JPH0924802A - Car washing machine provided with ultrasonic cleaning nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent damage to a vehicle body or cleaning nozzles in advance by using ultrasonic cleaning nozzles as upper surface and side surface cleaning nozzles, approach-controlling the cleaning nozzles according to the distance between the nozzles and the body, and avoid-controlling the cleaning nozzles when the distance between the nozzles and the body can not be measured, in a portal car washing machine. SOLUTION: A car washing processing device such as a sprinkling nozzle, a blower, etc., is provided in a portal car washing machine main body, and side surface cleaning nozzles 55a to 55e as a ultrasonic cleaning nozzle are approach-controlled in relation to a body while detecting the distance to the body by ultrasonic sensors provided on respective nozzles. When an error of measurement is generated, for example, on the ultrasonic sensor provided on the side surface cleaning nozzle 55c, and when the distance to the automobile body can not be detected, the side surface cleaning nozzle 55c is so controlled as to be avoided to an avoiding position separated from the body. Similarly, the upper surface cleaning nozzle to be approach-controlled according to height data is avoided when the distance to the body can not be measured.

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 having a gate-shaped body and a car wash processing device such as a water spray nozzle and a blower. The present invention relates to a car washer that sequentially performs processes such as washing and drying.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of car washer has been equipped with a washing brush, spraying water from a water spray nozzle and rubbing the vehicle body with the washing brush to perform car washing. However, in a car wash using a cleaning brush, there is a problem in that the cleaning brush rubs fine stones stuck to the vehicle body, leaving small scratches on the vehicle body. In addition, it is necessary to prevent the cleaning brush from coming into contact with the vehicle body in order to clean various shapes of the vehicle or to avoid, for example, a spoiler or a carrier provided on the vehicle body. Had unwashed residue.

In a car wash machine equipped with a cleaning brush, in order to wash the car body without damaging the car body, a car wash course is provided in which only cleaning water is applied without using the cleaning brush, and the car wash is carried out by hand washing by an operator. Is being considered. However, when a car wash course for hand washing is provided to wash the car, scratches due to the car wash can be prevented, but the worker must perform the hand washing work, which is troublesome.

Therefore, the gate type car washing machine is provided with an upper surface cleaning nozzle for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle body and side surface cleaning nozzles for cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle body, and ultrasonic vibration is applied to running water to each cleaning nozzle. It has been considered to equip an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle for generating and spraying cleaning water to clean an automobile body with ultrasonic cleaning water.

[0005]

In such a car wash machine, when the distance between the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle and the vehicle body is increased, the ultrasonic waves are attenuated and the cleaning effect of the ultrasonic cleaning water is deteriorated. The ultrasonic cleaning nozzle and the car body must be as close as possible. Therefore, it is conceivable that the cleaning nozzle is provided with means for detecting the distance to the vehicle body and the cleaning nozzle is controlled to approach the vehicle body in accordance with the distance detected by the distance detecting means. If it is not performed correctly, the cleaning nozzle and the car body may come into contact with each other and damage the cleaning nozzle and the car body.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape.
In a car wash machine that is equipped with a car wash processing device such as a water spray nozzle and a blower, and that performs processing such as washing and drying of the car body as the car body or the car runs, a top surface cleaning nozzle that cleans the top surface of the car body and a car body Equipped with side surface cleaning nozzles for cleaning both side surfaces respectively, ultrasonic cleaning nozzles that generate ultrasonic waves by applying ultrasonic vibration to running water to each cleaning nozzle, and each cleaning nozzle, for example, an ultrasonic sensor It is impossible to measure the distance to the vehicle body with the distance detecting means while providing a means for detecting the distance to the vehicle body such as the above, and controlling the washing nozzle to approach the vehicle body according to the distance detected by the distance detecting means. When
The cleaning nozzle is avoidably controlled to the avoidance position.

Further, according to the present invention, each of the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the side surface cleaning nozzle is divided into a plurality of parts, and each cleaning nozzle can be controlled to approach the vehicle body.

