JP4054280B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a car washing machine that automatically performs washing of a car and drying of a car body after washing as the car or car washing machine moves, and allows the washing and drying to be performed simultaneously, so that the car is quickly washed. It relates to what I did.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a car wash machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 49-110159 (hereinafter referred to as Conventional Example 1) is known as this type of apparatus. That is, a cleaning unit that performs cleaning with a brush and water is provided on the front side of a portal frame that travels across an automobile, and a drying unit that performs drying with a blower nozzle is provided on the rear side of the portal frame. An air curtain that ejects pressurized air is formed between them, and cleaning and drying can be performed simultaneously before and after the air curtain.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the air curtain as used in the above conventional example, it is easily affected by the air blown from the blower nozzle of the drying section, and the air flow of the air curtain is disturbed and does not function sufficiently. Therefore, it is necessary to install it away from the blower nozzle. There was a problem that the size of the device was forced to increase. Moreover, since most of this type of car wash machine is installed outdoors, it will be affected not only by the blower nozzle but also by natural winds. This causes a problem that the drying performance is remarkably deteriorated due to splashing, and water is left in the washing section and the hair of the brush is deformed, resulting in unwashed residue.
[0004]
In order to solve such problems, the present applicant has provided a shutter body that moves up and down from the upper part of the car washer to the upper surface of the automobile between JP-A-11-29209 and JP-A-11-29209. We have proposed a car wash machine that can block the influence of air blown from the blower nozzle and natural wind, and can exhibit sufficient cleaning performance and drying performance even when cleaning and drying are performed simultaneously. However, the configuration here is to raise and lower the shutter from the top of the automobile, and it has poor ability to shut off the washing section and the drying section with respect to the side of the automobile. It was sometimes scattered.
Therefore, the present invention adds a side shielding means for shielding the space formed between the side of the automobile and the car wash machine, and minimizes the intrusion of scattered water from the automobile side, so that washing and drying can be performed simultaneously. The object is to propose a car wash machine that does not impair the drying efficiency even if it is executed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a means for spraying at least washing water or the like in a car wash machine that automatically performs car washing and drying of a car body after washing as the car or car wash machine moves. The vehicle is equipped with a vehicle body side surface detecting means for detecting the position of the side surface of the vehicle in front of the washing unit, and the washing unit and the drying unit. The vehicle is equipped with shielding means for blocking the gap between the automobile and the car washer so that water droplets from the washing part do not reach the drying part, and the shielding means has such rigidity that it is not deformed by the wind from the blower nozzle. The side position of the automobile detected by the vehicle body side detecting means is composed of an upper shielding means for shielding the upper space of the automobile from the upper part and a side shielding means for shielding the lateral space of the automobile from the side of the car wash machine. In Zui it, in which a control means for displacing said side shield means to a blocking position is brought close to the accommodation position and car side which is housed in the car wash.
[0006]
Further, the side shielding means is provided in a pair of left and right, and can be displaced to each position independently between the housing position accommodated in the car wash machine and the shielding position approached to the side of the automobile, and the control means Shifts only the side shielding means on the side determined to be displaceable in accordance with the side position of the automobile detected by the vehicle body side detecting means to the shielding position .
[0008]
[Action]
According to the present invention, since the shielding means for physically blocking the space on the upper surface and the side surface of the automobile is provided between the cleaning section and the drying section, it is ensured that cleaning water and the like are scattered from the cleaning section to the drying section. To prevent. In particular, in a car wash machine using a cleaning brush, it is possible to satisfactorily block the cleaning water scattered from the side brush. Further, since the shielding means has rigidity that does not bend with respect to the air blown from the blower nozzle, the air blown from the blower nozzle is blocked to prevent the blower and other winds from affecting the cleaning unit. By this shielding means, washing and drying can be performed simultaneously in one-way traveling of the car wash machine or the automobile.
[0009]
Of the shielding means, the side shielding means that blocks the space on the side of the automobile is an opening / closing plate that is closed in the direction opposite to the direction of car wash from the shielding position close to the side of the automobile to the housing position accommodated in the car wash machine. It can be driven separately on the left and right. As a result, only the side that can be moved to the shielding position can be actuated, the contact between the shielding means and the vehicle body is prevented, and even if the vehicle contacts the vehicle, the opening / closing plate is displaced in the closing direction. Damage to the shielding means is prevented.
