JPH0639248B2 - Mobile car wash machine - 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, in particular, a gate-shaped traveling frame that can reciprocate in the front-rear direction across a vehicle, and a vehicle body side surface provided on the gate-shaped traveling frame. A pair of left and right side brushes that can be washed, and an upper surface brush that can be washed on the upper surface of the vehicle body that is provided at the tip of a swing arm that is supported by the gate-type traveling frame so as to be vertically swingable through a swing shaft It relates to a mobile car wash machine.

(2) Prior Art The above-mentioned mobile car washer is conventionally known as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 54-84370, and in this conventionally known one, the swinging shaft has a gate type traveling frame, The gate type traveling frame 1 was mounted in a state in which it cannot be relatively displaced in the reciprocating traveling direction (ie, the front-back direction of the automobile to be washed).

(3) Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the above-mentioned conventional mobile car washer, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the upper surface brush T is relatively close to the side brush S in the traveling direction of the gate type traveling frame 1. If the upper brush T cleans the upper surface of the vehicle body at the same time as the side brush S cleans the side surface of the vehicle body, the brushes T,
There is a problem that S interferes with each other and the cleaning effect decreases, and in order to avoid this problem, both brushes T, S
There is also a problem in that the cleaning efficiency is correspondingly reduced when the two are always operated one by one.

These problems are caused by the upper surface brush T as shown in FIG. 8 (b).
Can be solved by arranging the side brush S relatively away from the side brush S in the traveling direction of the gate type traveling frame 1.
In that case, another problem as described below occurs. That is, when the vehicle body is washed using a mobile car wash machine, the stop position P ₀ of the vehicle V is set so that the vehicle V is separated from the upper surface brush T in the lowered position by a certain distance X in the frame traveling direction. As described above, the upper surface brush T
When the vehicle is deviated from the side brush S (that is, closer to the side of the vehicle), the stop position P ₀ of the vehicle V is set to the side farther from the side brush S. Gate type traveling frame 1 for cleaning
There is a problem that the reciprocating stroke of the car becomes relatively long, which requires a large car wash space.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile car washer capable of solving the two contradictory problems of the conventional device at once.

B. Structure of the Invention (1) Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gate type traveling frame that can reciprocate in the front-rear direction across an automobile, and the gate type traveling frame. A pair of left and right side brushes capable of cleaning the side surfaces of the vehicle body of an automobile, and a top surface of the vehicle body provided at the tip end of a swing arm supported by the gate type traveling frame so as to be capable of swinging up and down via a swing shaft can be washed. In a mobile car washing machine including an upper surface brush, between the gate type traveling frame and the swing shaft, the swinging axis moves forward and backward with respect to the side brush in the reciprocating direction of the gate type traveling frame. A swing shaft displacement mechanism for relatively displacing the swing shaft in the reciprocating traveling direction with respect to the portal traveling frame is provided.

(2) Operation According to the swing shaft displacement mechanism, the swing shaft of the upper surface brush can be selectively arranged at a close position relatively close to the side brush and a separated position relatively separated from the side brush. ,
In particular, by placing the swing shaft of the top brush at the above-mentioned proximity position in the initial stage of operation, the top brush can be brought as close as possible to the side brush, and the stop position of the automobile can be set to a position relatively close to the side brush. Become.

On the other hand, in the state where the swing shaft is placed at the above separated position, the upper surface brush and the side brush can be separated from each other,
It is possible to operate the upper brush and the side brush at the same time without causing the problem of deterioration of cleaning effect due to mutual interference of both brushes.

(3) Example Hereinafter, an example of a mobile car wash machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the cleaning device, FIG. 2 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lower side brush.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of left and right support shafts 2, 2 are rotatably supported at the center of both sides of the gate type traveling frame 1, and the support shafts 2, 2 have a sprocket 3, 2. A pair of support arms 4 and 4 to which 3 is fixed are rotatably supported. Swing shafts 6, 6 fixed to the intermediate portions of the pair of swing arms 5, 5 are rotatably supported at the tips of the respective support arms 4, 4.
Both ends of a brush support shaft 8 to which an upper surface brush 7 is fixed are rotatably supported at the ends of the swing arms 5 and 5.

A balance weight 9 is fixed to the upper end of one swing arm 5, and a motor 10 with a reducer that also functions as a balance weight is fixed to the upper end of the other swing arm 5. Then, the sprocket 11 fixed to the output shaft of the motor 10 with a speed reducer and the sprocket 12 fixed to the brush support shaft 8 are connected by a chain 13, whereby the upper surface brush 7 is rotationally driven.

