JPH0767724A - Car washer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the coated surface of a car from being scratched by the rotary washing brush of a car washer. CONSTITUTION:Multiple brush hairs 52 are implanted on the rotary body surface at the center of the rotary washing brush of a car washer. The brush hairs 52 are made in such a way that 120 thin-polypropylene filaments of 11 denier are twisted by 18 twists/m and subject to a heat setting, a certain number of them are compactly twisted so that they become composite plied filaments in 3mm diameter, and they are subject to a heat setting so that they are converted in single twist per winding.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car wash machine for cleaning a vehicle body surface with a rotating cleaning brush.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as the brush bristles of a rotary cleaning brush for a car washing machine, synthetic resin fibers having a denier of 4000 to 5000 are formed in a star shape in cross section and the tip thereof is finely divided.

Further, it is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-23305 that a synthetic resin fiber having a diameter of 0.07 mm is used for the bristles of a rotary cleaning brush of a car washing machine. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of brush hair for cleaning automobiles is 0.00
Using a synthetic resin fiber of 5 mm ² is disclosed in
It is described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 99604.

If the specific gravity of polypropylene is 0.9, the diameter of 0.07 mm is 31 denier and the cross-sectional area is 0.0
05 mm ² corresponds to 40 denier.

[0005]

By the way, the conventional brush bristles described above are formed by forming the cross-section into a star shape or dividing the tip into small pieces in order to reduce scratches on the painted surface of the vehicle body. Although the holding power is increased, the impact of the brush bristles hitting the painted surface cannot be sufficiently absorbed due to the large fiber diameter, and since the brush bristles contact the painted surface with a straight line contact, It was not possible to completely prevent scratches.

[0006] Further, when a straight brush bristle having a small fiber diameter as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-23305 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-99604 is used, a brush bristle having a large fiber diameter is used. In comparison, since the impact on the coated surface can be reduced, the scratches on the coated surface can be reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a car washing machine equipped with a rotary cleaning brush capable of further reducing scratches on a painted surface of a vehicle as compared with the conventional one. With the goal.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is a car washing machine equipped with a rotary cleaning brush in which a large number of brush bristles are planted on the outer surface of a rotor. It is characterized in that the brush bristles are formed by twisting a bundle of thin fibers.

The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in addition to the constitution of claim 1, the twisted yarn has a twisted yarn shape.

The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in addition to the structure of claim 1, the twisted pattern has a spiral shape.

In addition to the structure of claim 1, the invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a twisted twisted yarn is further twisted.

In addition to the structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the invention described in claim 5 is a composite fiber bundle in which a plurality of single fiber bundles each having a twisted yarn-shaped twist are bundled. Is characterized in that.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the car wash machine 1 is provided with a gate type frame 2 for straddling a vehicle (not shown).
Are running rails 3 and 3 laid on the ground beside the vehicle.
The vehicle can travel in the direction indicated by arrow 4 along the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

The gate type frame 2 is provided with a rotary brush device B, a drying device D, a fresh water spraying device R, a pretreatment agent applying device W, a detergent spraying device C and a wax agent applying device M ₁ .

The rotating brush device B includes an upper surface rotating brush 5 and a pair of side surface rotating brushes 6 and 6. The upper rotary brush 5 is swingably supported by the horizontal shafts 8, 8 which are rotatably supported by the gate frame 2 via swing arms 9, 9.
A motor 10 is provided at one end of the one swing arm 9, and the upper surface rotary brush 5 is rotationally driven from the motor 10 via a transmission mechanism in the swing arm 9. A piston rod 17 of an air cylinder 16 whose upper end is supported by the gate-shaped frame 2 is connected to one of the horizontal shafts 8. Therefore, when the air cylinder 16 is driven to extend, the upper surface rotating brush 5 can be held in the upper storage position as shown by the solid line. In addition, when the air cylinder 16 is deactivated,
The upper surface rotating brush 5 descends by its own weight, and can freely swing back and forth around the horizontal axis 8 around the portal frame 2.

Rotating shaft 1 of a pair of side surface rotating brushes 6,6
8 and 18 are held by holding cylinders 19 and 19, and the holding cylinders 19 and 19 are fixed to the moving frames 20 and 20 with their axes being vertical. The movable frames 20 and 20 are slidably engaged with a guide rail 21 that is horizontally mounted on the gate-shaped frame 2, and support shafts 22 and 22 of the guide rail 21 are rotatably supported by the gate-shaped frame 2. . Therefore, the guide rail 21 and the moving frame 2
0, 20, the holding cylinders 19, 19, the rotary shafts 18, 18 and the side surface rotary brushes 6, 6 can swing in the traveling direction 4 with the support shafts 22, 22 as fulcrums. Motors 23, 23 are supported on the moving frames 20, 20.
3, the sprocket 24, 24 fixed to the output shaft of 3, and the sprocket 25 fixed to the end of the rotary shaft 18, 18.
Endless chains 26, 26 are suspended around 25, and the side rotary brushes 6, 6 are rotationally driven by the motors 23, 23.

