JP3984580B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes a vehicle shape detection device for detecting the shape of an automobile, and the same device, and in accordance with the shape of the automobile body to be washed, a car wash processing device such as a washing brush and a drying nozzle is sequentially operated to wash the automobile body. It relates to a car wash machine that performs processing such as drying.

  Conventionally, as an apparatus for detecting the shape of an automobile in an automatic car wash machine or the like, a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements are opposed to each other in the vertical direction with the automobile sandwiched in the width direction, and the optical axis is translucent / shielded. A means for detecting the vehicle body, a means for causing the detection means to travel, and a means for detecting a movement distance associated with the traveling of the detection means; each time the vehicle body detection means moves a unit distance, the position of the upper surface of the automobile is determined. What detected and detected the shape of the automobile is known. In this vehicle shape detection device, light emitting elements and light receiving elements are provided in a one-to-one pair, and it is detected whether or not light is received by the opposing light receiving elements when the light emitting elements are sequentially turned on. It recognizes the presence or absence of the vehicle body.

By the way, in such a vehicle shape detection device, if the light reception level of some of the light receiving elements is low, the width between the light transmission level and the light shielding level may not be sufficiently secured.
JP-A-1-127439

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to set a light shielding level for determining light shielding for each light receiving element, and to reliably detect light shielding by the light receiving element.

The present invention includes a car wash processing device such as a washing brush and a drying nozzle in a car wash body formed in a portal shape, and performs washing of the car body by relatively moving the car wash body and the car body to be washed. In this machine, a light emitting device in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged above and below and a light receiving device in which a plurality of light receiving elements that are paired with the light emitting elements of the light emitting device are arranged vertically are opposed to each other with the automobile sandwiched in the width direction. A vehicle body detection device that detects presence / absence, a movement distance detection unit that detects a movement distance of the car wash machine body, and a signal from the movement distance detection unit as a trigger between the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the vehicle body detection device A scanning drive unit that scans an optical signal up and down with an optical axis formed on the optical axis, a movement distance of the car wash machine body by the movement distance detection unit, and translucency / light shielding between each light emitting element and light receiving element in the vehicle body detection device Car shape day And a control unit that detects the shape of the automobile, and the control unit scans the scanning drive unit when there is no automobile between the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the vehicle body detection device at the start of the car wash operation. The optical axis check that confirms the light transmission / shielding state of the optical axis and judges that the optical axis in the light shielding state is abnormal, and the light reception level at each light receiving element when the light emitting element emits light simultaneously with this check operation is detected. Based on this light receiving level, a light shielding judgment level for judging light transmission and light shielding is set for each light receiving element .

Further, in a car wash machine that includes a car wash processing device such as a washing brush and a drying nozzle in a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape, and moves the car wash machine body and the car body to be washed relative to each other to wash the car body. The presence or absence of a vehicle body is determined by placing a light emitting device in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged above and below and a light receiving device in which a plurality of light receiving elements that are paired with the light emitting elements of the light emitting device are arranged vertically across the vehicle in the width direction. A vehicle body detection device to detect, a movement distance detection unit to detect the movement distance of the car wash machine body, and a signal from the movement distance detection unit as a trigger, formed between each element of the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the vehicle body detection device A scanning drive unit that scans an optical signal up and down with an optical axis, a moving distance of a car wash machine body by the moving distance detecting unit, and translucency / shielding of each light emitting element and light receiving element in the vehicle body detecting device Data And a control unit that detects the shape of the automobile, and the control unit scans the scanning drive unit in a state where there is no automobile between the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the vehicle body detection device at the start of the car wash operation. An optical axis check for confirming the light transmission / shielding state of the axis, judging the optical axis in the light shielding state as abnormal, and diagnosing whether the light emitting element or the light receiving element is defective with respect to the optical axis determined to be abnormal in the optical axis; A setting operation for detecting the light reception level of each light receiving element when the light emitting element emits light simultaneously with this check operation and setting a light shielding judgment level for judging light transmission and light shielding for each light receiving element based on this light reception level it is obtained to carry out the.

