surrounding buildings or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing a conventional example of a car wash device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory front view of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash apparatus main body 2.2 Rail 3.4.4 Brush 5.6.6 Blower nozzle 9 Operation box 20 Air cylinder which is a drive means 22 Control part which is a control means

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A car washing apparatus of the type in which a gate-shaped apparatus main body is reciprocated so as to straddle an automobile and the body of the automobile is automatically washed, wherein the operation is performed from a driver seat of the automobile stopped at a predetermined car washing position. An operation box for accepting a car wash that can take a possible car wash reception position and an evacuation position that does not interfere with the car wash operation away from the vehicle; and displacing the operation box between the car wash reception position and the evacuation position. Driving means, means for detecting that the operation box is at the evacuation position, receiving the car wash by placing the operation box at the car wash reception position, and upon receiving the car wash, activates the drive means to move the operation box to the evacuation position. Means for retreating, and controlling to start car washing after confirming that the operation box is at the retreat position by the detection means. Apparatus. 2. The car washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation box is provided separately from the apparatus main body, and is supported outside a traveling range of the apparatus main body. 3. The car washing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation box is supported by the apparatus main body.