A sprocket 1 fixed to the outer ends of the swing shafts 6 and 6.
4, 14 and the sprocket 15, 15 having the same number of teeth fixed to the middle of the support shafts 2, 2 are connected by chains 16, 16 to a cylinder arm 17 fixed to the outer end of one of the support shafts 2. Is connected to the other end of a cylinder 19, one end of which is pivotally supported on the gate type traveling frame 1. Therefore,
As shown in FIG. 2, by extending the cylinder 19, the support shaft 2 is rotated via the cylinder arm 17, and the rotation of the support shaft 2 is transmitted to the swing shaft 6 via the chain 16. Then, the swing arm 5 is rotated so that the upper surface brush 7 is positioned upward. When the cylinder 19 is deactivated, the upper surface brush 7 swings downward due to its own weight. At this time, the stopper arm 18 fixed to the opposite side of the support shaft 2 to the cylinder arm 17 comes into contact with the stoppers 20 and 21 provided on the gate type traveling frame 1, whereby the upper and lower swing ranges of the swing arm 5 are increased. Is restricted.

The other support shaft 2 has a mounting plate 2 having a magnet 22.
3 is fixed, and the reed switch 24 provided on the gate type traveling frame 1 detects that the upper surface brush 7 has reached the upper limit position. Further, the outer end of the support shaft 2 is connected to a rotary encoder 25 for detecting the rotation angle of the swing arm 5, and the rotary encoder 25 and the reed switch 24 constitute a swing angle detection device. The rotation angle of the arms 5, 5 from the upper limit position is detected.

Sprockets 27, 27 are fixed to both ends of a tuning shaft 26 rotatably supported on the upper portion of the gate type traveling frame 1. These sprockets 27, 27 swing through endless chains 28, 28. It is connected to the sprockets 3 and 3 which are integral with the arms 4 and 4. A sprocket 29 fixed to one end of the tuning shaft 26 is connected via a chain 31 to a sprocket 30 of a motor 32 with a worm gear reducer provided on the gate type traveling frame 1 for self-braking. Therefore, the tuning shaft 26 is rotated by driving the speed reducer motor 32, and the pair of support arms 4 and 4 connected to the tuning shaft 26 are rotated in synchronization with each other. At this time, by the action of the magnet 33 of the mounting plate 34 fixed to the outer end of the tuning shaft 26 and the action of the three reed switches 35A, 35B, 35C arranged in the portal frame 1, the swing shaft in FIG. 6 lower limit position (6a), intermediate position (6a)
b), the upper limit position (6c) is detected.

Thus, the support arm 4, the sprocket 3, the chain 28, the sprocket 27, the tuning shaft 26, the sprockets 29, 3
0, the chain 31 and the motor 32 cooperate with each other so that the swing shaft 6 moves forward and backward with respect to the side brush 40 in the reciprocal traveling direction of the portal traveling frame 1 (that is, the front-back direction of the automobile V to be washed). The swing shaft displacement mechanism A of the present invention is configured to displace the swing shaft 6 relative to the portal traveling frame 1 in the reciprocating traveling direction.

A side brush device is provided at the rear of the gate-shaped traveling frame 1. The side brush device includes a guide rail 7 supported by the gate-type traveling frame 1 so as to be swingable by a shaft 70.
1 has a pair of left and right carriages 72 that can move toward and away from each other, and a pair of left and right side brushes 40 driven by a motor 73 are rotatably supported on these carriages 72. The positional relationship between the upper surface brush device and the side brush device is such that when the swing shaft 6 of the upper surface brush 7 is above the intermediate position 6b, the left and right side brushes 40 move closer to each other to wash the front surface or the side surface of the vehicle body. Even side brush 4
0 and the upper surface brush 7 have a mutual interference amount of zero or very small, and when the left and right side brushes 40 are at the outermost positions (positions indicated by chain lines in FIG. 1) most distant from each other, Even if the swing shaft 6 is lowered to the lower limit position 6a in order to clean the front upper surface, the mutual interference amount between the side brush 40 and the upper surface brush 7 is zero or very small. Below, the smooth operation of each brush 40, 7 is not disturbed by the other brush.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a pair of left and right lower side surface brush devices are provided on both sides of the gate type traveling frame 1. Since these pair of lower side surface brush devices have the same structure, only one of them will be described below.

