JPH0769180A - Car washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perfectly prevent the splashing of washing water by installing a splashing preventing tent which is supported over the front part of a frame so as to be raised and lowered, and covers the space between the upper surface of a car body and the upper part lower end of the frame, in interlocking with the rising/lowering of a photosensor. CONSTITUTION:A splash preventing screen 19 is raised and lowered in interlocking with the rising/lowering operations of photosensors 16a, 16b, 17a, and 17b and covers the space between the upper surface of a car body and the upper part lower end of a frame 1 and receives the washing water splashed from a top brush 41, etc., and prevents the splashing of the washing water to the front part of the frame 1. In this case, the raising/lowering locuses of the photosensors 16a, 16b, 17a, and 17b are memorized, and when the brushing for the upper surface of the car body by the top brush 41 and the blowing for the upper surface of the car body by a top nozzle 23 are carried out, rising/ lowering-control is carried out along the locus, and the effective washing and drying are applied.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car wash apparatus for sequentially performing a process such as cleaning and drying of a car body by reciprocally moving a frame formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the car body. The present invention relates to a car wash device that prevents scattering.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 51-32069 has been known as a device for preventing scattering of washing water during car washing. The device described here is an anti-scattering curtain vertically hung in a front opening of a gate-shaped frame to cover a space between a vehicle body upper surface and an upper wall of the frame, and a lower end of the anti-scattering curtain. And a vehicle body detection means for detecting the vehicle body upper surface by contacting the vehicle body upper surface, and in order to prevent the vehicle body side mirrors and other protrusions from being caught by the scattering prevention curtain and destroyed, After a lapse of a predetermined time, the operation is started, and thereafter, the scattering prevention curtain is controlled so as to follow the upper surface of the vehicle body on the basis of the vehicle body detection signal obtained from the vehicle body detection means to prevent the washing water from scattering.

[0003]

However, since the scattering prevention curtain is activated after a predetermined time has elapsed after the car wash is started, the scattering prevention curtain is wound up to the operating position and is washed outside. The water was scattered and the surroundings were wetted more than necessary and were dirty. Further, since the vehicle body detection means for causing the scattering prevention curtain to follow the vehicle body upper surface comes into contact with the vehicle body upper surface, the vehicle body upper surface may be damaged.

The present invention has been made to address such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to completely prevent the scattering of cleaning water by causing the scattering prevention curtain to follow the vehicle body upper surface without contact.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, the present invention performs a process such as cleaning and drying of a vehicle body by reciprocating a gate-shaped frame that straddles the vehicle body. In a car wash device that sequentially applies, at least a pair of optical sensors facing each other on both front sides of the frame, elevating means for elevating the optical sensors in the vertical direction, and the light based on a vehicle body detection signal obtained from the optical sensors. Control means for causing the sensor to follow the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body, and a space for supporting the space between the upper surface of the vehicle body and the upper and lower ends of the frame in cooperation with the vertical movement of the optical sensor, which is supported so as to be vertically movable above the front portion of the frame. It is equipped with a shatterproof curtain.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a frame formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the vehicle body, and reciprocates on parallel rails 3 and 3 laid on the floor by wheels 2 and 2 axially supported on the lower portions of both sides of the frame 1. It is formed so that it can run. 4,4
Is an electric motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions. The drive of the electric motors 4 and 4 is transmitted to the wheels 2 and 2 via the transmission mechanisms 5 and 5 to cause the frame 1 to reciprocate along the rails 3 and 3. Reference numeral 6 denotes a rotary encoder connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 4, and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the electric motor 4 to give the traveling position of the frame 1.

Numerals 7 and 7 are carriages arranged so as to face both sides of the front portion of the frame 1, and guide rollers 8 and 8 rotatably supported on both sides are rails 9 and 9 erected on both sides of the front portion of the frame 1.
Is formed so that it can be lifted from the left and right and moved up and down on the rails 9, 9. Reference numerals 10 and 10 denote chains, which are connected to the upper and lower ends of the bogies 7 and 7 to form a loop, and a sprocket 12, which is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 11 horizontally extending above the front of the frame 1, 12 and a sprocket 13, 13 which is axially supported on both lower sides of the front portion of the frame 1. Reference numeral 14 is a forward / reverse electric motor which is an elevating means, and transmits the drive of the electric motor 14 to the rotary shaft 11 via a transmission mechanism 15 to move the bogies 7, 7 up and down along the rails 9, 9.

