JP5609662B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine installed in a gas station, for example, and used for car wash, and more particularly, to a car wash machine including a remote panel for setting a car wash mode.

  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 as operation means 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.

  A user who performs a car wash performs setting using a remote panel from within the vehicle to be cleaned, but the height of the vehicle to be cleaned is different for each vehicle to be cleaned, so the user can easily operate the remote panel at a desired height. It is necessary to set it. For this reason, it is preferable that the remote panel is automatically raised and lowered, rather than the user manually adjusting the height of the remote panel.

  Here, an apparatus for detecting the height of a vehicle to be cleaned and automatically raising and lowering a remote panel is disclosed (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2010-120528 A JP-A-6-344871

  However, the conventional technology as described above automatically raises and lowers the remote panel according to the height of the vehicle to be cleaned, but the vehicle height and the height of the driver's seat may not be proportional. . For example, in the case where the roof BOX is mounted on the vehicle ceiling or the high roof type of a mini-car, etc., the height of the driver's seat may not be so high even if the vehicle height is detected.

  Further, the height at which each user who operates from the vehicle to be cleaned can easily operate is not considered. That is, even in the same vehicle to be cleaned, there are men, women, and elderly people depending on the users on board. Furthermore, since the inclination of the seat of the vehicle to be cleaned and the front / rear position also vary depending on the user's preference, the height of the remote panel often varies depending on the user (synonymous with the driver).

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily displace to an appropriate height position by changing the height of the remote panel for each user. It is intended to provide a car wash machine that is easy to use and highly convenient.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a remote panel that is operated by a user of a vehicle to be cleaned and is set to a desired car wash mode, and the vehicle to be cleaned and the car washer body are moved forward and backward according to the set car wash mode. A car wash machine for washing the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving in a direction, a reading unit that records a predetermined height according to the user on a recording medium distributed in advance to the user and reads the recording medium The height of the remote panel is changed based on the predetermined height read by the reading unit.

  According to this configuration, a predetermined height corresponding to each user is recorded on the recording medium distributed to the user. The remote panel includes a reading unit that reads the recording medium, and the remote panel moves up and down based on the predetermined height read by the reading unit. For this reason, the remote panel has a height that is easy to operate according to the user, and provides a car wash machine that is easy to use and highly convenient.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an elevating button for adjusting the height of the remote panel in accordance with a user instruction, and after the remote panel is moved up and down to the predetermined height, When adjusted to the height desired by the user, the height is recorded on the recording medium as a new predetermined height.

  According to this configuration, the predetermined height is adjusted again to the height desired by the user via the lift button. Then, the height of the remote panel is more suitable for each user than ever. Further, if the recording medium issued this time is used in the setting of the next car wash, the height of the remote panel is suitable for the user without the need for re-adjustment, and a car wash machine that is easy to use and highly convenient is provided.

  Further, in order to achieve the above object, the recording medium is composed of a receipt issued every time the car wash acceptance is finished.

  According to this configuration, since the recording medium is a receipt that is issued every time car wash acceptance is completed, other information such as discount information and car wash setting information can be easily output at the same time. Provide a high car wash machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording medium comprises a receipt issued from a portable terminal device operated by an operator of a car wash facility.

  According to this configuration, since the recording medium is also issued from a portable terminal device operated by an operator of the car wash facility, the worker can use the user's physique (synonymous with the driver) even for the first use of the car wash machine. It is possible to set the optimal remote panel operation height based on the height of the driver's seat, etc. Also, since the receipt is received after receiving instructions from the operator on the spot, it is easy to use and convenient Provide a high car wash machine.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the height of the remote panel is sequentially changed according to the operation stage of the remote panel by the user.

  The operation section of the remote panel has different heights such as setting of equipment and setting of car wash course. For this reason, according to this configuration, the height of the remote panel sequentially changes in accordance with the operation stage of the remote panel, so that the height becomes easier to operate. Therefore, a car wash machine that is easy to use and highly convenient is provided.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability of the car wash machine and provide a car wash machine that anyone can use. In other words, a highly convenient car wash machine can be provided.