An opening / closing arm 52 is fixed to a vertical axis 51 rotatably supported on a side portion of the gate type traveling frame 1, and a lower side surface brush support shaft 54 to which a lower side surface brush 53 is fixed is attached to a tip of the opening / closing arm 52. It is rotatably supported. A motor with reduction gear 55 is fixed to the upper part of the opening / closing arm 52, and a sprocket 56 fixed to the output shaft of the motor with reduction gear 55.
By connecting the sprocket 57 fixed to the brush support shaft 54 via the chain 58, the lower side brush 53 is rotationally driven. A cylinder arm 59 and a spring arm 60 are fixed to the vertical axis 51, and a cylinder 61 whose one end is axially supported by the gate type traveling frame 1 is connected to the cylinder arm 59. Further, a spring 62 whose one end is supported by the gate type traveling frame 1 is connected to the spring arm 60.

Therefore, when the cylinder 61 is operated, the lower side brush 5
3 moves away to the retracted position (53a) shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Further, when the cylinder 61 becomes inoperative, the left and right lower side surface brushes 53 move closer to each other to the forward position (53b) shown by the solid line by the elastic force of the spring 62 and can follow the lower side surface of the automobile.

The above-mentioned positional relationship between the upper side brush device and the lower side face brush device is such that when the swing shaft 6 of the upper face brush 7 is above the intermediate position (6b), even if the lower side face brush 53 moves closer to the lower side face brush device. Member does not interfere with the members of the upper surface brush device, and when the lower side surface brush 53 of the lower side surface brush device is in the retracted position (53a), the swing shaft 6
Is configured so that the members of the two devices do not collide with each other even when the device is lowered to the lower limit position (6a).

The above-mentioned gate type traveling frame 1 further includes a side drying nozzle 4
1, the upper surface drying nozzle 42, the traveling drive device 3
Drive wheels 37, 37 rotated by 6 and idler wheels 38,
By 38, it is possible to reciprocate on traveling rails 39, 39.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, the gate type traveling frame 1 is stopped at the start position S at the left end of the traveling rail 39, and the upper surface brush 7
The rocking shaft 6 is set to the intermediate position 6b, the upper surface brush 7 is set to the left upper limit position, and the lower side surface brush 53 and the side brush 40 are separated from each other outward. V enters the front side of the gate type traveling frame 1 and stops at a predetermined stop position P _0.
Zero is set so that the automobile V is separated from the upper surface brush 7 located at the lower limit position by the fixed distance X in the frame traveling direction with the swing shaft 6 in the lower limit position (6a).

When the cleaning process is started, the lower side surface brushes 53, 53 and the side brushes 40, 40 are rotated and moved inward toward each other. When the gate type traveling frame 1 is moved rightward after the side brush 40 reaches the inner limit, the lower side surface brushes 53, 53 perform brushing cleaning along the side surface shape of the automobile V. When the side brushes 40, 40 lag behind the lower side surface brushes 53, 53 and come into contact with the front surface of the automobile V at the position shown in (40a), the forward movement of the gate type traveling frame 1 is stopped and the side brushes 40, 40 are rotated in the reverse direction. Then, the front side of the vehicle body is washed away by moving away from the outside, and at the same time, the lower side brushes 53, 53 are also moved away from outside. When the side brushes 40, 40 and the lower side surface brushes 53, 53 reach the outer limit, the rotation of both the brushes 40, 40, 53, 53 is stopped and the portal traveling frame 1 is returned to the start position. Whether the side brush 40 reaches the inner or outer limit or contacts the front surface of the vehicle body is detected by a well-known detection device (not shown). Further, during the forward travel, the forward travel distance of the gate type traveling frame 1 from the start position until the side brushes 40, 40 come into contact with the front surface of the automobile and stop is measured by a timer or a rotary encoder connected to the drive wheels 37. deep.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the portal traveling frame 1 returns to the start position S, the upper surface brush 7 is rotated and the swing shaft 6 is rotated clockwise from the intermediate position (6b) to the lower limit position. (6a), the cylinder 19 is deactivated, and the upper surface brush 7 is moved back to the lower limit position and the portal traveling frame 1. The upper surface brush 7 is contact pressure with the upper surface of the vehicle body (7a).
When the rocking angle detection device detects that the rocking arm 5 has reached the position and rocked the rocking arm 5 toward the side brush 40 at a preset angle, the rocking shaft 6 is moved from the lower limit position (6a) to the intermediate position (6a).
Rotate in the counterclockwise direction b), that is, in the direction in which the side brush 40 escapes. Then, when the reed switch 35B detects that the swing shaft 6 has rotated to the intermediate position (6b), the lower side surface brushes 53, 53 are rotated and moved toward the inner side, so that the lower side surface of the automobile V can be moved. Brush and wash along the shape. After the swing shaft 6 is rotated to the intermediate position (6b) in this way, the upper surface brush 7
Brushing cleaning is performed by the lower side brushes 53, 53. When the portal traveling frame 1 exceeds the forward distance during this re-travel, the side brushes 40, 40, in addition to the both brushes 7, 53, 53, are further rotated in the reverse direction and moved closer to the inside. Then, brushing cleaning is performed along the side surface of the automobile V. Even when the side brush 40 approaches, the swing shaft 6 is already at the intermediate position (6b), so that the amount of mutual interference between the upper surface brush 7 and the side brush 40 is small. When the side brushes 40, 40 are separated from the vehicle and reach the inner limit, the re-travel is stopped, and the side brushes 4
0, 40, the lower side surface brushes 53, 53 are moved outwardly, and the upper surface brush 7 is raised to the upper limit position (6c) to stop the rotation of the brushes 40, 40, 53, 53, 7.

