JP6911956B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a car wash machine provided with a side brush for cleaning the side surface 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 the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction. 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.

The car wash machine body is provided with a pair of left and right side brushes for cleaning the sides of the vehicle to be washed. The side brush has a rotation axis arranged in the vertical direction, and is supported by a holding portion so as to be inclined in the horizontal direction. The holding part moves on a rail laid horizontally on the upper part of the car wash machine body.

The holding portion is provided with a rotary motor, a moving motor, drive wheels, a second driven roller, and a first driven roller. The side brush rotates by driving the rotary motor. The drive wheels are axially supported by the holding portion and are arranged outside the inclination center of the side brushes, and are rolled on the upper surface of the rail by the drive of the moving motor.

The second driven roller is axially supported by the holding portion and is arranged inside and outside the inclination center of the side brush.
Roll on the underside of the rail. The first driven roller is axially supported by the holding portion and is arranged inside the inclination center of the side brush, and rolls on the upper surface of the rail. Further, a brush urging portion is provided which connects the holding portion and the side brush and urges the side brush in the direction of pressing the side brush against the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned.

In the car wash machine having the above configuration, the car wash machine main body moves in the front-rear direction to start the car wash. While the side brush is rotated by the drive of the rotary motor, it moves in the left-right direction by the drive of the moving motor. When the side brush comes into contact with the side surface of the vehicle to be cleaned, it tilts against the urging force of the brush urging portion and is pressed against the vehicle to be cleaned. When the side brushes are arranged at a predetermined inclination angle, the car wash machine main body moves and the side surface of the vehicle to be washed is washed.

Further, when the side brush is tilted to the tilt limit, the stopper provided on the side brush comes into contact with a predetermined position of the holding portion, and the holding portion is weighted together with the side brush in the tilting direction. Therefore, the drag force applied from the rail to the drive wheels arranged outside the inclination center of the side brush is reduced, and the drive wheels slip. As a result, the side brushes pressed by the vehicle to be cleaned can be retracted from the vehicle to be cleaned by rolling the first and first driven rollers.

JP-A-2005-7980

However, according to the conventional car wash machine, when the drive wheels are worn due to long-term use, the gap between the second driven roller and the rail becomes large. At this time, if the side brush abuts on the vehicle to be cleaned and inclines, the holding portion may incline until the second driven roller comes into contact with the rail, and the drive wheels may idle. In particular, in a vehicle to be washed with a large vehicle height such as a wagon vehicle, the left and right ends of the ceiling surface come into contact with the high position of the side brush. Therefore, the side brush is less likely to tilt with respect to the holding portion against the urging force of the brush urging portion, and tilts integrally with the holding portion. As a result, the side brush cannot be tilted to a predetermined tilt angle, and there is a problem that an operation error of the car wash machine occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine capable of preventing operation errors of the car wash machine.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a car wash machine main body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed back and forth, a side brush provided on the car wash machine main body to wash the side surface of the vehicle to be washed, and the car wash machine. A rail laid horizontally on the upper part of the main body, a holding portion that supports the side brush so as to be inclined in the left-right direction, and a drive wheel that pivotally supports the holding portion and rolls on the upper surface of the rail by driving a motor. A first driven roller that is pivotally supported by the holding portion and is arranged inside the drive wheel and rolls on the upper surface of the rail, and the first driven roller that is supported by the holding portion so as to be movable up and down. It is characterized by including a second driven roller that is arranged on the outer side of the rail and rolls on the lower surface of the rail, and a roller urging portion that urges the second driven roller upward.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the present invention provides the holding portion with a brush urging portion that connects the holding portion and the side brush and urges the side brush in the direction of the vehicle to be washed. It is a feature.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the second driven roller is arranged between the driving wheel and the first driven roller in the left-right direction.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the drive wheel and the second driven roller are arranged on the outside and the first driven roller is arranged on the inside with respect to the inclination center of the side brush. And.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the present invention has a facing wall facing the front and rear of the holding portion, a vertically extending elongated hole opening in the facing wall, the shaft inserted through the elongated hole, and the length. A bottom wall connecting the front and rear facing walls below the hole is provided, the second driven roller is supported by a shaft via a bearing, and the roller urging portion is arranged between the shaft and the bottom wall. It is characterized by consisting of a compression spring.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the present invention is arranged between a bolt screwed into the bottom wall into which the compression spring is inserted and a bolt screwed into the bolt to be screwed into the compression spring and the bottom wall. It is characterized by being equipped with an adjusting screw.

