JP3382584B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a car washer for brush-cleaning a vehicle body surface with a cleaning brush. FIGS. 7A to 7C show a brush cleaning process of a car V by a conventional car washer. First, the car washer 01 is stopped at a start position at the left end of the rails 02 and 02. FIG. Then, the left and right side brushes 03, 03 are rotated at the closed position and the top brush 04 is rotated at the lowered position, and then the car washer 01 is moved toward the automobile V (see (A)). When the appropriate detection means detects that the side brush 03 has come into contact with the front of the vehicle V, the top brush 04 is raised to the upper storage position indicated by the chain line, and at the same time, the traveling of the car washer 01 is stopped. [Refer to (B)]. Subsequently, after the car washer 01 was slightly moved backward,
By moving the side brushes 03, 03 from the closed position to the open position, the front surface of the vehicle V is brushed and cleaned. When the side brushes 03, 03 reach the open position, the top brush 04 is lowered again to resume the forward movement of the car washer 01, and then the side brushes 03, 03 are moved in the closing direction to contact the side of the automobile V. Let it. [0005] The top brush 04 and the side brushes 03, 03 brush and wash the top and side surfaces of the vehicle V. When the side brushes 03, 03 finish the brushing cleaning of the rear surface of the vehicle V and reach the closed position, the vehicle is washed. The outward movement of the machine 01 is stopped (see (C)). Then, the rotation of the top brush 04 and the side brushes 03, 03 is stopped, the car washer 01 is moved back to the start position, and the surface of the automobile V is dried by the drying means. [0007] In the conventional car washing machine, the side brush 03 as a cleaning brush is used to prevent the side brush 03 from being caught on the front of the body of the automobile V.
3 is moved to the open position as the separation position to restart the relative movement (forward movement) of the car washer 01 with respect to the vehicle V, and thereafter the body surface of the vehicle V is moved to the cleaning position for brushing cleaning. For this reason, there is a problem in that while the brush 03 is in the open position and the car washer 01 is moving forward, the surface of the vehicle body corresponding to the brush 03 is left unwashed. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a car washer capable of solving the above problems. [0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cleaning brush provided on a frame, and the frame and the vehicle are relatively moved in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. A car washing machine for brushing the body surface of an automobile with a running drive means for moving the frame and the automobile relative to each other in the front-rear direction of the automobile, and a washing position for washing the body surface with the brush. Moving means for moving to a distant position more distant from the vehicle body surface than the washing position, relative position detecting means for detecting a relative position between the frame and the vehicle, and the cleaning brush being held at the distant position and attached to the vehicle. The cleaning brush moves to the cleaning position and moves relative to the vehicle in front of the vehicle. Cleaning the body surface by brushing, and thereafter, the cleaning brush is held at the separated position and moves relative to the automobile rearward, after which the cleaning brush moves to the cleaning position, and the brushed body surface is cleaned. Control means for controlling the travel driving means and the moving means based on the detection signal of the relative position detecting means so as to brush-clean the rear surface of the vehicle body. Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a car washer, FIG. 2 is an overall side view of the car washer, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an example (reference example) of a reference operation of the car washer. 4 is FIG.
5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a traveling frame 1 as a frame includes a pair of left and right rails 4 extending along the front-rear direction of the vehicle V by a pair of idler wheels 2, 2 and driving wheels 3, 3. , 4. The driving wheels 3, 3 are driven to rotate by a motor 5, whereby the running frame 1 goes back and forth on the rails 4, 4. At a lower portion of the traveling frame 1, a start position detecting switch 7 for detecting that the traveling frame 1 is at a start position by contacting a cam 6 fixedly mounted near one of the rails 4 is provided.
