JP5630445B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine provided with a blowing nozzle for blowing and drying a vehicle to be cleaned.

  A conventional car wash machine in which a car wash machine is installed in a gas station or the like is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The car wash machine includes a main body formed in a gate shape across the vehicle to be cleaned. The main body moves relative to the vehicle to be cleaned in the front-rear direction, and includes a rotating brush, a blower nozzle, and a detection sensor (pulse encoder).

  The rotating brush has a side brush provided on the side and a top brush provided on the upper part, and is rotated by a drive motor to clean the vehicle to be cleaned. The blowing nozzle has a top blowing nozzle provided on the upper surface and a side blowing nozzle provided on the side surface, and sends air to the vehicle to be cleaned for drying. The detection sensor detects the position of the side brush in the left-right direction.

  When the user sets the car wash and the car wash is started, the rotating brush moves back and forth with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned by relative movement of the main body. At this time, the rotating brush moves in a direction left and right away from the vehicle to be cleaned when the rotational load is large, and moves in a direction to approach the vehicle to be cleaned when the rotational load is small. The position of the side brush in the left-right direction is detected by a detection sensor and stored.

  Next, the blowing nozzle moves back and forth with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned by the relative movement of the main body. At this time, the side blowing nozzle moves in the left-right direction along the locus of the side brush, and sends out air to dry the vehicle to be cleaned. Thereby, a side blowing nozzle moves along a to-be-cleaned vehicle, avoiding protrusions, such as a side mirror.

JP-A-5-147503

  However, according to the conventional car wash machine, when the speed of the relative movement of the main body is increased, the response from the detection of the load of the side brush to the contact with the vehicle to be cleaned is delayed. For this reason, when the side air blowing nozzle is moved along the trajectory of the side brush, the side air blowing nozzle may collide with the protrusion and damage the vehicle to be cleaned.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine that can perform drying without damaging the vehicle to be cleaned.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a main body that moves back and forth with respect to a vehicle to be cleaned, and is pivotally supported by the main body and is brought into and out of contact with the vehicle to be cleaned according to a rotational load A rotating brush that cleans the vehicle, a detection sensor that detects the position of the rotating brush, and an air that is arranged on the main body portion to send air and moves along the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned according to the locus of the rotating brush In a car wash machine having a nozzle, the rotating brush is arranged outside a predetermined distance with respect to the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned by the detection sensor in a section in which the main body moves back and forth. When the main body moves at the first speed during cleaning with the rotating brush, the air blowing nozzle is retracted from the vehicle to be cleaned in the retracting section. When the main body moves at a second speed greater than the first speed during cleaning with the rotating brush, the blower nozzles in a section starting from a position preceding the start position of the retreat section by a predetermined distance. It is characterized by evacuating.

  According to this configuration, when the car wash is started, the vehicle to be washed is washed by the rotating brush. When the rotating brush cleans protrusions such as a side mirror and a roof carrier of the vehicle to be cleaned, cleaning is performed along the shape of the vehicle to be cleaned along the protrusions. Within the section in which the main body moves back and forth, a section in which the detection sensor detects that the rotating brush is disposed outside the predetermined surface with respect to the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is stored as a retreat section. When the main body 1 moves at the first speed during cleaning, the blower nozzle is retracted from the vehicle to be cleaned in the retreat section. On the other hand, when the main body moves at a second speed greater than the first speed, the blower nozzle is retracted in a section starting from a position preceding the start position of the retract section by a predetermined distance. And a to-be-cleaned vehicle dries with the ventilation from a ventilation nozzle.

  Further, according to the present invention, in the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, when the main body moves at the second speed, the air blowing nozzle is approached in a section starting from a position preceding the end position of the retreat section by a predetermined distance.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine configured as described above, the detection sensor outputs a detection signal when the rotating brush is disposed at the predetermined distance. According to this configuration, the detection sensor only needs to detect one point when the rotating brush is arranged at a predetermined distance.

  In the car wash machine having the above-described configuration, the rotating brush may be a side brush that cleans the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the side brush contacts the side mirror of the vehicle to be cleaned at the start position of the retreat section. Features. According to this configuration, when the side brush cleans the side mirror of the vehicle to be cleaned, it is stored as a retreat section, and the blowing nozzle is controlled according to the first speed and the second speed.

  According to the present invention, in the car wash machine configured as described above, the rotating brush comprises a top brush for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the top brush is mounted on a roof carrier provided on the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned at the start position of the retreat section. Is in contact. According to this configuration, when the top brush cleans the roof carrier of the vehicle to be cleaned, it is stored as a retreat section, and the blower nozzle is controlled according to the first speed and the second speed.

