JP5163501B2 - Car wash machine and side brush cleaning method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine installed in a gas station, for example, and used for car washing, and more particularly, to a car wash machine having a side brush for washing a side surface of a vehicle to be cleaned and a method for cleaning the side brush.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a car wash machine installed at a gas station, etc., sprays liquid or washing water stored in a liquid storage tank on the car to be washed while moving the car to be washed and the car washer body in the front-rear direction. It is set as the structure which performs. Further, brushing and washing while spraying a liquid agent and washing water, and drying by blowing air after washing are performed.

  Various shampoos, waxes and coats are used as the liquid agent used in car washing, and various liquid agents suitable for the type of vehicle to be cleaned and the surface coating layer have been proposed. These various liquid agents are respectively stored in dedicated liquid storage tanks, and are sprayed and consumed according to the process of the car washing process through a tube inserted in the tank. In addition, an operation panel and a remote panel are provided for selecting a desired mode from a plurality of car wash modes, selecting a type of liquid agent to be used, and setting a predetermined car wash mode. The operation panel is installed in the car wash machine body, but the remote panel is installed at a position away from the car wash machine body, and the remote panel is electrically connected to the operation panel. The car wash machine can be driven by the car wash mode.

  An example of a car wash machine including an operation panel and a remote panel will be described with reference to FIG. This car wash machine WA is equipped with a car wash machine main body 1 that is integrally mounted with a cleaning member having a plurality of brushes and a drying member having a blower and a plurality of blower nozzles, and has a gate shape so as to straddle the vehicle to be cleaned CA. The liquid agent stored in a plurality of liquid storage tanks is diluted with water and sprayed onto the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the car wash machine body 1 in the front-rear direction. The vehicle to be cleaned is washed.

  For example, the car wash machine main body 1 is configured to travel and move along the rails 2 via the wheels 3, and the pair of left and right rails of the car wash machine in which the vehicle to be cleaned CA is a gate type straddling the vehicle to be cleaned CA. Set the desired car wash mode on the operation panel 7 installed in the car wash machine body 1 or the remote panel 7A installed at a position away from the car wash machine body 1 and operate the start button. Start the car wash operation.

  The portal-type car wash machine main body 1 is, for example, a top brush 4 that cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and a pair of left and right surfaces that clean both side surfaces and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Side brush 5 and a pair of left and right rocker brushes 6 for cleaning the lower portions of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  In addition, there are provided various nozzles for spraying cleaning water and various liquid agents used for brushing and a liquid storage tank for storing various liquid agents. A plurality of liquid storage tanks for storing various liquid agents are stored in a tank storage unit 60 provided in the car wash machine body 1, and each nozzle is provided via a distribution pipe unit 61 including an electromagnetic on-off valve and a sub-water supply hose. Is distributed. As nozzles for spraying the liquid agent, for example, a first water purification nozzle 11, a first detergent nozzle 12, a second water purification nozzle 13, a water repellent coating nozzle 14, a second detergent nozzle 15, a wax nozzle 16, and the like are disposed. .

  Further, for drying, a blower 20, a freely movable top blower nozzle 21 that blows blown air from the blower 20, and a pair of left and right side blower nozzles 22 are provided. In addition, the driving condition of the car wash machine WA is set via the operation panel 7 disposed in the car wash machine body 1 or the remote panel 7A installed at a position away from the car wash machine body 1, and based on the set condition. The car wash machine WA is driven. Reference numeral 8 denotes a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the vehicle height, and for example, a photoelectric sensor or a sonic sensor using ultrasonic waves is preferably used.

  On the operation panel 7 and the remote panel 7A, there are selection buttons for selecting various car washing modes such as a water washing mode, a washing mode using a detergent, a wax mode for applying a wax, and a water repellent mode for coating a water repellent. A brush rotation switch for controlling the number of rotations of the brush, a start / stop button, and the like are provided.

  In addition, the car wash machine main body 1 is separated into a washing machine main body provided with a cleaning member and a dryer main body provided with a drying member, each of which has a gate shape so as to straddle the vehicle CA to be cleaned. There is also known a car wash machine configured to wash the vehicle to be cleaned CA while relatively moving the CA, the washing machine main body, and the dryer main body in the front-rear direction. Even if it is this structure, it is the same that it is provided with various brushes and various nozzles, and is provided with the operation panel 7 or the remote panel 7A.

