JPH0939747A - Car washing machine having washing nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent disability of car washing due to shortage of water by increasing the moving speed of a car washing machine main body to shorten the car washing time if the quantity of water used during the remaining car washing time is not provided by the quantity of water in a water tank at the time of supplying water from the water tank to a car washing machine to wash an automobile. SOLUTION: While a top surface washing nozzle 35 is elevated, an ultrasonic washing nozzle is moved to inject ultrasonic washing water to an automobile A. In this case, when a car washing machine 1 travels at a low speed and injects ultrasonic washing water to the automobile A, if the water level of water in a water tank is lowered and the lowering is detected by a liquid level sensor, the traveling of the car washing machine is switched to high speed and car washing is continued. Thus, the car washing time is shortened to decrease the quantity of washing water. On the other hand, when the trailing end of the automobile A is detected by a car width detecting ultrasonic sensor 18, the time required for remaining car washing is calculated from the coming car washing process, and as it is judged that even if the car is washed at a low speed, shortage of washing water is not caused, traveling is returned to a low speed.

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.

For this reason, a method has been proposed in which a car washing machine is provided with a car washing course in which only washing water is applied without using a washing brush, and an operator performs hand washing. In addition, a car washing machine has been considered in which a car washing machine is equipped with a high-pressure washing nozzle for injecting high-pressure washing water onto an automobile body to remove dirt from the automobile body with water pressure.

Furthermore, in order to obtain a higher cleaning effect,
It has been considered that a car wash machine is equipped with an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle that applies ultrasonic vibration to running water to generate and inject ultrasonic cleaning water, and cleans a vehicle body with ultrasonic cleaning water.

[0005]

Generally, in this type of car washing machine, the washing water used for car washing uses water supplied from a water supply or the like. However, since the amount of water supplied from the water supply is insufficient, a water tank is used. The washing water is once stored by using the water and the car is washed by supplying water from the water tank to the car washing machine. However, if the car was washed in succession, the wash water supplied from the water tank could not be supplied in time, and the wash water might be insufficient. In particular, in a car wash machine that cleans the car body with ultrasonic cleaning water, a relatively large amount of cleaning water is used in order to uniformly clean the car body with a large number of ultrasonic cleaning nozzles. There is a risk of disappearing.

[0006]

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a car wash machine in which a main body of a gate type car wash machine and a car move relative to each other to wash and dry the car body. In the main body of the gate type car wash, means for injecting washing water to the car body, means for detecting the relative position of the car wash machine and the car, and means for changing the moving speed of the car wash body or the car are provided. A water tank for supplying washing water to the car wash main body and a means for detecting the amount of water in the water tank are provided, and the remaining car wash time is calculated from the relative position and moving speed of the car wash main body and the car. Then estimate the amount of water used for car wash, depending on the amount of water in the water tank,
Control is performed so as to change the moving speed of the car body or the car in the cleaning process.

[0007]

[Function] The amount of wash water used during the remaining car wash time is
If the amount of water in the water tank is unlikely to cover,
Increase the moving speed of the car wash machine or the car to shorten the car wash time. As a result, the amount of water used for car washing can be reduced, a shortage of wash water can be avoided, and it becomes possible to prevent the car from being unable to be washed.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, a car washing machine equipped with an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle that applies ultrasonic vibration to running water to generate and jet ultrasonic cleaning water will be described. 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, 1 is a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle an automobile body, and the wheels 2, 2 are rotationally driven by electric motors 4, 4 which can rotate forward and reverse.
Reciprocate along rails 3,3.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a rotary encoder for detecting the traveling position of the car wash machine. The rotary encoder is connected to the output shaft of the electric motor 4 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotational direction of the electric motor 4 to wash the car body 1. Gives the running position of.

Reference numeral 6 denotes 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 portion 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 arranged 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 an automobile to a time required for transmitting an ultrasonic signal in a lateral direction and receiving a reflected wave from an automobile body. To measure.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a vehicle body drying apparatus according to an 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 arranged 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. 4 (b). 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 inside 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 75 is attached at a position facing the discharge port 74 of the casing 72, that is, at the upper part 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 an explanatory view showing a water supply path of the car wash machine of the embodiment. 83 is a water tank, float switch 84
Is connected to a water source S such as a water supply via the
The water level is kept constant. The water W in the water tank is moved by the submersible pump 85 to the tilting arm 86.
It is supplied to the car wash machine main body 1 via the water supply hose 87 held by. Liquid level sensors 88, 89 detect the water levels H1, H2 of the water W in the water tank, respectively. The water levels H1 and H2 are provided at appropriate positions so that the water amounts in the water tank can be detected to be 60% and 30%, respectively. Since the amount of water used for car washing is larger than the amount of water supplied from the water source, the water level gradually decreases during car washing. When the car wash ends, water is only being supplied, so the water level will recover.