  According to the present invention, in the section where the main body part moves back and forth, the section in which the detection sensor detects that the rotating brush is disposed outside the predetermined distance from the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is the retreat section. When the main body moves at the first speed during the cleaning with the rotating brush, the blower nozzle is retracted from the vehicle to be cleaned in the retreat section, and the main body moves at the first speed during the cleaning with the rotating brush. When moving at a higher second speed, the blower nozzle is retracted in a section starting from a position that precedes the start position of the retracting section by a predetermined distance, so that drying can be performed without damaging the vehicle to be cleaned.

The side view which shows the whole structure of the car wash machine of embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the structure of the main-body part of the car wash machine of embodiment of this invention. The front view which shows the side brush of the car wash machine of embodiment of this invention The top view which shows the locus | trajectory of the side brush of the car wash machine of embodiment of this invention The front view which shows the side brush of the car wash machine of embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the locus | trajectory of the side brush and side ventilation nozzle of the car wash machine of embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a side view and a front view showing an overall configuration of a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The car wash WA includes a main body 1, a rail 2, and a remote panel 7A. The main body part 2 is formed in a gate shape having two left and right stand parts 90 facing each other and a ceiling part 91 connecting the upper ends of the stand parts 90.

  A pair of left and right rails 2 are provided on the ground G, and wheels 3 provided on the bottom surface of the main body 1 are disposed on the rails 2. Accordingly, the main body 1 is erected so as to travel on the rail 2 by driving of a travel motor (not shown) and to move relative to the vehicle CA to be cleaned back and forth.

  The remote panel 7A is arranged on the approach path of the main body 1. The vehicle to be cleaned CA including the side mirror 40 and the roof carrier 41 stops in front of the surface of the remote panel 7A. The user performs operations such as receiving a car wash by operating the remote panel 7A from within the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  On one side of the main body 1, there is disposed a tank storage 50 for storing a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquid agents such as detergents and waxes. A distribution pipe 51 for distributing city water and the liquid agent from each liquid storage tank is provided above the tank storage 50. First and second water purification nozzles 11 and 13, first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15, water-repellent coat nozzle 14, and wax nozzle 16 are led out to the distribution pipe portion 51 through electromagnetic valves, respectively. The first and second water purification nozzles 11 and 13 are respectively arranged on the front side and the back side of the main body 1 and inject city water to the vehicle to be cleaned CA. The first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15 are respectively arranged on the front side and the back side of the main body 1 and spray detergent (shampoo) onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  The water repellent coating nozzle 14 is disposed on the back side of the main body 1 and sprays a water repellent coating agent onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The wax nozzle 16 is disposed on the back side of the main body 1 and injects wax onto the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  Both stand portions 90 are provided with vehicle detection sensors 9. The vehicle detection sensor 9 is formed by a photoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like, and detects the outer surface shape of the vehicle CA to be cleaned as the main body 1 travels.

  An operation panel 7 is disposed on the front surface of one stand 90 of the main body 1. The operation panel 7 has the same operation buttons as the remote panel 7A, and accepts a car wash and sets car wash conditions by the operation of a user who gets off the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  With the buttons provided on the operation panel 7 and the remote panel 7A, shampoo, waxing, water-repellent coat, etc. can be added to the water wash to set the car wash conditions. Further, buttons for performing high-grade shampoo, high-grade wax, high-grade water repellent coating, special coating, and the like are also provided on the operation panel 7 and the remote panel 7A. Furthermore, equipment setting buttons such as a front guard, a fender pole, a side mirror, a rear wiper, a roof carrier, and no corresponding equipment are provided.

  The main body 1 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes that slide on the vehicle to be cleaned CA and perform brushing. The rotating brush is rotationally driven by a drive motor (not shown), and is brought into contact with and separated from the vehicle CA to be cleaned according to the rotational load. The rotating brush includes a side brush 5, a top brush 4, and a rocker brush 6.

  FIG. 3 shows a front view of the side brush 5. The side brush 5 is provided in a pair of left and right, and is formed by radially fixing brush hairs (not shown) made of cloth (woven fabric, knitted fabric, nonwoven fabric, etc.) or resin fibers on the shaft portion 31. A rail 32 extending in the left-right direction is provided in the main body 1, and a shaft 31 is rotatably attached to a moving member 32 that moves on the rail 32.