[0008]

As a result, it becomes possible to finely control the approach of the cleaning nozzle to the vehicle body along the shape of the vehicle body,
It can be cleaned with ultrasonic cleaning water to remove stains that have adhered firmly, so there is no need to use a cleaning brush,
In addition, when the distance detecting means cannot measure the distance to the car body, the corresponding cleaning nozzle is controlled to avoid the avoidance position, which may damage the car body or the cleaning nozzle due to the contact between the car body and the cleaning nozzle. You can do a safe car wash.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a traveling system and a vehicle shape detecting means of the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a car-washing machine main body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the body of an automobile.
The wheels 2 and 2 are rotationally driven by 4 to travel back and forth along the rails 3 and 3.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a rotary encoder for detecting the traveling position of the car washer, which is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 4 and outputs a pulse signal at every unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the electric motor 4, and the main body 1 of the car washer. The traveling position is given.

6 is a position sensor for detecting the position of the car washer.
Then, the dog 7, which is a protrusion provided on the lower portion of the car wash machine body 1 and fixed to the laying surface of the rail 3, is sensed and switched to give the position of the car wash machine body 1. The dog 7 provides a running start position of the car washer body.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a vehicle height detecting means for detecting the vehicle height, which is provided at the front part of the car wash machine body 1. Numerals 9 and 9 are trolleys, and are formed so that they can be moved up and down by being guided by guide rails 10 and 10 standing on both sides of the car wash machine body 1. Reference numeral 11 is an electric motor capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions, and a rotating shaft 13 through a chain 12.
Is driven to rotate, and the chains 14 and 14 fixed to the carriages 9 and 9 are driven to rotate by the rotation of the rotary shaft 13, so that the carriages 9 and 9 are moved up and down. A rotary encoder 15 is connected to the rotary shaft 13 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the rotary shaft to give the positions of the carriages 9, 9.

Projectors 16a disposed at opposite positions,
The photoelectric switches 17a and the light receivers 16b and 17b are provided on the carriages 9 and 9, and the photoelectric switches 16a and 16b located at the front of the car wash machine body 1 are mounted at the rear of the photoelectric switches 17a and 17b. It is higher than the mounting position of 17b. When the photoelectric switches 16a, 16b located in front of the car wash machine body 1 detect the vehicle body, the electric motor 1
1 is driven in the forward direction to raise the trucks 9 and 9, and conversely, when the vehicle body is not detected, the electric motor 11 is driven in reverse to lower the trucks 9 and 9, while the photoelectric switches 17a and 17b located on the rear side are driven.
When the vehicle body is detected, the driving of the electric motor 11 is stopped to hold the carriages 9 and 9, and the carriages 9 and 9 are relatively moved up and down along the shape of the body.

Numerals 18 and 18 are ultrasonic sensors constituting a vehicle width measuring means, each of which is a distance from a vehicle to a vehicle from a time required for transmitting an ultrasonic signal in a lateral direction and receiving a reflected wave from a vehicle body. To measure.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the vehicle body drying apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 19 denotes a top nozzle elevating and lowering driving means for vertically moving the top nozzle 20 for drying the upper surface of the vehicle body along the shape of the vehicle body, which is arranged next to the vehicle height detecting means 8. The top nozzle 20 is provided with carriages 22 and 22 at both ends of arms 21 and 21 extending outward from both side surfaces thereof, and guide rails 23 provided upright on both sides of the car wash machine body 1.
23 is formed so that it can be moved up and down. Reference numeral 24 is an electric motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions.
6 is driven to rotate. By the rotation of the rotary shaft 26, the carriage 2
2, 22 and chains 28, 28 fixed to weights 27, 27, which are in balance with the load of the top nozzle 20, are rotationally driven to move the carts 22, 22 up and down. 29
Is a rotary encoder connected to the rotary shaft 26,
While detecting the rotation direction of the rotating shaft, a pulse signal is output for each unit angle rotation to give the positions of the carriages 22 and 22.

Reference numerals 30 and 30 denote blowers for generating high-pressure air, and 3
1,31 are side nozzles arranged on both sides of the car wash main body 1,
32, 32, 33, and 33 are ducts that connect the blowers 30 and 30 to the nozzles 20, 31, and 31, respectively, and the top nozzle 2
0 and the side nozzles 31 and 31 blow high-pressure air supplied from the blowers 30 and 30 toward the upper surface and side surfaces of the vehicle body to remove water droplets attached to the vehicle body surface.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing the upper surface cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4A, reference numeral 34 denotes an upper surface cleaning nozzle elevating and lowering driving means for vertically moving the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle body along the shape of the vehicle body, which is arranged next to the top nozzle elevating means 19. The upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 has arms 3 extending outward from both side surfaces thereof.
Car wash machine main body 1 is provided with carriages 38, 38 at both ends of 7, 37.
It is formed so that it can be moved up and down on the guide rails 39, 39 provided upright on both sides. Reference numeral 40 is an electric motor capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions, and rotationally drives the rotating shaft 42 via a chain 41.
By the rotation of the rotary shaft 42, the carriages 38, 38 and the chains 44, 44 fixed to the weights 43, 43 balanced with the load of the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 are rotationally driven, and the carriages 38, 38 are moved up and down. Reference numeral 45 denotes a rotary encoder, which is connected to the rotary shaft 42 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the rotary shaft,
The positions of the carriages 38, 38 are given.