According to the present invention, the holding portion that slantably supports the side brush has a drive wheel, a first driven roller, and a second driven roller. The drive wheel and the first driven roller roll on the upper surface of the rail, and the first driven roller is arranged inside the drive wheel. The second driven roller rolls on the lower surface of the rail and is arranged outside the first driven roller, and is urged upward by the roller urging portion.

As a result, even if the drive wheels are worn, the second driven roller and the drive wheels are pressed against the rail by the urging of the roller urging portion. Therefore, the side brushes that prevent the drive wheels from slipping and come into contact with the vehicle to be washed are arranged at a predetermined inclination angle, and it is possible to prevent an operation error of the car wash machine. Further, when the side brush is tilted to the tilt limit, the holding portion is tilted with the first driven roller as a fulcrum against the urging force of the roller urging portion. Therefore, the drive wheels can idle and the side brushes can be retracted, and damage to the vehicle to be cleaned and the side brushes can be prevented.

A side view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Front view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention Schematic front view of the side handle and the holding portion of the car wash machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Front sectional view showing the holding portion of the car wash machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Side sectional view showing the holding portion of the car wash machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.

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 a car wash machine WA according to an embodiment of the present invention. The car wash machine WA includes a remote panel 7 and a car wash machine main body 1.

The remote panel 7 is arranged along the traveling path R of the vehicle CA to be washed. The vehicle CA to be washed stops in front of the remote panel 7, and the user sets the car wash conditions by operating the remote panel 7 from within the vehicle CA to be washed.

With the buttons provided on the remote panel 7, it is possible to set car wash conditions using a liquid agent such as shampoo, waxing, and water repellent coat. In addition, the remote panel 7 can be used to set equipment such as a front guard, a fender pole, a side mirror, a rear wiper, and a roof carrier.

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 traveling rails 2 are laid on the ground G, and main body wheels 3 provided on the bottom surface of the stand portion 90 are arranged on the traveling rails 2. As a result, the car wash machine main body 1 is erected on the traveling rail 2, travels on the traveling 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 stand unit 90 is provided with a tank storage unit 17 that stores a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquid agents such as detergent and wax. A distribution piping unit 18 for distributing the liquid agent from each liquid storage tank is provided above the tank storage unit 17. In the distribution piping section 18, a first water purification nozzle 11, a second water purification nozzle 13, a first detergent nozzle 12, a second detergent nozzle 15, a water-repellent coat nozzle 14, and a wax nozzle 16 composed of injection nozzles are electromagnetic valves (not shown). ) Is derived.

The first water purification nozzle 11 and the second water purification nozzle 13 are arranged on the inlet surface 1a side and the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1, respectively, and inject wash water to the vehicle CA to be washed. The first detergent nozzle 12 and the second detergent nozzle 15 are arranged on the inlet surface 1a side and the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1, respectively, and inject detergent onto the vehicle CA to be washed. The water-repellent coat nozzle 14 and the wax nozzle 16 are arranged on the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1. The water-repellent coating nozzle 14 injects a liquid of the water-repellent coating agent onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The wax nozzle 16 injects liquid wax onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