  As a result, the side brush 5 can slide in the left-right direction while being suspended from the rail 32, and can be tilted around the moving member 33. Then, both sides of the vehicle to be cleaned CA are cleaned by sliding on the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  Magnets 36 a and 36 b are provided on the shaft portion 31, and a drawer sensor 35 and an opening limit sensor 37 are provided on the rail 32. The pull-out sensor 35 detects the side brush 5 disposed at a predetermined distance L0 from the vehicle body CB of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  When the side brush 5 moves in a direction away from the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the drawer sensor 35 detects the magnetic force of the magnet 36a, a detection signal is output, which is a starting position of retreat sections T1 and T2 (see FIG. 6) described later. . Further, the end positions of the retreat sections T1 and T2 are when the side brush 5 moves in the direction approaching the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the drawer sensor 35 detects the magnet 36a. The time when the side brush 5 is separated from the vehicle to be cleaned CA (L0 = 0) may be set as the start position of the retreat sections T1 and T2, and the time when the side brush 5 is in contact with the vehicle to be cleaned CA may be the end position of the retreat sections T1 and T2. In addition, the main body unit 1 includes a storage unit (not shown) and stores the retreat sections T1 and T2.

  Further, when the side brush 5 slides away from the vehicle to be cleaned CA by the distance L1 from the drawer sensor 35, the opening limit sensor 37 detects the magnetism of the magnet 36b. The position of the side brush 5 at this time is set to the open limit position, and when the rotational load of the side brush 5 at the open limit position increases, the main body 1 stops the cleaning operation as an abnormal operation.

  Similarly to the side brush 5, the top brush 4 is formed by radially fixing brush hairs (not shown) on a shaft portion (not shown). The top brush 4 is moved up and down by a lifting motor (not shown), and is brought into and out of contact with the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Thereby, the top brush 4 moves along the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA, and the upper surface of the to-be-cleaned vehicle CA is cleaned. A pair of left and right rocker brushes 6 are provided to clean the lower portion of the side surface including the tire of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Similarly to the side brush 5, the rocker brush 6 is formed by radially fixing brush hairs (not shown) to a shaft portion (not shown).

  Further, the main body 1 is provided with a blower 20 that generates an airflow for drying the vehicle CA to be cleaned. A top blowing nozzle 21 and a side blowing nozzle 22 are connected to the blower 20. The top blowing nozzle 21 is provided at the upper center of the main body 1 and moves up and down along the vehicle to be cleaned CA and blows air toward the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

  The side air blowing nozzles 22 are provided on both sides of the main body 1 and blow air toward the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The to-be-cleaned vehicle CA is dried by the ventilation of the top blowing nozzle 21 and the side blowing nozzle 22.

  In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, the user stops the vehicle to be cleaned CA at a predetermined position away from the main body 1. Then, reaching out from the vehicle to be cleaned CA, a desired car wash setting is performed by the remote operation panel 7A.

  When setting the car wash, the user can select a low speed car wash or a high speed car wash. In low-speed car washing, the main body 1 moves at a first speed (for example, 3 m / min) and car washing is performed. In the high-speed car wash, the main body 1 moves at a second speed (for example, 12 m / min) larger than the first speed, and although the washing power is lower than that of the low-speed car wash, the car can be washed at a high speed.

  4, 5, and 6 are a plan view of the vehicle CA to be cleaned in the cleaning state, a front view of the side brush 5, and a diagram showing the trajectory of the side brush 5 and the side blowing nozzle 22. In FIG. 6A, the vertical axis indicates the position of the side brush 5 in the left-right direction, and the horizontal axis indicates the position of the side brush 5 in the front-rear direction. In FIG. 6B, the vertical axis indicates the position in the left-right direction of the side blowing nozzle 22, and the horizontal axis indicates the position in the front-rear direction of the side blowing nozzle 22. In FIG. 6A, the solid line m1 indicates the locus of the low-speed car wash side brush 5, and the broken line m2 indicates the locus of the high-speed side brush 5.

  When the low-speed car wash is started, the main body 1 moves at the first speed, the side brush 5 is disposed at the brush position S0 on the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA, and cleaning is started. Then, the side brush 5 moves while sliding on the vehicle body CB, and the side brush 5 comes into contact with the front end of the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and is cleaned at the brush position S1. At this time, the vehicle body portion CB and the shaft portion 31 are separated by a distance K0.