  In the above-described conventional car wash machine WA, the side brush 5 that cleans both side surfaces of the vehicle to be cleaned CA corresponds to a plurality of types of the vehicle to be cleaned CA having different vehicle widths, as viewed from the front side of the vehicle. It can be moved freely. In addition, the pair of left and right side brushes 5 are moved and stopped at positions where they contact the side surfaces of the vehicle, and the brushes are rotated to perform cleaning.

  In addition, various devices have been made to adjust the pressing strength of the side brush that contacts the side surface of the vehicle, or to adjust the contact force to the projecting object such as a door mirror attached to the side surface of the vehicle. Yes.

  For example, there has already been proposed a car washing method in which a side brush that is opened at a position away from the side surface of the vehicle is moved in a direction approaching the vehicle, brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle, and then separated by a predetermined distance (for example, , See Patent Document 1).

  Further, in order to facilitate cleaning even on an inclined side surface, a side brush having a configuration in which the side brush can be swung freely and in parallel with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is preferable. Even with this type of side brush, it is important to make the pressing strength of the side brush that contacts the side of the vehicle appropriate, so the side brush is strongly pressed against the side of the vehicle and swings greatly. Then, a car wash machine that moves the side brush in the opening direction has already been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP-A-10-35431 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-7980

  However, there are various types of vehicles, including vehicles with a low bonnet height and vehicles with a high bonnet height. For this reason, even if the configuration is such that a swingable side brush is used to contact the vehicle and then returned by a predetermined distance, the pressing strength of the side brush is low in vehicles with a low bonnet height. Cannot be reduced sufficiently.

  This is because the side brush is once in contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned at a predetermined angle in the case of a side brush having a swing fulcrum provided at a relatively high position so that it can be applied to a vehicle having a high bonnet height. When the vehicle has a high bonnet height when the side brush returns to the vertical direction after returning a predetermined distance after swinging, since the distance from the swing fulcrum to the bonnet contact position is short, This is because in the case of a vehicle having a short bonnet height, the distance from the swing fulcrum to the bonnet contact position becomes long and a long distance is required.

  Therefore, as a car wash machine for washing various types of vehicles, it is not sufficient to simply allow the side brush to swing, abut against the side surface with a predetermined pressing strength, and then return to a predetermined distance. It is not preferable. Furthermore, even if the vehicle has a low bonnet height or a vehicle with a high hood, in order not to damage the door mirror that protrudes from the side surface of the vehicle, the pressing force on the side surface of the side brush is set to an appropriate strength. It is preferable to do. In addition, the side brush cleaning method for this purpose is not a complicated control in which the pressing strengths are measured and arranged, but a simpler control method is desired.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention is capable of maintaining the pressing strength of the side brush for cleaning the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned at an appropriate size even if the bonnet height of the vehicle is different. It is an object of the present invention to provide a side brush cleaning method that enables safe and stable cleaning with simple control.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a side having a pair of left and right side brushes of a left side brush and a right side brush that rotate and clean a vertical brush shaft in order to clean a side surface of a vehicle to be cleaned. A car wash machine that includes a brush device and performs car wash of the vehicle to be cleaned while moving the vehicle to be cleaned and a car wash body relative to each other in the front-rear direction, wherein the side brush device moves each side brush to the front side of the vehicle. The pair of left and right side brushes can be opened and closed in the left-right direction. When the vehicle is stopped and washed at an appropriate opening / closing position according to the vehicle width of the vehicle, the pair of left and right side brushes in the open position where the left and right side brushes are opened moves in the closed position direction respectively. Stops moving in the closing direction at a position where it is brought into contact with the side surface and further moved and rocked by a predetermined angle via the rocking fulcrum, and the position moved in the opening direction by a predetermined return distance from this stopping position is washed. And the predetermined return distance is a return distance according to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned.