An operation panel 8 is arranged on the front surface of one stand portion 90 of the car wash machine main body 1. The operation panel 8 has the same operation buttons (not shown) as the remote panel 7 for setting car wash conditions. Further, a vehicle shape sensor 9 is provided on the front surface of the stand portion 90. The vehicle shape sensor 9 is composed of a photoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like, and detects the vehicle length and the outer surface shape of the vehicle CA to be washed that enters the car wash machine main body 1.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a blower 20 that generates an air flow to dry the vehicle CA to be washed. A side blower nozzle 22 and a top blower nozzle 21 are connected to the blower 20. The side blow nozzles 22 are provided on both stand portions 90, respectively, and blow air toward the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The top blower nozzle 21 is provided on the ceiling portion 91 and blows air toward the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes including a rocker brush 6, a top brush 4 and a side brush 5 that slide and brush on the vehicle CA to be washed. A pair of left and right rocker brushes 6 are provided to wash the lower parts of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be washed. The top brush 4 is horizontally provided on the ceiling portion 91 and cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. A pair of left and right side brushes 5 are provided to clean the side surface and the rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of the side brush 5. A rail 26 is horizontally installed on the ceiling portion 91 arranged above the car wash machine main body 1. The rail 26 is provided with a pair of left and right holding portions 25. The holding portion 25 holds the side brush 5 in which the rotation shaft 5a is arranged in the vertical direction. The side brush 5 is supported by the holding portion 25 so as to be inclined in the left-right direction.

4 and 5 show a front view and a side sectional view of the holding portion 25 on the left side. The right holding portion 25 is symmetrically configured with the left holding portion 25. In FIG. 4, the right side shows the inside of the car wash machine main body 1, and the left side shows the outside of the car wash machine main body 1.

The holding portion 25 is formed of a plurality of metal plates, and the front and rear surfaces and the upper and lower surfaces of the rail 26 are surrounded by a pair of front and rear facing walls 25a, an upper wall 25d, and a bottom wall 25c. Front facing wall 25a
A shaft support portion 24 that pivotally supports the side brush 5 is provided on the top.

The rotating shaft 5a of the side brush 5 is inserted through a hollow rod 5b having a rectangular horizontal cross section, and is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown) arranged in the rod 5b. The rotary shaft 5a penetrates the flange 5c arranged at the upper end of the rod 5b and is connected to the rotary motor 36 attached to the flange 5c via the chain 23. Driven by the rotary motor 36, the side brush 5 rotates about a rotary shaft 5a extending vertically.

Further, a shaft portion 5d is projected from the front and rear surfaces of the rod 5b. The shaft support portion 24 is provided with a bearing 24a that fits into the shaft portion 5d, and the side brush 5 is supported so as to be tiltable at the tilt center 5e. When the flange 5c comes into contact with the upper wall 25d of the holding portion 25 due to the inclination of the side brush 5, the side brush 5 reaches the inclination limit and cannot be inclined with respect to the holding portion 25.

An inclination sensor 39 is provided above the shaft support portion 24 and outside the inclination center 5e. The tilt sensor 39 monitors the side surface of the rod 5b and detects the tilt angle of the side brush 5. The side brush 5 is arranged at a predetermined inclination angle (an angle smaller than the inclination limit) to wash the vehicle to be cleaned CA.

Further, the holding portion 25 includes a drive wheel 27 that rolls on the rail 26, a driven roller 34 (first driven roller), a driven roller 29 (second driven roller), a driven roller 30, a driven roller 28, and a driven roller 38. Provided.

The drive wheels 27 are axially supported by the holding portion 25 with the axial direction arranged horizontally, and are arranged outside the inclination center 5e of the side brush 5. The drive wheel 27 rolls on the upper surface 26a of the rail 26 by driving the moving motor 35 attached to the holding portion 25. The upper surface 26a and the lower surface 26b of the rail 26 are formed with inclined surfaces at the front and rear ends, and the peripheral surface of the drive wheel 27 is formed in a V shape along the front and rear inclined surfaces of the upper surface 26a. As a result, the drive wheel 27 can stably roll on the upper surface 26a of the rail 26.

