JP6835027B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a car wash machine provided with side brushes for cleaning the sides and front of the vehicle to be washed.

A conventional car wash machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This car wash machine is equipped with a car wash machine body that moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle to be washed. The car wash machine main body has two opposite stand portions on the left and right and a ceiling portion connecting the upper ends of the stand portions, and is formed in a gate shape straddling the vehicle to be washed.

A top brush and a side brush are provided on the main body of the car wash machine. The top brush has a horizontal axis of rotation and is arranged so that it can be raised and lowered. The side brushes have a vertical rotation axis and are provided in pairs on the left and right, and are arranged so as to be movable in the left and right directions.

When the car wash is started, the car wash machine main body moves in the front-rear direction, and the top brush and the side brush rotate. The top brush moves up and down along the vehicle to be cleaned to clean the top surface of the vehicle to be cleaned. The side brush cleans the side surface of the vehicle to be washed by moving the main body of the car wash machine, and also moves in the left-right direction to clean the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle to be washed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-66973 (pages 3 to 6, FIG. 6)

In recent years, in order to secure a large interior of a small vehicle such as a light vehicle, a condenser of an air conditioner is installed close to the front of the vehicle. Further, in order to increase the heat exchange efficiency of the capacitor having a small front projected area, the grid spacing of the front grill is formed wide. Therefore, according to the above-mentioned conventional car wash machine, there is a problem that the side brush comes into contact with the condenser through the front grill when cleaning the front surface of the vehicle to be washed, and the condenser fin is damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine capable of preventing damage to condenser fins.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction, and a pair of side brushes that are arranged on the car wash machine body to wash the side surfaces and the front surface of the vehicle to be washed. A car wash machine equipped with the above has a first front cleaning mode and a second front cleaning mode that are selectively executed when cleaning the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, and the second front cleaning mode is the first. 1 It is characterized by having a section in which the rotation speed or pressing force of the side brush is smaller than that in the front cleaning mode.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the first front washing mode is performed when the vehicle width of the vehicle to be washed is larger than a predetermined value, and the second front washing mode is performed when the width is equal to or less than the predetermined value. It is characterized by that.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined value is 1480 mm in the car wash machine having the above configuration.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the width of the vehicle to be washed is detected by a pair of distance measuring sensors arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle to be washed.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the front surface is washed after washing both side surfaces of the vehicle to be washed, and the width of the vehicle to be washed is determined by the position of the side brushes when washing both sides of the vehicle to be washed. It is characterized by detecting.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the car wash machine having the above configuration includes an operation unit for inputting car wash conditions, and the operation unit can select the first front surface cleaning mode and the second front surface cleaning mode. ..

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the vehicle type can be selected by the operation unit, and the first front cleaning mode and the second front cleaning mode are switched according to the vehicle type of the vehicle to be washed. There is.

Further, according to the present invention, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the rotation speed and pressing force of the side brushes are set with respect to both side ends of the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned in the first front surface cleaning mode. It is characterized by making it the same.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the distance between the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned and the rotation center of the side brush in the section in the second front surface cleaning mode is larger than that in the first front surface cleaning mode. It is characterized by that.

Further, the present invention includes an image recognition unit for determining a capacitor arranged on the front surface of the vehicle to be washed by image recognition in the car wash machine having the above configuration, and the capacitor within a predetermined distance from the front surface of the vehicle to be washed is not detected. It is characterized in that the first front surface cleaning mode is executed, and when it is detected, the second front surface cleaning mode is executed.

According to the present invention, it has a first front surface cleaning mode and a second front surface cleaning mode in which the rotation speed or pressing force of the side brush is different. As a result, the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned can be cleaned with a high cleaning force by the first front surface cleaning mode, and damage to the condenser fins can be prevented by the second front surface cleaning mode.