As is apparent from the description of the operation, the swing shaft 6 of the upper surface brush 7 is relatively separated from the adjacent position (corresponding to the lower limit position 6a) relatively close to the side brush 40. It can be selectively arranged with the separated position (corresponding to the intermediate position 6b). By placing the swing shaft 6 at the above-mentioned proximity position (corresponding to the lower limit position 6a) at the initial stage of operation of the upper surface brush 7 as shown in the illustrated example, the upper surface brush 7 can be brought as close as possible to the side brush 40. It becomes possible to set the stop position P ₀ of the automobile V, which should be set to be separated from the upper surface brush 7 by a certain distance X, to a position relatively close to the side brush 40, and therefore, the reciprocating stroke of the gate type traveling frame 1 at the time of cleaning. The car wash space can be reduced as much as possible.

On the other hand, when the swing shaft 6 is placed at the separated position (corresponding to the intermediate position 6b), the upper surface brush 7 and the side brush 40 can be separated from each other.
It is possible to operate both brushes 7 and 40 at the same time without causing the problem of deterioration of cleaning effect due to mutual interference of.

Although one embodiment of the mobile car wash machine according to the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
It is possible to make various small design changes.

C. EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, the swing shaft displacement mechanism allows the swing shaft to be relatively close to the side brush, and
Since it can be selectively placed at a relatively separated distance, the upper surface brush can be brought as close as possible to the side brush by arranging the swing shaft of the upper surface brush at the above-mentioned close position in the initial stage of operation. Thus, the stop position of the automobile, which should be set to be separated from the upper surface brush by a certain distance, can be set to a position relatively close to the side brush, and therefore, the reciprocating stroke of the gate type traveling frame 1 at the time of cleaning can be shortened as much as possible. As a result, the car wash space can be reduced.

On the other hand, in the state where the swing shaft is placed at the above separated position, the upper surface brush and the side brush can be separated from each other,
Both brushes can be operated at the same time without causing the problem of deterioration of cleaning effect due to mutual interference of both brushes,
Thereby, the cleaning time can be shortened while improving the cleaning effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a cleaning apparatus used for carrying out a vehicle body cleaning method according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the same, and FIG.
The figure is the same plan view, FIGS. 4 to 7 are explanatory views of the cleaning step, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view for explaining the problems of the conventional example. A ... rocking axis displacement mechanism, V ... automobile, 1 ... gate type traveling frame, 5 ... rocking arm, 6 ... rocking axis, 7 ... upper surface brush, 40 ... side brush

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A gate type traveling frame (1) capable of reciprocating in the front-rear direction across a vehicle (V), and a vehicle body side surface of the vehicle (V) provided on the gate type traveling frame (1) is washed. The pair of left and right side brushes (40) to be obtained, and the vehicle body provided at the tip end of a swing arm (5) supported by the gate type traveling frame (1) so as to be swingable up and down via a swing shaft (6). In a mobile car washing machine, which comprises an upper surface brush (7) capable of cleaning the upper surface of the rocking shaft (6), the rocking shaft (6) is provided between the gate type traveling frame (1) and the rocking shaft (6). The swing shaft (6) is moved relative to the gate type traveling frame (1) in the reciprocating direction so as to move back and forth in the reciprocating direction of the gate type traveling frame (1) with respect to the side brush (40). A mobile car washing machine characterized in that a swing shaft displacement mechanism (A) for displacing is provided.