Reference numerals 16a, 16b and 17a, 17b denote optical sensors each comprising a light emitter and a light receiving switch. The light emitters 16a, 17a and the light receivers are mounted on brackets 18, 18 fixed to the inside of the frame 1 from the side surfaces of the carriages 7, 7, respectively. The switches 16b, 17b are mounted so as to face each other, and the mounting positions of the photosensors 16a, 16b located in front of the frame 1 are set higher than the mounting positions of the photosensors 17a, 17b located in the rear of the frame 1, so that When the optical sensors 16a, 16b located in front of the vehicle detect the vehicle body, the electric motor 14 is driven in the forward direction to raise the carriages 7, 7, and conversely, when the vehicle body is not detected, the electric motor 14 is driven in the reverse direction to drive the carriages 7, 7. When the optical sensors 17a and 17b located on the rear side are lowered to detect the vehicle body, the driving of the electric motor 14 is stopped to stop the carriage 7 7 is held in a fixed position, thereby following operation relatively carriage 7,7 along the vehicle body upper surface shape.

Reference numeral 19 is a scattering prevention curtain for preventing scattering of washing water during car washing. One end is wound around the rotary shaft 11 and the other end is connected to the upper ends of the bogies 7 and 7 for raising and lowering the bogies 7 and 7. In conjunction with the rotation shaft 11, it is tightened or unwound to cover the space between the upper surface of the vehicle body in front of the frame 1 and the upper and lower ends of the frame 1, and receives the cleaning water scattered from the top brush, which will be described later, and scatters the cleaning water. Is being prevented. 20
Is a limit switch provided near the upper end of the rail 9, and stops the drive of the electric motor 14 when the carriage 7 moves up and the switch responds to the rotation of the switch lever to hold the carriages 7 and 7 in the standby position above the frame 1. is doing. At this time, the anti-scattering curtain 19 is also wound around the rotating shaft 11 in conjunction with the rise of the carriages 7 to open the front of the frame 1. Reference numeral 21 denotes a limit switch provided near the lower end of the rail 9, and when the carriages 7 and 7 descend and the switch responds to the rotation of the switch lever, the drive of the electric motor 14 is stopped to hold the carriages 7 and 7 at the lower limit position. ing. Reference numeral 22 denotes a rotary encoder connected to one end of the rotary shaft 11, which outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotating direction of the rotary shaft 11 to give the amount of vertical movement of the carriages 7, 7.

Reference numeral 23 is a top nozzle for drying the upper surface of the vehicle body, and arms 24 and 2 extending outward from both ends thereof.
4 is provided with carriages 25, 25 at the tip thereof, and the carriages 25, 25
The top nozzle 2 via rollers 26, 26 supported by
3 is sandwiched between the rails 27, 27 standing on both sides of the frame 1 so that the rails 3 can be moved up and down. 28a, 28a, 28b, 28b are chains, and the upper chains 28a, 28a have a carriage 25 at one end.
25, the other end is connected to the upper ends of the weights 29, 29 that balance the load of the top nozzle 23, respectively.
Attach one end of the lower chain 28b, 28b to the carriage 25, 25
The other end is connected to the lower ends of the weights 29, 29 to form the endless loop, and the sprocket 31, 31 and frame which are rotatably supported by the rotary shaft 30 which is horizontally extended above the frame 1 1 It is suspended between sprockets 32, 32 which are axially supported on both sides downward. Reference numeral 33 is an electric motor capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions. The drive of the electric motor 33 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 30 via the transmission mechanism 34 so that the carriages 25, 25 are railed 27, 2.
It is moving up and down along 7.

A limit switch 35 is provided near the upper end of the rail 27, and when the ascending carriages 25, 25 rotate the switch lever and the switch responds, the drive of the electric motor 33 is stopped to move the top nozzle 23 above the frame 1. Is held in the standby position. A rotary encoder 36 is connected to one end of the rotary shaft 30 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the rotary shaft 30 to give the vertical displacement amount of the top nozzle 23.

37, 37 are blowers for generating high-pressure air, 3
8 and 38 are side nozzles arranged on both sides of the frame 1 and 3
9, 39, 40 and 40 are ducts that connect the blowers 37 and 37 to the nozzles 23, 38 and 38, respectively, and the top nozzle 23 and the side nozzles 38 and 38 are the blowers 37 and 3 respectively.
The high pressure air supplied from 7 is blown toward the upper surface and the side surface of the vehicle body to remove water droplets adhering to the vehicle body surface.