According to the present invention, the light reception level at the light receiving element is measured, and the light shielding judgment level is set based on the light reception level, so that the light transmission / light shielding can be detected reliably.

  Further, since the optical axis check is performed at the start of the car wash, the light blocking judgment level can be set each time.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example in which the present invention is used in a known portal type car wash machine. Reference numeral 1 denotes a gate-type car wash machine that reciprocates on the rail 2 so as to straddle the automobile A. The car wash machine 1 is provided with an upper surface brush 3 and an upper surface nozzle 4 which are moved up and down along the upper surface of the automobile, and these processing devices act along the shape of A of the automobile to automatically wash the vehicle body.

  A vehicle body detection device 5 is provided in front of the car wash machine 1 and has a plurality of light emitting elements and light receiving elements facing each other in the width direction with respect to the car A, and is exchanged between the light emitting and light receiving elements. The vehicle body is detected by detecting that the optical signal is blocked by the vehicle body of the automobile A. Reference numeral 6 denotes a known rotary encoder that detects the rotation of the traveling wheel 7 of the car wash machine 1. Each time the car wash machine 1 travels a unit distance, a pulse signal is output, and the movement of the car wash machine 1 is counted by counting the pulse signal. The distance can be detected.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the construction of the embodiment of the present invention used in the car wash machine. The vehicle body detection device 5 includes a light emitting device 5a in which a plurality of light emitting elements L1 to Ln are arranged vertically and a light receiving device 5b in which a plurality of light receiving elements R1 to Rn are arranged corresponding to the light emitting elements L1 to Ln. The optical signal is exchanged between the corresponding light emitting devices L1 to Ln and the light receiving devices R1 to Rn, and the optical axis B is configured. A scanning drive unit 8 of the light emitting devices L1 to Ln sequentially outputs optical signals so as to scan downward (upward) from the upward (downward) light emitting element when detecting the vehicle body. Reference numeral 17 denotes a VF measurement unit that measures a DC forward voltage of a light emitting element that is driven to emit light by the scanning drive unit 8. Reference numeral 9 denotes a scanning drive unit of the light receiving devices R1 to Rn, which sequentially sets the light receiving elements R corresponding to the scanning of the light emitting elements or the light emission of all the light emitting elements to the light receiving state by time division.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a movement distance detection unit that calculates a movement distance associated with the traveling of the car wash machine 1 (body detection device 5) based on a pulse signal from the rotary encoder 6, and counts the pulse signal from the travel start position of the car wash machine 1. Detect travel distance. The pulse signal from the rotary encoder 6 is also sent to the scanning drive units 8 and 9, and the scanning drive units 8 and 9 execute vehicle body detection each time using this pulse signal as a trigger. A control unit 11 controls the start / stop of vehicle body detection via the scanning drive units 8 and 9, and includes a memory 12, and the light transmission / shielding state of the optical axis B by the vehicle body and the movement distance detection unit 10 Based on the signal, the vehicle shape data is stored as binary image data. An image processing unit 13 analyzes the binary image data stored in the memory 12 and detects the contour line of the automobile body.