Top rotary brush 5, side rotary brushes 6, 6
Brush bristles 52 shown in FIG. 2 are planted on the pipes 5P, 6P, and 6P as the rotating body. The brush bristles 52 are made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene and have a round cross-section and a flexible and thin fiber having a thickness of 5 to 50 denier.
Approximately 100 revolutions of twist and heat treatment to add twisting to form a single fiber bundle, and when this single fiber bundle is tightly bundled, a predetermined number of composite fiber bundles are bundled so that the diameter is about 3 mm. In this case, a twist of 20 to 100 rotations is applied, a heat treatment is applied to the twist, and the twist is twisted by an appropriate method to make the diameter D ₁ about 8 to 10 mm as shown in FIG. This brush bristles 52 is 600-900 in length
Cut it to mm and fold it in two at the middle, and fix this fold side to the pipe 5P or pipes 6P and 6P to obtain a diameter of 7
The rotating brushes 5, 6 and 6 having a diameter of 00 to 1050 mm are used.

Instead of twisting the composite fiber bundle as shown in FIG. 2, when it is loosened, the diameter D ₁ is about 8 to 10 as shown in FIG.
mm and the outside diameter D ₂ may be twisted and heat-treated so as to have a spiral shape of about 20 mm. At this time, one or more turns of twist may be added per one turn of the spiral, or the twisted as shown in FIG. 2 may be twisted into a spiral shape as shown in FIG.

The preferred embodiment of the brush bristles 52 is 1
120 polypropylene fibers with a circular cross section of 1 denier are bundled and heat-treated by twisting 18 turns per 1 m, and a fixed number of composite fibers are bundled so that the diameter is about 3 mm when tightly bundled. A bundle is formed by heat-treating the bundle to form a spiral shape with one rotation twist per roll. If the brush bristles 52 are used to polish the vehicle a plurality of times, the tip 50 contacting the vehicle
From the state of FIG.
Changes to the state of.

Further, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-23305, about 70 mm on the side where the brush bristles 52 are attached to the pipes 5P, 6P, 6P may be made of a flexible pipe material. At this time, instead of fixing the bristles 52 and the tubing with a thread, the outer periphery of the bristles 52 is covered with a heat-shrinkable Hishi tube (product name), and the Hishi tube is fixed by shrinking it with hot water. Is also good.

Further, the composite fiber bundle before being formed as shown in FIG. 2 or 3 may be directly fixed to the pipes 5P, 6P, 6P, or may be fixed via the pipe material as described above.

The cross-sectional shape of the fiber is not limited to a circular shape,
For example, a star shape may be used.

Since the brush bristles 52 are only subjected to the twisting heat treatment, the composite fiber bundle is appropriately loosened to form gaps between the fibers, and the brush bristles 52 themselves are softened to improve the impact absorbing performance.

Returning to FIG. 1, the drying device D has a pair of side air blowing nozzles 27, 27 which are opened inward on both sides of the gate frame 2 and are maintained by the air blowers 29, 29, and the drying device D is directed downward at the upper part. And an upper surface air blowing nozzle 28 which is opened by the air blower 50 and is maintained by a fan 50.
Along with the elevating rails 51, 51 provided on the inner sides of both sides, the elevating operation means (not shown) elevates and lowers according to the vehicle height of the vehicle to be dried.

An inverter is connected to the motor 10 and the motors 23, 23 so that the rotational speeds of the upper surface rotary brush 5 and the side surface rotary brushes 6, 6 are variable.

Reference numeral 53 is a control panel containing a control means 54 for controlling the car wash machine 1, on the surface of which a car wash course selection switch 55 and a start switch 56 are provided.

As can be seen by referring also to FIG.
The fresh water injection device R capable of injecting fresh water to the vehicle body surface is a portal type fresh water having a plurality of nozzles 30 ... An injection pipe 31 is provided, and its upper center is connected to a water supply pump P by a water supply pipe 32 with an electromagnetic valve S ₁ interposed.

