JPH0440222B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A. Object of the Invention (1) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a car washing machine suitable for washing vehicles such as automobiles.

(2) Prior Art A car wash comprising a frame and a side brush supported by the frame and movable in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and in which the frame and the vehicle are moved relative to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle when washing the vehicle. Machines are known in the art.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, when using such a car wash machine to wash a vehicle equipped with door mirrors, a large surface pressure is applied from the side brushes to the door mirrors that protrude to the sides of the vehicle. As a result, the door mirrors were sometimes damaged due to the side brushes.

The present invention was proposed in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine that can prevent door mirrors from being damaged by side brushes.

B. Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a frame and a side brush that is supported by the frame and can be moved in the left and right direction of the vehicle, and is capable of cleaning a vehicle. Sometimes, in a car wash machine in which the frame and the vehicle are moved relative to each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, an ultrasonic wave is provided on the frame and is capable of detecting the boundary between the front window and the bonnet surface of the vehicle, or the front window and the ceiling surface. The present invention is characterized by comprising a detection device and a control device that controls the left and right positions of the side brushes based on detection signals from the ultrasonic detection device.

(2) Effect According to the above configuration, when the ultrasonic detection device detects the boundary between the front window and the bonnet surface or the front window and the ceiling surface during relative movement between the frame and the vehicle, the control device operates based on the detection signal. can control the lateral position of the side brush, so that when the side brush passes the door mirror located at a position substantially coincident with the front window, the side brush can be moved as far away as possible from the door mirror.

(3) Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 1 showing a first embodiment of the present invention, a car wash machine 1 is formed in a gate shape so that it can straddle a vehicle (not shown). A pair of front and rear wheels 3 provided on this frame 2 are placed on a rail 4 extending along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and one of the wheels 3 is driven by a traveling drive device M. It is driven to rotate. Therefore, the frame 2 can move back and forth along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The frame 2 is provided with a rotating brush device B, a drying device D, and other processing devices (not shown). It is controlled by a control circuit 42 (see FIG. 2) as a control device in a control panel 5 provided in the control panel 5.

The rotating brush device B includes a top brush 6 and a pair of side brushes 7 arranged on the rear side of the top brush 6 along the forward direction of the frame 2 shown by an arrow 8.

The top brush 6 is swingably supported via a swing arm 10 on a horizontal shaft 9 that is rotatably supported on the frame 2 . A prime mover 11 is provided on the upper part of the swinging arm 10, and the top brush 6 is rotationally driven from the prime mover 11 via a transmission mechanism (not shown) within the swinging arm 10. A sprocket 12 is fixed to the horizontal shaft 9, and a drive shaft 13 is rotatably supported on the frame 2 on the side of the horizontal shaft 9. This drive shaft 13 has another sprocket 14.
is fixed. An endless chain 15 is suspended between both sprockets 12 and 14, and a piston rod 18 of an air cylinder 17 whose lower end is supported by the frame 2 is connected to the drive shaft 13. Therefore, by driving the air cylinder 17 to extend, the top brush 6 can be held in the upper retracted position as shown by the two-dot chain line. Furthermore, when the air cylinder 17 is inactivated, the top brush 6 can freely swing between its vertical position and the storage position, using the horizontal axis 9 as a fulcrum, at least toward the rear along the traveling direction 8; During the cleaning process, the top brush 6 comes into contact with the top surface of the vehicle and swings according to the shape of the top surface of the vehicle.

The rotating shafts 22 of the pair of side brushes 7 are held by a holding cylinder 23 that extends vertically.
3 is fixed to the moving frame 24. The moving frame 24 is slidably engaged with a guide rail 25 that is horizontally mounted on the frame 2 and extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle (not shown).
It is driven laterally by a drive means (not shown). Further, both ends of the guide rail 25 are rotatably supported by the frame 2 via a support shaft 26, and therefore,
The guide rail 25, the movable frame 24, the holding tube 23, the rotation shaft 22, and the side brush 7 are swingable along the running direction of the frame 2 with the support shaft 26 as a fulcrum. Further, a prime mover 27 is supported on the movable frame 24, and an endless chain 30 is attached to a sprocket 28 fixed to the output shaft of the prime mover 27 and a sprocket 29 fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 22.
is suspended, and the side brush 7 is driven by the prime mover 27.
is driven to rotate.