  Reference numeral 14 denotes an optical axis check unit which receives a press of a car wash start key (not shown) in a state where the vehicle is stopped at a predetermined position where the vehicle body does not enter between the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b. To Ln and Rn, the light transmission / light-shielding state is checked for each of the optical axes B1 to Bn constituting each. At this time, if there is a light-shielded optical axis even though no automobile is present, it is determined that the optical axis is abnormal, and which element is defective is diagnosed. Simultaneously with the optical axis check, the light receiving level of each light receiving element is measured, and when detecting the vehicle body, a value that is reduced by a certain width from the light receiving level is calculated for each light receiving element, and the light transmission / light shielding of each light receiving element is judged. The level is set. Reference numeral 16 denotes a gain setting unit. When the light shielding level is set, if the difference between the light shielding level and the light receiving level cannot be sufficiently secured because the light receiving level values of some light receiving elements are low, the gain is set to the gain variable light receiving amplifier 15. The light receiving signals of the light receiving elements R1 to Rn are amplified and given to the control unit 11. The timing for performing the optical axis check is not limited to after the car wash start key is pressed, but may be performed during car wash standby or during daily inspection work. Further, a light emitting element and a light receiving element for monitoring whether or not a vehicle body exists between the two devices are provided below the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b, and it is confirmed that there is no vehicle body. An optical axis check may be performed.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b in more detail. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are disposed on the inner surface of a groove formed at a predetermined depth in the vertical direction of the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b, and each has a hole-like light emitting window corresponding to each light emitting surface and light receiving surface. 22 and a light receiving window 23 are provided. Furthermore, these light emitting windows and light receiving windows are provided with a visible light cut filter 20 having hydrophilicity on the surface thereof, and an infrared absorbing material that covers the infrared frequency band emitted from the light emitting element on the inner surface of the groove and has water absorption. 21 is disposed. Further, the depth of the groove is formed such that disturbance light such as sunlight or illumination is not irradiated to the light emitting / receiving element in a state where the light emitting device 5a and the light receiving device 5b are incorporated in the gate-type car wash machine 1. Yes. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water droplets from adhering to the light emitting element and the light receiving element at the time of car washing, and to prevent disturbance light incident from the front of the car wash machine from reaching the light receiving element directly or within the groove. Even when fine water droplets in the form of mist are attached to the light emission / light reception window, the surface thereof is hydrophilic, so that it becomes wet and does not hinder the light emission / light reception of the element.

Next, an optical axis abnormality detection operation for optical axis check will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4A shows an optical axis check operation when the light emitting element L4 is defective. The optical axis check unit 14 synchronizes the light emission scanning timing and the light receiving scanning timing for the light emitting elements L1 to Ln and R1 to Rn, and sequentially stores the light transmission and light shielding states of the optical axes B1 to Bn in time division. Registered in the memory 14a. At this time, as shown in (b), if the optical axis B1 is in a light-transmitting state, “1” is registered for B1, and “1” is also registered for the light-emitting element L1 and the light-receiving element R1 constituting the optical axis B1. Here, since the light emitting element L4 is defective, the optical axis B4 is in a light shielding state, and “0” is registered in the memory 14a for the optical axis B4, the light emitting element L4, and the light receiving element R4.

  In this way, if there is an optical axis abnormality in the optical axis check, that is, an optical axis in a light shielding state “0”, a defective element causing the optical axis abnormality is detected. This defective element detection operation will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5A, the optical axis check unit 14 shifts the light emission scanning timing and the light receiving scanning timing for the light emitting elements L1 to Ln and R1 to Rn (in this example, the light receiving scanning timing is advanced by one time in advance to perform scanning). L1 and R2, L2 and R3,... L (n-1) and Rn constitute the optical axes B12, B23, B (n-1) n (when the light emitting element emits light, Since the light beam reaches the light receiving element while spreading, the optical axis deviated from the horizontal state can be configured in this way by shifting the light receiving scanning timing). The optical axes B12, B23, and B (n-1) n thus configured are sequentially driven in a time-sharing manner, and the light transmission and light shielding states are registered in the memory 14b as the second storage unit in the same manner as described above. Next, a negative OR is performed on the data of L1 to Ln and R1 to Rn respectively registered in the memory 14a and the memory 14b to obtain element pass / fail data (c). In the element pass / fail data thus obtained, “0” is determined as a normal element and “1” is determined as a defective element. Next, the control unit 11 confirms the occurrence state of the optical axis abnormality, and if a predetermined number (for example, B2 and B3) abnormality has occurred in succession, it is determined that accurate vehicle shape detection cannot be performed (for example, one box A narrow part such as the arm part of the protruding mirror found in a car cannot be detected) Stopping the subsequent car wash operation or prohibiting the car wash acceptance and notifying the optical axis and the defective element in which an abnormality has occurred. On the other hand, if there is one or more optical axes that are abnormal, but they are not continuous vertically (for example, B2, B4, B6), this is critical for detecting the vehicle shape this time. It is determined that there is no problem, and this car wash operation is continued. In addition, when the car washing operation is continued while detecting the optical axis abnormality in this way, the vehicle body detection information (translucent or light-shielded) of the normal optical axis acquired immediately before the abnormal optical axis is used. It is also used for the minute, and is stored in the memory 12 as vehicle shape data of a binary image together with the signal from the movement distance detection unit 10.

