JP4636953B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine that cleans the body surface of a car by relative movement between the car wash machine and the car, and more particularly to a car wash machine that includes a camera device that images a car from above a car wash machine body.

  Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-206519 is known as a car wash machine equipped with a camera device. This car wash machine is provided with a camera device for photographing an automobile from above and from the side, performs image processing on an image captured by the camera device based on the gray signal, and performs various car wash processes along the vehicle body contour obtained thereby. The device is configured to approach and perform a car wash. According to this device, protrusions (carriers, door mirrors, fender mirrors, etc.) protruding from the contour of the vehicle body can be determined, and the cleaning brush and the drying nozzle can be contacted and separated along the vehicle body contour including the protrusions. It is.

When detecting projections such as rear mirrors and license plates with such a car wash machine, images captured by the camera device will be captured if the object to be detected such as rear mirrors or license plates is exposed to direct sunlight or other strong light. There is a problem that whiteout occurs, and conversely, a dark part is crushed into black, and it is very difficult to specify the shape and position of the protrusion from such an image.
JP-A-6-206519

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a car wash machine with a camera that can reliably recognize a rear mirror and a number even in an environment with strong sunlight.

The present invention includes a camera device that captures an image of a car to be cleaned from above, and image processing means that performs image processing on the image captured by the camera device to extract the contours and protrusions of the car. In the car wash machine for cleaning the car body surface of the car by controlling the car wash processing device installed in the car wash machine along the contour and protrusions of the car extracted by the image processing means with relative movement, the rear opening of the car wash machine is covered. A first shield that can be opened and closed, a second shield that can be opened and closed to cover the front opening of the car wash machine, an illumination device that illuminates the interior of the car wash machine, and controls the first and second shields and the illumination device. Control means, and the camera device comprises a first camera device that images obliquely forward from the upper rear portion of the car wash machine, and a second camera device that images the direct downward direction from the upper front portion of the car wash machine, Said control means , When automobile imaging by the first camera device, turns on the said lighting device causes the closing of the first shield, upon automotive imaging by the second camera device, thereby closing said second shield with Ru is lit the lighting device.

In addition, an illuminance detection device that detects ambient illuminance of the car wash machine is provided, and when the illuminance detection device detects an illuminance that is equal to or higher than a predetermined value when the camera device captures an image of the vehicle, the control means includes the first camera device. When the vehicle is picked up by the vehicle, the first shield is closed and the lighting device is turned on . When the vehicle is picked up by the second camera device, the second shield is closed and the lighting device is turned on. The

In addition, when the vehicle image is captured by the camera device, the control means closes the first shield and turns on the illumination device when the vehicle image is captured by the first camera device. It is allowed, upon automotive imaging by the second camera device, Ru is turned the illumination device causes the closing of the second shield.

In addition, when the vehicle is imaged by the camera device, when the projection is not extracted from the image when the vehicle is imaged while the shield is in an open state, the control unit is configured to image the vehicle by the first camera device. The first shield is closed and the illuminating device is turned on, and the second camera is closed and the illuminating device is turned on and the vehicle is imaged when the second camera device images the vehicle. .

According to the present invention, in car imaging with a camera device, the shield provided in the car wash machine is controlled to cover the opening of the car wash machine, and the ambient light that adversely affects the image taking, including sunlight, is shielded. By using the internal illumination attached to the camera, it is easy to extract the contours of the rear mirror and the license plate in the image processing of the captured image.
In addition, an illuminance detection device is provided, and the shield is controlled to close only when brightness exceeding a certain value is detected. Therefore, the shield is operated only when necessary, thereby reducing running costs. Can do.
In addition, the shield is set in advance so as to operate only during the daylight hours of the day, and can be implemented with a simple configuration.
Furthermore, since the necessity of using the shield is determined from the state of the actually captured image without using a special detection means, the drive of the shield is suppressed to the minimum necessary, and there is no waste.

