JPH0471737B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention A. Purpose of the Invention (1) Industrial Application Field The present invention provides a processing device related to car washing on a running frame, and as the running frame moves, the processing device is applied to the surface of the vehicle. The present invention relates to a vehicle shape detection device in a vehicle body cleaning device that processes the surface of the vehicle by making it follow the surface of the vehicle.

(2) Prior art The above-mentioned car body cleaning device is conventionally known, and the detection of the vehicle height in the device itself is described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-12382.
As disclosed in the above publication, a sensor is known that uses a stylus that contacts the top surface of the vehicle and a flexible guide roller, and in this sensor, the contact between the sensor and the top surface of the vehicle causes There is a risk of damaging the surface or leaving contact marks on the treated surface.

Therefore, in order to avoid such problems, for example,
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 62-59562, a vehicle height detection system has already been proposed in which the vehicle height is detected using an ultrasonic detector provided on the upper part of the traveling frame.

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in any of the above-mentioned conventional devices, a protrusion from the vehicle surface disposed on the side of the vehicle (for example, a fender mirror protruding above the bonnet surface of an ordinary car) It is difficult for the above-mentioned vehicle height detector to detect the rear view mirror of a so-called one-box type car that protrudes forward beyond the windshield surface. If the movement is controlled, there is a risk that the processing device will collide with the protrusion and damage or break it.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle shape detection device for a vehicle body cleaning device that can solve the above problems of conventional devices.

B. Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a processing device related to car washing on a traveling frame, and as the traveling frame travels, the processing device is connected to the vehicle. In a vehicle shape detection device in a vehicle body washing apparatus that processes the vehicle surface along the surface, a traveling position detecting means for detecting the traveling position of the traveling frame; and a traveling position detecting means for detecting the traveling position of the traveling frame; A vehicle detection means having a plurality of non-contact type sensors arranged in parallel, and a storage means for storing the traveling position detected by the traveling position detecting means and the detection information of the vehicle detecting means in correspondence with each other. Features.

(2) Effect According to the above configuration, it is possible to accurately detect the outline of the vehicle surface as seen from the side of the vehicle without making the detection means come into special contact with the vehicle body surface, and it is possible to accurately detect the contour of the vehicle surface as seen from the side of the vehicle. Not only objects, but also the presence of protrusions such as fender mirrors on the side of the vehicle can be reliably detected and this can be stored in relation to the traveling position of the traveling frame.
It becomes possible to control the processing device based on the stored information.

(3) Examples Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

This embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a vehicle body cleaning device.

1 to 5 are views showing a vehicle body cleaning device incorporating an embodiment of the vehicle height measuring device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view, FIG. 2 is a side view of main parts, and FIG. This figure shows the configuration of the stopping device, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control system.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, wheels 8, 8 are pivotally supported on the traveling frame 1 so as to be able to reciprocate along traveling rails 7, 7. As shown in FIGS. Further, blowers 9, 9 are provided on both upper sides of the traveling frame 1, respectively. An upper surface drying nozzle 2 is connected to the tips of blower pipes 10, 10 which are connected to the discharge ports of the blowers 9, 9.

Support rods 11, 11 are provided at both left and right ends of the upper surface drying nozzle 2. the support rod 11;
Elevating members 12 and 13 are fixed to the tip of 11. The elevating members 12 and 13 have guide rollers 14 and 14 pivotally supported on the upper part thereof and guide rollers 15 and 15 pivotally supported on the lower part thereof, and guide members 3 and 3 provided on both sides of the traveling frame 1.
3. An operating member 17 is provided at the upper end of one of the elevating members 12 to operate an upper limit switch 16 for detecting the upper limit position of the upper surface drying nozzle 2. The upper limit switch 16 and the operating member 17 constitute upper limit position detection means _D6 .