It is a side view which shows the whole structure of one car wash machine. It is a front view which shows the whole structure of one car wash machine. It is a front view which shows an example of the operation panel surface type remote panel with which the car wash machine which concerns on this invention is provided. It is a functional block diagram which shows the various functions with which the control apparatus of a remote panel is provided. It is an example of a recording medium (receipt) in which a predetermined height is described. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the setting operation of a remote panel. It is an example of the reception terminal (portable terminal device) which issues the recording medium which described the predetermined height. It is an example in which a user operates a remote panel remote panel. It is an example in which a user operates a remote panel remote panel. It is a front view which shows an example of the touchscreen type remote panel with which the car wash machine which concerns on this invention is provided.

  A car wash machine installed at a gas station or the like performs a car wash by injecting liquid or washing water stored in a liquid storage tank to the car to be washed while relatively moving the car to be washed and the machine body in the front-rear direction. It is configured. Further, brushing and cleaning while spraying a liquid agent and cleaning water, and drying by blowing drying air after cleaning are performed.

  In the washing step, first, dirt is removed using washing water, then washing is performed using a liquid agent such as shampoo, and further washing is performed using washing water. After this washing process, a drying process is performed in which air is blown from each blowing nozzle and dried. Further, if necessary, car washing is performed by appropriately combining liquid agent application processes such as wax and water repellent coating. In this way, various shampoos, waxes and coats are used as liquid agents used in car washing, and each car wash process is stored in a dedicated liquid storage tank and inserted into the tank. It is injected and consumed according to the process.

  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.

  A specific example will be described with reference to FIGS. This car wash machine WA is equipped with a car wash machine main body 1 that is equipped 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 the plurality of liquid storage tanks is diluted with water while being relatively moved in the front-rear direction, and the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the car wash machine body 1 are relatively moved in the front-rear direction. Car wash target vehicle CA is washed.

  The car wash machine body 1 is configured to travel and move along the rails 2 via the wheels 3, and the vehicle to be cleaned CA is a gate-type bridge between the left and right rails of the car wash machine that straddles the vehicle to be cleaned CA. Stop at a predetermined position, set the desired car wash mode from the operation panel (synonymous with the operation unit) 7 or the remote panel 7A installed in the car wash machine body 1, operate the start button, and 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 rocker brush 6. The top brush 4 is made of a brush shaft (not shown) and brush bristles attached to the brush shaft, or cloth (corresponding to woven fabric, knitted fabric and non-woven fabric), and can be raised and lowered via a support device (not shown). It is rotatably supported.

  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 50 provided in the car wash machine main body 1, and each of the storage tanks is provided via a distribution pipe unit 51 including an electromagnetic on-off valve and a sub-water supply hose. Distributing to the nozzles.

  As nozzles for injecting 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. . In addition, for drying, a blower 20, a freely movable top blower nozzle 21 for blowing 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 and the remote panel 7A arranged in the car wash machine body 1, and the car wash machine WA is driven based on the set condition. The driving condition of the car wash machine WA is set through 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 the car wash is performed based on the set condition. The 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. Instead of the sensor 8, a vehicle shape detection sensor (not shown) made of a transmissive photoelectric sensor may 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. The vehicle shape and bonnet height of the vehicle to be cleaned CA are detected.

  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.

  Next, the remote panel 7A provided in the car wash machine WA will be described. An operation panel surface type remote panel 7A shown in FIG. 3 is a device for setting a car wash mode of the car wash machine WA, and is installed on an approach path to the car wash machine WA as shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle to be cleaned CA is stopped in front of the remote panel 7A, and the user can set the car wash mode of the car wash machine WA from the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  The remote panel 7 </ b> A has a configuration in which a panel main body 71 is mounted on a column 70 so as to be movable up and down, and a lifting device (not shown) is built in the column 70. When the user presses the ascending button 85a or the descending button 85b, the remote panel 7A is configured to be movable up and down between a descending end and an ascending end (not shown). The up button 85a and the down button 85b are collectively referred to as the up / down button 85.