Side view showing the car wash machine of the 1st Embodiment of this invention Front view showing the car wash machine of the first embodiment of the present invention Top view showing the operation of the side brush of the car wash machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Top view showing detailed operation when cleaning the front surface of the vehicle to be washed with the side brush of the car wash machine of the first embodiment of the present invention. Top view showing the operation of the side brush in the first outbound process of the car wash machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Top view showing the operation of the side brush in the first return step of the car wash machine according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Front view showing a car wash machine according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

<First Embodiment>
An embodiment 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 the car wash machine of the first embodiment. The car wash machine WA includes a car wash machine main body 1, a rail 2, and a remote panel 7. The car wash machine main body 1 is formed in a gate shape having two left and right facing stand portions 90 and a ceiling portion 91 connecting the upper ends of the stand portions 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 stand portion 90 are arranged on the rail 2. As a result, the car wash machine main body 1 is erected on the rail 2, travels on the rail 2 by being driven by a traveling motor (not shown), and moves back and forth with respect to the vehicle to be washed CA.

The remote panel 7 is arranged along the approach route A with respect to the car wash machine main body 1. The remote panel 7 has a plurality of buttons and sets car wash conditions. As car wash conditions, it is possible to set the washing method (washing with water, shampoo washing, presence / absence of coating, etc.), presence / absence of equipment (front guard, fender pole, side under mirror, rear wiper, roof spoiler, roof carrier, etc.). ..

An operation panel 8 is arranged in front of one stand 90 of the car wash machine body 1. The operation panel 8 can set car wash conditions in the same manner as the remote panel 7. The remote panel 7 and the operation panel 8 form an operation unit for setting car wash conditions.

A shape sensor 9 and a distance measuring sensor 11 are provided on the entrance surface 1a side of the stand portion 90 of the car wash machine main body 1. The shape sensor 9 is formed by a plurality of photoelectric sensors arranged side by side in the vertical direction on the stand portion 90. The shape of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is detected by passing light from the vehicle CA to be cleaned by passing between the light emitting portion provided on one stand portion 90 and the light receiving portion provided on the other stand portion 90. Thereby, the front position, the vehicle height and the vehicle length of the vehicle to be washed CA can be detected.

The distance measuring sensor 11 is formed of an ultrasonic sensor, a photoelectric sensor, or the like, and a pair of left and right distance measuring sensors 11 attached to both stand portions 90 are arranged so as to sandwich the vehicle CA to be washed. The distance measuring sensor 11 measures the distance to the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA by reflecting ultrasonic waves, infrared rays, or the like. As a result, the width of the vehicle to be washed CA can be detected. A pair of left and right ranging sensors 11 sandwiching the vehicle CA to be cleaned may be provided on a support stand erected on the ground G.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes that slide and brush on the vehicle CA to be washed. The rotating brush consists of a top brush 4, a side brush 5, and a rocker brush 6.

The top brush 4 is provided on the ceiling portion 91 so as to be able to move up and down, and rotates on a horizontal rotation axis to clean the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The rocker brush 6 is provided on the lower portion of both stand portions 90 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the left-right direction, and rotates on a vertical or horizontal rotation axis to clean the lower portions of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

The side brush 5 is provided on the outlet surface 1b side of both stand portions 90 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the left-right direction, and rotates on a rotation axis extending vertically to clean the front-rear surface and both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Further, the side brush 5 is supported at the upper end of the rotation shaft and is arranged so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction and the front-back direction.

A blower 20 that generates an air flow is arranged above the car wash machine main body 1. A plurality of blower nozzles for sending an air flow toward the vehicle to be cleaned CA are connected to the blower 20. The blower nozzle is composed of a top blower nozzle 21 and a side blower nozzle 22.

The top blower nozzle 21 is provided on the ceiling 91 so as to be able to move up and down, and moves along the upper surface and the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned to dry the front surface, the upper surface, and the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned by blowing air. The side blow nozzles 22 are provided on both stand portions 90, respectively, and the side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned are dried by blowing air.