Is provided. Also, one of the driving wheels 3
A rotary encoder 8 that rotates in conjunction with the drive wheel 3 is provided in a power transmission path to the drive wheel 3. The rotary encoder 8 detects a moving amount L of the traveling frame 1 from the start position. The traveling frame 1 has a top brush 9 that can be lifted and lowered to brush the upper surface of the vehicle V, and a pair of openable and closable side brushes 10 and 10 that brush the front and rear surfaces and both left and right surfaces of the vehicle. A pair of openable and closable rocker brushes 11, 11 for brushing and cleaning the lower side surface of the vehicle is provided. The top brush 6 includes a pair of left and right swing arms 1.
The swing arm 12 is rotatably supported at the distal ends thereof, and is connected to a motor 13 provided at the base end of one of the swing arms 12 to be driven to rotate. The swing arms 12, 12 are supported by the traveling frame 1 via support shafts 14, 14 so as to be vertically swingable.
An end of an arm 15 fixed to one support shaft 14 is connected to a cylinder 16 disposed between the arm 15 and the traveling frame 1.
Therefore, it is possible to raise the top brush 9 to the upper storage position by extending the cylinder 16 and to lower the top brush 9 by its own weight by disabling the cylinder 16 so that the top brush 9 follows the upper surface of the vehicle V. it can. A switch bar 17 is fixed to the other support shaft 14, and when the top brush 9 rises to a height at which the top brush 9 comes into contact with the front glass surface of the automobile V of the passenger car type, the switch bar 17 is moved.
Thereby, the windshield detection switch 18 is operated. The windshield detection switch 18 can detect the position of the windshield. The rotating shaft 1 of the pair of side brushes 10, 10
9 and 19 are supported by holding cylinders 20 and 20 extending vertically, and carts 21 and 21 to which the holding cylinders 20 and 20 are fixed.
1 is movably supported along a guide rail 23 rotatably supported by the traveling frame 1 by swinging shafts 22, 22. And the rotating shaft 1 of the side brushes 10, 10
9 and 19 are motors 24 and 2 attached to carts 21 and 21, respectively.
4 is driven to rotate. Swing axis 2 of guide rail 23
Neutral springs 26, 26 are contracted between the upper ends of the neutral arms 25, 25 fixed to both ends of the two, 22 and the running frame 1, and the guide rails 23 are neutralized by the neutral springs 26, 26. , The side brushes 10, 10 are held in a vertical posture in a normal state. When an external force is applied to the side brushes 10, 10, the side brushes 10, 10 and the carriages 21, 21 and the guide rail 23 swing about the swing shafts 22, 22 in the moving direction of the traveling frame 1. At this time, the swing of the side brushes 10, 10 is detected by a shake detection switch 27 arranged close to the one neutral arm 25. Each of the carts 21 and 21 has a link 28,
28, the cylinders 29, 2 are connected between the links 28, 28 and the traveling frame 1.
9 are provided. In addition, weights 30, 30 are suspended from one end of the carts 21, 21, and pulleys 31, 3 are provided at intermediate portions.
The other ends of the wires 32 wound around 1 are bound.
Therefore, when the cylinders 29 and 29 are extended, the left and right carriages 21 and 21 move outward together with the side brushes 10 and 10 so as to be separated from each other.
If 29 is deactivated, the side brushes 10, 10 move inward so as to follow the side surface of the vehicle V by gravity acting on the weights 30, 30. The guide rail 23 includes an open detection switch 33 for detecting that the side brushes 10 are in the open position separated from each other, and a state in which the side brushes 10 are in the closed position close to each other. Close detection switches 34 and 34 for detecting are provided. Opening / closing arms 36, 36 are supported on the traveling frame 1 through rotating shafts 35, 35, and the rocker brushes 11, 11 are driven by motors 37, 37 at the ends of the opening / closing arms 36, 36. Is supported. Cylinders 38, 38 are provided between the rotating shafts 35, 35 and the traveling frame 1.
And springs 39, 39 are provided.