  The side brush 5 moves in the front-rear direction while maintaining a certain position (distance K0) with the vehicle body CB up to the brush position S2 that contacts the side mirror 40. When the brush position S2 is reached, the side brush 5 comes into contact with the side mirror 40 of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the rotational load increases. For this reason, the side brush 5 is cleaned while moving in a direction away from the vehicle body CB in order to reduce the rotational load.

  When the side brush 5 moves in the direction away from the vehicle body CB and reaches the brush position S3, the drawer sensor 35 detects the magnetic force of the magnet 36a and outputs a detection signal. As shown in FIG. 5, the distance that the drawer sensor 35 detects the magnet 36a is assumed to be a distance K1 (K1 = K0 + L0). At this time, the start position of the retreat section T1 is stored in the storage unit.

  From the brush position S4, the rotational load of the side brush 5 becomes constant, the vehicle body portion CB and the shaft portion 31 are separated by a distance K2, and the side brush 5 moves in the front-rear direction. Thereafter, the side brush 5 moves in a direction approaching the vehicle main body CB in order to reduce the rotational load.

  At the brush position S5, the drawer sensor 35 detects the magnetic force of the magnet 36a again and outputs a detection signal. At this time, it is stored in the storage unit as the end position of the evacuation section T1. Even after that, the side brush 5 moves in a direction approaching the vehicle main body CB because the rotational load decreases.

  When the brush position S6 is reached, the rotational load is constant and the side brush 5 starts cleaning the rear part of the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. At this time, the vehicle body portion CB and the shaft portion 31 are separated by a distance K0, and the side brush 5 moves in the front-rear direction. Then, the cleaning of the vehicle to be cleaned CA ends.

  The storage unit stores the start position and the end position of the retreat section T1 based on the trajectory of the side brush 5. Following the cleaning of the side brush 5, the side blowing nozzle 22 moves along a locus p1 (see FIG. 6B) based on the locus of the side brush 5, and air is sent out to dry the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the side air blowing nozzle 22 blows air between the nozzle positions N1 and N3 corresponding to the brush positions S1 and S3 by a distance K3 from the vehicle body CB. Thereafter, the distance between the nozzle position N3 corresponding to the start position (S3) and the nozzle position N corresponding to the end position (S5) of the retreat section T1 is retreated to a distance K4 that is further away from the vehicle body CB than the distance K3. Blow. This prevents the side blowing nozzle 22 from colliding with the side mirror 40.

  When the retreat section T1 is passed, the vehicle approaches the vehicle main body CB again and is separated by a distance K3 to blow air. As a result, the vehicle to be cleaned CA is dried, and the low-speed car wash ends.

  Next, the case where the car wash is started at the second speed set in the high speed car wash will be described. As shown in FIG. 6A, at the second speed, the same locus as the first speed is shown up to the brush positions S0 to S2.

  When the side brush 5 comes into contact with the side mirror 40, since the second speed is high, the response from the detection of the load of the side brush 5 to the separation from the vehicle main body CB is delayed compared to the low-speed car wash. Therefore, at the second speed, the position of the side brush 5 in the front-rear direction is detected by the pull-out sensor 35 at the brush position S3 'delayed by the distance Δd3 as compared with the first speed. At this time, the storage unit stores the brush position S3 'as the start position of the retreat section T2.

  Thereafter, the side brush 5 has a light rotational load and approaches the vehicle main body CB. When the brush position S5 'is reached, the drawer sensor 35 detects the magnetic force of the magnet 36a again. Since the second speed is higher than the brush position S5, the response from the detection of the load of the side brush 5 to the approach to the vehicle body CB is delayed by a distance Δd5. The storage unit stores the brush position S5 'as the end position of the retreat section T2. The distances Δd3 and Δd5 are stored in advance in the storage unit based on the test data.

  Thereafter, the rotational load of the side brush 5 becomes constant from the brush position S6 ', moves in the front-rear direction while maintaining the distance K0 from the vehicle body portion CB, and the cleaning by the side brush 5 ends.

  The storage unit stores a start position (brush position S3 ') and an end position (brush position S5') of the retreat section T2 based on the locus of the side brush 5. Following the cleaning of the side brush 5, the side blowing nozzle 22 sends air based on the trajectory of the side brush 5 to dry the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  As shown in FIG. 6 (b), the side blowing nozzle 22 blows away from the nozzle position N1 corresponding to the brush position S1 by a distance K3 from the vehicle body CB. And it retracts | saves to the distance K4 with respect to the vehicle main-body part CB in the nozzle position N3 which preceded the distance (DELTA) d3 with respect to the front-back position corresponding to the starting position (brush position S3 ') of the retracting area T2. Thereby, the side air blowing nozzle 22 is separated from the vehicle main body portion CB by a distance K4 and air is blown.