  According to this configuration, the posture is returned by a predetermined distance from the position where the side brush suspended from the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is pressed against the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned with the swing support portion installed at a predetermined height as a swing fulcrum. By changing the return distance according to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned, it is possible to mitigate changes in the strength of the pressing force due to the height of the hood that occurs at the same return distance. The pressing force on the side surface can be set to an appropriate strength, and a car wash machine that does not damage protrusions such as door mirrors can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the side brush device is provided on the main body side of the car wash machine for opening and closing movement of the pair of left and right side brushes in the left-right direction, along the travel rail. A pair of left and right travel holders, which are movable left and right travel holders, are provided. Each travel holder includes a travel motor, travel wheels driven by the travel motor, and the travel holder along the travel rail. A guide roller that is slidably supported, a drive member that rotationally drives the brush shaft of the side brush, the swing support portion, and a swing angle detection sensor that detects the swing angle of the brush shaft. It is characterized by having. According to this configuration, the left and right side brushes are arranged at appropriate positions by independently driving the left and right traveling holders even if the position of the vehicle to be cleaned with respect to the car wash machine is shifted in the left and right direction. And stable cleaning becomes possible.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine configured as described above, a hood height detection sensor for detecting a hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned is provided in the car wash machine body, and a return distance corresponding to the hood height is stored in advance and detected. A control device is provided for controlling the driving of the travel motor so as to move the pair of left and right side brushes at a predetermined return distance according to the height of the bonnet. According to this configuration, by setting an appropriate return distance corresponding to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned in advance in each car wash machine control device, it is possible to stably wash a plurality of types of vehicles. Can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the return distance set in the control device can be changed to a new value. According to this configuration, it is possible to increase variations of car washable car types by newly setting an appropriate return distance for different car types.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the reference value of the bonnet height, the reference return distance with respect to the reference value, the first return distance with respect to a vehicle having a hood height higher than the reference value, and lower than the reference value A second return distance for a vehicle having a bonnet height is preset. According to this configuration, by using three stages of return distances set in advance for a plurality of vehicle types, it is possible to obtain a car wash machine that can easily cope with a plurality of vehicle types having different bonnet heights with easy control.

  The present invention also includes a side brush device having a pair of left and right side brushes of a left side brush and a right side brush for cleaning the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and relatively moving the vehicle to be cleaned and the car wash machine body in the front-rear direction. A side brush cleaning method for a car wash machine that performs a car wash of the vehicle to be cleaned, wherein the side brush device can be opened and closed in the left-right direction as viewed from the front side of the vehicle, and And an appropriate opening / closing position corresponding to the vehicle width of the vehicle by supporting the suspension in a suspended manner so as to be swingable in the left-right direction via the swing support portions. When cleaning with the left and right side brushes, the pair of left and right side brushes in the open position where the left and right side brushes are open are moved toward the closed position to contact the side surfaces of the vehicle, and further moved forward The movement in the closing direction is stopped at a position that has been swung by a predetermined angle via the rocking fulcrum, and the position that has been moved in the opening direction from the stop position is set as the cleaning position, and the predetermined returning distance is set. Is washed as a return distance according to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned.

  According to this configuration, since the side brush is pressed against the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned and is inclined at a predetermined angle, the cleaning is performed at a position returned by a predetermined return distance corresponding to the bonnet height. This is a cleaning method for the side brush that is brushed with an appropriate strength, and does not damage the door mirror protruding from the side of the vehicle.

  According to the present invention, in the side brush cleaning method configured as described above, the return distance is longer in the case of a vehicle having a lower bonnet height than in the case of a vehicle having a higher bonnet height. According to this configuration, the distance from the swinging fulcrum of the side brush to the abutting portion with the side surface of the vehicle becomes long. By increasing the return distance, the pressing strength against the side surface can be relaxed, and a side brush cleaning method for safely cleaning protrusions such as door mirrors is obtained.

  Further, in the side brush cleaning method having the above-described configuration, the present invention sets a reference value for a bonnet height and a reference return distance with respect to the reference value, and for a vehicle having a bonnet height higher than the reference value, The vehicle is moved by a first return distance shorter than a reference return distance, and for a vehicle having a bonnet height lower than the reference value, the vehicle is washed by moving a second return distance longer than the reference return distance. . According to this configuration, by using three stages of return distances set in advance for a plurality of vehicle types, the side brush cleaning method can be easily applied to a plurality of vehicle types having different bonnet heights with easy control.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the side brush cleaning method having the above-described configuration, the predetermined angle is 6 °, and the return distance is 30 to 200 mm. According to this configuration, since the brush shaft moves in the closed position direction until the brush shaft swings by 6 ° in advance, the side brush can be reliably brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle. In addition, by setting the return distance from that position to 30 to 200 mm, it is possible to perform cleaning in a state where it is not completely vertical but is still rocked (tilted) and relaxed to an appropriate pressing strength. It becomes the washing method of a side brush.