At the center of the upper end of the upper surface drying nozzle, a cable 1 is provided.
8 and 18 are fixed at one end. Said cable 1
8 and 18 pass through guide pulleys 19, 19, 20, and 20 that are pivotally supported by the running frame 1, and then are suspended to hang movable pulleys 21 and 21, and the other ends are fixed to the running frame 1. The movable pulley 21, 2
1 is pivotally supported by a movable pulley frame 22, and the lower end of the movable pulley frame 22 is fixed to the upper end of a piston rod 5 of a cylinder 4 serving as a driving means that is pivotally supported by a traveling frame. Further, a stopper 23 that determines the upper limit position of the movable pulley frame 22 is provided on the traveling frame 1.
It is set in. At the upper end of the cylinder 4,
A stopping device 6, which will be described later, stops the piston rod 5.
is provided.

The guide pulleys 20, 20 are coaxially provided with a disc 24 made of a magnetic material and having a plurality of convex protrusions arranged at equal intervals on the outer periphery. Further, the disk 24
A proximity switch 25 made of a sensor coil or the like is provided opposite to the outer circumference of the sensor. The disk 24 and the proximity switch 25 create a lifting pulse generating means.
D ₃ is configured.

The wheels 8, 8 are provided with driven sprockets 26,
26 are provided coaxially, and drive sprockets 28, 28 are provided on the drive shafts of the prime movers 27, 27. Chains 29, 29 are suspended between the sprockets 26, 26 and the drive sprockets 28, 28. A disk 30 similar to the disk 24 is provided on the drive shaft of one prime mover 27, and the proximity switch 25 is arranged opposite to the outer circumference of the disk 30.
A proximity switch 31 similar to the above is provided. The disk 30 and the proximity switch 31 constitute a running pulse generating means _D1 .

A limit switch 32 is provided at the center of the lower part of the traveling frame 1. The limit switch 32 is configured so that the traveling frame 1 is connected to the traveling rail 7,
7, it is activated by a cam 33 provided on one of the running rails 7. The limit switch 32 and the cam 33 constitute a start position detection means _D5 . Further, on one side of the traveling frame 1 facing the vehicle, there is a photoelectric switch group K consisting of a plurality of photoelectric switches K ₁ to K ₁₅ provided vertically, and on the other side, each photoelectric switch K ₁ to K 15 is provided. Each projector La is provided with a plurality of light sources compatible with _K15 . The photoelectric switch group K and the light projector La constitute a vehicle detection means _D2 . Further, the traveling frame 1 is provided with cleaning processing devices such as side drying nozzles 34, 34, a top brush, a side brush, etc. (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows a specific structure of the stop device 6 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A ring-shaped brake shoe 35 is attached to the outer circumference of the piston rod 5 of the cylinder 4.
is wrapped. A cylindrical casing 6 ₁ of the stop device 6 is arranged so as to surround the piston rod 5 including the brake shoe 35 . A brake piston 39 defining an air chamber 6 ₂ is slidably fitted into the casing 6 ₁ , and the piston 39 is pressed to open the air chamber 6 ₂ .
brake spring 3 which acts to reduce the volume of
8 is accommodated. The air chamber 6 ₂ has a supply port 41
via a pressurized air source Ai (FIG. 4). In addition, a plurality of brake arms 36 are housed radially in the air chamber ₆₂ so as to surround the piston rod 5, and the base ends (upper ends) of these brake arms 36 are connected to the inner surface of the brake shoe 35 and the casing ₆₁ . A roller 37 is rotatably supported at the tip (lower end) of the piston rod 5, and a roller 37 is rotatably supported at the tip (lower end) of the piston rod 5.
On the outer surface of 7, by the brake spring 38,
The brake piston 39 is biased upward.
The tapered surfaces 40 of are pressed together. Therefore, when pressurized air is not supplied to the air chamber ₆₁ , the elastic force of the brake spring 38 causes the brake piston 3 to
9 is raised, and its tapered surface 41 swings the brake arm 36 inward through the roller 37 to press the brake shoe 35 against the piston rod 5, thereby applying a brake to the piston rod 5. Further, when pressurized air is supplied from the pressurized air source Ai to the air chamber ₆₂ , the brake piston 39 is pushed down against the biasing force of the brake spring 38, and the roller 37 moves outward. Therefore, the brake arm 36 no longer presses the brake shoe 35 against the piston rod 5, so the piston rod 5
operates freely.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the air and hydraulic circuits. A pipe 42 connected to the pressurized air source Ai is connected to an air supply port 41 of the stop device 6 via a pressure reducing valve 43 that adjusts the pressure and a normally open three-way solenoid valve 44. The pipe 42 is also connected to the upper part of the pressurized container 47 via a pressure reducing valve 45 and a normally open three-way solenoid valve 46 . And pressurized container 47
The hydraulic oil put into the cylinder 4 is supplied to the cylinder 4 via a check valve 48 with a fixed throttle. The check valve 48 with a fixed throttle is opened when the cylinder 4 contracts, and closed when the cylinder 4 extends.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system when a microcomputer is used as the control means. The control means 50 includes a microprocessing unit 51 that performs arithmetic processing, a read-only memory _M1 that stores programs and fixed data,
A random access memory _M2 used for a work area and storage of variable data, an input interface 52, an output interface 53,
and a bus 54 that connects them. The input interface 52 includes the aforementioned traveling pulse generating means D ₁ , vehicle detecting means D ₂ , lifting pulse generating means D ₃ , reciprocating signal generating means D ₄ , upper limit detecting means D ₅ , and start position detecting means D ₆
The output signal of is input. The output interface 53 is connected to the solenoid valves 46, 4 shown in FIG.
6 solenoid coils L ₄₄ and L ₄₆ . Also connected to the bus 54 is a storage means M consisting of a random access memory.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above-described configuration will be explained.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing vehicle height measurement by vehicle detection when the traveling frame 1 is moving out, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means 50 in that case, and FIG. 8 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means stage 50 in this case.