[0010]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a car wash machine body which is formed in a gate shape and reciprocates on the rails 2 and 2 so as to straddle the automobile. The main body 1 is provided with brush devices 3, 4a and 4b, blower nozzle devices 6, 7a and 7b, watering nozzles 8a to 8c, a liquid agent tank (not shown) and the like, and water, detergent, wax and the like as it travels. A cleaning operation of brushing and spraying and a drying operation of blowing air from a blower nozzle.
[0011]
The brush device is located on the front side of the main body 1 and moves up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body and brushes the upper surface. The brush device is located behind the upper surface brush device 3 and moves toward and away from the vehicle body. And a pair of left and right side brush devices 4a and 4b for brushing the front and rear surfaces and side surfaces of the vehicle body. The brush devices 3, 4 a, and 4 b are located on the front side of the main body 1 from the blower nozzle together with the watering nozzle and form a cleaning portion S.
[0012]
The blower nozzle device is located behind each brush device 3, 4 a, 4 b, and an upper surface blower nozzle 6 that moves up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body and blows air from a blower (not shown) on the upper surface to dry it, and the upper surface It consists of a pair of left and right side blower nozzles 7a and 7b which are located further behind the blower nozzle 6 and blow air on the side of the vehicle body for drying. The blower nozzle devices 6, 7 a, 7 b are on the rear side of the main body 1 from the brush device and form a drying section D.
[0013]
As described above, the shielding devices 9, 10 a, and 10 b are provided between the cleaning unit S and the drying unit D formed in the main body 1, and water scattered from the cleaning unit S does not reach the drying unit D. Is cut off. The shielding device is located behind the cleaning unit S and in front of the drying unit D, and is moved up and down to the upper surface of the automobile to mainly block the scattered water from above the automobile. It consists of opening and closing plates 10a and 10b that block scattered water from the side, and will be described in detail later.
[0014]
Reference numerals 11a and 11b denote vehicle shape detection devices that are provided in front of the washing unit S of the car wash machine body 1 and read the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body from the side of the automobile. The light emitting unit 11a includes a plurality of light emitting elements A light receiving unit 11b having a light receiving element facing the light emitting element of the light emitting unit is arranged so as to sandwich the automobile, each light emitting element emits light in order up and down, and the light receiving state of each light receiving element is monitored to detect the vehicle body. The uppermost portion shielded from light is detected as the upper surface position of the vehicle body. Similarly, 12a and 12b are located on the front side of the cleaning unit S, and are vehicle body side surface detection devices that read the side surface position of the automobile. The ultrasonic waves are transmitted toward the vehicle body side and then the reflected waves on the vehicle body surface are received. The distance to the side of the car is detected based on the time until the start. Reference numeral 13 denotes a travel encoder for detecting the travel position of the car wash machine main body 1, which is attached to the output shaft of a travel motor 14 that travels the main body 1 and outputs a pulse every time the car wash machine main body 1 travels a unit distance.
[0015]
Next, the configuration of the shielding devices 9, 10a, and 10b will be described.
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the shutter body 9.
The shutter body 9 has a structure in which a plurality of horizontally long and narrow steel plates are connected vertically, and has rigidity that is not bent by at least the blower nozzle blown air or strong winds during stormy weather, the same level as the steel plate shutter. . Chains 15 and 15 are integrally fixed to both side edges of the shutter body 9, and meshed with the front sprockets 16a and 16b and the rear sprockets 16c and 16d above the main body 1, and the front sprockets 16a and 16b. The shaft 17 connecting the two is moved up and down by being rotationally driven by a gear motor 18. Here, the shaft 17 is fed downward by forward rotation and is fed upward by reverse rotation.
[0016]
The shutter body 9 is guided between the front sprockets 16 a and 16 b and the rear sprockets 16 c and 16 d by a rail 19 having a substantially U-shaped cross section that holds both side edges of the shutter body 9. Slide along. During this time, the shutter body 9 is disposed substantially horizontally above the water spray nozzle 8c on the cleaning unit S side, and the chains 15 and 15 extending longer than the shutter body 9 are suspended downward from the sprockets 16c and 16d. Then, slide in a reverse U-shaped path so as to straddle the watering nozzle 8c. A weight 20 is attached to the lower ends of the hanging chains 15 and 15, and the shutter body 9 is stretched so as not to loosen behind the sprockets 16a and 16b.