A tank storage unit 30 for storing a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) is arranged in the stand unit 90. Various liquids such as detergents and coating agents are stored in the liquid storage tank. A distribution piping unit 31 for distributing city water and liquids from each liquid storage tank is provided above the tank storage unit 30. A plurality of injection nozzles 12 are led out to the distribution pipe section 31 via solenoid valves (not shown). The injection nozzles 12 are provided on the ceiling portion 91 and the stand portion 90, and inject city water cleaning water, cleaning water containing detergent, a coating agent, and the like toward the vehicle CA to be cleaned, respectively.

In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, when the vehicle CA to be washed stops in front of the remote panel 7, the car wash conditions are set. After setting the car wash conditions, the car wash is started when the vehicle CA to be washed moves to a predetermined wash start position and stops by the user's driving.

For example, when shampoo washing is selected and car washing is started, a first outbound process is performed in which the car wash machine main body 1 moves toward the rear of the vehicle to be washed CA. In the first outbound process, since it is arranged on the entrance surface 1a side, the shape of the vehicle to be cleaned CA is detected by the shape sensor 9 and the distance measuring sensor 11 that precede each rotating brush. In addition, cleaning water containing detergent is ejected from a predetermined injection nozzle 12, and the front and rear surfaces, both side surfaces, and the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned are cleaned by each rotating brush.

When the washing to the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is completed, the first return route step is performed in which the car wash machine main body 1 is inverted and moved to the front of the vehicle CA to be washed. In the first return step, the cleaning water of city water is ejected from the predetermined injection nozzle 12, and each rotating brush rotates to wash the detergent with water.

When the first return route process is completed, the second outward route process is performed in which the car wash machine main body 1 is inverted and moved to the rear of the vehicle to be washed CA. In the second outbound process, the rotating brush is stopped, and air is blown from each air blowing nozzle to dry the vehicle CA to be cleaned. This completes the car wash.

When water washing is selected as the car wash condition, city water is sprayed from a predetermined injection nozzle 12 in the first outbound process. When coating is selected as the car wash condition, the coating agent is sprayed from a predetermined injection nozzle 12 in the second outward path step and the second return path step after the first return path step. As a result, a coating agent film is formed on the vehicle CA to be cleaned, and drying is performed in the third outbound process.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the operation of the side brush 5 in the first outbound process. The side brush 5 is arranged at a position where the distance between the center of rotation and the cleaning surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is smaller than the radius of gyration by a predetermined amount, and slides on the cleaning surface by rotation to perform cleaning.

The side brushes 5 arranged at the standby position S0 are arranged close to each other at the position S1. Next, the car wash machine main body 1 is moved to a position S5 that slides on the front surface of the vehicle to be washed CA or a position S5'described later. The position of the front surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is detected by the shape sensor 9 that precedes the side brush 5.

When the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S5 or the position S5', the car wash machine main body 1 stops, and the side brushes 5 move in a direction away from each other. As a result, the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned, and the side brushes 5 are arranged at the positions S10 of the front end portions on both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

Next, the car wash machine main body 1 moves toward the rear of the vehicle CA to be washed, and the side surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is washed. At this time, the side brush 5 moves forward and backward according to the inclination angle in the left-right direction, and the distance from the side surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is kept constant. When the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S11 at the rear end of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be washed, the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped, and the side brushes 5 are arranged close to each other at the position S12. As a result, the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned. Further, in the first return process, the side brush 5 moves in the direction opposite to that in the first outward process to perform cleaning.

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating a detailed operation when cleaning the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned with the side brush 5 in the first outbound process. In the first return process, the side brush 5 moves in the opposite direction of the first outward process.

When the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned by the side brush 5, a first front surface cleaning mode and a second front surface cleaning mode that are selectively switched according to the vehicle width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned are provided. The second front surface cleaning mode performs cleaning with a smaller pressing force than the first front surface cleaning mode, and prevents damage to the condenser fins near the front surface of the vehicle.