The drying device D is disposed on the frame 2 in front of the rotating brush device B along the traveling direction 8, and has a pair of side nozzles 31 that open inward on both sides of the frame 2, and a pair of side nozzles 31 that open downward at the top. A top nozzle 32 that is open towards the air blower is connected to a blower 33. The top nozzle 32 is raised and lowered by a lifting means (not shown) in accordance with the height of the vehicle to be dried.

At the front upper part of the frame 2 along the forward direction 8,
A reflective ultrasonic detection device 35 is provided to detect the vehicle height and body position of the vehicle to be cleaned.
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 2, this ultrasonic detection device 3
The configuration of No. 5 will be explained.

In FIG. 2, the ultrasonic detection device 35 includes a transmitting section 36 and a receiving section 3 disposed close to each other.
Equipped with 7. The transmitter 36 is given a pulsed ultrasonic signal from the transmitter circuit 38 to be transmitted toward the upper surface of the vehicle, and the receiver 37 receives the reflected wave reflected from the upper surface of the vehicle and inputs it to the receiver circuit 39 . The receiving circuit 39 determines whether the reflected wave is an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the receiving section 36 or not, and inputs the received signal to the arithmetic circuit 40 when it is transmitted from the transmitting section 36. On the other hand, the arithmetic circuit 4
0, a transmission signal is input from the transmission circuit 38, and the vertical distance from the ultrasonic detection device 35 to the top of the vehicle is calculated based on the time difference between transmission and reception, and a voltage signal proportional to the distance is calculated. The signal is input from the arithmetic circuit 40 to the comparison circuit 41 . Comparison circuit 4
1, a predetermined reference distance from the ultrasonic detection device 35, for example, the installation height of the ultrasonic detection device 35, and a distance that is higher than the bonnet surface BT of the vehicle V and the ceiling surface.
A predetermined reference height H ₁ lower than RF (see Figure 3)
A reference voltage signal Vb is input corresponding to the height difference between the two. Therefore, when the horizontal upper surface of the vehicle V is located below the transmitter 36 and the receiver 37 and has the predetermined reference height H1 _or more, the comparison circuit 4
1 outputs a detection signal, and this detection signal is given to the control circuit 42 in the control panel 5.

Here, the transmitting part 36 and the receiving part 37 of the ultrasonic detection device 35 are formed in a conical shape that becomes larger in diameter toward the bottom. There is a risk that the cleaning water will adhere to the inner surfaces of the transmitting section 36 and the receiving section 37, and the ultrasonic waves emitted from the transmitting section 36 will directly enter the receiving section 37, causing malfunction. Also, transmitting section 3
Weak ultrasonic waves called side lobes are generated along the side walls of the cone 6, but the propagation direction and intensity of these side lobes change depending on the temperature, density, etc. of the atmosphere. Therefore, depending on the atmospheric condition, the receiving section 37 may receive a reflected wave from an object located laterally, rather than a reflected wave from a reflector directly below it, causing a malfunction.

Therefore, shielding cylinders 36a and 37a made of synthetic resin, which are elongated in the vertical direction and whose lower ends are open, are hung from the ends of the transmitting part 36 and the receiving part 37, respectively, and these shielding cylinders 36a and 37a prevent splashes of purified water, etc. during car washing. This prevents ultrasonic waves from being emitted and entering the receiving sections 36 and 37, and also shields the side lobes of the ultrasonic waves described above. Also, if you operate car wash machine 1 in cold weather,
Since the temperature of the washing water is higher than the outside air, the temperature and humidity of the air inside the car wash machine 1 rises, and the cold air causes dew condensation on the receivers 36 and 37, causing water droplets to adhere to their inner surfaces, resulting in a malfunction. or cause malfunction. However, the tips of the receiver brushes 36, 37 are covered with the shielding tubes 36a, 37a, and the shielding tubes 36a,
By suppressing the convection of air inside and outside 37a, it is possible to prevent dew condensation in the emitting and receiving sections 36 and 37 as described above.

In such an ultrasonic detection device 35, the upper surface of the vehicle V is set at a certain angle with respect to the horizontal plane, for example, 15
If the vehicle V is tilted more than a degree, the receiving unit 37 does not receive the reflected ultrasonic waves from the top surface of the vehicle V.
On the other hand, the front window FW of the vehicle V is generally inclined at an angle of 15 degrees or more with respect to the horizontal plane.
is not detected. Therefore, when the frame 2 is moving forward, a detection signal is output from the ultrasonic detection device 35 only at the front edge of the ceiling surface RF, that is, at the boundary _P1 between the front window FW and the ceiling surface RF. .