[0017]
A window portion 21 made of a transparent material such as acrylic is provided at the lower end portion of the shutter body 9. The window portion 21 is provided with a height dimension that does not reach the positions of the sprockets 16a and 16b when the shutter body 9 is at the upper limit position, and secures a field of view through the outside light by a transparent flat plate. The window portion 21 is pivotally supported by the chains 15 and 15 on both sides so as to be able to swing toward the drying portion D side. The window portion 21 swings and escapes even if it comes into contact with the cleaned vehicle body. Can prevent body damage. Further, the window portion 21 is restricted from swinging to the cleaning portion S side at the projection portion 22, and it is considered that the window portion 21 is not swung to the cleaning portion S side by air blown from the blower nozzle and does not interfere with the cleaning operation.
[0018]
FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the opening / closing plates 10a and 10b.
The opening / closing plates 10a and 10b have rigidity that does not bend at least due to blowing from the blower nozzles or strong winds in stormy weather, as in the case of the shutter body 9, and are symmetrical to the inner surface of the car wash machine body 1 independently of each other. It is provided to operate. One end of each of the opening / closing plates 10a and 10b is pivotally supported on the inner surface of the car wash machine main body 1, and is a shielding position (dotted line) opened in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the main body 1 and a housing position (solid line) along the traveling direction of the main body 1. ). The opening / closing plates 10a and 10b are supported so that the closing direction displaced from the shielding position to the housing position is opposite to the traveling direction of the car wash machine body 1, and is accommodated when the vehicle contacts the opening / closing plate at the shielding position. It closes in position and escapes.
[0019]
Link arms 25 for opening and closing the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are connected to the back surfaces of the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b. An air cylinder 26 is linked to the link arm 25, and when the air cylinder 26 extends, the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are connected. When 10b is displaced to the shielding position and contracts, the opening / closing plates 10a and 10b are displaced to the accommodation position. The fulcrum P of the opening / closing plate incorporates a spring 27 that urges the opening / closing plates 10a, 10b to the accommodation position or the shielding position even if the air cylinder 26 is unbiased. After being displaced to each position, the spring 27 holds the position.
[0020]
The air cylinder 26 is provided with proximity switches 28a and 28b, and detects the position of the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b by grasping the expansion and contraction state of the cylinder. That is, when the cylinder is extended, the proximity switch 28a is turned on and the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are in the shielding position, and when the cylinder is contracted, the switch 28b is turned on and it is detected that the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are in the receiving position. Here, when the proximity switch 28a changes to OFF when the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are in the shielding position, it is detected that the vehicle has come into contact with the automobile. Try to close. An elastic protective material 29 is attached to the tip of the opening / closing plate.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the control system of one embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 30 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer, 31 denotes a drive circuit of each part, and 32 denotes an operation panel for designating a car wash course and the like. The control unit 30 receives the car wash in the operation panel 32, and the car wash apparatus main body along a sequence programmed in advance based on signals from various sensors including the vehicle shape detection apparatuses 11a and 11b and the vehicle body side surface detection apparatuses 12a and 12b. 1 through the drive circuit 31 to control the running of 1, the operation of the brush devices 3, 4 a, 4 b and the blower nozzle devices 6, 7 a, 7 b, the water discharge from the water spray nozzles 8 a to 8 c, and the drive of the shielding devices 9, 10 a, 10 b It is. The operation panel 32 is for performing various car wash courses, specifying projections, accepting charges, etc., and is provided in a car wash reception unit (not shown) set at the entrance to enter the car wash area of the car wash machine body 1. Yes.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is a time chart for explaining an example of the car wash operation of the embodiment. Here, a speed car wash that completes washing and drying only by the main body 1 traveling once is illustrated. In addition to this, a plurality of car washing operations are possible such that the main body 1 is sufficiently brushed with one reciprocating travel, and the waxing and the drying process are simultaneously performed during the subsequent travel. The operation of the embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0023]
The car wash apparatus main body 1 is normally stopped at the car wash start position behind the rails 2 and 2. When the car wash user enters the car wash fee in the operation box 32 of the car wash acceptance unit and selects the desired car wash menu, the car wash user can enter. Here, when the user enters the car A between the rails 2 and 2 and the car is stopped at a predetermined car wash position, cleaning is first started.
[0024]
When the cleaning is started, first, the upper surface and the side surface shape of the automobile A are detected by the vehicle shape detection devices 11a and 11b and the vehicle body side surface detection devices 12a and 12b in the front row of the main body 1. In the cleaning section S, the upper surface brush 3 is driven and lowered while discharging the cleaning water from the watering nozzle 8a and the detergent water from the watering nozzle 8b, and along the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection devices 11a and 11b. Brushing cleaning of the upper surface of the vehicle body is started. At this time, the gear motor 13 is driven, and the shutter body 9 at the standby position is lowered to the lower limit position, and acts to prevent scattering of cleaning water or the like accompanying the cleaning operation.