Reference numeral 41 is a top brush for brushing and cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle body. The top brush is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft 43 rotatably supported between the carriages 42, 42, and rollers 44, 44 supported by the carriages 42, 42. It is formed so that it can be moved up and down on rails 45, 45 standing upright on both sides of the frame 1 via. 46 is an electric motor attached to one carriage 42,
The drive of the electric motor 46 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 43 via the transmission mechanism 47 to rotationally drive the top brush 41. 48
a, 48a, 48b, 48b are chains, and the upper chains 48a, 48a have weights 49 that balance one end with the upper ends of the carriages 42, 42 and the other end with the load of the top brush 41,
The lower chains 48b and 48b are connected to the upper ends of 49 and one ends of the lower ends of the carriages 42 and 42 and the other ends of the weights 49 and 49 to form an endless loop. Of the sprocket 51, 51 which is rotatably supported on the rotary shaft 50 which is laterally laid horizontally, and sprocket 52, 52 which is rotatably supported on both sides of the frame 1 below.
Suspended in between. 53 is an electric motor capable of forward and reverse rotation,
The drive of the electric motor 53 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 50 via the transmission mechanism 54 to move the carriages 42, 42 up and down along the rails 45, 45.

A limit switch 55 is provided near the upper end of the rail 45. When the rising top brush 41 rotates the switch lever and the switch responds, the drive of the electric motor 53 is stopped and the top brush 41 stands by above the frame 1. Hold in position. Reference numeral 56 denotes a rotary encoder connected to one end of the rotary shaft 50, which outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the rotary shaft 50 to give the vertical movement amount of the top brush 41.

Reference numerals 57 and 57 are a pair of left and right side brushes for brushing and cleaning the side surfaces of the vehicle body, which are trucks 59 and 59 which run on rails 58 which extend horizontally in the upper portion of the frame 1.
It is hung on the floor and is opened and closed in the left and right directions by the movement of the carriages 59, 59.

Next, the control system of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 60 denotes a microcomputer as a control means, which is composed of a CPU 61 for performing arithmetic processing, a memory 62 for storing programs and various data, and input / output interfaces 63, 64, and an input interface 63.
Includes rotary encoders 6, 22, 36, 56, light receiving switches 16b, 17b and limit switches 20, 2.
1, 35, 55 are connected to the output interface 64
The motors 4, 4, 14, 33, 53 and the projector 16
a and 17a are connected.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the raising / lowering operation of the shatterproof curtain 19, and 7, 8 and 10 are rotary encoders 2 respectively.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an interrupting operation performed each time a pulse signal is input from 2, 6, and 56, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the lifting operation of the top brush 41.

When the frame 1 starts running due to the start of car washing, the flow chart shown in FIG. 6 is executed,
The state of the light receiving switch 16a is judged (1). As the frame 1 moves forward, the light emitted from the projector 16a located in front of the traveling direction of the frame 1 is blocked by the vehicle body, and when the light receiving switch 16b detects this, the electric motor 1
The reverse rotation drive of 4 raises the bogies 7 and 7 to prevent scattering
Wind up 9 (2). When the vehicle body detection state detected by the light receiving switch 16b changes to a non-detection state as the shatterproof curtain 19 winds up (3), the windup of the shatterproof curtain 19 is stopped and held at a fixed position by stopping the operation of the electric motor 14. (4).

On the other hand, when the light receiving switch 16b is in the vehicle body non-detection state in the judgment of step (1), the state of the other light receiving switch 17b is judged (5). In the determination of step (5), when the light receiving switch 17b is in the vehicle body non-detection state, the carts 7 and 7 are driven by the reverse driving of the electric motor 14.
To rewind the shatterproof curtain 19 (6), and conversely, when the light receiving switch 17b detects the vehicle body, the rewinding of the shatterproof curtain 19 is stopped by the operation of the electric motor 14 and held at a fixed position (7). , The state of the light receiving switch 17b is judged (8). When the vehicle body detection state detected by the light receiving switch 17b is changed to a non-detection state in step (8) as the frame 1 travels, the trolley 7 is driven by the reverse rotation of the electric motor 14.
7 is lowered to rewind the shatterproof curtain 19 (6), and the state of the limit switch 21 is judged (9).

In this way, the process from step (1) to step (9) is repeated, and the scattering prevention curtain 19
Follows the shape of the car body, and eventually the frame 1
When the limit switch 21 detects the trucks 7 and 7 as the trucks 7 and 7 are lowered by passing through the vehicle body and the vehicle body non-detection state from the light receiving switch 17b continues, the electric motor 14 is stopped to rewind the shatterproof curtain 19. Is stopped and held at a fixed position (10), and the process is on standby (1).
1). When the forward process is completed, the electric motor 14 is driven in the normal direction to wind up the scattering prevention screen 19 (12), and the input from the limit switch 21 is awaited (13). When the limit switch 21 detects the carriages 7 and 7, the forward rotation drive of the electric motor 14 is stopped to hold the carriages 7 and 7 in the standby position (14),
The ascending / descending control of the scattering prevention curtain 19 is completed.