Projectors 46a disposed at opposite positions,
47a and the light receivers 46b, 47b are photoelectric switches provided on the carriages 38, 38, and the photoelectric switches 46a, 46b located in front of the car wash machine body 1 are mounted at the rear of the photoelectric switches 47a, 47b. It is higher than the mounting position of 47b. When the photoelectric switches 46a, 46b located in front of the car wash machine body 1 detect the vehicle body, the electric motor 40 is driven in the forward direction to raise the carriages 38, 38. Conversely, when the vehicle body is not detected, the electric motor 40 is driven in the reverse direction. Trolley 3
When the photoelectric switches 47a and 47b located on the rear side detect the vehicle body, the drive of the electric motor 40 is stopped to hold the trucks 38 and 38, and the trucks 38 and 38 are relatively moved.
8, 38 are moved up and down along the shape of the vehicle body.

The upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 is constructed as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 48 is an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle, which is a carriage 4
It is fixed to the rail 9 and is formed so as to be movable along the guide rail 50. 51 is an electric motor capable of forward and reverse rotation,
The carriage 49 is reciprocally driven via the chain 52. A rotary encoder 53 is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 51 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the output shaft to give the position of the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the tilting means of the upper surface cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 80 is a variable means for varying the angle of the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35, and the lot parts 81a and 82 of the first and second air cylinders 81 and 82.
One lot portion 82a of the two-stage cylinder, in which a is connected to the opposite side, is connected to the operating plate 83 fixed to the support shaft 37, and the other lot portion 81a is connected to the side surface of the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35, respectively. Lot portion 81a of air cylinder 81
And the lot portion 82 of the second air cylinder 82
a to extend the direction of the washing water sprayed from the upper surface washing nozzle 35 vertically downward, and when operating, the lot portions 81a and 82a of the air cylinders 81 and 82 are extended to direct the direction of the washing water sprayed from the upper surface washing nozzle 35 to the frame 1. The lots 81a and 82a of the air cylinders 81 and 82 are shortened obliquely forward and downward so that the direction of washing water sprayed from the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 can be changed obliquely downward rearward of the frame 1.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a side surface cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6A, reference numeral 54 designates side surface cleaning nozzles 55a, 55a, 55 for cleaning the side surface of the vehicle body.
b, 55b, 55c, 55c, 55d, 55d, 55
Side cleaning nozzle elevating and lowering driving means for vertically moving the e and 55e in accordance with the shape of the vehicle body is provided adjacent to the upper surface cleaning nozzle elevating and lowering means 34. Side cleaning nozzles 55a, 55a, ...
55e is mounted on the ends of arms 56a, 56a, ...
57e, and is formed so that it can be moved up and down on guide rails 58a, 58a, ..., 58e that are provided upright on both sides of the car wash machine body 1. Reference numeral 59 is an electric motor capable of rotating in the normal and reverse directions, and rotationally drives the rotating shaft 61a via a chain 60. The rotation of the rotary shaft 61a is transmitted through the chain 62 to rotationally drive the rotary shafts 61b, 61c, ..., 61e (not shown). Rotating shafts 61a, 61b, ...
By the rotation of 61e, the carts 57a, 57a, ...,
Chains 63a, 63a, ..., 6 fixed to 57e
3e is driven to rotate, and the carriages 57a, 57a, ..., 5
7e is moved up and down. A rotary encoder 64 is connected to the rotary shaft 61a and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotational direction of the rotary shaft to give the positions of the carriages 57a, 57a, ..., 57e.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the side surface cleaning nozzle 55a is fixed to the carriage 65a within the arm 56a and is movable along the guide rail 66a.
67a is an electric motor capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions, and rotationally drives the chain 68a fixed to the carriage 65a to move the carriage 65a. 69a is a rotary encoder, which is an electric motor 67.
It is connected to the output shaft of a and outputs a pulse signal for every unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the electric motor 67a to give the position of the carriage 65a. The side surface cleaning nozzle 55a includes an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle 48, an ultrasonic sensor 70a for detecting the side surface of the vehicle body, and an ultrasonic sensor 71a for detecting a protrusion such as a door mirror protruding from the side surface of the vehicle body. . Each side cleaning nozzle 55a,
55a, ..., 55e are similarly configured.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle of the embodiment. A nozzle casing 72 has a hollow interior, and has a water inlet 73 from a water source on one side and a wash water outlet 74 on the bottom. An ultrasonic transducer 73 is attached at a position facing the discharge port 74 of the casing 72, that is, at the upper portion of the casing 72,
An ultrasonic signal can be propagated to the cleaning water supplied into the casing 72 to generate ultrasonic cleaning water.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control system of the embodiment. Reference numeral 76 denotes a microcomputer, which includes a CPU 77 that performs arithmetic processing, a memory 78 that stores programs and various data, and an input / output interface 79.
The input / output interface 79 includes a main body traveling position detecting encoder 5, a main body position sensor 6, a vehicle height detecting means lifting / lowering motor 11, a vehicle height detecting means position detecting encoder 15, and vehicle height detecting photoelectric switch projectors 16a, 17.
a, light receivers 16b and 17b, vehicle width detection ultrasonic sensor 18, top nozzle elevation motor 24, top nozzle position detection encoder 29, blower 30, top cleaning nozzle elevation motor 40, top cleaning nozzle position detection encoder 45, ultrasonic cleaning nozzle 48, air cylinders 81, 82 for changing the angle of the upper surface cleaning nozzle, motor 51 for moving the upper surface ultrasonic cleaning nozzle, encoder 53 for detecting the position of the upper surface ultrasonic cleaning nozzle, motor 5 for lifting the side surface cleaning nozzle 5
9, the side surface cleaning nozzle position detection encoder 64, and the respective side surface cleaning nozzles 55a, ..., 55e are connected.