  Hereinafter, the car wash machine shown in the first embodiment.

  Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the configuration of the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same. In this example, the car wash machine travels across a car and the car-type car wash machine performs washing and drying. Is shown.

  The car wash machine main body 1 reciprocates on the pair of left and right rails 2 and 2 and moves so as to straddle the automobile stopped between the rails 2 and 2. Reference numerals 3, 4, and 4 are rotating brushes as a car wash processing device provided in the car wash machine body 1, 3 is an upper surface brush that moves up and down along the body surface and mainly cleans the upper surface of the body, and 4 and 4 are along the body surface. A pair of left and right side brushes that open and close and clean the side and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body. Blower nozzles 5, 6, and 6 are provided in the car wash machine body 1 as car wash processing devices for drying the vehicle body after washing, 5 is an upper blower nozzle that moves up and down along the vehicle body surface, and 6 and 6 are along the vehicle body surface. It is a pair of left and right side blower nozzles that move up and down.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the shutter device disposed above the front and rear openings of the car wash machine body 1.
The shutter device includes shutters 7 and 7 that are shields that open and close the front and rear openings of the car wash machine 1 and shutter storage portions 8 and 8 that store the shutters 7 and 7, as shown in FIG. In the sections 8 and 8, an opening / closing machine 9 having a gear motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions for driving the shutter and a winding shaft 10 for winding the shutter are provided. The winding shaft 10 is pivotally supported by the left and right brackets 11 and 11 and includes shaft sprockets 12 and 12 at both ends. A motor sprocket 13 is provided on the output shaft of the switch 9, and the power of the switch 9 is transmitted to the winding shaft 10 by winding a chain 14 between the shaft sprocket 12. Yes.

  The shutter 7 has a known structure in which elongated steel plates arranged side by side are connected to each other vertically. One end of the shutter 7 is connected to the take-up shaft 10, and the shutter 7 is fed downward by forward rotation of the take-up shaft 10. Get caught in. When the shutter 7 is extended downward, both side edges are guided by the guide rails 15 and 15 and slide along the guide rails 15 and 15 as the opening / closing device 9 is driven. Further, a soft sheet 16, 16 such as rubber having a predetermined vertical width is attached to the lower edge of the shutter 7 for protecting the vehicle body.

  17A and 17B are camera devices that capture an image of a car entering the car wash area and a car being washed, and 17A is a first camera that is provided at the center in the width direction above the rear part of the main body 1 and mainly images an oblique front from the mounting position. A device 17B is a second camera device which is provided at the center in the width direction of the front ceiling in the main body 1 and mainly captures an image directly below the mounting position. Reference numeral 18 denotes a vehicle shape detection device that is provided in front of the main body 1 and reads a shape (silhouette) from the side of the automobile as the main body 1 travels.

  Reference numerals 19 and 20 denote illumination devices. Reference numerals 19 and 19 denote vehicle body illumination devices provided on the left and right sides of the second camera device 17B in the main body 1 to illuminate the upper surface of the automobile. Left and right, respectively, and mainly illuminates the floor surface of the imaging range of the first camera device 17A. In these lighting devices, the light amount of the floor surface lighting device 20 is made larger than that of the vehicle body lighting device 19 so that the light amount becomes uniform on images picked up by the camera devices 17A and 17B. Here, the best condition could be obtained by setting the vehicle body lighting device 19 to 20 W and the floor lighting device 20 to 60 W.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the functions and operations of the shutters 7 and 7 and the camera devices 17A and 17B. FIG. 4 (a) shows a state where the automobile is stopped at a stop position for washing, and FIG. The first camera device 17A and FIG. 4C show the functions and operations of the second camera device 17B.
The car wash machine main body 1 is located at the stop position without reflecting the upper surface brush 3 from which the first camera device 17A is raised to the standby position from the standby position of the rear ends of the rails 2 and 2 shown in FIG. The front of the automobile travels to a position (FIG. 4 (b)) where an imaging range R1 that can be imaged regardless of the vehicle type is given, and the first camera device 17A captures an image in a state where the automobile is stopped at the stop position. To do. The captured image is used to confirm the position of the license plate.