On the other hand, the interrupt routine shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is executed each time a pulse signal is input from each rotary encoder 22 and 6 as the frame 1 travels and the carriages 7 and 7 are moved up and down. That is, in FIG. 7, every time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 22 that detects the rotation of the rotary shaft 11 as the carriages 7 and 7 move up and down, 1 is added to the value of the counter C ₁ when the rotary shaft 11 is in the normal rotation. Shi (15) (16),
At the time of reverse rotation, 1 is subtracted from the value of the counter C ₁ (15)
(17). In FIG. 8, the counter C ₂ is incremented by 1 each time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 6 that detects the rotation of the output shaft of the electric motor 4 as the frame 1 travels (18). The values of C ₂ and C ₁ are stored in the memory 62 (19). The content stored in the memory 62 means the count value (C ₁ ) corresponding to the height of the carriages 7, 7 with respect to the count value (C ₂ ) corresponding to the traveling distance of the frame 1, and the top surface shape of the vehicle body is stored. Has been done.

In parallel with the raising / lowering operation of the scattering prevention curtain 19,
The lifting control of the top brush 41 shown in the figure is started. However, this flowchart shows that after car wash starts, frame 1
Is executed after traveling the distance from the optical sensors 16a and 16b to the top brush 41. Note that FIG. 10 is a flowchart that is executed every time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 56. When the rotary shaft 43 is rotating normally, 1 is added to the value of the counter C ₃ (23) (24),
When reversing, subtract 1 from the value of counter C ₃ (23)
(25).

In FIG. 9, the count values (C ₂ , C ₁ ) stored in the memory 62, that is, the count values corresponding to the optical sensor position (vehicle height) with respect to the frame position (vehicle body position) are sequentially read (20). , The top brush 41 is driven in the forward and reverse directions so that the value of the counter C ₃ that gives the position of the top brush 41 to the frame position becomes equal to the count value (C ₁ ) corresponding to the optical sensor position (vehicle height). Is moved up and down along the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body to clean the upper surface of the vehicle body by brushing (21). Incidentally, the top nozzle 23 also similarly precedes the optical sensors 16a, 16b, 17
Elevation control is performed along the elevation trajectories of a and 17b.

In this way, the scattering prevention curtain 19 serves as the optical sensor 16.
a, 16b, 17a, 17b are moved up and down in conjunction with each other to cover the space between the upper surface of the vehicle body and the upper and lower ends of the frame 1, and receive cleaning water scattered from the top brush 41 and the like to move forward to the frame 1. Prevents scattering of wash water. At that time, the ascending / descending loci of the optical sensors 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b are stored, and when the brushing of the upper surface of the vehicle body by the top brush 41 and the blowing of the upper surface of the vehicle body by the top nozzle 23 are performed, the ascending / descending control is performed along the loci. , Effective cleaning and drying.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a car wash apparatus in which a frame, which is formed in a gate shape so as to straddle a vehicle body, is reciprocated to sequentially perform processing such as cleaning and drying of the vehicle body. At least a pair of optical sensors facing each other on the front side of the vehicle, elevating means for elevating the optical sensors in the vertical direction, and the optical sensors based on a vehicle body detection signal obtained from the optical sensors along the shape of the vehicle body top surface. And a scattering prevention curtain which is supported above the front portion of the frame so as to be able to move up and down and which interlocks with the elevation of the optical sensor to cover the space between the upper surface of the vehicle body and the upper and lower ends of the frame. Thus, the scattering prevention curtain covers the space between the upper surface of the vehicle body and the upper and lower ends of the frame to completely prevent scattering of washing water during car washing and prevent the surroundings from getting wet more than necessary.
Further, since the upper surface of the vehicle body is detected without contacting the vehicle body, there is no risk of damaging the vehicle body as in the conventional case.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the internal structure of a car wash apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 except for the line BB and subsequent lines.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1 from which the line after the line C-C is removed.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line CC in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system in the car wash apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an up-and-down operation of a scattering prevention screen 19.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process that is executed every time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 22.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process that is executed every time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder 6.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an up-and-down operation of the top brush 41.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process that is executed every time a pulse signal is input from the rotary encoder.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 frame 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b optical sensor 14 electric motor as lifting means 19 shatterproof curtain 60 microcomputer as control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A car wash device for sequentially performing processing such as cleaning and drying of a vehicle body by reciprocally traveling a gate-shaped frame that straddles the vehicle body, and at least a pair of front and rear surfaces of the frame are opposed to each other. Optical sensor, an elevating means for elevating the optical sensor in the vertical direction, a control means for causing the optical sensor to follow the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body based on a vehicle body detection signal obtained from the optical sensor, and a front portion of the frame. A car wash device, comprising: a scattering prevention curtain that is supported so as to be able to ascend and descend above the vehicle part and that interlocks with the ascending and descending of the optical sensor and that covers a space between the vehicle body upper surface and the frame upper and lower ends.