  A return lever 72, a coin insertion slot 73, and a bill insertion slot 74 are provided at a height position L0 on the front side of the panel body 71. Further, a card insertion slot 75 as a reading device for a recording medium of electronic data such as a prepaid card, and an optical reading for reading a recording medium (synonymous with a receipt) 107A on which a QR code as shown in FIG. 5 is described. A reading unit 76 having a function is provided.

  In addition, the remote panel 7A is provided with a money amount display unit 110 that displays the amount of money that has been inserted. Setting buttons 111 corresponding to various car washing modes are provided at a distance of about L1 from the height position L0. Examples of the setting button 111 include a button for performing shampooing, a button for performing waxing, a button for performing water repellent coating, a second (high quality) shampoo, a second (high quality) wax, a second (high quality) water repellent coating, and a special button. A selection button or the like for performing a proper coating is provided.

  Furthermore, the remote panel 7A includes an equipment setting button 112 at a distance of about L1 + L2 from the height position L0. As the equipment setting button 112, for example, a button with no corresponding equipment, a button with a front guard, a button with a fender pole, a button with a door mirror, a button with a rear wiper, and the like are provided.

  Further, for example, a start button 84a and a cancel button 84b are provided as start operation buttons 84 at a distance of about L1 + L2 + L3 from the height position L0.

  Furthermore, at the lowermost part of the front of the remote panel 7A (at a distance of about L1 + L2 + L3 + L4 from the height position L0), a payout unit 79 serving as a change return port or a receipt or receipt issuing unit is provided.

  In addition, the remote panel 7A is provided with a speaker 81 that performs voice output as a notification unit, and can output a voice guide that guides the content and procedure of the setting operation of the car wash mode or a voice guide such as cautions. Yes. Furthermore, a stop button 77 for stopping the output of the voice guide and a volume adjustment button 78 for adjusting the volume of the voice guide are provided.

  In addition, a vehicle detection sensor 80 that is a reflective photoelectric sensor that detects a vehicle to be cleaned CA entering the remote panel 7A is provided. Furthermore, height detecting means 90 for detecting the height of the remote panel 7A itself is provided.

  The above-described car wash machine WA has a 1: 1 configuration in which one operation panel 7 or remote panel 7A is arranged in one car wash machine, and at the time of car wash, a car wash mode adapted to the vehicle type. It is necessary to set the car wash mode desired by the user. For this purpose, a user or a car wash staff selects and sets a predetermined car wash mode on the operation panel 7 or the remote panel 7A.

  Here, the user (synonymous with the user) refers to all persons who can operate the remote panel 7A in order to wash the car from the car to be washed CA. That is, it is not limited to the meaning of a car owner user, but includes a car wash operator (for example, a clerk at a gas station), a car dealer, a car wash machine manufacturer, a car parts distributor, and the like.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram provided in the remote panel 7A. In the functional block diagram, a control unit 101 that controls the entire car wash machine, and a storage unit that stores in advance car wash modes such as information using electronic data recording media such as prepaid cards, car washing courses, and fees corresponding to options And a selection unit 103 that can select whether or not a receipt is issued, a new liquid agent, and / or a new car wash mode.

  The operation unit 106 receives the lifting / lowering operation of the remote panel 7A, the types of liquid agents to be set, the car wash mode, the presence / absence of receipt issuance from the input / output unit 104, and the car wash set through the control unit 101 A signal for driving the notification unit 81 and the car wash machine is output to the car wash machine drive unit 105 regarding the mode and whether or not a receipt is issued. Further, a receipt issuing unit 107 that prints and issues a receipt or a receipt as a recording medium is provided. Furthermore, a reading unit 76 having an optical reading function for reading the contents described on the recording medium such as the receipt is provided.