In FIG. 6, first, the reciprocating signal generating means
When D ₄ outputs a signal indicating going, the prime movers 27, 27 are activated, and the running frame 1 moves rightward in the drawing along the running rails 7, 7 to position 1.
It goes back and forth from a to position 1b.

At this time, the start position detection means _D5 is
At positions other than position 1a, the cam 33 does not operate the limit switch 32, so no signal is output. The running pulse generating means _D1 outputs a running pulse signal as the disc 30 rotates and operates the proximity switch 31. Further, the vehicle detection means D ₂ is
The light from the floodlight La is blocked by the vehicle body, and a plurality of photoelectric switches K ₁ to _{K 15} make up the sensor group.
Since a signal is obtained from the photoelectric switch _K1 provided at the bottom to the photoelectric switch provided at a position corresponding to the upper surface of the vehicle body, a signal corresponding to the vehicle height is output. For example, in FIG. 6, the traveling frame 1 travels a distance L ₁ and the position 1c
, the signals of the photoelectric switches K ₁ to _{K 5} are obtained.

At this time, the control means 50 operates based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Reciprocating signal generation means
When D ₄ outputs a signal indicating going out, step S ₁
It is determined whether the vehicle height is being measured or not. Then, if the vehicle height is to be measured, the process proceeds to step _S3 , otherwise the process proceeds to step _S2 to perform other processing. In step S ₃ ,
The presence or absence of the output signal of the start position detection means _D5 is determined. If there is no output signal, proceed to step _S4 .
If there is an output signal, step _S3 is repeated until the traveling frame 1 moves forward and moves to the right from position 1a in FIG. In step _S4 , a running pulse signal is input, and each time a pulse signal is input, it is incremented by 1 to make the number of running pulses A. In step _S5 , the output signal of the vehicle detection means _D2 is input. This output signal has the value of each bit equal to the value of the photoelectric switch _K1 ~
This is a 15-bit signal that corresponds to the presence or absence of the _K15 output signal. In step _S6 , the output signal of the vehicle detection means _D2 is stored as data at address A of the storage means M. In step _S7 , the reciprocating signal generating means
It is determined whether D ₄ is outputting a signal indicating going. If there is a signal, the process returns to step _S4 , and if there is no signal, the process ends.

Therefore, the storage means M continuously stores data H corresponding to the position of the upper surface of the vehicle body, that is, the vehicle height.

In FIG. 8, the reciprocating signal generating means D ₄
When outputs a signal indicating go-around, traveling frame 1
is from position 1b to position 1a in the left direction in the drawing.
Go back until. Then, the upper surface drying nozzle 2 is moved up and down to perform the drying process.