  As shown in FIG. 4 (c), the second camera device 17B is provided with a photographing range R2 in which a portion of the car wash machine body 1 can be imaged. The rear mirror is based on the vehicle shape read by the vehicle shape detection device 18. When the image enters the imaging range R2, an image is captured. The image is used for rear mirror extraction.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the camera device 17B.
The camera device 17B includes a camera module 21 with a built-in CCD, a circuit board 22 for driving the camera, an illuminance sensor 23 that detects illuminance, and a cover device 24 that opens and closes an exposed surface of the illuminance sensor 23. Is housed above the front of the.

  The illuminance sensor 23 is used to detect the ambient illuminance of the car wash machine body 1 which is a criterion for determining whether to turn on / off the lighting devices 19 and 20, switch the shutter speed of the camera, and use the shutters 7 and 7. The cover device 24 is composed of an air cylinder 24S and a cover 24C, and is used to protect the photographing surface of the camera module 21 from washing water and dust in the air scattered from a rotating brush or the like during a car washing operation. The camera device 17A is configured in the same manner as the camera device 17B except that the camera device 17A is attached to the rear upper part of the car wash machine body 1 with a forward and downward depression angle.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control system according to the first embodiment.
Reference numeral 25 denotes a car wash control board. Based on the information about the equipment, shape, position, etc. of the automobile obtained from the image processing board 26, the car shape detection board 27, and the position detection board 28, the brushes 3, 4,. 4. Car wash processing devices such as blower nozzles 5, 6 and 6 and shutters 7 and 7 are operated to perform car washing according to the equipment, shape, position, etc. of the car. Reference numeral 30 denotes an operation unit for selecting car wash contents and inputting start of car wash, and for outputting guidance and operation instructions and the like by display and voice to the operating person.

  The image processing board 26 performs various detection operations by storing and processing automobile images captured by the camera devices 17A and 17B. The ambient brightness detected by the illuminance sensor 23 when the camera devices 17A and 17B are connected. Based on the above, the lighting devices 19 and 20 are switched on / off, the shutter speeds of the camera devices 17A and 17B are switched, the shutter device opening / closing control, the camera device cover device 24 opening / closing control, the lighting device 19 20 are detected. The image processing board 26 includes an image storage unit 31, a license plate position recognition unit 32, and a rear mirror recognition unit 33.

  The image storage unit 31 stores image data picked up by the camera devices 17A and 17B, stores images picked up at the start of car wash or during car wash, a basic image serving as a reference for mounting the camera device, and the like. When the car wash is completed, the image data stored during the car wash is transferred to the external memory 34. The external memory 34 stores image data of a car that has been washed in the past for a certain period of time, and the stored data can be used for investigating the cause and confirming the fact when there is a failure or trouble. That is, when some trouble occurs during the car wash and the car wash stops halfway, the camera device 17A, 17B captures the state and stores it in the external memory 34 together with the data of the vehicle shape detection device 18 and the like. In this way, it can be used to solve problems later. The external memory 34 is preferably a removable card type flash memory.

  The license plate position recognition unit 32 performs image processing on the image of the automobile parked at the stop position imaged by the first camera device 17A, extracts the license plate portion on the front surface of the vehicle body, and extracts the position (position in the automobile width direction). ) And the shape and configuration around the plate. The license plate is recognized by extracting an edge from the image of the front part of the automobile including the license plate imaged by the first camera device 17A, and searching the extracted edge by a pattern matching method. The position of the license plate is calculated based on the two-dimensional coordinates of the license plate, and the X and Y components of the two-dimensional coordinates are based on the mounting height and shooting depression angle of the first camera device 17A and the ground plate height parameters. This is done by detecting the position in the width direction of the vehicle body and the shape / configuration around it along with the data of the vehicle shape detection device 18.

