JP6034179B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a car wash machine for cleaning a vehicle body by relatively moving a main body frame including a car wash processing device such as a washing brush and a drying nozzle and a vehicle.

  In this type of car wash, if you forget that you have forgotten to handle the equipment (folding the door mirror, removing the antenna, fixing the wiper, etc.) after starting the car wash, you can pause the car wash. It has a function. The temporary stop function is activated by inputting the temporary stop key provided on the operation panel, remote control panel, etc., stops the car wash machine, and retracts all active cleaning brushes and drying nozzles to the standby position. . Further, by inputting the pause key again, the cleaning brush and the drying nozzle can be returned to the cleaning position, and the traveling of the car wash machine body can be resumed.

  With the conventional pause key, once the pause key is input, re-input of the pause key is not accepted until the cleaning brush or the drying nozzle reaches the standby position or the cleaning position. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a pause key is input during the car wash operation to give a retreat operation for moving the cleaning brush and the drying nozzle from the wash position to the standby position, and then the pause key is pressed during the retreat operation. The retraction operation is not canceled even if it is input again, and when the cleaning brush or drying nozzle is paused while it is in the standby position, a recovery key is entered to return the cleaning brush or drying nozzle from the standby position to the cleaning position. Even after the operation is given, the return operation is not canceled even if the pause key is input again during the return operation. For this reason, if the pause key is accidentally entered during a pause, the recovery operation will continue until the cleaning brush or drying nozzle returns to the cleaning position, causing damage to equipment that has not been processed. There was a fear.

JP 2003-127842 A

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the car wash machine which can use the function which pauses a car wash operation | movement more safely.

The present invention for solving the above problems is a car wash which includes a car wash processing apparatus such as cleaning brushes and drying nozzle to the main body frame, reduce washing and drying by the action of the wash wheel apparatus on a vehicle body, a single or a plurality of input means receives a return operation instruction to return to the cleaning position saving operation instruction retracting the wash processing apparatus in car wash from the wash position to the predetermined standby position from the standby position by a manual operation, car wash processor There detecting means for detecting that reaches a predetermined waiting position, after the saving operation instruction is applied via the input means, instructs the input means to the determining retracting operation completion on the basis of a signal from the detecting means It is characterized in that a control means for always accepting an instruction input from the input means is provided after a return operation instruction is given by the input means without accepting an input.

  The detection means includes a limit switch that switches when the car wash processing apparatus reaches the retreat position, and the control means determines completion of the retreat operation after a predetermined time has elapsed since the limit switch was switched.

  According to the present invention, during the retreat operation for retracting the car wash processing device from the cleaning position to the predetermined standby position, the input from the input means is not accepted until the retreat operation is completed, and the car wash processing device is returned from the standby position to the cleaning position. Because the input from the input means is always accepted during the return operation to be performed, even if the input means is accidentally operated before work such as equipment processing or hand washing correction is completed, the return operation is still in progress. If the return operation is in progress, the return operation can be canceled and can be used safely. Further, by determining whether the retreat operation is completed after a predetermined time has elapsed since the limit switch was turned on, the burden on the drive system and circuit system that applies the retreat operation / return operation to the car wash processor is reduced.