At this time, since the disc 24 rotates and the proximity switch 25 is operated, the elevating pulse generating means _D3 outputs an elevating pulse signal. Further, the upper limit detection means D ₆ is such that when the upper surface drying nozzle 2 starts descending, the actuating member 17 activates the upper limit switch 16.
does not operate, so no signal is output.

At this time, the control means 50 operates based on the flowchart of FIG. Reciprocating signal generation means
When D ₄ outputs a signal indicating go-around, step S ₈
It is determined whether or not the drying process is being performed. Then, if it is a drying process, the process advances to step _S10 , and if so, the process advances to _S9 to perform other processes. In step _S10 , a running pulse signal is input, and each time one pulse signal is input, one is subtracted from the number A of running pulses during forward travel to obtain the number B of running pulses. In step _S11 , the following calculation is performed on this number of running pulses. In FIG. 8, the traveling frame 1 is located at position 1.
Go back from b, reach position 1d, start position 1
When the distance from a becomes L ₂ , the number of running pulses B is
It is equal to the number of traveling pulses A when the distance L ₂ is traveled back and forth. Further, there is a distance L ₀ between the vehicle detection means D ₂ and the upper surface drying nozzle 2 . Furthermore, since the upward speed of the upper surface drying nozzle 2 is finite, in order to prevent it from coming into contact with the vehicle body, consideration must be given to the distance Lu that the traveling frame 1 moves during the time required for upward movement. Therefore, in order to move the top drying nozzle 2 up and down,
distance instead of actual distance L ₂ of running frame 1
Distance L ₃ , which is L ₂ minus distance L ₀ and distance Lu
The vehicle height must be based on the vehicle height. Therefore, the number of traveling pulses corresponding to the distance L ₀ and the distance Lu is subtracted from the number of traveling pulses B, and the number of traveling pulses
Perform the calculation to find. Next, in step _S12 , the contents stored at address X in the storage means M are read out. This stored content is data H corresponding to the vehicle height at the position of the number of travel pulses X. If a lifting pulse signal is input in step _S13 and the output signal of the upper limit detection means _D6 is not input, if the upper drying nozzle 2 is going down, it will be added by 1 for each pulse signal, and if it is going to be going up, it will be added by 1. By subtracting, the number of rising and falling pulses S
seek. At step _S14 , the number of up/down pulses Sn, which is determined by the data read out at step _S12 and which corresponds to an interval suitable for the drying process, is compared with the number S of up/down pulses. This number of elevation pulses Sn is a numerical value uniquely determined by the vehicle height, and is stored in advance in correspondence with data H corresponding to the vehicle height. Therefore, the number Sn of ascending/descending pulses is determined from the data H read out in step _S12 . and,
As a result of comparison, if S>Sn, S< _Sn
If so, go to step S ₁₆ , if S=Sn, go to step S ₁₇
, respectively. In step _S15 , the electromagnetic valve 46 is de-energized because the power flowing to the solenoid coil _L46 is cut off. Therefore, since hydraulic oil is supplied to the cylinder 4, the upper surface drying nozzle 2 rises. In step _S16 , the solenoid valve 4
6 is excited because current flows through the solenoid coil L ₄₆ , and the cylinder 4 is energized by the weight of the drying nozzle 2.
Since the hydraulic oil supplied to the pressurized container 47 returns to the pressurized container 47, the upper surface drying nozzle 2 descends. At this time, since the check valve of the check valve with a fixed throttle is closed, the hydraulic oil is regulated by the fixed throttle. Therefore,
The upper surface drying nozzle 2 descends at a slower speed than when it ascends. Also, as explained in step S ₁₀ ,
Data H corresponding to the vehicle height is read out at a position preceding the actual position of the traveling frame 1.
Further, as described above, the rising speed and the descending speed of the upper surface drying nozzle 2 are different. Therefore, the lowering of the upper surface drying nozzle 2 is the distance L _D shown in FIG.
This is done after the number of running pulses corresponding to is input.
Note that if you proceed to step _S15 before the number of travel pulses corresponding to this distance L _D is input,
There is no descent, only an ascent. Step S ₁₇
Then, the solenoid valve 44 is a solenoid coil L ₄₄
Since a current flows through it, it is excited. Therefore, the stop device 6 is activated and the piston rod 5 is stopped, so that the upper drying nozzle 2 is kept at a constant height. These steps S ₁₅ to S ₁₇ are equivalent to step S ₁₈
This process is repeated until the start position detection means _D5 outputs a signal.