When the vehicle CA to be washed is a small vehicle, the front surface of the vehicle and the condenser are frequently in close proximity to each other. Therefore, the first front cleaning mode is executed when the vehicle width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is larger than the predetermined value, and the second front cleaning mode is executed when the vehicle width is equal to or less than the predetermined value. Also, in a mini vehicle, the front surface of the vehicle and the condenser are very close to each other. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second front cleaning mode is executed when the vehicle width of the vehicle to be cleaned CA is 1480 mm or less, which is the standard for light vehicles, and the first front cleaning mode is executed when the width exceeds 1480 mm.

In the first front cleaning mode, the side brush 5 rotates at a predetermined rotation speed (for example, 125 rpm), moves from the position S1 (see FIG. 3), and is arranged at the position S5 sliding on the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. .. At this time, the center of rotation of the side brush 5 is arranged at a distance D1 (see FIG. 4) from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. After that, with the car wash machine main body 1 stopped, the side brush 5 moves in the left-right direction to wash the front surface of the vehicle CA to be washed, and is arranged at the position S10.

In the second front surface cleaning mode, the side brush 5 rotates at the same rotation speed as in the first front surface cleaning mode, and travels a different path from the first front surface cleaning mode. In FIG. 4, a path different from the first front cleaning mode of the side brush 5 in the second front cleaning mode is indicated by a broken line arrow E in the figure.

When the side brush 5 moves from the position S1 (see FIG. 3) to the position S5'sliding on the front surface of the vehicle to be washed CA, the car wash machine main body 1 stops. At this time, the center of rotation of the side brush 5 is arranged at a distance D2 from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The distance D2 is larger than the distance D1 in the first front cleaning mode.

Next, the side brush 5 moves in the left-right direction to clean the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Then, when the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S6 on the front surface of the vehicle CA to be washed, the movement in the left-right direction is stopped and the car wash machine main body 1 moves. As a result, the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S7, and the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped. At position S7, the center of rotation of the side brush 5 is arranged at the same distance D1 from the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA as in the first front surface cleaning mode. Then, the side brush 5 moves in the left-right direction and is arranged at the position S10.

Since the distance D2 is larger than the distance D1 in the central section Tm from the position S5'to the position S6, cleaning is performed with a pressing force smaller than that in the first front surface cleaning mode. The condenser that is air-cooled by the vehicle running is arranged close to the central portion where the front shape is flat. Therefore, damage to the condenser fins can be prevented by reducing the pressing force of the side brush 5 with respect to the section Tm of the front central portion of the vehicle to be cleaned CA having a small vehicle width.

Further, in the section Te of both end portions from the position S7 to the position S10, cleaning is performed with the same pressing force as in the first front surface cleaning mode. Therefore, the cleaning power of both end portions can be improved. The section Te is set in a range of, for example, 300 mm from both ends of the front surface. It should be noted that the position S7 and the position S10 may be matched to omit the section Te, and the pressing force of the side brush 5 may be reduced with respect to the entire front surface. This makes it possible to prevent damage to the capacitor fins when the capacitors are placed at the side ends.

Further, by increasing the pressing force of the side brush 5 with respect to the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned CA having a wide vehicle width in the first front surface cleaning mode, cleaning can be performed with high cleaning power.

According to the present embodiment, the second front surface cleaning mode has a section Tm in which the pressing force of the side brush 5 is smaller than that of the first front surface cleaning mode. Therefore, the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be cleaned with a high cleaning force by the first front surface cleaning mode, and damage to the condenser fins can be prevented by the second front surface cleaning mode.

Further, when the vehicle width of the vehicle to be cleaned CA is larger than a predetermined value, the first front surface cleaning mode is performed, and when the vehicle width is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the second front surface cleaning mode is performed. Therefore, the second front cleaning mode is performed on the small vehicle in which the capacitor is close to the front surface, and damage to the condenser fins of the small vehicle can be prevented.

Further, when the vehicle width of the vehicle to be cleaned CA is larger than 1480 mm, the first front surface cleaning mode is performed, and when it is small, the second front surface cleaning mode is performed. Therefore, the second front cleaning mode is performed on the light vehicle in which the capacitor is very close to the front surface, and damage to the capacitor fins of the light vehicle can be prevented. The light vehicle may be identified based on the vehicle length (3400 mm or less) of the vehicle to be washed CA detected by the shape sensor 9.