Reference numeral 36 is an inverter which constitutes a vehicle washing machine running speed varying means, is connected to an input / output interface 79, and changes the frequency of the power supply supplied to the vehicle washing machine main body running electric motor 4 to change the rotation speed of the electric motor 4. Change the running speed of the car wash machine as appropriate.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 shows a cleaning process using ultrasonic cleaning water, which is one forward process. The car washer starts car washing from the car wash start position shown in FIG. 9 (a) and, as shown in FIG. 9 (b), runs at a low speed so as to be uniformly cleaned with ultrasonic cleaning water, and has a photoelectric switch. While detecting the vehicle body by 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, the truck 9 is moved up and down along the vehicle body as shown by the arrow. The microcomputer 76 detects the pulse of the encoder 5 for detecting the traveling position of the car wash machine and the pulse of the encoder 15 for detecting the position of the carriage 9 and stores the pulse in the memory 78 to measure the shape of the vehicle body in the height direction. Further, the shape in the width direction is measured by the detection of the vehicle width measuring ultrasonic sensor 18. The car washing machine controls the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 located at a distance X from the carriage 9 so that the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 can approach the vehicle body as close as possible based on the stored vehicle height data. Ultrasonic cleaning water is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 48 toward the car body to wash the car.

Simultaneously with the cleaning by the upper surface cleaning nozzle, the cleaning by the side surface cleaning nozzle is also performed. The car wash machine includes a side surface cleaning nozzle 55a located at a distance Y from the carriage 9 and side surface cleaning nozzles 55b and 55 provided at appropriate intervals.
55e is controlled to reciprocate up and down so as to cover the side surface of the vehicle body of the vehicle, and the arms 56a, 56b, ..., 5 are responsive to the vehicle width measured by the ultrasonic sensor 18.
6e is extended, and the extension / shortening of the side washing nozzle is adjusted according to the distance to the car body measured by the ultrasonic sensor provided in each side washing nozzle so that the side washing nozzle can be as close as possible to the car body. To control. At the same time, the side surface cleaning nozzles 55a, 55b, ...,
The ultrasonic cleaning nozzle 48 provided in 55e injects ultrasonic cleaning water toward the vehicle body to wash the vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a front view for explaining the operation of the cleaning process using ultrasonic cleaning water. The upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 uses the guide rails 39, 3 based on the stored vehicle shape data.
9 while moving up and down along with the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle 48,
Based on the vehicle width data, the ultrasonic cleaning water is jetted toward the automobile A while reciprocating according to the vehicle width. , 55e are repeatedly moved up and down along the guide rails 58a, 58b, ..., 58e, respectively, and the vehicle width data and the ultrasonic sensors for body detection provided in the respective side cleaning nozzles are provided. The side surface cleaning nozzles are brought close to the vehicle body A in accordance with the above measurement, and ultrasonic cleaning water is jetted toward the vehicle A from the ultrasonic cleaning nozzles provided in the respective side surface cleaning nozzles.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the avoiding operation of the cleaning nozzle when the distance detecting means cannot measure the distance to the vehicle body in the cleaning process using ultrasonic cleaning water, taking the side cleaning nozzle as an example. . As shown in the figure, the side surface cleaning nozzles 55a, 55a, 55b, ..., 55e are controlled by approaching the vehicle body while detecting the distance to the vehicle body by an ultrasonic sensor provided in each cleaning nozzle. . Here, when a measurement error occurs in the ultrasonic sensor provided in the side surface cleaning nozzle 55c and the distance to the vehicle body cannot be detected, in order to avoid the risk of contact between the vehicle body and the side surface cleaning nozzle, Side cleaning nozzle 55