  The rear mirror recognition unit 33 recognizes a rear mirror mounted on the rear part of the automobile, extracts a rear mirror portion based on an image captured by the second camera device 17B, and detects the position in the automobile width direction. The detection of the rear mirror is executed when the vehicle shape detection device 18 recognizes that there is a rear mirror. Similarly to the license plate position recognition unit 32, an edge is extracted from an image including the rear mirror, and the rear mirror is extracted from the extracted edge. It is specified by matching with a type image corresponding to the shape of the vehicle and detecting its position in the vehicle body width direction.

  The vehicle shape detection device 18 is provided in the vicinity of the shutter at the front of the car wash machine 1 and includes a light emitting unit 18a in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in the vertical direction so as to hold the automobile in the width direction, and one light emitting element each. A light receiving unit 18b in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged in correspondence with each other is provided to face each other, and the vehicle shape is read by the vehicle blocking an optical signal transmitted and received between the light emitting unit 18a and the light receiving unit 18b.

  The vehicle shape detection board 27 stores and processes the shape of the automobile detected by the vehicle shape detection device 18 and performs various detection operations. The detection drive unit 35, the vehicle shape storage unit 36, and the protrusion detection unit 37 are used. , A front end detection unit 38 and a rear end detection unit 39.

  The detection driving unit 35 scans the light emitting unit 18a and the light receiving unit 18b at a predetermined timing. The detection driving unit 35 is repeated every time the car wash machine 1 moves a unit distance using a pulse signal from the encoder accompanying the traveling of the car wash machine body 1 as a trigger. Transmit and receive optical signals between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit. That is, a signal is output to the light emitting unit to cause the light emitting elements to emit light in order from the top, and in synchronization with this, the light receiving level of the light receiving element facing the light emitting element is obtained in order, and the vehicle body detection is performed, so that one light emission The light from the element is detected by a light receiving element that is horizontally opposed thereto, and the vehicle body is detected between the elements.

  The vehicle shape storage unit 36 detects the vehicle body surface position of the vehicle by taking the vehicle body detection signal from the light receiving unit 18b in accordance with the detection drive by the detection drive unit 35, and accumulates the vehicle body surface position for each unit distance travel of the main body 1. Thus, the shape (silhouette) of the side of the automobile is formed. The projection detection unit 37 recognizes the projection by detecting local undulations on the vehicle body surface based on the vehicle shape stored in the vehicle shape storage unit 36, and determines the type of projection according to the position and shape of the projection. The method of specifying the position and type from the recognition of the protrusion is possible by the method disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-225065. The front end detection unit 38 detects the front end position of the vehicle based on the vehicle shape stored in the vehicle shape storage unit 36, and the rear end detection unit 39 detects the rear end of the vehicle based on the vehicle shape stored in the vehicle shape storage unit 36. The end position is detected.

  The position detection board 28 counts the pulse signal output by the encoder as the car wash machine body 1 travels, and detects the travel position of the car wash machine body 1. In addition, the position detection board 28 uses a known non-contact switch such as a beam sensor. Is detected at a predetermined stop position, or the standby position, travel limit, etc. of the car wash machine main body 1 are detected by a limit switch.

  As described above, the car wash control board 25 includes, from the image processing board 26, the car shape detection board 27, and the position detection board 28, the number plate, projections, vehicle body shape, illuminance, etc. Information on the surrounding environment is collected, which enables safe and efficient car washing without causing an abnormal stop or damaging the license plate or protrusions.