Further, the width of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be easily detected by a pair of distance measuring sensors 11 arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

Further, in the second front cleaning mode, the pressing force of the side brush 5 was set to be the same as in the first front cleaning mode with respect to the sections Te at both end portions on the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. As a result, the cleaning power of both end portions on the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be improved.

Further, the distance D2 between the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the rotation center of the side brush 5 in the second front surface cleaning mode of the section Tm is larger than the distance D1 in the first front surface cleaning mode. Thereby, the second front surface cleaning mode having a section Tm in which the pressing force of the side brush 5 is smaller than that of the first front surface cleaning mode can be easily realized.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, the second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the rotation speed of the side brush is reduced in the second front car wash mode. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 4 described above, the rotation speed of the side brush 5 in the first front car wash mode is, for example, 125 rpm. In the second front car wash mode, the rotation speed of the side brush 5 in the section Tm is set to, for example, 100 rpm. That is, the second front surface cleaning mode has a section Tm in which the rotation speed and pressing force of the side brush 5 are smaller than those in the first front surface cleaning mode.

As a result, damage to the capacitor fins can be prevented more reliably. The section Tm may be the entire front surface of the vehicle CA to be washed.

<Third Embodiment>
Next, the third embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the positions of the side brushes in the first front car wash mode and the second front car wash mode are the same, but the rotation speeds are different. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 4 described above, the side brush 5 travels along the path indicated by the solid arrow in the figure in the first front car wash mode and the second front car wash mode. At this time, the rotation speed of the side brush 5 in the first front car wash mode is set to, for example, 125 rpm. In the second front car wash mode, the rotation speed of the side brush 5 in the section Tm is set to, for example, 100 rpm. That is, the second front surface cleaning mode has a section Tm in which the rotation speed of the side brush 5 is smaller than that of the first front surface cleaning mode.

As a result, as in the first embodiment, the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned can be cleaned with a high cleaning force by the first front surface cleaning mode, and the condenser fins can be prevented from being damaged by the second front surface cleaning mode. The section Tm may be the entire front surface of the vehicle CA to be washed.

<Fourth Embodiment>
Next, the fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) is omitted, and the setting items of the remote panel 7 are different from those in the first embodiment. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

An item for selecting a light vehicle is displayed on the remote panel 7 (see FIG. 1). Similarly, the operation panel 8 (see FIG. 1) may be provided with an item for selecting a light vehicle. When the light vehicle is not selected by the operation of the remote panel 7 (operation unit), the first front cleaning mode is executed when cleaning the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. When a light vehicle is selected, the second front cleaning mode is executed when cleaning the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. That is, the first front cleaning mode and the second front cleaning mode are selectively selected by the remote panel 7 (operation unit) depending on whether or not the light vehicle can be selected.

As a result, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, since the distance measuring sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) is omitted, the cost of the car wash machine WA can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the first front cleaning mode and the second front cleaning mode may be selectable by selecting a predetermined vehicle type, not limited to the light vehicle. Further, the first front cleaning mode and the second front cleaning mode may be selectable on the remote panel 7 depending on the item of the strength of the cleaning force on the front surface. Similarly, in the second and third embodiments, the distance measuring sensor 11 may be omitted and the first front cleaning mode and the second front cleaning mode may be selectable by operating the remote panel 7.

<Fifth Embodiment>
Next, FIGS. 5 and 6 are top views showing the operation of the side brush 5 in the first outbound process and the first inbound process of the car wash machine of the fifth embodiment. In this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) is omitted, and the operation of the side brush 5 in the first outward path step and the first return path step is different from that in the first embodiment. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

In the first outbound process, as shown in FIG. 5, the side brush 5 arranged at the standby position S0 is arranged at the position S2 corresponding to the front end of the car wash machine main body 1 by moving the car wash machine main body 1. When the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S2, the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped, and the side brush 5 moves in a direction approaching each other and is arranged at the position S10 of the front end portion of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be washed.