Therefore, in FIG.
reaches position 1d from position 1b, the top drying nozzle 2 starts to rise from the height _H1 . and,
The height _H6 is reached through the heights _H2 to _H5 . When the vehicle reaches position 1e, it is instructed to descend, but the descent actually begins after it has traveled a further distance L _D. When returning to the start position 1a, the start position detection means _D5 outputs a signal, the traveling frame 1 stops, and the upper drying nozzle 2 returns to the upper limit position.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described in the claims. Is possible.

For example, instead of being constituted by a disk 30 having a plurality of convex protrusions at equal intervals on its outer periphery and a proximity switch 31 consisting of a sensor coil, the running pulse generating means D ₁ is constituted by a disk-shaped magnet and a reed switch. Any so-called encoder may be used. Furthermore, when the traveling speed of the traveling frame 1 is constant, the traveling pulse generating means D ₁
It can be a constant period pulse generator. Further, the number of photoelectric switches constituting the vehicle detection means _D2 can be increased or decreased as necessary. In this case, if there is a risk of malfunction due to the fact that the photoelectric switches are installed close to each other, the light sources of the floodlight La corresponding to the odd-numbered and even-numbered photoelectric switches are made to emit light separately, and the photoelectric switches in each case are The output signals may be combined and used as the output signal of the vehicle detection means _D2 .

In addition, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which it is applied to a vehicle body washing device and used to measure the vehicle height when controlling the lifting and lowering operation of the upper surface drying nozzle, but other washing processing, such as brushing processing, water washing processing, etc. It can also be used for. Furthermore, it can also be used for processing other than cleaning processing, such as wax processing.

In the embodiments described above, the traveling pulse generating means _D1 constitutes the traveling position detecting means of the present invention for detecting the traveling position of the traveling frame 1.

C. Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a traveling position detecting means for detecting the traveling position of the traveling frame, and a plurality of non-contact units arranged vertically in parallel on the side surface of the traveling frame facing the vehicle. The vehicle detecting means includes a vehicle detecting means having a type sensor, and a storing means for storing the traveling position detected by the traveling position detecting means and the detection information of the vehicle detecting means in correspondence, so that the detecting means is not specially brought into contact with the surface of the vehicle body. It is now possible to accurately detect the outline of the vehicle surface as seen from the side of the vehicle without causing any damage, and detects not only protrusions such as ski carriers on the vehicle ceiling, but also protrusions such as fender mirrors on the side of the vehicle. This can be reliably detected and stored in relation to the actual traveling position of the traveling frame, and the stored information can be used to accurately control the movement of the processing device at all times without damaging or damaging the protrusions. be able to control.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a vehicle body cleaning device incorporating a vehicle shape detection device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the main parts thereof, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a stopping device,
The figure shows the air and hydraulic circuits, Figure 5 is a block diagram of the control system, Figure 6 is a diagram showing vehicle height measurement by vehicle detection when the traveling frame is moving, and Figure 7 is the case of Figure 6. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means in the case of FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the drying process when the traveling frame goes back, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control means in the case of FIG. 1... Traveling frame, 2... Upper surface drying nozzle, 3...
Guide member, 4...Cylinder, _D1 ...Traveling pulse generating means as a traveling position detecting means, _D2 ...Vehicle detecting means, _D3 ...Elevating/lowering pulse generating means, M...Storing means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Car shape detection in a car body washing device that provides a processing device 2 related to car washing on the traveling frame 1 and processes the vehicle surface by aligning the processing device 2 along the vehicle surface as the traveling frame 1 travels. The device includes a traveling position detection means D ₁ for detecting the traveling position of the traveling frame 1, and a plurality of non-contact sensors K ₁ to K arranged vertically in parallel on the side surface of the traveling frame 1 facing the vehicle. ₁₅ , and a storage means M for storing the traveling position detected by the traveling position detecting means D ₁ and the detection information of the vehicle detecting means _{D 2 in} correspondence with each other. A vehicle shape detection device in a vehicle body cleaning device.