The rocker brushes 11, 11 are contracted to
Is driven to the open position, and when the cylinders 38, 38 are deactivated, the rocker brushes 11, 11 are driven to the closed position by the elastic force of the springs 39, 39. The traveling frame 1 has a washing water pipe 40 for injecting washing water toward the upper surface of the automobile V and the top brush 9, a top nozzle 41 and side nozzles 42 for injecting air for drying the automobile V, and so on. 42 are provided. Further, the running frame 1 has the motors 5,
5; 13, 13; 24, 24; 37, 37 and a control device 43 for controlling the driving of each cylinder 16; 29, 29; Reference numerals 44, 44 denote stop position indicators for regulating the position of the front wheels of the vehicle V to be cleaned and stopping the vehicle V at a predetermined position. Next, an example of a reference operation of the car washer (hereinafter, simply referred to as a reference example) will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3D and FIG. The traveling frame 1 is moved to the left end position of the rails 4 and 4 to stop the start position detection switch 7 at a position where the cam 6 operates, and the front wheels of the vehicle V are sandwiched between the stop position indicators 44 and 44. To a predetermined position. When a start button (not shown) provided on the control device 43 is pressed, the top brush 9, the side brushes 10, 1
0, and the rocker brushes 11, 11 start rotating,
The washing water pipe 40 starts jetting the washing water. At the same time, the cylinders 16; 29, 29; 38, 38 are deactivated, the top brush 9 moves toward the lowered position, and the side brushes 10, 10 and the rocker brushes 11, 11 move toward the closed position. Then, when the side brushes 10, 10 reach the closed position and the close detection switches 34, 34 are activated, the traveling frame 1 starts going toward the automobile V (see (A) and step S1). As the traveling frame 1 travels, the top brush 9 starts brushing cleaning of the front portion of the hood of the automobile V, and the rocker brushes 11, 11 start cleaning the lower front part of the vehicle body. Eventually, the side brushes 10, 10 in the closed position come into contact with the front of the vehicle body, and
When 7 operates, the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is temporarily stopped. At the same time, the cylinder 16 is operated to move the top brush 9 to the ascending position and stop its rotation, and the cylinders 38 and 38 are operated to move the rocker brushes 11 and 11 to the open position, and the rotation is stopped. Stop (see (B) and step S2). At this time, the forward stroke distance L ₂ traveling frame 1 from the start position,
Detected by the rotary encoder 8 and stored. Next, the traveling frame 1 is moved from 50 mm to 100 mm.
After moving back by mm, the cylinders 29, 29 are operated to move the side brushes 10, 10 toward the open position, and the front surface of the vehicle V is brushed and washed. Then, when the side brushes 10, 10 reach the open position and the open detection switches 33, 33 are operated, the traveling frame 1 is moved back to the start position (see step S3). [0025] The distance L from the start position of the traveling frame 1 by the backward row is L _1, to stop the go-around of the traveling frame 1, lowering the top brush 9 and the cylinder 16 inoperative, the rotating To start.
[See (C) and step S4]. The distance L ₁ is a value obtained by subtracting a constant A from the distance L ₂ obtained earlier, and the magnitude of the constant A is such that the top brush 9 descending at the stop position of the traveling frame 1 shown in FIG. It is determined in advance so as to come into contact with the front portion of the upper surface of the vehicle body. Note that the return distance A of the traveling frame 1 is detected by the rotary encoder 8. Subsequently, the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is started again, the cylinders 38, 38 are deactivated, the rocker brushes 11, 11 are moved to the closed position, and their rotation is started (see step S5). As a result, the top brush 9 moves the upper surface of the vehicle V to the rocker brushes 11 and 11.