Next, the car wash machine main body 1 moves toward the rear of the vehicle CA to be washed, and the side surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is washed. At this time, the width of the vehicle to be washed CA is detected by the positions of the left and right side brushes 5. When the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S11 at the rear end of the vehicle CA to be washed, the car wash machine main body 1 is stopped, and the side brushes 5 are arranged close to each other at the position S12. As a result, the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned.

When the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S12, the first return step shown in FIG. 6 is performed. In the first return step, the cleaning water containing the detergent is sprayed from the injection nozzle 12 that precedes the rotary brush, and the city water is sprayed from the spray nozzle 12 that follows the rotary brush to rinse the detergent.

The side brush 5 moves away from the position S12 and is arranged at the position S11 at the rear end of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. As a result, the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned again. Next, the car wash machine main body 1 moves toward the front of the vehicle CA to be washed, and the side surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is washed.

When the side brush 5 is arranged at the position S10 of the front end portion of the vehicle CA to be washed, the car wash machine main body 1 stops, and the side brush 5 moves in a direction approaching each other. As a result, the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned is cleaned. At this time, if the vehicle width of the vehicle to be washed CA detected in the first outbound process is larger than a predetermined value (1480 mm in this embodiment), the first front surface cleaning mode is performed, and if it is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the second front surface is performed. A wash mode is performed.

That is, in the first front surface cleaning mode, the side brush 5 moves from the position S10 to the position S5 in the left-right direction. Further, in the second front cleaning mode, the side brush 5 moves from the position S10 to the position S7 (see FIG. 4) and stops, and moves to the position S6 (see FIG. 4) by moving the car wash machine main body 1. Then, the side brushes 5 move in a direction approaching each other and are arranged at the position S5'.

Next, the side brush 5 moves to the position S1 by the movement of the car wash machine main body 1 and stops, moves in the direction away from each other, and returns to the standby position S0.

According to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the side surface is washed before the front surface of the vehicle CA to be washed is washed, and the vehicle width is detected by the position of the side brush 5 at this time. As a result, the distance measuring sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) can be omitted, so that the cost of the car wash machine WA can be reduced. Similarly, in the second and third embodiments, the distance measuring sensor 11 may be omitted and the vehicle width may be detected by the position of the side brush 5 at the time of side cleaning.

<Sixth Embodiment>
Next, FIG. 7 shows a front view of the car wash machine main body 1 of the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, the distance measuring sensor 11 (see FIG. 2) is omitted, and the car wash machine main body 1 is provided with the image recognition unit 15. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The image recognition unit 15 has a camera 15a arranged on the entrance surface 1a of the car wash machine main body 1, and performs image recognition of an image of the front surface of the vehicle to be washed CA acquired by the camera 15a. The image recognition unit 15 determines a capacitor having a plurality of capacitor fins.

The distance between the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and the condenser is detected by the focusing position of each camera 15a. Further, if the capacitor is sufficiently separated from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the capacitor cannot be recognized. As a result, the image recognition unit 15 detects the capacitors arranged within a predetermined distance from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. At this time, the image recognition unit 15 can detect the width of the capacitor in the left-right direction.

When the car wash is started, the first outward route step and the first return route process are performed as in the first embodiment. When cleaning the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the first front surface cleaning mode and the second front surface cleaning mode are switched based on the detection result of the image recognition unit 15.

That is, when the capacitor is not arranged within a predetermined distance from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the first front surface cleaning mode is performed, and when the capacitor is arranged within a predetermined distance, the second front surface cleaning mode is performed. Further, in the second front surface cleaning mode, the section Tm (see FIG. 4) is set corresponding to the width of the capacitor detected by the image recognition unit 15.

According to this embodiment, the image recognition unit 15 detects a capacitor within a predetermined distance from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. As a result, when the capacitor is close to the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the second front surface cleaning mode can be performed to prevent damage to the capacitor fins. Further, when the capacitor is separated from the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned by a predetermined distance, the first front surface cleaning mode can be performed to clean the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned with high cleaning power.