It is a side view which shows the car wash machine of this invention. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a top brush 4. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the side brush. It is a block diagram which shows a control system. It is a flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of a car wash machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the retracting operation / returning operation | movement of the brush of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the conventional brush retracting / returning operation.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body frame which is formed in a gate shape and reciprocates by being driven by a traveling motor 3 on rails 2 and 2 laid on the floor surface. The main body frame 1 includes a top brush 4 for brushing the upper surface of the vehicle body, a pair of left and right side brushes 5 and 5 for brushing the front and rear surfaces and side surfaces of the vehicle body, In addition to providing a top nozzle 6 for blowing air, a water nozzle, a detergent nozzle, a wax nozzle (not shown) are provided, and water, detergent, wax, etc. are sprayed as the body frame 1 is driven by the driving motor 3. Cleaning operation for brushing and drying operation for blowing air from the top nozzle 6.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a travel encoder which is linked to the output shaft of the travel motor 3 and outputs a pulse every time the main body frame 1 travels a unit distance, and detects the travel position of the main body frame 1 by counting the pulse signals. A beam sensor 8 has a pair of light emitters and light receivers opposed to the inner surface of the main body frame 1 to form a plurality (here, a total of 3 pairs of 8a to 8c) of optical axes, and a vehicle body part such as an end of the vehicle body or a roof. To capture.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the top brush 4 is supported so that both ends of the horizontal brush shaft 9 are supported by the lower ends of the swing arms 10L and 10R, and can be rotated forward and backward by a brush motor 11 fixed to one swing arm 10R. Driven. The swing arms 10L and 10R are connected to the lift carriers 13L and 13R at the upper ends via the swing shafts 12L and 12R, and swing in the front-rear direction of the main body frame 1. The elevating carriers 13L and 13R are moved up and down along the elevating rails 18L and 18R suspended from the left and right legs of the main body frame 1 by the elevating device UD. The elevating device UD includes a chain 14 that connects the upper and lower ends of the elevating carriers 13L and 13R in an endless manner, sprockets 15U and 15D around which the chain 14 is suspended, and a rotating shaft 16 that connects the left and right upper sprockets 15U. The top brush 4 connected to the lift carriers 13L and 13R is moved up and down by forward and reverse rotation of the lift motor 17.

  An angle sensor 19 is provided between the swing shaft 12R and the lifting carrier 13R and detects the tilt of the swing arms 10L and 10R. An elevator encoder 20 is connected to the rotary shaft 16 and outputs a pulse signal each time a predetermined rotation is made while detecting the direction of rotation of the rotary shaft 16 to give the lift positions of the lift carriers 13L and 13R. 21 and 22 are limit switches which are switched by contact with the carrier 13L to give rise and fall limits.

  The top brush 4 configured in this manner is rotatable with both ends of the horizontal brush shaft 9 supported by the swing arms 10L and 10R, and the upper ends of the swing arms 10L and 10R are supported by the swing shafts 12L and 12R. The swing shafts 12L and 12R are connected to the lift carriers 13L and 13R and can be lifted and lowered. The swing angles of the swing arms 10L and 10R are detected by an angle sensor 19, and the travel motor 3 of the main body frame 1, the brush motor 11 of the top brush 4 and the lift motor 17 are controlled according to the detected swing angle. The That is, if the swing angle θ of the swing arms 10L and 10R detected by the angle sensor 19 is θ ≦ θ1, the brush is lowered, and if θ1 <θ ≦ θ2, the brush is held, and θ2 <θ ≦. If θ3, the brush is raised, and if θ3 <θ, the emergency stop is performed. The ascending / descending position is detected by the limit switches 21 and 22, and normally, the ascending limit position detected by the limit switch 21 is set as the standby position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the side brushes 5 and 5 are driven forward and backward by brush motors 25 and 25 fixed to the open / close carriers 24L and 24R, with the upper ends of the vertical brush shafts 23 directly connected to the open / close carriers 24L and 24R. . The open / close carriers 24L and 24R are opened / closed along an open / close rail 26 that is horizontally mounted on the rear upper part in the main body frame 1 by the open / close device OC. The opening / closing device OC includes an interlocking wire 27 that passes through the opening / closing carriers 24L and 24R and is stretched in a horizontal loop, pulleys 28 and 28 around which the interlocking wire 27 is wound, and pulleys 28 and 28 of the interlocking wire 27. Engagement pieces 29F and 29B for engaging the opening / closing carrier 24L at the front part and the rear part for engaging the opening / closing carrier 24R, and the operation wire 30 for connecting the engagement piece 29B to operate the interlocking wire 27. An air cylinder 32 connected to the operating wire 30 via a pulley 31, a weight wire 33/33 connected to the front end of the open / close carrier 24L and the rear end of the open / close carrier 24R, and a pulley 34 to the weight wire 33/33. · Opening and closing carriers 24L and 24R which are composed of weights 35 and 35 connected via 34, and are urged in the closing direction by the weights 35 and 35. It is intended to open in conjunction with the operation of Ashirinda 32. 36 and 36 are limit switches, which are switched by contact of the carriers 24L and 24R to detect that the side brushes 5 and 5 are in the open position.