  The receipt is a recording medium described in a QR code as shown in FIG. 5 and records a predetermined height according to the user. Receipts and receipts are examples, and may be recording media using RFID. Then, under the control of the height control unit 108, the remote panel 7A moves up and down collectively to a height corresponding to each user described in the receipt without depending on a user instruction.

  Next, the raising / lowering process of the remote panel 7A is demonstrated using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1, it is determined whether or not the user moves up and down the remote panel 7A using the recording medium 107A as shown in FIG. If used, the process proceeds to step S2, and if not used, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S2, it is determined whether the user has the recording medium 107A (whether distributed in advance). If the user has it, the process proceeds to step S4. If not, the process proceeds to step S3.

  In step S3, the recording medium 107A is issued from a reception terminal (synonymous with a portable terminal device) 120 as shown in FIG. This reception terminal 120 is owned by an operator of a car wash facility (such as a car wash staff at a gas station). The recording medium 107A is output from the printing unit 121 of the reception terminal 120 through a predetermined operation. For example, the car wash staff tells the user, “If you take this receipt to receive a car wash, the height will be adjusted and it will be easier to accept,” and the car wash staff will tell you the size of the user ’s vehicle and user ( The predetermined height of the remote panel is input to the reception terminal 120 with reference to the position of the shoulder), and the recording medium 107A is issued. Then, the recording medium 107A is distributed to the user.

  In step S4, the vehicle to be cleaned CA enters the vicinity of the remote panel 7A. When the vehicle stops, the vehicle detection sensor 80 detects the vehicle body and communicates to the control unit. Announcement such as “Please come, insert coins, banknotes, and dedicated prepaid cards. When using receipts with height adjustments etc., please direct them to the specified location” Informed. Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the user reaches out from the driver side window and starts to operate the remote panel 7A.

  In step S5, the user points the recording medium 107A toward the reading unit 76 of the remote panel 7A, so that the remote panel 7A reads predetermined information from the recording medium 107A.

  In step S6, the remote panel automatically moves up and down all at once regardless of the user's instruction. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the robot moves up and down at a time by a lifting distance H from a height H1 to a predetermined height H2 according to the user. As the raising / lowering distance H, the user operating from the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA moves up and down to a height at which it is easy to set the car wash. Specifically, the setting button 111 corresponding to the car wash mode set first is moved up and down by the lifting distance H so that the setting button 111 comes to the position of the user's shoulder. As described above, the lifting distance H is different for each user, and is lifted and lowered collectively to a predetermined height H2 without depending on a user instruction.

  In step S7, it is determined whether or not the user needs to further adjust the height of the remote panel 7A. If necessary, the process proceeds to step S8. If not necessary, the process proceeds to step S9.

  In step S8, the user raises / lowers the remote panel 7A by pressing the up / down button 85. Here, the height of the finally adjusted remote panel 7A becomes a predetermined height H2 that is set in advance on the recording medium 107A from the next time.

  That is, when the remote panel 7A is moved up and down to a predetermined height without being instructed by the user and then adjusted to the height desired by the user via the lift button 85, the height is adjusted to a new predetermined height. This is recorded on the recording medium (receipt) 107A as H2, so that the user's preference can be reflected and the convenience is further improved.

  If no height adjustment is required in step S7, the height of the remote panel 7A before the height adjustment becomes the next predetermined height H2.

  In step S9, a predetermined setting is performed. The initial predetermined setting is a setting related to the car wash mode using the setting button 111. For example, various car washing modes such as a water washing mode, a washing mode using a detergent, a wax mode in which wax is applied, and a water repellent mode in which a water repellent agent is coated are selected and set.

  In step S10, the remote panel 7A automatically moves up and down. Specifically, it rises by the distance L1. Below the distance L1, there is an equipment setting button 112 which is the next setting button. That is, the remote panel 7A automatically moves up and down to facilitate the next setting without pressing the lift button 85.

  As described above, the height of the remote panel 7A automatically and sequentially changes according to the operation stage of the user's remote panel 7A, so that the convenience of the car wash machine WA is improved.