Further, since the width of the capacitor can be detected by the image recognition unit 15, the section Tm having a low cleaning power with respect to the first front cleaning mode can be set corresponding to the width of the capacitor. As a result, the cleaning power in the area where the capacitor is not arranged can be improved.

In the first to sixth embodiments, the front position of the vehicle CA to be cleaned may be detected by the amount of inclination of the side brush 5 in the front-rear direction when the side brush 5 approaches and contacts the front surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. At this time, it is more desirable to detect the front position of the vehicle CA to be cleaned and stop the rotation of the side brush 5 until the side brush 5 is arranged at a predetermined cleaning position. As a result, damage to the capacitor fins can be prevented more reliably.

According to the present invention, it can be used in a car wash machine that cleans the front surface of a vehicle to be washed with a side brush.

1 Car wash machine body 1a Entrance surface 1b Exit surface 2 Rail 3 Wheel 4 Top brush 5 Side brush 6 Rocker brush 7 Remote panel 8 Operation panel 9 Shape sensor 11 Distance measurement sensor 12 Injection nozzle 15 Image recognition unit 15a Camera 20 Blower 21 Top blower Nozzle 22 Side blower nozzle 30 Tank storage part 31 Distribution piping part 90 Stand part 91 Ceiling part CA Washed vehicle WA Car wash machine

Claims (6)

In a car wash machine provided with a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction and a pair of side brushes arranged on the car wash machine body to wash the sides and front of the vehicle to be washed, the vehicle to be washed It has a first front surface cleaning mode and a second front surface cleaning mode that are selectively executed when cleaning the front surface of the surface, and the second front surface cleaning mode rotates the side brush more than the first front surface cleaning mode. have a speed or a small section of the pressing force,
A car wash machine characterized in that the first front cleaning mode is performed when the vehicle width of the vehicle to be washed is larger than a predetermined value, and the second front cleaning mode is performed when the vehicle width is equal to or less than the predetermined value. The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the vehicle to be washed is detected by a pair of distance measuring sensors arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle to be washed. The first aspect of claim 1 , wherein the front surface is washed after cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle to be washed, and the width of the vehicle to be washed is detected by the position of the side brushes when cleaning both sides of the vehicle to be washed. Car wash machine. In a car wash machine provided with a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction and a pair of side brushes arranged on the car wash machine body to wash the sides and front of the vehicle to be washed, the vehicle to be washed It has a first front surface cleaning mode and a second front surface cleaning mode that are selectively executed when cleaning the front surface of the surface, and the second front surface cleaning mode rotates the side brush more than the first front surface cleaning mode. have a speed or a small section of the pressing force,
A car wash machine characterized in that the rotation speed and pressing force of the side brushes are the same as those in the first front cleaning mode with respect to both side ends of the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned in the second front cleaning mode. In a car wash machine provided with a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction and a pair of side brushes arranged on the car wash machine body to wash the sides and front of the vehicle to be washed, the vehicle to be washed It has a first front surface cleaning mode and a second front surface cleaning mode that are selectively executed when cleaning the front surface of the surface, and the second front surface cleaning mode rotates the side brush more than the first front surface cleaning mode. have a speed or a small section of the pressing force,
A car wash machine characterized in that the distance between the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned and the rotation center of the side brush in the section in the second front surface cleaning mode is larger than that in the first front surface cleaning mode. In a car wash machine provided with a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction and a pair of side brushes arranged on the car wash machine body to wash the sides and front of the vehicle to be washed, the vehicle to be washed It has a first front surface cleaning mode and a second front surface cleaning mode that are selectively executed when cleaning the front surface of the surface, and the second front surface cleaning mode rotates the side brush more than the first front surface cleaning mode. have a speed or a small section of the pressing force,
It is equipped with an image recognition unit that determines the capacitor arranged on the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned by image recognition, and executes the first front cleaning mode to detect the capacitor within a predetermined distance from the front surface of the vehicle to be cleaned. A car wash machine characterized in that the second front washing mode is executed when the washing mode is performed.

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