Thus the car wash for Example 1 explaining the operation based on the flowchart of FIG. 7 constituting.
First, when the operation unit 30 is on the front surface of the car wash machine body 1, the driver performs a car wash by performing a necessary operation input (start key input or the like) at the operation unit 30. Further, when the operation unit is located away from the main body 1 in front of the car wash area in the drive-through type, the operation input is completed when the vehicle enters the car wash area, so that the car wash starts automatically after a predetermined time.
Then, the vehicle is stopped at the stop position shown in FIG. At this time, the rear shutter 7 </ b> A and the front shutter 7 </ b> B are wound up in the shutter storage portions 8, 8, and the opening is fully open. The illuminance sensor 23 detects the illuminance at the front of the car (2), and the car wash control board 25 determines whether the detected illuminance value is not suitable for imaging, such as the possibility of whiteout or blackout. (3), if it is determined to be inappropriate, it is output to the car wash drive board 29, and the rear shutter 7A is controlled to close so as to block outside light such as sunlight, and the rear opening is closed. (4). In the car wash machine 1, the rear shutter 7 </ b> A is controlled to be lowered, and the first camera device 17 </ b> A travels to a position where the license plate of the vehicle can be imaged, and the lighting devices 19 and 20 are turned on, and the first camera device Car image is taken at 17A. Based on the captured image, the license plate position recognition unit 32 detects the position of the license plate (5). After imaging, the rear shutter 7A is rolled up (6) and proceeds to the next car wash sequence.

  If the illuminance detected in step (2) is appropriate for imaging, the first camera is opened in the same manner as in step (5) with the shutters 7 and 7 not operated and both the front and rear openings opened. Car image pick-up by the apparatus 17A and license plate position detection by the license plate position recognition unit 32 are performed (20), and the process proceeds to the next car wash sequence.

  The car wash sequence varies depending on the car wash course selected by the operation unit 30. The car wash sequence is a vehicle shape detection process in which the car wash machine body 1 is run and the vehicle shape detection device 18 detects the vehicle shape, and the vehicle shape detection process. A brush process for brushing the body surface by controlling the brushes 3, 4, and 4 according to the read body shape and a drying process for controlling the blower nozzles 5, 6 and 6 according to the body shape and blowing air to the body as appropriate. To be executed. The car shape detection process may be performed simultaneously with the brush process, or may be performed in a process in which the car wash machine main body 1 goes first.

  In the vehicle shape detection process, the vehicle shape is read by the vehicle shape detection device 18 every time the car wash machine 1 moves a unit distance using a pulse signal from the encoder accompanying the traveling of the car wash machine body 1 as a trigger. An image is captured by the second camera device 17B in synchronization with the reading. In the vehicle shape detection device 18, the silhouette of the car to be washed is formed in the vehicle shape storage unit 36, and the position and type of the protrusion of the vehicle body are detected by the protrusion detection unit 37 from the formed vehicle shape data, and the vehicle body is detected by the front end detection unit 38. The front end position and the rear end detection unit 39 detect the rear end position of the vehicle body.

  When the illuminance detected in step (2) is determined to be inappropriate for imaging (3), the rear camera detection unit 39 of the vehicle shape detection device 18 captures an image by the second camera device 17B. When the rear end position of the vehicle body is detected, the front shutter 7B is closed and the front opening of the car wash machine 1 is closed (8, 9). Since the vehicle shape detection device 18 is disposed behind the front shutter 7B, the light detection signal of the vehicle shape detection device 18 is not interrupted when the car wash machine travels, and the rear end detection portion 39 detects the rear end portion of the vehicle. At the time of detection, the front shutter 7B passes over the automobile, and there is no fear that the front shutter 7B descending contacts the automobile. When the front shutter 7B is completely closed and the vehicle passes just below the second camera device 17B, the lighting devices 19 and 20 are turned on, and the rear mirror is imaged as shown in FIG. 10). After rear-mirror imaging, the front shutter 7B is opened (11).