  According to the present invention, a posture in which a side brush that is suspended in a swingable manner with a swing support portion installed at a predetermined height as a swing fulcrum is pressed back from a position pressed against the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is returned by a predetermined distance. Since it is configured to change the return distance according to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned, it is possible to mitigate changes in the strength of the pressing force caused by the height of the hood height and to the side. To obtain a car wash machine capable of making the pressing strength of the door appropriate, and to obtain a side brush cleaning method that enables stable and safe cleaning without damaging protrusions such as door mirrors. Can do.

It is front schematic explanatory drawing which shows the washing | cleaning operation | movement of the car wash machine which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the movement state of a side brush, Comprising: (a) is the case of a vehicle with a low bonnet height, (b) is the case of a vehicle with a high bonnet height. It is a schematic explanatory drawing explaining the relationship between the return distance of a side brush, and the bonnet height of a vehicle. It is a schematic front view of a car wash. It is a schematic front view of a side brush apparatus. It is a front view which shows the holder part structure of a side brush apparatus. It is a side view which shows the example of whole structure of one car wash machine.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Moreover, the same code | symbol is used about the same structural member, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The car wash machine of the present embodiment includes a side brush device having a pair of left and right side brushes of a left side brush and a right side brush that rotate and clean a vertical brush shaft in order to wash the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned. And a car wash machine for washing the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the vehicle to be cleaned and the car wash machine body in the front-rear direction. In addition, the pressing strength of the pair of left and right side brushes against the vehicle side surface can be changed according to the type of the vehicle so that the pressing strength of the side brush does not become too strong. For example, the side brush 5 is cleaned as shown in the movement locus W of the side brush device SB that includes the side brush 5 and the traveling holder 50 shown in FIG. After making it contact | abut to the side surface of vehicle CA, it is set as the structure wash | cleaned in the position which eased the inclination | tilt angle which returns | returns a predetermined distance and contact | abuts.

  Since the side brush 5 is suspended in a swingable manner via the swing support portion 51 and is slidable in the left-right direction, the side brush is initially in an open position away from the vehicle to be cleaned CA. 5 is moved in the closed position direction (direction approaching the side surface of the vehicle), brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and gradually tilted (oscillates by a predetermined angle) when moved further. For this purpose, the movement in the closing direction is stopped at the position 5A that has been swung by a predetermined angle, and the cleaning is performed by rotating at a position 5B that has been moved in the opening direction by a predetermined return distance L from this position.

  Since a pair of side brushes 5 are provided on both sides of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, a pair of left and right side brushes 5 of a left side brush 5 provided with a left traveling holder 50A and a right side brush 5 provided with a right traveling holder 50B. Can be integrally opened and closed. For this purpose, the respective side brushes 5 are brought into contact with the side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and tilted by a predetermined angle, and then each side brush 5 is rotated at a position where the tilt is returned by a predetermined distance to reduce the tilt. The car can be washed on both sides of the vehicle by reducing the pressing strength of the vehicle. At this time, in order to maintain the inclined posture to be washed, the pressing force may be obtained by using the biasing force of the weight.