  When the side blowing nozzle 22 reaches the nozzle position N5 preceding the front and rear position corresponding to the end position (brush position S5 ') of the retreat section T2 by the distance Δd5, the side blowing nozzle 22 approaches the vehicle body CB again. And it blows away only the distance K3 with respect to the vehicle main-body part CB. As a result, the side blow nozzle 22 moves along the same trajectory as that during the low-speed car wash, dries the vehicle to be cleaned CA, and the high-speed car wash ends.

  According to the present embodiment, the detection sensor 35 detects that the side brush 5 is disposed outside the predetermined distance with respect to the outer surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned within the section in which the main body 1 moves back and forth. When the main body 1 moves at the first speed during cleaning with the side brush 5, the side blowing nozzle 22 is retracted from the vehicle CA to be cleaned in the retracting section T1. When the main body 1 moves at a second speed higher than the first speed during the cleaning with the side brush 5, the side is set in the retreat section T2 starting from a position preceding the start position of the retreat section T1 by a predetermined distance Δd3. Since the blower nozzle 22 is retracted, drying can be performed without damaging the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

  Further, when the main body 1 moves at the second speed, the side air blowing nozzle 22 is approached in a section Δd5 starting from a position preceding the end position of the retreat section T1 by a predetermined distance. The area can be reduced.

  The drawer sensor 35 outputs a detection signal when the side brush 5 is disposed at a predetermined distance K1. According to this configuration, since the drawer sensor 35 only needs to detect one point when the shaft portion 31 of the side brush 5 is arranged at K1, the configuration is simple and the detection method is easy, so that accurate detection is possible. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, the timing at which the side blow nozzle 22 approaches, separates, and retracts at an early stage with respect to the retreat section T2 can be appropriately changed according to the performance of the car wash machine WA. The protrusion may be any protrusion as long as it protrudes from the vehicle main body CB, and may be, for example, a fender pole.

  In the present embodiment, the trajectory of the top brush 4 is stored as a retracting section for retracting the roof carrier 41. For this reason, the top blowing nozzle 21 is controlled by retracting the roof carrier 41. Accordingly, the operation of the top blowing nozzle 21 is controlled according to the first and second speeds of the main body 1. Thereby, the effect similar to the above can be acquired.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can utilize for the car wash machine provided with the ventilation nozzle which ventilates and dries a to-be-cleaned vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 4 Top brush 5 Side brush 6 Rocker brush 7 Operation panel 9 Vehicle detection sensor 7A Remote panel 31 Shaft part 33 Moving member 35 Drawer sensor (detection sensor)
36a Magnet 36b Magnet 37 Open limit sensor CA Vehicle to be cleaned CB Vehicle main body T1 Retreat section T2 Retreat section WA Car washer

Claims (5)

A main body that moves back and forth with respect to the vehicle to be cleaned, a rotating brush that is pivotally supported by the main body and that contacts and separates the vehicle to be cleaned in accordance with a rotational load, and the rotating brush In a car wash machine provided with a detection sensor that detects the position of the vehicle, and a blower nozzle that is arranged in the main body portion and blows air and moves along the outer surface of the vehicle to be washed according to the locus of the rotating brush.
Within the section in which the main body part moves back and forth, a section in which the detection sensor detects that the rotating brush is disposed outside the predetermined distance from the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned is defined as a retreat section. ,
When the main body moves at the first speed during the cleaning with the rotating brush, the air blowing nozzle is retracted from the vehicle to be cleaned in the retreating section, and the main body is cleaned during the cleaning with the rotating brush. When the section moves at a second speed greater than the first speed, the air blowing nozzle is retracted in a section starting from a position preceding the start position of the retreat section by a predetermined distance.   When the main body moves at a second speed, the air blowing nozzle is moved closer to a section starting from a position preceding the end position of the retreat section by a predetermined distance.   The car wash machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection sensor outputs a detection signal when the rotating brush is disposed at the predetermined distance.   4. The rotating brush comprises a side brush that cleans the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the side brush contacts the side mirror of the vehicle to be cleaned at the start position of the retreat section. The car wash machine described.   4. The rotating brush comprises a top brush for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the top brush contacts a roof carrier provided on the outer surface of the vehicle to be cleaned at the start position of the retreat section. The car wash machine according to any one of the above.

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