  In the brushing process, when brushing the front of the car with the side brushes 4 and 4, depending on the position of the license plate detected by the license plate position recognition unit 32 and the shape and configuration of the surroundings, the license plate should not be bent. Preventive measures are taken by a known method such as reducing the contact pressure of the brushes 4 and 4 or adjusting the rotation direction and the number of rotations of the brushes 4 and 4. If it is determined that the risk of bending is low from the shape and configuration around the license plate detected by the license plate position recognition unit 32, the front of the vehicle body is brushed without taking any preventive measures. When the license plate cannot be recognized by the license plate position recognition unit 32 and its position and surrounding shape cannot be specified, the preventive measures are taken on the entire front surface of the vehicle body as in the conventional case.

  In the brush process or the drying process, when the brush or blower nozzle reaches the position of the protrusion detected by the protrusion detection unit 37, the protrusion may be damaged depending on the position and type of the protrusion given by the detection unit 37. Operate to avoid it. When avoiding the side brushes 4 and 4 and the side blower nozzles 6 and 6, for example, if the rear mirror recognition unit 33 has confirmed the position of the rear mirror in the width direction of the vehicle, only the brush or blower nozzle on the side that may come into contact with the rear mirror is used. To work around. When the rear mirror recognition unit 33 cannot confirm the position of the rear mirror in the width direction of the vehicle, the brushes 4 and 4 and the blower nozzles 6 and 6 are evacuated symmetrically as in the conventional case.

  When the car wash sequence is completed, the vehicle shape and projection data detected by the vehicle shape detection device 18 and the image data used on the image processing board 26 and the license plate / projection position data are transferred to the external memory 34 ( 12) End. The data stored in the external memory 34 can be used as verification data when an abnormality occurs, when an accident occurs, or when a complaint occurs.

Subsequently, the position recognition of the rear mirror in the vehicle shape detection step will be described.
The vehicle shape detection step is executed when the car wash machine main body 1 travels from the standby position to the travel front end position in FIG. The image of the rear mirror RM is captured by the second camera device 17B while the rear mirror passes through the imaging area R2 of the second camera device 17B shown in FIG. Whether or not there is a rear mirror in the imaging area R2 is determined based on data detected by the vehicle shape detection device 18 that passes in front of the second camera device 17B as the car wash machine 1 travels.

  FIG. 8 shows an image taken when the car wash machine body 1 is located in FIG. 4C in the daytime when the sunlight is strong. FIG. 8A shows an image when the shutter is not used, and FIG. b) represents an image in which the shutter is used.

Many of the automobiles equipped with the rear mirror RM are one-box type vehicles, and the rear mirror RM is attached to the rear window from the rear edge of the roof. Here, when the shutter is not used, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the sunlight reflects on the vehicle body surface and whiteout occurs, and the rear window is reflected in the surrounding image. turn into. In this image, it is impossible to perform image processing on the part where whiteout has occurred, the body contour cannot be detected, and if the surrounding image reflected in the rear window is similar to the rear mirror type image, it is mistaken for the rear mirror. . On the other hand, when a shutter is used, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), since it is possible to take an image under an optimum condition by an illumination device without being affected by external light, the reflected light and the rear window Reflection does not occur, and the vehicle body contour and the rear mirror can be accurately extracted.

  The present invention can be implemented as described above, and various embodiments are conceivable without departing from the scope of the claims. In the embodiment, an example was shown for a gate type car wash machine, but it can also be applied to a stationary type car wash machine in which a car is moved by a conveyor or the like. After the car is imaged in the same manner, a necessary body part may be imaged in accordance with the movement of the car. In the embodiment, a plurality of cameras with different shooting ranges are provided. However, if an actuator or the like is provided so that a single camera can change the shooting range to capture an image, a smaller number of cameras can be used instead. On the contrary, if the number of cameras is increased so that images from both sides of the car can be taken from the upper part of the car washer, the detection of door mirrors, custom mirrors, side poles, etc. protruding from the car side shape and side profile will be possible. It can be done more accurately. In the embodiment, a shutter device is employed as a shield for opening and closing the car wash machine opening. However, any material that can block strong light from the outside of the car wash machine, such as a slide plate and a roll screen, can be used.

