JPH04297357A - Top nozzle safety device for car-washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify and facilitate a top nozzle setup as well as to prevent any water dropping during desiccation from occurring by making a top nozzle so as to be lifted up by the detection operation of a tape switch installed in a lower part of the top nozzle, in a top nozzle safety device being set up in a gas station or the like. CONSTITUTION:A tape switch 21 is installed in the width central part of the lower part of a top nozzle 11 via a rubber plate 20. Then, a detection signal of this switch 21 is fed to a controller 17. If so, a control means 22 moves the top nozzle 11 up and down. This top nozzle 11 is controlled for going up and down on the basis of a car level detected by a sonic sensor 13, performing an efficient air supply, and it disperses a waterdrop sticking to the rubber plate 20 and the switch 21.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a top nozzle safety device for a car wash machine installed at, for example, a gas station and used for washing cars.

0002

[Prior Art] In conventional car wash machines, the top nozzle is controlled by disposing a stylus or a guide roller below the top nozzle, as seen in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-12382. A configuration is provided in which the stylus is operated while the guide roller is rolled, thereby controlling the elevation and descent of the top nozzle.

[0003] In this case, since the method is to contact the upper surface of the vehicle body, the upper surface of the vehicle body may be damaged. Therefore,
For example, as seen in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-20098, a non-contact method is provided, such as a reflection type ultrasonic detection device. However, if the reflective ultrasonic detection device or the like malfunctions, there is a risk that the top nozzle may collide with the top of the vehicle body.

[0004] For this reason, recently, a configuration has been provided in which the top nozzle is controlled up and down in a non-contact manner, but is equipped with a contact type safety device. I will explain.

[0005] The gate-shaped car wash machine main body 1 has a car 18 to be washed.
A pair of left and right side brushes 2 that clean the front, rear, and both sides of the
, a top brush 3 for cleaning the top surface of the car 18, a pair of left and right rocker brushes 4 for cleaning the lower portions of both sides of the car 18, etc., as well as various arches for detergent, water, etc. A wax arch 6, a second washing water arch 7, a second wax arch 8, and a detergent arch 9 are installed in this order, and for drying, a pair of left and right side nozzles 10, a top nozzle 11 that can be raised and lowered, A pair of left and right blower devices 12 are incorporated which simultaneously communicate with the nozzles 10 and 11 to supply air. And car 18
A sonic sensor 13 is incorporated to detect the vehicle height.

Further, a roller 14 is attached to the widthwise center of the top nozzle 11 via a bracket 15 in order to prevent the top nozzle 11 from colliding with the top surface of the car 18 due to a malfunction in the elevation control or the like. . The operation and settings of the car wash machine are performed using the operation surface (panel) 1 provided on the front of the car wash machine body 1.
6, and the operating surface 16 is connected to a control device 17.

In such a conventional car wash machine, for example, during the car wash process, the car wash main body 1 is run, the type of car is determined based on the vehicle height of the car 18 detected by the sonic sensor 13, and the washing water arches 5 and 7 are The car 18 is washed with washing water and the brushes 2, 3, and 4 are driven according to the car type, and the car wash machine main body 1 is moved backwards in the final stroke for the car 18 that has been washed as desired. , each nozzle 10,1
Air is blown from car 1 to car 18 to dry it.

During this drying process, the top nozzle 11
Elevation is controlled based on the vehicle height detected by the sonic sensor 13, providing efficient wind supply. When the descending top nozzle 11 is about to collide with the top surface of the car 18 due to a failure of the sonic sensor 13, the roller 14 comes into contact with the top surface of the car 18 prior to this collision, causing the top nozzle 11 to rise. ing.