The driven rollers 34 (first driven rollers) are axially supported by the holding portion 25 with an axial direction inclined with respect to the horizontal, and a pair of front and rear driven rollers 34 are provided along the front and rear inclined surfaces of the upper surface 26a. As a result, the driven roller 34 rolls on the upper surface 26a of the rail 26. Further, the driven roller 34 is arranged inside the driving wheel 27, and the inclination center 5e of the side brush 5 is arranged between the driven roller 34 and the driving wheel 27.

The driven roller 29 (second driven roller) and the driven roller 30 are axially supported by the holding portion 25 with their axial directions arranged horizontally, and roll on the lower surface 26b of the rail 26. The driven roller 29 is arranged on the outside and the driven roller 30 is arranged on the inside with respect to the inclination center 5e of the side brush 5. Further, the driven roller 29 and the driven roller 30 are arranged inside the driving wheel 27 and outside the driven roller 34.

The driven roller 28 and the driven roller 38 are vertically arranged in the axial direction and are axially supported by the holding portion 25, and roll on the side surface 26c of the rail 26. Further, the driven roller 28 and the driven roller 38 are arranged directly above the driven roller 29 and the driven roller 30, respectively.

Below the driven roller 30, a brush urging portion 37 made of a tension spring that connects the holding portion 25 and the rod 5b is provided. The brush urging portion 37 is arranged horizontally in the expansion / contraction direction, and the side brush 5 is urged in the direction of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

The driven roller 29 holds the bearing 29b on the inner peripheral portion, and the shaft 29a extending in the front-rear direction is fitted to the bearing 29b. The shaft 29a is inserted into a vertically extending elongated hole 25a provided in a facing wall 25b facing the front and rear of the holding portion 25, and bolts 29c are screwed at both ends to prevent the shaft 29a from coming off. As a result, the driven roller 29 is arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

Further, a pair of front and rear roller urging portions 32 for urging the driven roller 29 upward via the shaft 29a are provided between the shaft 29a and the bottom wall 25c of the holding portion 25. The roller urging portion 32 is composed of a compression spring, is inserted into a bolt 31 screwed into the bottom wall 25c, and is adjusted to a predetermined urging force by an adjusting screw 33 composed of a double nut screwed into the bolt 31. An annular groove or protrusion for locking the roller urging portion 32 may be provided on the peripheral surface of the shaft 29a. As a result, it is possible to prevent the roller urging portion 32 from being displaced.

In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, a predetermined car wash setting is performed from the remote panel 7, and the vehicle to be washed CA is stopped at a predetermined position. After that, the car wash machine main body 1 moves toward the rear of the vehicle CA to be washed, and the side brush 5, the rocker brush 6, and the top brush 4 clean the vehicle CA to be washed.

The side brush 5 moves in the left-right direction close to each other by driving the moving motor 35. When the side brush 5 comes into contact with the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the rod 5b is tilted against the urging force of the brush urging portion 37. At this time, the driven roller 29 and the drive wheel 27 press the rail 26 due to the urging of the roller urging portion 32, so that the drive wheel 27 is prevented from idling.

Even if the drive wheels 27 are worn due to the aged use of the car wash machine WA, the roller urging portion 32 can urge the driven rollers 29 to prevent the drive wheels 27 from slipping in the same manner as described above.

When the tilt sensor 39 detects that the side brush 5 is arranged at a predetermined tilt angle, the movement of the side brush 5 in the left-right direction is stopped. Then, the car wash machine main body 1 moves in the front-rear direction, and the side brush 5 cleans the side surface of the vehicle CA to be washed. At this time, the drive wheel 27 is driven so as to keep the inclination angle of the side brush 5 constant by the detection of the inclination sensor 39.