  Note that the shutter device can be expected to be effective in preventing washing water from splashing by lowering the shutter during the brush cleaning process. Further, as a measure for preventing freezing of a cleaning device such as a brush in winter, the opening can be fully closed with a shutter when the car wash machine is not used, thereby preventing intrusion of cold air.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the shutter device used in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
Similar to the shutter device of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, this shutter device includes a shutter 7, a shutter storage portion 8, and an opening / closing device 9, and a sensor box on both lower sides of the soft sheet 16 at the lower end of the shutter 7. 40 and 40 are attached so as to face each other. In the sensor boxes 40 and 40, two pairs of photoelectric switches 41 and 41 are provided before and after the shutter. One sensor box contains the light-emitting elements of the photoelectric switches 41 and 41, and the other sensor box contains the same light-receiving element. When an optical signal transmitted and received between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element is blocked by the automobile, It outputs a detection signal and is used as a vehicle body detection means for raising and lowering the shutter 7 in a non-contact manner with the vehicle body along the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body.

Next, an operation example of the second embodiment will be described.
When the front and rear shutters 7 and 7 are wound up in the shutter housings 8 and 8, the car wash is started and the car wash machine goes forward. When the car shape detection device 18 starts to detect the car, the car wash control board A signal is output from 25 to the car wash drive board 29 and the shutters 7 and 7 are lowered. As soon as the vehicle is detected by one of the two photoelectric switches 41 and 41 as the shutters 7 and 7 are lowered, the descent is stopped and held at a constant height. , 41 when both of them start to detect, one of them is raised until the vehicle body detection state is reached, and when either one becomes undetected, the rise is stopped and held at a fixed position. The shutter 12 is controlled so as to follow the shape of the vehicle body by repeatedly raising, lowering, and holding, such as descending if it is not detected, so that the outside light does not enter the car wash machine body 1. The shutter is driven only when the camera device picks up the image for the first time, and the shutters 7 and 7 are wound up in the shutter storage portions 8 and 8 after the image pickup is completed.

  By attaching the sensor boxes 40 and 40 to the shutters 7 and 7, even when an automobile is located below the shutter device, the shutter can be lowered to the very minimum without contacting the vehicle body. By closing both the front and rear openings of the car wash machine during imaging with the camera device, the influence of external light is eliminated to prevent overexposure, blackout, and reflection, and the position of projections such as license plates and rear mirrors can be detected more accurately. To do.

  The car wash machine according to the third embodiment includes a timer 42. The time zone for operating the shutter device is set / input via the operation unit 30 in advance and stored by the timer 42. For example, the time zone from 7 am to 5 pm is used in the daytime. If the time is set, the car wash accepted during the set time zone is always closed and the camera device performs imaging. And the shutter device is not operated at night which is outside the set time. In this way, it is possible to easily reduce unnecessary shutter operation by driving the shutter device only in a preset time zone in which the outdoor where the car wash machine is installed is expected to be bright without detecting illuminance. Can do.

The car wash machine of the fourth embodiment does not include an illuminance detection device, and determines whether or not the shutter needs to be closed as shown in the flowchart of FIG.
First, the car stops at the stop position (1). This stop position is a position where the front part of the automobile including the license plate enters the imaging range of the first camera device 17A. The process proceeds to step (2). Preliminary imaging (number plate imaging 1) of the front part of the vehicle is performed with the first camera device 17A, and the license plate position recognition unit 32 performs image processing on the captured image. It is determined whether the position of the license plate (position in the vehicle width direction) and the shape and configuration around the plate can be detected (3). If the image quality is good and the position of the license plate can be read accurately, the process proceeds directly to the next car washing process (13), and the shutter device is not used when imaging the rear mirror (14).