A pretreatment agent coating device W capable of applying a pretreatment agent to which a cationic surfactant has been added to the surface of a vehicle body is a portal-type apparatus at an intermediate position between the upper rotary brush 5 of the portal frame 2 and the upper blow nozzle 28. The lower treatment agent injection pipe 33 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 34, which are directed toward the vehicle body surface, at predetermined intervals. A lower treatment agent supply pipe 35 extending from the lower treatment agent tank T ₁ is connected to the center of the upper portion of the lower treatment agent injection pipe 33. The ejector E ₁ and the water supply pump P provided in the middle of the lower treatment agent supply pipe 35 are electromagnetic valves S ₂ It is connected by a water supply pipe 32 which is interposed. Therefore, when fresh water is supplied from the water supply pump P, the negative pressure generated in the ejector E ₁ sucks the lower treatment agent in the lower treatment agent tank T ₁ , mixes it with the fresh water, and from the lower treatment agent injection pipe 33 to the vehicle body surface. Gushes into.

Detergent injection device capable of injecting detergent onto the vehicle body surface
C is the upper rotary brush 5 of the gate-shaped frame 2 and the drying device.
A brush that is installed at the middle of D
Gate-type detergent injection having a plurality of nozzles 36 ...
Tube 37, side rotary brushes 6, 6 and top rotary brush 5
Multiple brushes that are provided between the side rotating brushes 6 and 6
And a detergent injection pipe 58 having a cheat 57.
Upper center and detergent tank T₂Is ejector E₂And electromagnetic
Valve S₃It is connected with a detergent supply pipe 38 that is interposed
And the ejector E₂And the water supply pump P are solenoid valves S_FourTo
They are connected by an interposed water supply pipe 32. Therefore, the water supply port
When fresh water is supplied from the pump P, the ejector E ₂Occurs in
Detergent tank T by negative pressure₂The detergent inside is aspirated,
Mix with clean water from the detergent injection pipes 37, 58 to the vehicle body surface, above
It is jetted to the surface rotating brush 5 and the side surface rotating brushes 6 and 6.

Further, it is arranged adjacent to the detergent injection device C.
Wax agent with added anionic surfactant
Wax agent coating device M that can be applied to the surface₁Is four
It is equipped with a wax agent injection pipe 40 having a sledge 39 ...
The solenoid valve S _FiveAir supply pipe via
It is connected to the air supply source A at 41. Air supply pipe 41
E provided near the downstream end of the₃Supply of wax agent
Wax agent tank T via pipe 42₃And connect to
The solenoid valve S₆Via a water supply pipe 32 with a water supply
Connect to P. Thus, the ejector E₃Sucked into
X agent tank T ₃Mix the wax inside with fresh water
It is injected from the wax injection pipe 40 onto the vehicle body surface.
At the time of acceleration, it is accelerated by the high pressure air supplied from the air supply source A.
The applied wax agent is applied to the vehicle body surface without foaming.
Be done.

An aqueous solution containing an anionic surfactant is used as the detergent, a cationic surfactant or an aqueous solution containing a cationic surfactant and a wax is used as the pretreatment agent, and a wax agent is used. Is an aqueous solution containing an anionic surfactant and wax.

Next, the operation when the wax car wash course is selected will be described.

When the wax car wash course switch of the car wash course selection switch 55 is pushed and the start switch 56 is pushed, the wax car wash is executed by the control means 54 in the sequence of FIG. 6 described below. Cleaning Step (First Outgoing) The solenoid valve S ₁ is opened to inject the fresh water supplied from the water supply pump P from the nozzle 30 of the fresh water injection device R onto the surface of the vehicle body, and the two solenoid valves S ₃ , S ₄ is opened and the detergent is sprayed from the nozzles 36, 57 of the detergent spraying device C onto the surface of the vehicle body and the rotating brushes 5, 6, 6. At the same time, the rotary brushes 5, 6 and 6 of the rotary brush device B are moved from about 130 to 1, while the portal frame 2 is moved forward in the right direction in FIG.
Rotate at 160 rpm to brush and clean the vehicle body surface. First rinse step (first return) From the state of the first forward, the solenoid valve S ₃ of the detergent injection device C is closed to stop the supply of the detergent, and the detergent injection device C or the fresh water injection device R is used. Also sprays clean water onto the surface of the vehicle body and the rotary brushes 5, 6 and 6 to move the rotary brushes 5, 6 and 6 of the rotary brush device B while the gate type frame 2 is moved back to the left in FIG. It is rotated at about 130 to 160 rpm to brush and rinse the vehicle body surface. Pretreatment agent applying step (second forward) The rotation of the rotary brush device B is stopped to the storage position, and the solenoid valves S ₁ and S ₂ are opened to open the nozzle 30 of the fresh water injection device R.
While spraying fresh water onto the vehicle body surface from ..., The cationic surface treating agent is sprayed onto the vehicle body surface from the nozzle 34 of the surface treating agent applying device W, and the cationic surface treating agent is applied to the vehicle body surface.