Further, the side brush 5 may reach the inclination limit when the vehicle width of the vehicle to be washed CA suddenly increases or when the inclination sensor 39 erroneously detects the vehicle width. When the side brush 5 at the inclination limit is further pressed by the vehicle CA to be cleaned, the holding portion 25 is inclined together with the side brush 5 around the lower end of the driven roller 34. As a result, the drive wheel 27 is lifted against the urging force of the roller urging portion 32 and slips, and the side brush 5 is retracted from the vehicle CA to be cleaned. Therefore, it is possible to prevent excessive pressing by the side brush 5 and prevent damage to the vehicle CA to be washed and the side brush 5.

Following the washing with the rotary brush, the car wash machine main body 1 moves in the front-rear direction, and the top blower nozzle 21 and the side blower nozzle 22 start drying the vehicle CA to be washed. At this time, the top blower nozzle 21 moves up and down based on the detection result of the vehicle shape sensor 9 to dry the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

According to the present embodiment, the holding portion 25 that slantably supports the side brush 5 has a driving wheel 27, a driven roller 34 (first driven roller), and a driven roller 29 (second driven roller). The drive wheel 27 and the driven roller 34 roll on the upper surface of the rail 26, and the driven roller 34 is arranged inside the drive wheel 27. The driven roller 29 rolls on the lower surface of the rail 26 and is arranged outside the driven roller 34, and is urged upward by the roller urging portion 32.

As a result, even if the drive wheel 27 is worn, the driven roller 2 is urged by the roller urging portion 32.
9 and the drive wheel 27 are pressed against the rail 26. Therefore, the side brush 5 that prevents the drive wheels 27 from slipping and comes into contact with the vehicle CA to be washed is arranged at a predetermined inclination angle, and an operation error of the car wash machine WA can be prevented. Further, when the side brush 5 is tilted to the tilt limit, the holding portion 25 is tilted with the driven roller 30 as a fulcrum against the urging force of the roller urging portion 32. Therefore, the drive wheel 27 can idle and the side brush 5 can be retracted, and damage to the vehicle to be cleaned CA and the side brush 5 can be prevented.

Further, the holding portion 25 is provided with a brush urging portion 37 that urges the side brush 5 in the direction of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. As a result, the side brush 5 presses the vehicle CA to be cleaned to improve the cleaning power. Further, even if the holding portion 25 is weighted in the tilting direction when the side brush 5 tilts against the brush urging portion 37, the urging of the roller urging portion 32 can prevent the drive wheels 27 from slipping. can.

Even when the brush urging portion 37 is provided, if the frictional force between the shaft portion 5d of the rod 5b and the bearing 24a is large, the side brush 5 tilts against the frictional force. The holding portion 25 is weighted in the inclined direction. Similarly, in this case as well, the idling of the drive wheels 27 can be prevented by the urging of the roller urging portion 32.

Further, the driven roller 29 is arranged between the driving wheel 27 and the driven roller 34 in the left-right direction. As a result, the drive wheel 27 and the driven roller 34 are pressed against the rail 26 by the urging of the roller urging portion 32, and the holding portion 25 can be stably traveled. The driven roller 29 may be arranged outside the drive wheel 27.

Further, the drive wheel 27 and the driven roller 29 are arranged on the outside and the driven roller 34 is arranged on the inside with respect to the inclination center 5e of the side brush 5. As a result, the weight of the side brush 5 is applied between the drive wheel 27 and the driven roller 34. Further, the driven roller 29 is brought closer to the drive wheel 27 in the left-right direction, and the urging force of the roller urging portion 32 that presses the drive wheel 27 against the rail 26 can be reduced. Therefore, the holding portion 25 can be run more stably.

The driven roller 29 may be arranged inside the tilt center 5e of the side brush 5, and the driven roller 29 and the driven roller 30 may be arranged outside the tilt center 5e. From the viewpoint of space saving and running stability of the holding portion 25, it is preferable that the driven roller 29 is arranged on the outside and the driven roller 30 is arranged on the inside with respect to the inclination center 5e.