  In step (3), when the captured image is exposed to white light, blackout or the like due to the light around the car wash machine such as sunlight, and the position of the license plate cannot be detected, the rear shutter 7A is closed (4 The image is picked up again by the first camera device 17A (number plate image pick-up 2), and the position of the license plate is detected from the obtained image (5). Hereinafter, the process of opening the rear shutter and proceeding to the next car wash sequence ((6) to (12)) is the same as in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the necessity of using the shutter can be clearly determined by performing imaging and image processing as a trial before using the shutter.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the configuration of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
The car wash machine according to the fifth embodiment includes folding devices such as an awning and a tent or a wind-up type awning device 43A, 43B as a shield, and blocks outside light such as sunlight. The awning has a smaller installation space than the shutter device, and the awning portions 44A and 44B of the sunshade device project outside from the opening surface of the car wash machine, so that the image pickup area R2 of the camera device 17B that is limited to the car wash machine It can also be spread outside the machine, making the depth of the car wash machine compact. Further, since the automobile stop position can be provided within the license plate imaging range, the travel distance of the car wash machine is shortened, and the time required for car wash can be shortened. Furthermore, there is no risk of contact between the vehicle and the sunshade when the sunshade is activated.

  It can be used in a gate type car wash machine that is installed outdoors and has a camera device that images a car to be cleaned.

1 is a side view showing a configuration of Example 1. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of Example 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the shutter apparatus of Example 1. FIG. It is a side view explaining the function and operation of the shutter and camera device in Example 1. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a camera device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image near a rear mirror captured in Example 1. FIG. It is a figure explaining the internal structure of the shutter apparatus of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the fourth embodiment. 10 is a side view showing the configuration of Example 5. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine main body 3,4,4 Brush 5,6,6 Blower nozzle 7,7 Shutter 8,8 Shutter accommodating part 17A, 17B Camera apparatus 18 Car shape detection apparatus 19,20 Illumination apparatus 23 Illuminance sensor 40 Sensor box 41 Photoelectric switch 42 timer

Claims (4)

A camera device for imaging a car to be cleaned from above, and an image processing means for extracting an outline and protrusions of the car by image processing the image taken by the camera device, and accompanying relative movement between the car washer and the car In the car wash machine for cleaning the car body surface of the car by controlling the car wash processing device equipped in the car wash machine along the outline and protrusions of the car extracted by the image processing means,
A first openable / closable cover covering the rear opening of the car wash machine, a second openable / closable cover covering the front opening of the car wash machine, an illumination device for illuminating the interior of the car wash machine, and the first and second shields And a control means for controlling the operation of the lighting device,
The camera device is composed of a first camera device that images obliquely forward from the upper rear portion in the car wash machine, and a second camera device that images the direct downward direction from the upper front portion in the car wash machine,
The control means closes the first shield and turns on the lighting device when the vehicle is imaged by the first camera device, and turns on the lighting device, and when the vehicle is imaged by the second camera device, the second shield. car washes, wherein Rukoto is turned the illumination device causes the closing of the.
An illuminance detection device for detecting the ambient illuminance of the car wash machine is provided, and when the illuminance detection device detects an illuminance greater than or equal to a predetermined value at the time of image capturing of the vehicle by the camera device, the control means detects the vehicle by the first camera device. upon imaging, the turns on the said lighting device of the first shield causes the closing, when an automobile imaging by the second camera device is turned the illumination device causes the closing of the second shield Rukoto The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein:
When the vehicle is imaged by the camera device, when the preset time zone is reached, the control unit closes the first shield and lights the illumination device when the vehicle is imaged by the first camera device . upon automotive imaging by the second camera device, car washes of the preceding claims 1, wherein Rukoto is turned the illumination device causes the closing of the second shield.
Upon automotive imaging by the camera apparatus, when said left projection from the image when the automobile was captured in the shield open state can not be extracted, the control means, upon automotive imaging by the first camera device, wherein The first shield is closed and the lighting device is turned on, and the second camera device is closed and the lighting device is turned on and the vehicle is imaged when the second camera device is picked up. The car wash machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it is characterized in that

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