Next, the operation of the rotary brush device B, especially the side brush 7, during the cleaning process will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. During the cleaning process,
The frame 2 runs in the outbound direction 8, and the 1
By the forward movement, the cleaning process for the vehicle V in the stopped state with respect to the frame 2 is completed.

When the frame 2 starts moving forward, both side brushes 7 are located at the innermost position, and when the frame 2 reaches a position where it comes into sliding contact with the front of the vehicle V, the forward movement of the frame 2 starts. Once stopped, the side brush 7 moves outward while cleaning the front of the vehicle V. Next, the forward motion of the frame 2 is resumed, and the side brushes 7 move inward to clean the side surfaces of the vehicle V. This side brush 7
When the vehicle reaches the position indicated by 7A, the ultrasonic detection device 35 is located at the position indicated by 35A and detects the boundary _P1 between the front window FW and the ceiling surface RF. That is, the ultrasonic detection device 35 detects the predetermined reference height H ₁
Even if the angle of inclination with respect to the horizontal plane is above a certain value, the front window FW will not be detected and the boundary
Outputs the detection signal for the first time at P ₁ . When this detection signal is input to the control circuit 42, or when the first set time T1 has elapsed from the time of input as shown in FIG. ₄ and the frame 2 has moved by the first predetermined amount with respect to the vehicle V ( That is, the side brush 7 is a door mirror.
When the side brush 7 reaches a position 7B in front of the DM), the side brush 7 starts moving outward and separates from the side of the vehicle V. Thereafter, when the second set time T ₂ has elapsed and the frame 2 has moved relative to the vehicle V by a second predetermined amount, the side brush 7 starts moving toward the vehicle V.

Here, the first predetermined amount, that is, the first set time
T ₁ is caused by the positional deviation between the ultrasonic detection device 35 and the side brush 7 in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the car wash machine,
Door mirror DM and the boundary in general vehicles
It is determined based on the longitudinal positional deviation with respect to P ₁ , the relative speed of movement between the frame 2 and the vehicle V, etc., but in some cases, the first set time T ₁ may be set to zero,
That is, the side brush 7 may be moved away from the side surface of the vehicle V when the ultrasonic detection device 35 detects the boundary _P1 . Also, the second set time T ₂ is
The time is set to be sufficient for the side brush 7 to leave the door mirror DM and pass.

After the second set time _T2 has elapsed, the side brush 7 resumes its approach operation to the side surface of the vehicle V and continuously brushes the side surface. When the frame 2 passes the vehicle V, the side brush 7
is in the closed position shown at 7C, the forward movement of the frame 2 is stopped, and the cleaning process is completed. Said second set time
After the elapse of T ₂ , the time T ₃ to the position indicated by position 7C
is the relationship between the frame 2 and the vehicle V from a predetermined reference time (in the illustrated example, the start of the approach motion) related to the separation and approach motion of the side brush 7 toward the side of the vehicle until the frame 2 completes its forward movement. This corresponds to the relative momentum of V, which varies depending on the length of the vehicle V, and in the illustrated example, the time T ₃ is measured by the control circuit 42.

In FIG. 5, when the frame 2 is traveling back, when the side brush 7 first detects the rear surface of the vehicle V, the frame 2 temporarily stops the backward motion and the side brush 7 moves outward. The time _T4 from the start of the go-around to the stop of this frame 2 is measured. Next, as the frame 2 starts to go back again, the side brush 7 moves close to the side of the vehicle V, and the time _T5 from the time when the go-around resumes is also measured.

A time T ₇ is set, which is obtained by subtracting a preset correction time T ₆ from the measurement time T ₃ at the time of going out.
The sum of the measurement times T ₄ and T ₅ is equal to T ₇ (T ₇ = T ₄
=T ₅ ) When the side brush 7 is bent, the side brush 7 is operated to move away from the side of the vehicle V. The correction time T ₆ is
It is set based on the running speed of the frame 2 and the moving speed of the side brush 7. After the separation operation of the side brush 7 starts, the second set time T ₂
When this period has elapsed, the side brush 7 is again moved close to the side of the vehicle V, and after that, the side brush 7 moves while cleaning the side of the vehicle V, and returns to its original position.