  Usually, on both side surfaces of the vehicle, door mirrors 80 are attached so as to protrude from the side surface at the portion moving from the end of the bonnet to the door, so that the side brush 5 once contacts the side surface of the vehicle and then moves a predetermined return distance. By washing the vehicle, the pressing strength against the door mirror 80 is reduced, and the vehicle can be washed safely. However, if the return distance L at this time is constant, inconvenience arises in the case of the type of vehicle, particularly a vehicle having a low bonnet height. This is because the swing support portion 51 that supports the side brush 5 so as to swing freely is set at a predetermined height in advance, so that the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned with which the side brush 5 abuts. This is because the distance traveled by the predetermined angle is different depending on the position. Therefore, in the method of washing the car while maintaining the inclined state using the weight, the pressing strength against the door mirror 80 may not be alleviated sufficiently, so an appropriate return distance corresponding to the height of each bonnet is set. It is preferable.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), in the case of a vehicle CA1 having a low bonnet height H1, the distance from the swing fulcrum to the contact portion becomes long, and after the contact, the long distance does not move. Since it does not incline by a predetermined angle, it is preferable to set a long return distance L1 as indicated by the movement locus W1. Further, in the case of the vehicle CA2 having a high bonnet height H2 shown in FIG. 2B, since the abutment is made at a relatively high position of the side brush 5, the distance from the swing fulcrum to the abutting portion is shortened. Since a predetermined angle is inclined at a small movement distance after contact, it is preferable to set a short return distance L2 as shown by the movement locus W2.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the pair of left and right side brushes 5 are opened and closed, brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA and inclined by a predetermined angle, when the vehicle is washed by returning a predetermined distance, The return distance for reducing the degree of inclination is the return distance L corresponding to the hood height of the vehicle. By doing so, even in the case of a vehicle with a low bonnet height, the pressing strength against the door mirror 80 provided to protrude from the side surface of the vehicle side surface and the portion that moves from the end of the bonnet to the door can be reduced. Thus, the vehicle washing machine can prevent damage without being hit hard when washing the side mirror of the vehicle or the door mirror 80 protruding from the side.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the return distance of the side brush and the hood height of the vehicle. This is because when the brush shaft 52 is returned to the vertical state from the tilted state by 6 °, the bonnet height H1 is as low as 0.8 m and the bonnet height H2 is as high as 1.5 m. It is a comparison.

  If the installation height H of the swing support 51 is 2.5 m, it is calculated that it is necessary to move the distance LB = 179 mm by trigonometry in order to make the position where the bonnet height H1 is 0.8 m vertical. The Further, it is calculated that the distance LA = 105 mm may be moved in order to make the position where the bonnet height H2 is 1.5 m vertical. That is, in the case of a vehicle having a low bonnet height, a movement distance that is 1.7 times that of a vehicle having a high bonnet height is required.

  As described above, in a normal car wash machine that swings and supports the side brush 5 at a height of about 2.5 m above the ground, from the inclined posture in which the contact angle of the side brush to the vehicle side surface is 6 °, When the vehicle is returned with a small bonnet height and cleaned by 50 mm when the vehicle is returned to the direction of decreasing the inclination, it may be returned to about 85 mm, which is 1.7 times that of a vehicle with a low bonnet height. It will be. Further, when cleaning is performed by returning 100 mm in the case of a vehicle having a low bonnet height, it may be returned by approximately 60 mm, which is 1 / 1.7 of that for a vehicle having a high bonnet height. Thus, as a control method of the side brush 5, a control method in which the initial contact angle to the vehicle side surface is 6 ° and the subsequent return distance is 50 to 100 mm is preferable. In addition, since the case of a vehicle with a higher bonnet height or a vehicle with a lower bonnet height is assumed, it is preferable that the apparatus specifications allow a larger double return distance, for example, a return distance of 30 to 200 mm.

  In order to drive the side brush device SB for a predetermined return distance corresponding to the hood height of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, a predetermined return corresponding to the bonnet height is previously applied to the control device that controls the driving of the side brush device SB. Remember and set the distance. The hood height of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be set by the user (driver) himself or the staff at the car wash station via the remote panel 7A before the car wash. Further, if the car wash machine body is provided with a sensor for detecting the hood height of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and the side brush device SB is moved by a predetermined return distance according to the detected hood height, It is more preferable because it can easily cope with an arbitrary bonnet height of the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  Next, the side brush device of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the car wash machine WA according to the present embodiment cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned in a portal-type car wash machine body 1 that travels along the rails 2 via the wheels 3. A top brush 4 and a pair of left and right side brushes 5 for cleaning both side surfaces and front and rear surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned are provided, and a blower 20 and a top blowing nozzle 21 that can be raised and lowered for blowing air from the blower 20 for drying. And a pair of left and right side air blowing nozzles 22. Moreover, the bonnet height detection sensor 8A which detects the hood height of a vehicle is provided. As the hood height detection sensor 8A, a photoelectric or ultrasonic reflection type sensor can be used in the same manner as the sensor 8 for detecting the presence / absence of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the vehicle height. In addition, it is possible to detect the presence / absence of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the height of the bonnet by using one sensor in consideration of the arrangement positions of these sensors.