Brushes the lower side of the vehicle V from the front to the rear of the vehicle body. When the side brushes 10, 10 reach a position where they can come into contact with the side of the vehicle body by the re-travel of the traveling frame 1, the cylinders 29, 29 are deactivated and the side brushes 10, 10 are moved toward the closed position, and the vehicle body Brush cleaning the sides. Eventually, when the side brushes 10, 10 brush and wash the rear surface from the side of the vehicle V and the closing detection switches 34, 34 are activated, the cylinders 16;
9; 38, 38, the top brush 9 is moved toward the raised position, the side brushes 10, 10 and the rocker brushes 11, 11 are moved toward the open position, and each brush 9; 10, 10; Stop rotation of 11, 11 and injection of washing water [(D) and step S6
reference〕. Finally, the running frame 1 is moved backward toward the start position while blowing air from the top nozzle 41 and the side nozzles 42, and the surface of the automobile V is dried. In this reference example, the top brush 9
The brushing cleaning of the front portion of the upper surface of the vehicle body of the automobile V is performed twice, thereby improving the cleaning effect of the front portion of the vehicle body that is significantly contaminated. However, in order to prevent the side brushes 10, 10 serving as the cleaning brushes from being caught on the front surface of the vehicle body of the automobile V, the side brushes 10, 10 are moved to the open position as the separation position, and the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is resumed. The vehicle V is moved to a cleaning position in contact with the side surface of the vehicle body.
There is a problem similar to that of the conventional example that the brushes 10, 10 are left unwashed on the side of the vehicle body while traveling the traveling frame 1 with the opening position 0. Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. When the traveling frame 1 and the vehicle V are stopped at the same predetermined positions as described above and the start button is pressed, the top brush 9 and the rocker brushes 11 start rotating and move toward the lowered position and the closed position. , Washing water pipe 4
0 starts jetting of the washing water. At this time, the rotation of the side brushes 10, 10 is stopped with the open position as the separated position. Top brush 9 and rocker brush 1
When 1, 11 reach the lowered position and the closed position, respectively,
The traveling frame 1 starts going forward [see (A) and step S8]. As the traveling frame 1 travels, the top brush 9 starts brushing cleaning of the front portion of the hood of the vehicle V, and the rocker brushes 11, 11 start cleaning the lower front part of the vehicle body. When the windshield detection switch 18 is actuated by contacting the windshield of the automobile V, the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is stopped [see (B) and step S9]. Subsequently, the rocker brushes 11, 11 are moved to the open position and stopped, and at the same time, the side brushes 10, 10 are stopped.
Is rotated to the closed side to the cleaning position along the side of the vehicle V, and then the top brush 9 brushes the upper surface of the vehicle V and the side brushes 10 and 10 brushes the front from the side of the vehicle V while cleaning the front. The traveling frame 1 is moved backward (see step S10). [0034] When the distance L from the start position of the traveling frame 1 by the recovery line is L _3, to stop the go-around of the traveling frame 1 [(C) and the reference step S11].
The distance L ₃ is intended to be detected by the rotary encoder 8 in the same manner as L ₁ in FIG. 3 (C), the top brush 9 in the stop position the running frame 1 so as to be in contact with the vehicle body upper surface front end of the vehicle V Is set. Subsequently, after the rocker brushes 11 are rotated to move to the closed position, the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is started again, and the top surface of the vehicle V is moved by the top brush 9 and the rocker brushes 11 are moved by the rocker brushes 11. The lower side surface of the vehicle V is brush-cleaned (see step S12). Eventually, when the side brushes 10, 10 come into contact with the front of the vehicle body and the shake detection switch 27 is actuated, the traveling of the traveling frame 1 is temporarily stopped, and at the same time, the top brush 9 is moved to the raised position to stop the rotation. Then, the rocker brushes 11, 11 are moved to the open position to stop the rotation. Next, the traveling frame 1 is moved from 50 mm to 100 mm.
After moving back by mm, the cylinders 29, 29 are operated to move the side brushes 10, 10 toward the open position, and the front surface of the vehicle V is brushed and washed. When the side brushes 10, 10 reach the open position and the open detection switches 33, 33 operate, the top brush 9 is moved to the lowered position and rotated, and the rocker brush 1 is further moved.