[0009]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the above-mentioned conventional structure, the roller 14 and the bracket 15 are
The moisture adhering to the wheel flows down during drying and collects at the lower circumference of the roller 14, and then the dried wheel 18
Water droplets fall on the top surface of the product, making it impossible to perform the desired cleaning. Furthermore, since the rollers 14 and brackets 15 are located at the front, the appearance is poor, and additional parts costs and installation work are required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a top nozzle safety device for a car wash machine that can be simply and easily installed in the top nozzle and prevents water droplets from falling during drying.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the top nozzle safety device for a car wash machine according to the present invention provides a top nozzle safety device for a car wash machine that controls the elevation and descent of the top nozzle while detecting the upper surface of the vehicle body using a sensor. A tape switch is provided at the bottom, and a control means is provided for moving the top nozzle upward based on the detected movement of the tape switch.

0012

According to the structure of the present invention, during the drying process, the top nozzle is controlled to move up and down while the top surface of the vehicle body is detected by the sensor, so that wind can be suitably blown from the top nozzle. When the descending top nozzle is about to collide with the top of the car due to sensor failure, etc., the tape switch contacts the top of the car and detects the collision prior to the collision, and the top nozzle is activated via the control means. This will cause an upward movement.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. Components that are the same or substantially the same as those in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Namely, 1 is the main body of the car wash, 2 is the side brush, 3 is the top brush, 4 is the rocker brush, 5 is the first washing water arch, 6 is the first wax arch, 7 is the second washing water arch, and 8 is the second wax Arch, 9 is detergent arch, 1
0 is a side nozzle, 11 is a top nozzle, 12 is a blower device, 13 is a sonic sensor, 16 is an operation surface, 17 is a control device, and 18 is a car.

A rubber plate 20 is attached to the lower part of the top nozzle 11 at the center in the width direction.
A tape switch 21 is provided at. The control device 17 is provided with a control means 22 for moving the top nozzle 11 upward in response to the detected movement of the tape switch 21.

The operation of the above configuration will be explained below. During the drying process, the top nozzle 11 is connected to the sonic sensor 1.
Elevation and lowering are controlled based on the vehicle height detected by 3, providing efficient wind supply. At this time, the water that adheres to the rubber plate 20 and the tape switch 21 during the car wash is dispersed and flows downward, making it difficult for the water to collect and therefore not falling as water droplets.

When the descending top nozzle 11 is about to collide with the top surface of the car 18 due to a failure of the sonic sensor 13, etc., the tape switch 21 is activated as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. The top nozzle 11 is detected by contacting the top surface of the wheel 18 and is moved upward via the control means 22. In this way, the timer is activated at the same time as the top nozzle 11 is moved upward, and when the time is up, the blower device 12 is stopped.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention having the above configuration, during the drying process, the top nozzle is controlled to move up and down while detecting the top surface of the vehicle body in a non-contact manner using a sensor, thereby appropriately blowing air from the top nozzle. be able to. When the descending top nozzle is about to collide with the top of the car due to sensor failure, etc., the tape switch contacts the top of the car and detects the collision prior to the collision, and the top nozzle is activated via the control means. This automatically prevents the top nozzle from colliding with the top of the car.

[0018] Since the tape switch is disposed directly at the bottom of the top nozzle or via a rubber plate or the like, it can be disposed with a simple structure and easily, and furthermore, it does not protrude excessively from the top nozzle. So you can arrange it to look good. During the drying process as mentioned above, the water that adheres to the rubber plate or tape switch during car washing is dispersed and flows downward, making it difficult for it to collect. Therefore, it does not fall as water droplets, making it always suitable for washing and drying. It can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention and is a side view of the entire car wash machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the entire car wash machine.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the top nozzle section.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the control system of the car wash machine.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the control section of the car wash machine.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the entire car wash machine, showing a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the entire car wash machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Car wash machine body 11 Top nozzle 12 Blower device 13 Sonic sensor 17 Control device 18 Car 20 Rubber plate 21 Tape switch 22 Control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A car wash machine that controls the elevation of a top nozzle while detecting the upper surface of a vehicle body using a sensor, comprising: a tape switch provided at a lower part of the top nozzle; and control means for moving the top nozzle upward based on the detected movement of the tape switch. A top nozzle safety device for car wash machines.