Thus, during the forward movement of the frame 2, the ultrasonic detection device 35 detects the windshield.
Based on the detection of boundary P ₁ between FW and ceiling surface RF,
When the side brush 7 passes through the door mirror DM, the side brush 7 can be kept as far away from the door mirror DM as possible, and damage to the door mirror DM is prevented.

In addition, there may be a positional shift between the ultrasonic detection device 35 and the side brush 7 in a car wash machine in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a difference between the door mirror DM and the boundary P ₁ in a general vehicle.
By appropriately setting the first set time T ₁ according to the longitudinal positional deviation between the side brush 7 and the door mirror DM, the start timing of the side brush 7's avoidance operation with respect to the door mirror DM can be changed to prevent the door mirror from being damaged as described above. Since the cleaning speed can be made as slow as possible within a range that does not cause any damage, the cleaning effect of the side brush 7 on the side surface of the vehicle can be increased accordingly.

6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in how the predetermined reference distance from the ultrasonic detection device 35 is set. That is, in this second embodiment, a predetermined reference distance corresponding to the height difference between the installation height of the ultrasonic detection device 35 and a predetermined reference height H ₂ (see FIG. 6) lower than the bonnet surface BT of the vehicle V is set. A reference voltage signal Vb corresponding to the reference voltage signal Vb is input to the comparison circuit 41. Therefore, when the horizontal upper surface of the vehicle V is located below the transmitting section 36 and the receiving section 37 of the ultrasonic detection device 35 and is above the predetermined reference height _H2 , a detection signal is output from the comparison circuit 41.
This detection signal is given to the control circuit 42 in the control panel 5.

As a result, when the frame 2 moves back and forth, the ultrasonic detection device 35 detects the height of the bonnet surface BT, but the height of the bonnet surface BT and the front window FW are
After passing the boundary P ₂ , it becomes undetectable due to the inclination of the front window FW. As a result, when the boundary P ₂ is detected or the side brush 7 separates from the side of the vehicle V after the first set time T ₁ ' has elapsed, and then when the second set time T ₂ has elapsed, the side brush 7 It is operated in close proximity to the side of the vehicle V. Thereafter, time _T3 is measured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. During the backward movement of frame 2, the same operation as during the backward movement in the first embodiment is performed.

Also in this second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the door mirror DM is controlled by the side brush 7.
damage can be prevented.

In the present invention, the frame 2 may be fixed and the mounting surface of the vehicle V may be movable. Even in that case, the relative movement between the frame 2 and the vehicle V is exactly the same as in the previous embodiment. be.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention includes a frame and a side brush that is supported by the frame and can move in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and when washing the vehicle, the frame and the vehicle are moved in the front-back direction of the vehicle. In a car washing machine configured to cause relative movement, an ultrasonic detection device provided on the frame and capable of detecting a boundary between a front window and a bonnet surface or a front window and a ceiling surface of a vehicle, and a detection signal of this ultrasonic detection device and a control device that controls the left and right positions of the side brushes on the basis of Based on the detection signal, the control device can control the left and right positions of the side brushes, and as a result, when the side brushes pass the door mirror located at a position that substantially coincides with the front window, the side brushes are Since it can be placed as far away from the door mirror as possible, damage to the door mirror can be effectively prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a car wash machine, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an ultrasonic detection device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the trajectory of the side brush when the frame is moving forward; FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the trajectory of the side brush when the frame is moving backward; FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 4. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Car wash machine, 2... Frame, 7... Side brush, 35... Ultrasonic detection device, 42... Control circuit as a control device, BT... Bonnet surface,
FW...Front window, P ₁ , P ₂ ...Boundary,
RF...Ceiling surface, V...Vehicle.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 comprises a frame 2 and a side brush 7 supported by the frame 2 and movable in the left-right direction of the vehicle V, so that the frame 2 and the vehicle V are moved relative to each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle V during vehicle cleaning. In the car wash machine, the front window FW and the bonnet surface BT of the vehicle V, or the front window FW and the ceiling surface
Ultrasonic detection device 3 capable of detecting RF boundaries P ₂ and P ₁
5, and a control device 42 that controls the left and right positions of the side brushes 7 based on the detection signal of the ultrasonic detection device 35.