  The side brushes 5 and 5 configured as described above are openable and closable with the upper ends of the vertical brush shafts 23 supported by the carriers 24L and 24R. The opening / closing carriers 24L and 24R are opened and closed by opening the air cylinder 32, and are opened and closed by releasing the operation of the air cylinder 32 and urging the weights 35 and 35. The open / closed state is detected by the limit switch 36, and normally, the open position detected by the limit switch 36 is set as the standby position.

Next, the control system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A car wash control unit 37 is connected to the travel encoder 7, the beam sensor 8, the angle sensor 19, the lift encoder 20, the limit switches 21 and 22, the limit switch 36, the operation panel 38, and the car wash drive unit 39. The operation panel 38 includes a course key 40 for selecting a car wash course, a start key 41 for instructing start of the car wash, a stop key 42 for stopping the car wash, and a pause / release key 43 for canceling the suspension and suspension of the car wash. I have. In order to reduce the number of keys, a pause / release function may be assigned to the start key 41 and the stop key 42.

  The car wash drive unit 39 is connected to the travel motor 3 of the main body frame 1, the brush motor 11 and lift motor 17 of the top brush 4, the brush motors 25 and 25 of the side brushes 5 and 5, and the air cylinder 32. The main body frame 1, the top brush 4, the side brushes 5 and 5, and the top nozzle 6 are driven by a command from

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described.
After the automobile is stopped at a predetermined stop position, the car wash course is selected with the course key 40 of the operation panel 38 and the start key 41 is input, and the selected car wash is executed. Car wash involves brushing and washing the body surface with the top brush and side brush while spraying shampoo, wax, water repellency, etc. as needed as the body frame 1 travels, and blow drying with the top nozzle in the final process A car wash course is programmed for each round trip.

  When the car wash is started, the main body frame 1 starts to travel, and the side brush 5 is driven and rotated while the air brush 32 is inactive and the closed state is maintained by the urging of the weights 35 and 35. To do. As the main body frame 1 travels, when the lowermost beam sensor 8c of the preceding beam sensors 8 catches the front end of the vehicle body and changes from light transmission to light shielding, the front end position of the vehicle body is recognized from the data of the travel encoder 7. When the main body frame 1 travels the distance between the beam sensor 8 and the side brush 5, it is determined that the side brush 5 has reached the front surface of the vehicle body, the travel of the main body frame 1 is stopped, the air cylinder 32 is operated, and the side brush 5 is operated. Brush the front of the car body by opening the door.

  Thereafter, when the side brush 5 is opened to the standby position detected by the limit switch 36, the body frame 1 is resumed, the air cylinder 32 is deactivated, the side brush 5 is closed toward the side of the vehicle, and the side of the vehicle is brushed. To do. When the main body frame 1 further travels and travels the distance between the beam sensor 8 and the top brush 4, the top brush 4 is lowered toward the upper surface of the vehicle body while driving the brush motor 11 and rotating the brush, and the upper surface of the vehicle body is lowered. Perform brushing cleaning. The top brush 4 is moved along the upper surface of the vehicle body while the lifting motor 17 is controlled according to the rocking angle of the rocking arms 10L and 10R detected by the angle sensor 19 while maintaining an appropriate pressure against the vehicle surface. Perform safe and careful cleaning.

  Thus, when the main body frame 1 continues to go and the beam sensor 8c catches the rear end of the vehicle body and changes from light shielding to translucent, the rear end position of the vehicle body is recognized from the data of the travel encoder 7. When the side brush 5 reaches the rear end position of the vehicle body, the brush brushes and cleans the rear surface of the vehicle body while moving from the side surface of the vehicle body to the rear surface, and then opens to a standby position to end the cleaning by the side brush 5. When the top brush 4 reaches the rear end position of the vehicle body, the brush is raised to the standby position and the cleaning with the top brush 4 is finished.

  Now, during the brushing washing performed in this way, the car wash can be paused by inputting the pause / cancel key 43 on the operation panel 38. The temporary stop function can be used if you have forgotten to carry out car washing without forgetting to take measures against damage to the equipment in advance (for example, folding the door mirror, removing the removable antenna, fixing the wiper with tape, etc.) Used for manual correction of unwashed and uneven coating.