  Further, instead of the bonnet height detection sensor 8A, a vehicle shape detection sensor (not shown) made of a transmission type photoelectric sensor can be used. In this case, a projector is provided in the vertical direction on one side of the car wash machine main body, and a light receiver is provided in the vertical direction on the other side opposite to these projectors, thereby entering the cleaning position. It detects the vehicle shape and bonnet height of the vehicle to be cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 5, each of the pair of left and right side brushes 5 is mounted on a traveling holder 50 that travels and moves along a traveling rail 30 provided in the car wash machine body 1, and is assembled as a side brush device SB that is movable to the left and right. ing. The left side brush 5 is supported by the swing support 51 of the left travel holder 50A, and the right side brush 5 is supported by the swing support 51 of the right travel holder 50B. Each traveling holder includes a traveling motor, traveling wheels driven by the traveling motor, a guide roller that slidably supports the traveling holder along the traveling rail, and a side brush, as will be described later. There are provided a drive member for rotationally driving the brush shaft, a swing support portion for swingably supporting the brush shaft, and a swing angle detecting sensor for detecting the swing angle of the brush shaft.

  The traveling rail 30 has an end shaft supported by a bearing body 41, and is configured to be swingable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle via a driving device (not shown). Moreover, the front-back inclination detection sensor 42 is provided, and it is set as the structure which detects the inclination of the front-back direction via this sensor.

  The left side brush device SB slides and moves in the direction of arrow D1 in the drawing through the left traveling holder 50A, and the right side brush device SB slides in the direction of arrow D2 in the drawing through the right traveling holder 50B. The pair of left and right side brushes 5 are configured to be opened and closed with respect to both sides of the vehicle to be cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the side brush device SB has a configuration in which the side brush 5 is rotatably and swingably supported on a travel holder 50 (50 </ b> A, 50 </ b> B) that can travel along the travel rail 30. The traveling holder 50 (50A, 50B) slides on the holder main body 31, the traveling motor 32, the traveling wheel 33 driven by the traveling motor 32, and the traveling holder 50 along the upper guide track surface 30a of the traveling rail 30. A guide roller 34 that is freely supported and a guide roller 35 that is slidably supported along the lower guide track surface 30b are provided. In addition, a drive member 60 that rotationally drives the brush shaft 52 of the side brush 5, the above-described swing support portion 51, and a swing angle detection sensor 37 that detects the swing angle of the brush shaft 52 are provided.

  The driving member 60 that rotationally drives the brush shaft 52 of the side brush 5 includes a driving force transmission cable 62A for driving the pulley 61A and a driving motor (not shown). A belt, a chain, or the like can be used as the driving force transmission cable body 62A.

  The swing support portion 51 may have any configuration as long as the brush shaft 52 is supported to be rotatable and swingable. For example, the support portion that rotatably supports the brush shaft 52 may be configured to be swingable integrally. Alternatively, the brush shaft 52 may have a double configuration of the rotation shaft 52B and the fixed shaft 52A, and the fixed shaft 52A may be swung. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the rotating shaft 52B is rotatably supported and the rotating shaft 52B is rotatably mounted inside the fixed shaft 52A.

  Further, when the side brush 5 is of a two-stage upper and lower type and each is driven to rotate separately, for example, an outer rotary shaft 53 is rotatably provided below the rotatable brush shaft 52 or the fixed shaft 52A. A side brush is attached, a pulley 61B and a driving force transmission cable body 62B are interposed, and the rotatable brush shaft 52 or the rotating shaft 52B extends through the outer rotating shaft 53 and extends downward. By attaching the lower side brush to the part, the upper and lower two-stage side brush 5 can be rotated.

  As described above, the brush shaft 52 can be rotatably and swingably supported using the swing support portion 51, and the side brush 5 is in contact with the side surface of the vehicle so that the brush shaft 52 swings. The side brush 5 can be driven to rotate and brushed for cleaning.