Further, the shaft 29a of the driven roller 29 is inserted through the elongated hole 25a provided in the facing wall 25b of the holding portion 25, and the roller urging portion 32 is formed by the compression spring arranged between the shaft 29a and the bottom wall 25c. .. As a result, the roller urging portion 32 that urges the driven roller 29 upward can be easily realized.

Further, a bolt 31 through which the compression spring forming the roller urging portion 32 is inserted is screwed into the bottom wall 25c, and an adjusting screw 33 is arranged between the compression spring and the bottom wall 25c. Thereby, the urging force of the roller urging portion 32 can be easily adjusted.

In the present embodiment, the roller urging portion 32 is provided on the driven roller 29, but may be provided on the driven roller 30 arranged outside the driven roller 34, and may be provided on both the driven roller 29 and the driven roller 30. May be good. Further, the roller urging portion 32 may be configured by a small air cylinder instead of the compression spring.

According to the present invention, it can be used in a car wash machine provided with a side brush for cleaning the side surface of the vehicle to be washed.

1 Car wash machine main body 2 Travel rail 3 Main body wheel 4 Top brush 5 Side brush 5a Rotating shaft 5b Rod 5c Flange 5d Shaft 5e Tilt center 6 Rocker brush 7 Remote panel 8 Operation panel 9 Vehicle shape sensor 20 Blower 21 Top blower nozzle 22 Side Blower nozzle 23 Chain 24 Shaft support 24a Bearing 25 Holding part 25a Long hole 25a Facing wall 25b Facing wall 25c Bottom wall 25d Top wall 26 Rail 26a Top surface 26b Bottom surface 26c Side surface 27 Drive wheel 28 Driven roller 29 Driven roller
29a Shaft 29b Bearing 29c Bolt 30 Driven roller 31 Bolt 32 Roller urging part 33 Adjusting screw 34 Driven roller (1st driven roller)
35 Mobile motor 36 Rotating motor 37 Brush urging part 38 Driven roller 39 Tilt sensor 90 Stand part 91 Ceiling part CA Washed vehicle WA Car wash machine

Claims (5)

A car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed back and forth, a side brush provided on the car wash machine body to wash the side surface of the vehicle to be washed, and a rail horizontally installed on the upper part of the car wash machine body. A holding portion that supports the side brush so as to be inclined in the left-right direction, a drive wheel that pivotally supports the holding portion and rolls on the upper surface of the rail by driving a motor, and the drive that pivotally supports the holding portion. A first driven roller that is arranged inside the wheel and rolls on the upper surface of the rail, and a first driven roller that is supported by the holding portion so as to be movable up and down and is arranged outside the first driven roller and of the rail. In a car wash machine provided with a second driven roller that rolls on the lower surface and a roller urging portion that urges the second driven roller upward.
A bottom that connects the front and rear facing walls with the holding portions facing each other in the front-rear direction, a vertically extending elongated hole opening in the facing wall, a shaft inserted through the elongated hole, and the front-rear facing wall below the elongated hole. It has a wall, the second driven roller is supported by the shaft via a bearing, and the roller urging portion is composed of a compression spring arranged between the shaft and the bottom wall. Car wash machine. The car wash machine according to claim 1, further comprising a brush urging portion that connects the holding portion and the side brush to urge the side brush in the direction of the vehicle to be washed. The car wash machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second driven roller is arranged between the driving wheel and the first driven roller in the left-right direction. The car wash machine according to claim 3, wherein the drive wheel and the second driven roller are arranged on the outside and the first driven roller is arranged on the inside with respect to the inclination center of the side brush. It is characterized by comprising a bolt screwed into the bottom wall into which the compression spring is inserted, and an adjusting screw screwed into the bolt and arranged between the compression spring and the bottom wall. The car wash machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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