[0025]
Subsequently, the side brushes 4a and 4b are operated so as to close toward the center of the main body 1, and the front surface of the vehicle is acted on from the closed state to perform the brushing cleaning of the front surface of the vehicle body with the discharge of the cleaning water from the watering nozzle 8c. . Thereafter, the side brushes 4a and 4b are opened to shift to the side cleaning of the automobile. At this time, the side brushes 4a and 4b are driven separately on the left and right sides based on the distance between the side surfaces of the vehicle detected by the vehicle body side surface detection devices 12a and 12b, and the left and right sides respectively have an appropriate distance and an appropriate contact pressure with respect to the vehicle body. Brushing while maintaining is achieved.
[0026]
When the front end of the automobile enters the drying unit D from the cleaning unit S as the car wash machine 1 travels, the shutter body 9 provided between the cleaning unit S and the drying unit D is moved by the vehicle shape detection devices 11a and 11b. In addition to raising and lowering along the detected upper surface position of the automobile, the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are opened to the shielding position in order to shield the gap generated on the side of the automobile due to the rising of the shutter body 9, and the water droplets from the cleaning section S are dried. Prevents splashing to the part. Before and after this, a blower (not shown) is driven to start blowing air from the blower nozzles 6, 7 a, and 7 b, and drying processing is sequentially performed from the front end of the automobile that has entered the drying section D. In the cleaning unit S, the top and side surfaces of the automobile are continuously subjected to brushing cleaning with discharge of cleaning water, and cleaning and drying are simultaneously performed in the car wash machine body 1 (FIG. 6a).
[0027]
Here, the opening and closing plates 10a and 10b are driven separately on the left and right sides based on the distance of the side surface of the automobile detected by the vehicle body side surface detection devices 12a and 12b. FIG. 7 shows the operation of the opening / closing plate according to the state. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), when an automobile having a normal vehicle width is stopped at the center of the car wash machine, both the opening / closing plates 10a. 7b, as shown in FIG. 7 (b), when the stop position of the automobile at the start of the car wash is shifted to the left or right, the opening / closing plate on the side where the opening / closing plate cannot be opened to the shielding position Instead of opening, only the opposite side is opened, and as shown in FIG. 7C, both are not opened for an automobile having a large vehicle width. The opening / closing plates 10a and 10b are held in the direction where they are folded when they come into contact with the automobile without being folded by the air from the drying section D at the shielding position, and are accommodated immediately when the proximity switch 28a detects contact with the automobile. Since it is configured to close to the position, damage to the vehicle body and the opening / closing plate can be prevented.
[0028]
When the automobile is removed from the cleaning section S, the upper surface brush 3 and the side brushes 4a and 4b are returned to the fixed positions, and the cleaning is completed. In the drying section D, the upper surface blower nozzle 6 is moved up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body to blow air onto the vehicle body together with the side blower nozzles 7 and 7. The driving of the blower nozzle is also controlled based on the vehicle shape detection devices 11a and 11b. When the blower nozzle reaches the rear end position of the vehicle body, the drying is finished. Further, when it is confirmed that the shielding devices 9, 10 a, and 10 b have stopped driving all the brushes and discharging water from the watering nozzle and the rear end of the vehicle body has passed the position of the shutter body 9, the shutter body 9 is the main body 1. The upper and lower plates 10a and 10b are wound up to the upper standby position, and are closed to the accommodation position on the side of the main body 1 (FIG. 6b).
[0029]
Thus, when the speed car wash that the main body 1 travels once is completed, the control unit 20 prompts the car to leave, and when the car leaves in response, the main body 1 is moved back to the car wash start position. The car wash operation ends. As described above, brushing cleaning and drying treatment are performed simultaneously with the outward travel, and the car wash that has been performed one round trip with the conventional gate-type car wash machine can be completed with only one half of the outward travel. It can be done.
[0030]
In addition, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various embodiment can be considered in the range which does not deviate from description of a claim. In the embodiment, the cleaning unit S is formed on the front side of the apparatus main body 1 and the drying unit D is formed on the rear side. However, after the drying unit is provided on the front side as in the case of a widely used gate-type car wash machine. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus in which a washing section is provided near the vehicle and a car washing operation is performed by reciprocating the main body. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a car wash machine in which an automobile is run in the apparatus main body and is washed. Further, although the cleaning unit S of the embodiment performs brushing cleaning, it is apparent that the cleaning unit S can be applied to a brushless car washer that does not have a brush and performs cleaning with high-pressure spray.