  As shown in FIG. 5, during the above-described brushing cleaning (1), when the pause / cancel key 43 is input (2), the body frame 1 is stopped and the side brush 5 and the top brush 4 are brushed. A retreat operation for stopping the rotation and returning to the standby position is executed (3). When it is detected that the side brush 5 and the top brush 4 have returned to the standby positions given by the limit switches 21 and 36, respectively (4), measures against damage to the equipment, car wash hand correction, etc. are taken. When the operation is finished and the pause / cancel key 43 is input again (5), the running of the main body frame 1 is resumed, and the side brush 5 and the top brush 4 are rotated to return to the cleaning position. Execute (6).

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the re-input of the pause / cancel key 43 is not accepted during the retreat operation, and the re-input of the pause / release key 43 is accepted during the return operation. . In other words, the retracting operation for separating the brush from the vehicle body cannot be canceled until the brush returns to the standby position, and the returning operation for returning the brush to the vehicle body can be canceled before the brush returns to the cleaning position.

  In the retreating operation, it is necessary to stop the car washing and return the brush to the standby position as soon as the contact between the brush and the equipment is detected. If the input of the pause / cancel key 43 is accepted during the evacuation operation, when the key is continuously input a plurality of times, the brush repeats approach / separation in response to the continuous pressing, There is a problem that not only is a large load applied to the motor, the circuit, etc., but it is also impossible to determine whether the input state actually retracts the brush. Therefore, the input of the pause / cancel key 43 is not accepted during the evacuation operation.

  On the other hand, in the return operation, it is necessary to bring the brush into contact with the vehicle body after confirming safety. If the input of the pause / release key 43 is not accepted during the return operation, the brush will come into contact with the vehicle body that has not been subjected to damage countermeasures or manual correction when the key is entered by mistake. There is a problem that the risk of damaging can not be avoided. Therefore, the input of the pause / cancel key 43 is accepted during the return operation.

  If the pause / cancel key 43 is input during the return operation (7), the process returns to the process (3) to shift to the retracting operation, and the brush returns to the cleaning position without the pause / release key 43 being input. If this is detected, the process returns to the process (1) to perform the brushing cleaning. When the brushing cleaning is completed (9), the process proceeds to a blow process, and with the return of the main body frame 1, water drops remaining on the vehicle body surface are removed while blowing high-pressure air from the top nozzle 6, and the car wash is completed.

  The present invention is configured as described above, and it is possible to execute a retraction operation for retracting the brush from the vehicle body during brushing cleaning and a return operation for returning the brush to the vehicle body. During the retraction operation, the key operation is performed until the brush returns to the standby position. The input of the key operation is accepted before returning to the cleaning position during the return operation. Although the operation of the top nozzle is not included in the above embodiment, it is possible to adopt the top nozzle as well. Further, the present invention is not limited to a gate-type car wash machine, and can be used in various car wash machines such as a type in which a car is transported to a stationary car wash machine and a type in which both the car wash machine body and the car are moved.

  Further, the standby position detection in the process (4) in FIG. 5 is the time when the limit switches 21 and 36 are switched. However, the load on the motor and circuit when the switch is retracted to the standby position and immediately returns to the return operation is performed. In view of this, it is desirable to determine that the retreat operation has been completed when a predetermined time (for example, about 2 seconds) has elapsed since the limit switch was switched.

1 Body frame 4 Top brush 5/5 Side brush 21 Limit switch (detection means)
36 Limit switch (detection means)
37 Car wash control unit 40 Operation panel 43 Pause / release key (input means)

Claims (2)

Includes a car wash processing apparatus such as cleaning brushes and drying nozzle to the main body frame, a car wash to achieve washing and drying by the action of the wash wheel apparatus on a vehicle body,
A single or a plurality of input means receives a return operation instruction to return to the cleaning position saving operation instruction retracting the wash processing apparatus in car wash from the wash position to the predetermined standby position from the standby position by a manual operation, the car wash process detecting means for detecting that the device has reached a predetermined waiting position, after the saving operation instruction is applied via the input means, the input until it determines the save operation completion based on a signal from said detecting means without accepting an instruction input by means after the return operation instruction is given by said input means, always car wash, characterized in that it comprises a control means for accepting an instruction input by said input means.
  The detection means includes a limit switch that switches when the car wash processing apparatus reaches a predetermined standby position, and the control means determines completion of the evacuation operation after a predetermined time has elapsed since the limit switch switched. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein:

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