Control is performed so that c is away from the vehicle body, that is, the side washing nozzle is fully retracted into the arm. The conditions for the ultrasonic sensor, which is the distance detecting means, to determine that there is a measurement error are that the ultrasonic signal sent from the ultrasonic sensor and the ultrasonic signal returned after being reflected have different waveforms, or the level of the reflected wave. Is less than a predetermined value, or a plurality of reflected waves are received within a certain period of time.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the upper surface cleaning nozzle. As shown in the figure, the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 is
The car A approaches the car body as the car wash machine moves forward. At this time, in the car washing machine, the lots 81a and 81b of the air cylinders 81 and 82, which are variable means for the upper surface cleaning nozzle, are extended so that the direction of the cleaning water sprayed from the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 is diagonally below the front of the frame 1, that is, toward the vehicle A body direction. Tilt to and wash the front of car A. Then, as the frame 1 moves forward, the car wash machine shortens the lot portions 81a and 82a of the air cylinders 81 and 82 so that the washing water sprayed from the upper surface washing nozzle 35 is directed obliquely downward toward the rear of the frame 1, that is, the automobile. Wash the bonnet part of the car A body toward the front of the car A. In the windshield portion of the vehicle body of the automobile A, the car washing machine shortens the lot portion 81a of the air cylinder 81 and extends the lot portion 82a of the air cylinder 82 so that the washing water jet direction of the upper surface washing nozzle 35 is vertically downward. To wash. Next, in the front part of the roof of the car A, the front part of the car A, the rear part of the car A in the rear part, the rear glass part vertically downward, the trunk part in the rear part of the car A, and the rear part in the whole part of the car A. It is tilted and washed according to the shape of the car A car body.

The upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 is controlled to approach along the upper surface of the vehicle body in accordance with the vehicle height data detected by the vehicle height detection means 8, and the photoelectric switches 46a and 46b provided on the upper surface cleaning nozzle clean the vehicle body. Without being detected, 47a and 47b are held and controlled so as to detect the car body, and safely approached to the car body.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing an avoiding operation when the distance detecting means cannot measure the distance from the vehicle body in the upper surface cleaning nozzle. As shown in the drawing, when a measurement error occurs in the photoelectric switch provided in the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35, the upper surface cleaning nozzle moves the cleaning nozzle to the uppermost position in order to avoid contact between the vehicle body and the upper surface cleaning nozzle. To raise. The conditions for the photoelectric switch to determine that there is a measurement error include, for example, when the light amount of the optical signal from the projector received by the photoreceiver is insufficient.

In this way, the car wash machine is run while performing cleaning by the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the side surface cleaning nozzle,
As shown in FIG. 9C, when reaching the rear of the vehicle body, the car wash process using ultrasonic cleaning water, which is one forward process, is completed.