  Further, when the brush shaft 52 swings by a predetermined angle θ (for example, 6 °) set in advance via the swing angle detection sensor 37 that detects the swing angle of the brush shaft 52, the drive of the travel motor 32 is performed. To stop. The position where the brush shaft 52 is swung by a predetermined angle θ is a state where the side brush 5 is reliably in contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and it is possible to clean the side surface while maintaining this state.

  Reference numeral 36 denotes a swing restricting member, which is a member that restricts the swing when it swings by a predetermined angle θ or more, and is configured such that a shock absorber such as rubber is mounted on a metal member. Further, a position sensor 38 for detecting the position of the holder main body 31 and a spring 39 that elastically biases the brush shaft 52 so as to maintain it in the vertical direction are provided.

  Further, although not shown, an open limit sensor and a close limit sensor that define respective limits in the opening and closing directions of the left traveling holder 50A and the right traveling holder 50B can be provided.

  By using the side brush device SB having the above-described configuration, the traveling holders 50 (50A, 50B) can be slid and moved so that the pair of left and right side brushes 5 can be opened and closed. Further, it is possible to stop each side brush 5 in contact with the side surface of the vehicle and swing it by a predetermined angle θ, or to separate it from the vehicle by a predetermined return distance after the stop.

  Further, it is possible to easily detect the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned from the detection signal of the bonnet height detection sensor 8A described above and separate the vehicle from the vehicle by a return distance corresponding to the detected hood height. . The return distance according to the bonnet height can be stored in advance in the control device.

  With this configuration, it is possible to perform stable washing of a plurality of types of vehicles by controlling the driving of each traveling motor by the preset return distance corresponding to each car wash machine. In addition, if the return distance set in the control device can be changed to a new value, an appropriate return distance can be newly set even for different vehicle types, and the number of vehicle types that can be washed can be increased. It is more preferable because it is possible.

  As described above, it is possible to perform cleaning while moving by the return distance corresponding to the hood height detected via the hood height detection sensor 8A, and reducing the pressing strength against the side surface of the vehicle. However, a plurality of return distances can be set in advance for easier control. For example, three levels of return distances are set: a bonnet height reference value, a reference return distance for the reference value, a first return distance shorter than the reference return distance, and a second return distance longer than the reference return distance. be able to. And, for a vehicle having a hood height higher than the reference value, a first return distance shorter than the reference return distance is moved, and for a vehicle having a hood height lower than the reference value, the reference return distance. It is set as the structure which moves a 2nd return distance longer than this and performs a car wash.

  With this configuration, the bonnet height can be set in advance by setting the return distance in three stages: a reference return distance, a first return distance shorter than the reference return distance, and a second return distance longer than the reference return distance. This is a side brush cleaning method that facilitates the handling of a plurality of different vehicle types, and is preferable as a car wash machine for a variety of vehicles.

  These bonnet height reference value, reference return distance, first return distance, second return distance, and the like may be stored and set in advance in a control device (not shown) provided in the car wash machine body 1. it can. The control device includes a sensor system including various sensors, a drive system for driving the car wash machine, and a control system for controlling according to the car wash conditions set via the remote panel.

  It is preferable that the return distance set in the control device can be changed to a new value. With this configuration, it is preferable to set a suitable return distance even for different types of vehicles, because variations in the types of vehicles that can be washed can be increased.

  As described above, according to the car wash machine according to the present invention, the side brush is brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and a predetermined return distance according to the bonnet height is configured to wash away from the vehicle. It is possible to obtain a car wash machine capable of preventing the protrusions from being damaged during cleaning by reducing the pressing strength against the side surface of the vehicle and the door mirror to an appropriate strength.

  Further, according to the cleaning method of the side brush according to the present invention, when the vehicle is washed away from the vehicle by a predetermined return distance according to the bonnet height, the bonnet height is higher than that of a vehicle having a high bonnet height. In the case of a low vehicle, the cleaning is performed with a longer return distance, so that it is possible to brush the vehicle with an appropriate pressing force on the side of the vehicle with simple control. This is a safe and stable method for cleaning the side brush that does not damage the protruding door mirror.