FIG. 9 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, side surface cleaning nozzle position detection encoder 64, each side surface cleaning nozzle 55a, ..., 55e, submersible pump 85,
Liquid level sensors 88 and 89 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. 10 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. 10 (a) and, as shown in FIG. 10 (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. Microcomputer 76
Detects the pulses of the encoder 5 for detecting the traveling position of the car wash machine and the encoder 15 for detecting the position of the carriage 9 and stores them in the memory 78 to measure the shape of the automobile 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 wash machine controls the upper surface cleaning nozzle 35 located at a distance X from the carriage 9 so as to approach the vehicle body as close as possible to the vehicle body based on the stored vehicle height data.
Ultrasonic cleaning water is sprayed from the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle 48 provided on the vehicle toward the vehicle body to wash the vehicle.

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. 11 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. 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 detecting means 8, and 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 shows a cleaning process using ultrasonic cleaning water, which is a one-step process. Also in the first return process, as in the first forward process, ultrasonic cleaning water is sprayed onto the automobile body from the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the side surface cleaning nozzle to perform cleaning. The car wash machine starts one car wash from the rear position of the vehicle shown in FIG. 13 (a), and as shown in FIG. 13 (b), can be uniformly cleaned with ultrasonic cleaning water as in the one forward process. Then, the vehicle runs at a low speed, returns to the car wash start position shown in FIG. In the 1-back process, unlike the 1-forward process, the front and rear of the photoelectric switch of the upper surface cleaning nozzle are reversed, and the photoelectric switches 46a and 46 are the same as in the 1-forward process.
b does not detect the car body, the photoelectric switches 47a, 47
b cannot be controlled to detect the car body. Therefore, the approach to the car body is not controlled by the photoelectric switch of the top surface cleaning nozzle, and the control is performed with a safe distance between the top surface cleaning nozzle and the car body based on the vehicle height data stored in one forward process. I do.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show the operation when the water level in the water tank is lowered in the embodiment of the present invention. The car washer has a low speed (for example, the frequency of the inverter 36 is 30H).
When the vehicle reaches the position shown in FIG. 14 (a) while traveling in z) and jetting ultrasonic cleaning water to the vehicle body, the water level in the water tank drops and the liquid level sensor shown in FIG. 88 detects the water level H1 (for example, water level 60%). At this time, the car wash machine switches the traveling to a high speed (for example, the frequency of the inverter 36 is 60 Hz) to continue the car wash, and shortens the car wash time and reduces the amount of wash water used. FIG. 14 (b)
As shown in, when the vehicle width detection ultrasonic sensor 18 detects the rear end of the vehicle body, the car wash machine calculates the current traveling position and traveling speed, and the time required for the remaining car wash from the future car wash process. When it is determined that the wash water will not be insufficient even if the vehicle is washed at a low speed, the vehicle is returned to a low speed (for example, the frequency of the inverter is 30 Hz) and the car wash is continued. If it is determined that the wash water will be insufficient if the vehicle is washed at a low speed, but the wash water will not be insufficient if the vehicle is washed at a high speed, the car wash is continued at the current high speed (for example, the frequency of the inverter 36 is 60 Hz). When it is determined that the wash water will be insufficient even at the current high speed, the car wash machine further increases the speed (for example, the frequency of the inverter is 90 Hz) to perform the wash.

Further, as shown in FIG. 15 (a), when the liquid level sensor 88 detects the water level H1 (for example, water level 60%) to wash the car at high speed (for example, the frequency of the inverter 36 is 90 Hz), The water level in the water tank further decreases, and the liquid level sensor 89 causes the water level H2 (for example, the water level 30
%) Is detected. Here, the car wash machine calculates the current traveling position and running speed, the time required for the remaining car wash from the future car wash process, and if it is determined that the wash water will be insufficient if the car wash is continued as it is, the car wash machine is stopped and Stop spraying wash water and wait for the water level to recover. After the water level is recovered and the liquid level sensor 88 detects the water level H1 (for example, 60% of the water level), after elapse of time T seconds until the water level reaches the upper limit,
Car wash machines run at low speeds (e.g.
(Hz) and the spray water is restarted.