  In FIG. 5, the light receiving scanning timing of the light receiving element is advanced one time in advance, and the example in which the optical axis is configured by L1 and R2, L2 and R3,... L (n-1) and Rn has been described. The timing is advanced by one time in advance, and L2 and R1, L3 and R2,... Ln and R (n-1) constitute the optical axes B21, B32, and Bn (n-1). You may make it drive by a division | segmentation.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which used this invention Example for the well-known portal-type car wash machine. It is composition explanatory drawing of this invention Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the light-emitting device of this invention Example, and a light-receiving device. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement of the optical axis check in an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the defective element detection operation | movement in an Example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine main body 5 Car body detection apparatus 5a Light-emitting device 5b Light-receiving device 8, 9 Scanning drive part
11 Control unit 14 Optical axis check unit L Light emitting element R Light receiving element B Optical axis A Automobile

Claims (2)

In the car wash machine which is equipped with a car wash processing device such as a washing brush and a drying nozzle in the car wash machine body formed in a portal shape, and moves the car wash machine body and the car body to be washed relative to each other,
Detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle body by placing a light-emitting device with a plurality of light-emitting elements above and below and a light-receiving device with a plurality of light-receiving elements paired with the light-emitting elements of the light-emitting device facing each other across the vehicle in the width direction A vehicle body detecting device,
A moving distance detector for detecting the moving distance of the car wash body;
A scanning drive unit that scans an optical signal up and down with an optical axis formed between each element of the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the vehicle body detection device using a signal from the moving distance detection unit as a trigger ;
A control unit for creating the vehicle shape data by detecting the movement distance of the car wash machine main body by the movement distance detection unit and the light transmission / light shielding of each light emitting element and light receiving element in the vehicle body detection device, and detecting the shape of the automobile ;
The control unit scans the scanning drive unit to check the light transmission / light-shielding state of the optical axis in a state where there is no automobile between the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device of the vehicle body detection device at the start of the car wash operation, and An optical axis check that determines that the optical axis in the state is abnormal, and a light reception level at each light receiving element when the light emitting element emits light at the same time as this check operation are detected, and each light receiving element is transmitted based on this light reception level. A car wash machine characterized by setting a light shielding judgment level for judging light and light shielding.
In the car wash machine which is equipped with a car wash processing device such as a washing brush and a drying nozzle in the car wash machine body formed in a gate shape, and moves the car wash machine body and the car body to be washed relative to each other,
Detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle body by placing a light-emitting device with a plurality of light-emitting elements above and below and a light-receiving device with a plurality of light-receiving elements paired with the light-emitting elements of the light-emitting device facing each other across the vehicle in the width direction A vehicle body detecting device,
A moving distance detector for detecting the moving distance of the car wash machine body;
A scanning drive unit that scans an optical signal up and down with an optical axis formed between each element of the light emitting device and the light receiving device of the vehicle body detection device using a signal from the moving distance detection unit as a trigger;
A control unit for creating the vehicle shape data by detecting the movement distance of the car wash machine main body by the movement distance detection unit and the light transmission / light shielding of each light emitting element and light receiving element in the vehicle body detection device, and detecting the shape of the automobile;
The control unit scans the scanning drive unit to check the light transmission / light-shielding state of the optical axis in a state where there is no automobile between the light-emitting device and the light-receiving device of the vehicle body detection device at the start of the car wash operation, and When the optical axis in the state is determined to be abnormal, and the optical axis check diagnoses whether the light emitting element or the light receiving element is defective for the optical axis determined to be abnormal, and when the light emitting element emits light simultaneously with this check operation And a setting operation for setting a light-blocking determination level for determining light transmission and light-blocking for each light-receiving element based on the light-receiving level.

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