After moving 1, 11 to the closed position and rotating them, the traveling frame 1 is moved forward. When the traveling frame 1 travels a predetermined distance, the side brushes 10, 10 which have been in the open position up to that point are moved to the washing position along the side surface of the automobile V, and thereafter the same as steps S6, S7 in FIG. Then, the top brush 9, the side brushes 10, 10, and the rocker brushes 11, 11 are used to brush and wash up to the rear end of the vehicle V [(D).
And steps S13 and S14). While moving the traveling frame 1 with the side brushes 10, 10 in the open position, the brushes 1
Since the side surfaces of the vehicle body corresponding to 0 and 10 are brushed and washed with the side brushes 10 and 10 when the traveling frame 1 returns in step 10, unwashed portions can be prevented.
Further, since the brushing of the front part of the vehicle V by the top brush 9 is performed three times, the cleaning effect can be further enhanced. And rocker brush 1
Even when the lower limit position of the top brush 9 cannot be lowered due to the interference with the rocker brushes 11, 11, the rocker brushes 11, 11 are set to the open position at the time of returning to the step S10, and the interference with the rocker brushes 11, 11 is avoided. In this state, the top brush 9 brushes and cleans the front upper surface of the vehicle V.
Even in the case of the automobile V whose hood tip is lowered, the hood tip can be reliably cleaned. In the above embodiment, the side brush 10
Corresponds to the cleaning brush of the present invention, and the motor 5 corresponds to the traveling drive means of the present invention. Further, the windshield detection switch 18, the rotary encoder 8, and the shake detection switch 27 correspond to the relative position detection means of the present invention. Further, the cylinder 29 and the weight 30 constitute the moving means of the present invention. Further, the control device 43 corresponds to the control means of the present invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various small designs may be made without departing from the present invention described in the appended claims. Changes can be made. For example, the windshield detection switch 18
Instead, a rotary encoder 8 that detects that the traveling frame 1 has moved a predetermined distance from the start position can be used. In this case, the rotary encoder 8 corresponds to the relative position detecting means of the present invention. As described above, according to the present invention, in order to prevent the cleaning brush from being caught on the surface of the vehicle body, the cleaning brush is held at the separated position and the cleaning brush moves relative to the vehicle rearward. Even so, during the relative movement, the body surface corresponding to the brush is properly brushed and cleaned by subsequently moving the brush to the cleaning position and moving the brush relative to the front of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the unwashed surface of the corresponding vehicle body surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall front view of a car wash machine; FIG. 2 is an overall side view of the car wash machine; FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of an example (reference example) of a reference operation of the car wash machine. 4 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the conventional car wash machine. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Traveling frame (frame) 5 ... Motor (traveling driving means) 8 ... Rotary encoder (relative position detecting means) 10 ... Side brush (washing brush) 18 ... Windshield detection switch (relative position) Detecting means) 27 .. run-out detecting switch (relative position detecting means) 29 .. cylinder (moving means) 30 .. weight (moving means) 43 .. control device (controlling means) V: automobile

Claims (1)

(1) A vehicle washing machine in which a cleaning brush is provided on a frame, and the frame and the vehicle are moved relative to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the body surface of the vehicle is brushed and washed with the cleaning brush. A driving means for moving the frame and the vehicle relative to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; and a cleaning position at which the cleaning brush cleans the vehicle surface and the vehicle position further away from the vehicle surface than the cleaning position. Moving means for moving to a separated position, relative position detecting means for detecting a relative position between the frame and the vehicle, and the cleaning brush being held at the separated position and moving relative to the vehicle from the front to the rear thereof; Thereafter, the cleaning brush moves to the cleaning position and moves relative to the front of the vehicle to brush-clean the vehicle body surface. The brush is held at the separated position and moves relative to the vehicle rearward, and then the cleaning brush moves to the cleaning position to brush-clean the body surface behind the brush-cleaned body surface. And a control means for controlling the traveling drive means and the moving means based on a detection signal of the relative position detection means.