FIG. 14 shows a drying process, which is one returning process. The car washing machine starts the drying process from the rear position of the vehicle shown in FIG. 14 (a), and as shown in FIG. 14 (b), runs at a low speed so that water droplets adhering to the vehicle body can be sufficiently blown off, and the trolley 9 The top nozzle 20 which is further away from the vehicle by a distance Z runs along the body of the vehicle based on the stored vehicle height data while controlling elevation, and at the same time, the air sent from the blower 30 from the top nozzle 20 and the side nozzles 31 is conveyed to the body of the vehicle. Then, the adhered water is blown off to dry it, and when the car wash start position shown in FIG. 14 (c) is reached, the car is stopped to end the drying process and finish the car wash.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the cleaning nozzle uses the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle, but the cleaning nozzle may be a high-pressure cleaning nozzle that sprays high-pressure cleaning water toward the automobile body. Further, in the embodiment, the side surface cleaning nozzle is divided into five parts on both side surfaces, but it may be integrated without being divided. Further, an ultrasonic sensor may be used as the distance detecting means in the upper surface cleaning nozzle.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, the main body of the gate type car washer is provided with the upper surface cleaning nozzle for cleaning the upper surface of the vehicle body and the side surface cleaning nozzles for cleaning both side surfaces of the vehicle body. A means for detecting the distance to the vehicle body and cleaning the vehicle body by controlling the washing nozzle to approach the vehicle body in accordance with the distance detected by the distance detecting means. When the measurement is not possible, the cleaning nozzle is controlled to avoid to the avoidance position.The cleaning nozzle can be finely controlled close to the vehicle body along the shape of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body and the cleaning nozzle contact each other. There is no risk of damaging the car body or cleaning nozzle. Therefore, the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle can be brought close to the car body to sufficiently secure the cleaning effect of the ultrasonic cleaning water, and the car can be safely washed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front explanatory view of the traveling system and the vehicle shape detecting means of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front explanatory view of the vehicle body drying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front explanatory view of the upper surface cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing tilting means of the upper surface cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front explanatory view of the side surface cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Car Washing Machine Main Body 4 Car Washing Machine Running Motor 8 Vehicle Height Detecting Device 18 Vehicle Width Measuring Device Ultrasonic Sensor 19 Top Nozzle Elevating Driving Device 30 Blower 31 Side Nozzle 34 Top Cleaning Nozzle Elevating Device 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b Photoelectric Switch 48 Ultrasonic Cleaning Nozzle 54 Side Cleaning Nozzle Elevating Means 55a to 55e Side Cleaning Nozzles 67a to 67e Side Cleaning Nozzle Moving Electric Motors 70a to 70e Car Body Detection Ultrasonic Sensors 71a to 71e Car Body Detection Ultrasonic Sensor 76 Control Microcomputer

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A car-washing machine body formed in a gate shape is provided with a car-washing treatment device such as a water spray nozzle and a blower, and the car body is washed or dried as the car-washer body or the car travels. The car wash machine is equipped with an upper surface cleaning nozzle for cleaning the upper surface of the car body and side surface cleaning nozzles for cleaning both side surfaces of the car body. Ultrasonic vibration is applied to running water to each cleaning nozzle to generate and inject ultrasonic cleaning water. In addition to having ultrasonic cleaning nozzles, each cleaning nozzle is provided with means for detecting the distance to the car body, and the cleaning nozzle is controlled to approach the car body according to the distance detected by the distance detection means, and the distance detection means is used. A car wash machine characterized in that when the distance to the car body cannot be measured, the wash nozzle is controlled to avoid to a avoidance position. 2. A car-washing machine body formed in a gate shape is provided with a car-washing treatment device such as a water spray nozzle and a blower, and the car body is washed or dried as the car-washer body or the car travels. In a car wash machine, an upper surface cleaning nozzle for cleaning the upper surface of the car body and a side surface cleaning nozzle for cleaning both side surfaces of the car body are separately provided, and ultrasonic waves are applied to each cleaning nozzle by ultrasonic vibration. An ultrasonic cleaning nozzle that generates and jets cleaning water is provided, and each cleaning nozzle is provided with means for detecting the distance to the vehicle body, and the cleaning nozzle is controlled to approach the vehicle body according to the distance detected by the distance detection means. In addition, the car wash machine is characterized in that when the distance detecting means cannot measure the distance to the vehicle body, the washing nozzle is controlled to avoid to the avoidance position. 3. The car washing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for detecting the distance to the vehicle body provided in each washing nozzle is an ultrasonic sensor.