In this pretreatment agent applying step, a rotary brush is used.
Rotate 5 and 6 at about 130 to 160 rpm to drive the vehicle
Polish the surface, and when it reaches the right end, solenoid valve S₁, S₂
Solenoid valve S_FourOpen the valve and rotate the brush
The process of washing out the pretreatment agent attached to 5, 6, 6 with clean water
After a predetermined time, the solenoid valve S_FourTo close and rotate
Stop the rotation of the brushes 5, 6 and 6 and store them
May be. First drying process (second return) All solenoid valves S₁~ S₆Valve is closed and dryer D is activated.
Then, the body surface is dried. This first drying step continues
The wax is unevenly applied in the wax application process.
This is to prevent this, and can be omitted if necessary.
It is possible. Wax coating step (third forward) Drying device D is deactivated and solenoid valve S₁, S_Five, S₆Open
Valve, and clean water from the nozzle 30 of the clean water injection device R ...
Spraying on the surface and applying wax agent M ₁Noz
The surface of the vehicle body by ejecting an anionic wax from
Apply to. In this wax application process, the wax agent application
Cloth device M₁Supply high pressure air from air supply source A to
The wax agent is sprayed without foaming, and the rotating bra
Even if the brushing by the device B is not used together,
A sufficient amount of wax can be applied to
It Second drying process (third return) All solenoid valves S₁~ S₆Closed, and each rotating brush 5,
Spin dry 6 and 6 at about 180 rpm to drain and dry.
After performing the time, stop the rotation of each rotating brush 5, 6, 6.
Stop and operate the dryer D to dry the vehicle body surface.
U After the second drying process, wax is applied to the vehicle body surface.
The wax component contained in the agent remains as a white deposit. Polishing process (4th forward, 4th reverse) Solenoid valve S with drying device D inoperative₁~ S₆Closed
Rotate each rotating brush 5,6,6 at about 180rpm
Polish one round trip on the surface of the car body and stick it white on the car body surface.
Evenly rub the wax on the car body surface. Second rinse step (5th forward) Solenoid valve S₁, S_FourTo open the detergent injection device C
Clean water from both of the shooting devices R and the rotary brushes 5,
6 and 6, and each rotary brush 5, 6, 6
Rotate at ~ 160 rpm to polish the body surface
It Rubbing the wax evenly in this second rinse step
As well as adding extra wax on the surface of the car body and
Rinse away wax components attached to the brushes 5, 6 and 6. Third drying process (fifth return) Solenoid valve S₁, S_FourOf the rotating brushes 5, 6 and 6
Stop the rotation to the storage position and operate the dryer D
To dry the vehicle body surface. Dryer D when it reaches the left end
Disable and finish the wax car wash.

By the polishing step, the second rinsing step, and the third drying step, the work of rubbing the white adhered wax component on the surface of the vehicle body, which was conventionally done manually, is automatically performed by the car washing machine. However, the same effect as manual work can be obtained.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, by using the brush bristles formed by twisting a bundle of fine fibers, the fibers of the brush bristles that come into contact with the painted surface of the vehicle body are Since it does not make a linear contact like a conventional brush but makes a contact like a surface, it is possible to reduce the scratches that the brush bristles make on the painted surface of the vehicle body. In addition, since the brush bristles themselves absorb the impact when the bristles hit the painted surface of the vehicle body, the scratches caused by strongly rubbing the fine sand or mud on the painted surface onto the painted surface are also absorbed. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1] Overall side view of car wash machine

[Figure 2] Partial enlarged view of brush bristles

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of another brush bristle portion.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a piping system of a car wash machine.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of operation

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the processing contents of each step.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Side rotating brush (rotating cleaning brush) 4P pipe (rotating body) 5 Upper surface rotating brush (rotating cleaning brush) 5P pipe (rotating body) 52 Brush bristles

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A rotary cleaning brush (4, 5) in which a large number of brush bristles (52) are planted on the outer surface of a rotating body (4P, 5P).
A car washer provided with: the brush bristles (52) being a bundle of thin fibers bundled with a twist. 2. The car washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the twisted yarn has a twisted yarn shape. 3. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the twisted twist has a spiral shape. 4. The car washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the twisted yarn is twisted and further twisted. 5. The fiber bundle is a composite fiber bundle obtained by bundling a plurality of single fiber bundles having a twisted yarn-shaped twist.
The car wash machine according to any one of 4 above.