  In step S11, it is determined whether or not the predetermined setting has been completed. If it has been completed, the process proceeds to step S12. If it has not been completed, the process proceeds to step S9.

  Here, the case where the predetermined setting has not been completed will be described further. In the above, since the setting related to the car wash mode using the setting button 111 has been completed, the equipment is set next. Specifically, the desired equipment is set using the setting button 112. For example, it is performed using a button with no corresponding equipment, a button with a front guard, a button with a fender pole, a button with a door mirror, a button with a rear wiper, etc. (step S9). When this setting is completed, the remote panel is further raised by the distance L2 (step S10).

  Similarly, the remote panel 7A is raised by the distance L3 next time due to the operation using the start operation button 84. Then, the recording medium 107A and change are returned from the payout unit 79. As described above, the height of the remote panel 7A is sequentially changed according to the operation stage of the user's remote panel 7A, so that the convenience of the car wash machine WA is improved.

  In step S12, a car wash according to a predetermined setting is started.

  In step S13, since the car wash acceptance has been completed as described above, the recording medium 107A in which the predetermined height H2 is recorded is issued from the receipt issuing unit 107 and output from the dispensing unit 79.

  This is the end of the description with the flowchart.

  (Other embodiments)

  In the above embodiment, the operation panel surface type remote panel is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a touch panel type remote panel 7A may be used as shown in FIG. Here, the same functions as those in FIG.

  The touch-type remote panel 7A includes a display unit 82 formed of a liquid crystal panel having a touch panel on the surface. Further, the display unit 82 is provided with an up button 85aa or a down button 85bb, and can be moved up and down by pressing the button.

  In the above description, the remote panel 7A has been described as being raised, but may be lowered depending on the arrangement of the reading unit 76 and various setting buttons.

  As described above, the car wash machine WA according to the present invention includes the remote panel 7A that is operated by the user of the wash vehicle to set the desired car wash mode, and the vehicle to be washed CA and the car wash machine are set according to the set car wash mode. The car wash machine 1 performs the car wash of the vehicle CA to be cleaned while moving the main body 1 in the front-rear direction, and records a predetermined height H2 according to the user on a recording medium 107A distributed to the user in advance. A reading unit 76 for reading the recording medium 107A is provided, and the height of the remote panel 7A is changed based on a predetermined height H2 read by the reading unit 76.

  For this reason, the car wash machine 1 which is easy to use can be provided, the operability of the car wash machine 1 can be improved, and the car wash machine 1 that anyone can use easily can be provided. In other words, the highly convenient car wash machine 1 can be provided.

  The configuration of the present invention can be variously modified in addition to the above-described embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 2 Rail 3 Wheel 7 Operation panel 7A Remote panel 85a Up button (lift button)
85b Down button (lift button)
CA vehicle to be cleaned H2 predetermined height WA washer

Claims (4)

Comprising a remote panel and a display unit for displaying the car wash mode operation part for setting a desired wash mode user of the cleaning vehicle is operated is a touch panel, according to the car wash mode set, the washed vehicle And a car wash machine for washing the vehicle to be cleaned while relatively moving the car wash machine body in the front-rear direction,
The remote panel records the height of the remote panel according to the user as a predetermined height on a recording medium distributed to the user in advance, and reads the recording medium;
An elevating button for adjusting the height of the remote panel according to a user instruction
After the remote panel has moved up and down to the predetermined height, the height is recorded on the recording medium as the new predetermined height when adjusted to the height desired by the user via the up / down button. ,
The car wash machine, wherein the height of the remote panel is changed before setting the car wash mode based on the predetermined height read by the reading unit. 2. The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the recording medium is a receipt issued every time the car wash acceptance is completed . The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the recording medium is a receipt issued from a portable terminal device operated by an operator of the car wash equipment. The car wash machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a height of the remote panel is sequentially changed according to a user's operation stage of the remote panel .