When one reciprocating process is completed, the car wash machine performs two cleaning processes with ultrasonic cleaning water as in the first cleaning process. In the second returning step, the drying step shown in FIG. 16 is performed.
The car washing machine starts the drying process from the rear position of the vehicle shown in FIG. 16 (a) and, as shown in FIG. 16 (b), runs at a low speed so as to sufficiently blow off water droplets adhering to the vehicle body, 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 it reaches the car wash start position shown in FIG. 16 (c), it is stopped and the drying process is ended, and the car wash is ended.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, the car washing machine using the ultrasonic cleaning nozzle is used in the embodiment, but a car washing machine using a high pressure cleaning nozzle for injecting high pressure cleaning water toward an automobile body may be used. The same control can be performed in a car wash machine in which water is sprayed from the water and washed with a brush. Further, in the embodiment, the water levels of two levels of H1 and H2 are detected, but the water level may be one level or three or more levels, and control of traveling such as acceleration / deceleration and washing water /
Control such as temporary stop of traveling can be appropriately set accordingly.

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, means for injecting washing water into a car body of a gate type car washer, means for detecting a relative position of the car washer and the car body, In addition to providing a means for changing the moving speed of the car, a water tank for supplying washing water to the car wash machine body, and a means for detecting the amount of water in the water tank are provided, and the relative position and moving speed of the car wash machine body and the car The amount of water used for car wash is estimated by calculating the remaining car wash time, and the moving speed of the car wash machine or car in the washing process is controlled according to the amount of water in the water tank. If the amount of wash water used during the time is unlikely to be covered by the amount of water in the water tank, increase the moving speed of the car wash machine or the car to shorten the car wash time.
By reducing the amount of water used for car washing, it is possible to prevent the car washing from becoming impossible due to lack of wash water.

Therefore, even in a car washing machine using ultrasonic cleaning water, which requires a large amount of washing water as compared with the conventional car washing machine using brushes, the replenishment of the washing water supplied from the water tank cannot be completed in time. , There will be no shortage of wash water and you will not be unable to wash the car.

[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 water supply path according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system according to an 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.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 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 Lifting Means 55a to 55e Side Cleaning Nozzle 67a to 67e Electric Motor for Moving Side Cleaning Nozzle 70a to 70e Ultrasonic Sensor for Car Body Detection 71a to 71e Ultrasonic Sensor for Car Body Detection 76 Microcomputer as Control Means 83 Water Tank 84 Float Switch 88, 89 Liquid Level Sensor

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 25, 1995

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Brief description of drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[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 water supply path according to the embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system according to an 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.

FIG. 15 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 car washing machine body 4 electric motor for running car washing machine 8 vehicle height detecting means 18 ultrasonic sensor as vehicle width measuring means 19 top nozzle lifting drive means 30 blower 31 side nozzle 34 upper surface washing nozzle lifting means 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b Photoelectric switch 48 Ultrasonic cleaning nozzle 54 Side cleaning nozzle elevating means 55a to 55e Side cleaning nozzle 67a to 67e Side cleaning nozzle moving electric motor 70a to 70e Car body detecting ultrasonic sensor 71a to 71e Car body detecting ultrasonic sensor 76 Control means Microcomputer 83 Water tank 84 Float switch 88, 89 Liquid level sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A car washing machine in which a main body of a gate type car wash machine and an automobile move relative to each other to perform processing such as washing and drying of a car body. And a means for detecting the relative position of the car wash machine and the vehicle, and means for changing the moving speed of the car wash body or the car, and a water tank for supplying wash water to the car wash body, A means for detecting the amount of water in the water tank is provided, and the amount of water used for car washing is estimated by calculating the remaining car wash time from the relative position and moving speed of the car body and the car, and the amount of water in the water tank. A car washing machine having means for controlling so as to change the moving speed of the car washing machine main body or the automobile in the washing process. 2. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for injecting the cleaning water onto the vehicle body is an ultrasonic cleaning nozzle for applying ultrasonic vibration to running water to generate and spray the ultrasonic cleaning water. Car wash machine characterized by.