  Therefore, the car wash machine and the side brush cleaning method according to the present invention can safely wash the side of the vehicle and the door mirror regardless of the height of the bonnet, and have various car wash modes and various options. The present invention is suitably applied as a car wash machine in a car wash place where a car wash machine corresponding to various vehicles is installed and a side brush cleaning method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine main body 2 Rail 3 Wheel 5 Side brush 8A Bonnet height detection sensor 30 Traveling rail 31 Holder main body 50 Traveling holder 51 Swing support part 52 Brush axis CA Vehicle to be cleaned H1 Bonnet height (low vehicle)
H2 Bonnet height (for high vehicles)
L Return distance SB Side brush device WA Car wash machine

Claims (9)

In order to clean the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, the vehicle includes a side brush device having a pair of left and right side brushes that rotate by rotating a brush shaft in the vertical direction to clean the vehicle. A car wash machine that performs a car wash of the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the body in the front-rear direction,
The side brush device can be opened and closed in the left-right direction as viewed from the front side of the vehicle, and is supported in a suspended state so as to be swingable in the left-right direction via a swing support part, When opening and closing the pair of left and right side brushes in the left and right direction, and stopping at an appropriate opening and closing position according to the vehicle width of the vehicle,
At a position where the pair of left and right side brushes in the open position where the left and right side brushes are opened are moved in the closing direction to contact the side surfaces of the vehicle, and further moved to swing a predetermined angle via the swing fulcrum. The movement in the closing direction is stopped, a predetermined return distance from this stopping position, and the position moved in the opening direction is set as a cleaning position,
The car wash machine characterized in that the predetermined return distance is a return distance corresponding to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned. The side brush device is provided on the main body side of the car wash machine, and includes a traveling rail for opening and closing the pair of left and right side brushes in the lateral direction, and a left traveling holder and a right traveling holder that are movable along the traveling rail With a pair of left and right traveling holders,
Each traveling holder has a traveling motor, traveling wheels driven by the traveling motor, a guide roller that slidably supports the traveling holder along the traveling rail, and a drive that rotationally drives the brush shaft of the side brush. The car wash machine according to claim 1, further comprising a member, a swing support portion, and a swing angle detection sensor that detects a swing angle of the brush shaft.   A hood height detection sensor that detects the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned is provided in the car wash machine main body, the return distance according to the hood height is stored in advance, and the predetermined return distance according to the detected hood height The car wash machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control device that controls driving of the travel motor so as to move the pair of left and right side brushes.   4. The car wash machine according to claim 3, wherein the return distance set in the control device can be changed to a new value. A bonnet height reference value, a reference return distance for the reference value, a first return distance for vehicles with a hood height higher than the reference value, a second return distance for vehicles with a hood height lower than the reference value, The car wash machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein is set in advance. In order to clean the side of the vehicle to be cleaned, a side brush device having a pair of left and right side brushes of a left side brush and a right side brush is provided. A washing method for a side brush of a car wash machine for washing a washing vehicle,
The side brush device can be opened and closed in the left-right direction as viewed from the front side of the vehicle, and is supported in a suspended state so as to be swingable in the left-right direction via a swing support part, When opening and closing the pair of left and right side brushes in the left-right direction, and stopping and cleaning at an appropriate opening / closing position according to the vehicle width of the vehicle,
A position in which the pair of left and right side brushes in the open position where the left and right side brushes are open is moved in the direction of the closed position and brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle, and further moved and swung by a predetermined angle via the rocking fulcrum. The movement in the closing direction is stopped at a predetermined return distance from the stop position, and the position moved in the opening direction is set as a cleaning position,
The side brush cleaning method is characterized in that the vehicle is washed with the predetermined return distance as a return distance corresponding to the hood height of the vehicle to be cleaned.   7. The method of cleaning a side brush according to claim 6, wherein the return distance is longer in the case of a vehicle having a lower bonnet height than in the case of a vehicle having a higher bonnet height.   A bonnet height reference value and a reference return distance with respect to the reference value are set. For a vehicle having a bonnet height higher than the reference value, a first return distance shorter than the reference return distance is moved, and the reference 8. The method of cleaning a side brush according to claim 7, wherein for a vehicle having a bonnet height lower than the value, the vehicle is washed by moving a second return distance longer than the reference return distance.   The side brush cleaning method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the predetermined angle is 6 °, and the return distance is 30 to 200 mm.

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