[0031]
Further, the structure of the opening / closing plate is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be arbitrarily connected to and separated from the side surface of the automobile with the same configuration as the side brush. Furthermore, as the vehicle body side detection device, the configuration in which the ultrasonic sensor is detected from the side of the main body is exemplified. However, the ultrasonic sensor detects the side position of the automobile from the upper side of the main body, or the side brush contacts the side of the automobile. A switch for detecting this may be provided, and the side position may be detected from the encoder of the drive motor for the side brush, or the side position may be detected from the position of the car taken by providing a camera on the upper front of the main body.
[0032]
Further, the operation panel may be provided with a function of inputting the vehicle type of the automobile, and the operation of the opening / closing plate may be controlled based on the input vehicle type. That is, options such as a light vehicle and a wide vehicle are provided, and control is performed such that both opening / closing plates are used in a light vehicle and neither is used in a wide vehicle.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention is provided with shielding means between the washing section and the drying section in the car wash machine that has rigidity that does not bend against the air blown from the blower nozzle, and blocks the upper and side parts of the automobile. Further, it is possible to reliably prevent the washing water from being scattered from the washing unit to the drying unit. In addition, since the cleaning unit and the drying unit are separated, the cleaning and drying can be performed simultaneously without being affected by the air blow from the drying unit, and quick car washing becomes possible. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide the cleaning unit and the drying unit separately, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.
[0034]
Further, the side shielding means of the shielding means is an opening / closing that is closed in a direction opposite to the car wash traveling direction from the shielding position between the washing section and the drying section and approaching the side of the automobile to the housing position accommodated in the car wash machine. Because it is configured with a plate, even if there is a problem with the vehicle body coming into contact with the opening / closing body, the opening / closing body closes to the housing position and escapes, so that the car and shutter can be washed safely without damaging the car or shutter. Can do.
[0035]
Furthermore, the side shielding means is provided in a pair of left and right, and is provided so as to be displaceable to each position independently between the left and right between the accommodation position accommodated in the car wash machine and the shielding position approached to the side of the automobile, Since the control means having the function of judging whether or not the side shielding means can be displaced to the shielding position and the function of displacing only the side shielding means on the side determined to be displaceable to the shielding position is provided. Only the opening / closing plate on the side that can be automatically displaced can be applied to the shielding position without being affected by the size of the opening / closing vehicle or the stopping position, and can be used safely.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a structure of a shutter body which is a shielding means of the car wash machine.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a structure of an opening / closing body which is a shielding means of the car wash machine.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the car wash machine.
FIG. 5 is a time chart showing the operation of the car wash machine.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the car wash machine.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an operation example of an opening / closing plate of the car wash machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 3 Upper surface brush 4a * 4b Side brush 6 Upper surface blower nozzle 7a * 7b Side blower nozzle 9 Shutter body (upper shielding means)
10a / 10b Open / close body (side shield means)
11a / 11b Vehicle shape detection device 12a / 12b Car body side surface detection device ()
30 Control unit (control means)

Claims (2)

In car wash machines that automatically clean the car and dry the car body after washing as the car or car wash moves,
The vehicle is provided with a vehicle body side surface detection means for detecting a side position of the automobile in front of the washing unit by disposing at least a washing unit having a means for spraying washing water and the like and a drying unit having a blower nozzle in front of the washing machine And a shielding means for blocking a gap between the car and the car wash machine so that water droplets from the washing unit do not reach the drying unit between the washing unit and the drying unit,
Upper shielding means having rigidity to prevent deformation of the shielding means by the wind from the blower nozzle, and blocking the upper space of the automobile from the upper part of the car wash machine, and a side blocking the side space of the automobile from the side part of the car wash machine Part shielding means,
Control means for displacing the side shielding means between a housing position accommodated in a car wash machine and a shielding position approaching the automobile side surface based on the side position of the automobile detected by the vehicle body side surface detecting means. Car wash machine that features. The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the side shielding means are provided in a pair of left and right sides, and each of the left and right sides is independently provided between a housing position accommodated in the car wash machine and a shielding position approached to the side of the automobile. The position can be displaced,
The control means displaces only the side shielding means on the side determined to be displaceable in accordance with the side position of the automobile detected by the vehicle body side detection means to the shielding position .

Images