JPH10297441A - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To achieve both a safe car wash without the risk of contact between the upper nozzle and the car body, and a highly effective car wash with the upper nozzle and the car body as close as possible. In a car washer for performing car washing by relatively moving a car washer body and a car body to be washed, a car shape detecting means for detecting a shape of the car, an upper surface nozzle provided on the car wash machine body so as to be vertically movable, Vehicle body detecting means for moving up and down integrally with the upper surface nozzle to detect the vehicle body, first control means for controlling the upper surface nozzle to move up and down to a plurality of heights, and moving the upper surface nozzle according to a detection signal from the vehicle body detecting means A second control means for vertically moving and acting on the upper surface of the automobile in a non-contact manner, and means for selecting one of the first control means and the second control means and causing the upper surface nozzle to act on the vehicle body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car washing machine body formed in a gate shape and having a car washing processing device such as a water spray nozzle, a drying nozzle, etc., in which the car washing machine body and a car body to be washed are relatively moved. The present invention relates to a car washer for sequentially performing processes such as washing and drying on an automobile body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a car washing machine of this type is provided with a vehicle body detecting means integrally with an upper surface washing nozzle and an upper surface drying nozzle, and the upper surface nozzle is controlled to move up and down along the vehicle body in accordance with the detection result of the vehicle body detecting means. Was applied to the car body to wash the car.

[0003]

In such a car washing machine, if the relative movement speed between the car washing machine main body and the automobile body is increased in order to shorten the car washing time, the up-and-down operation of the upper nozzle moves relatively at a high speed. Without being able to follow the shape of the vehicle, the upper surface nozzle may come into contact with the vehicle body and damage the vehicle body. For this reason, in the car washing process using the upper nozzle, it is necessary to suppress the relative movement speed between the car washer body and the vehicle body to a speed at which the raising and lowering operation of the upper nozzle can sufficiently follow the vehicle shape of the relatively moving automobile. Could not be shortened enough. Also, in order to sufficiently shorten the car washing time, it is necessary to maintain the upper nozzle at a height that does not cause contact with the automobile body and move the car washer body and the automobile body relatively at high speed. Could not be brought close to the car body, and a sufficient car wash effect could not be obtained.

Further, for example, when a beam sensor composed of a light emitter and a light receiver is used as a vehicle body detecting means integrally provided in the upper nozzle, it is necessary to use the washing water that is scattered or the steam or beam when hot water is used as the washing water. In some cases, the vehicle body cannot be detected due to the influence of dirt or the like attached to the sensor surface. In this case, the upper nozzle cannot be controlled to move up and down along the vehicle body according to the detection result of the vehicle body detecting means.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a car wash machine body formed in a portal shape.
A car washing machine provided with a car washing processing device such as a water spray nozzle, a drying nozzle, and the like, for washing a car body by relatively moving a car washing machine body and a car body to be washed; An upper surface nozzle provided to be able to move up and down in the car washer body, and ascending and descending integrally with the upper surface nozzle,
Vehicle body detecting means for detecting the vehicle body, first control means for raising and lowering the upper nozzle to a plurality of heights, and raising and lowering the upper nozzle in response to a detection signal from the vehicle body detecting means, A second control unit that acts on the top surface of the vehicle in a non-contact manner; and a unit that selects one of the first control unit and the second control unit and causes the top surface nozzle to act on the vehicle body.

The present invention also provides a car washing machine, comprising: speed changing means for changing a speed of relative movement between the car washing machine body and a car body to be washed; and the car washing machine body and the car body by the speed changing means. When the car is washed by relatively moving at a high speed, the upper surface nozzle is stepped up and down to an appropriate height according to the vehicle shape by the first control unit based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection unit. Means for controlling the up-and-down movement of the upper nozzle along the vehicle body by the second control means when the vehicle is washed by moving the car wash body and the vehicle body relatively at a low speed by the speed changing means.

Alternatively, in the above-described car washing machine, the present invention relates to an abnormality detecting means for judging an abnormal detection of the vehicle body detecting means, and when the abnormality detecting means judges that the abnormality is detected, the first upper nozzle is moved to the first nozzle. Means for stepwise controlling up and down to an appropriate height according to the vehicle shape by the control means.

Further, in the present invention, in the above-mentioned car washer, the upper nozzle is a washing nozzle for spraying washing water to the vehicle body or a drying nozzle for blowing air to the vehicle body.

[0009]

With this, when the car washer is performed by relatively moving the car washer body and the car body at a high speed, the upper nozzle is controlled to move up and down stepwise based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detecting means. To some extent close to the car body to act on the car body, it is possible to achieve both high-speed car wash and car wash with high car wash effect, and when performing car washing by relatively moving the car wash machine body and the car body at low speed, Highly effective car washing by detecting the vehicle body by means of the vehicle body detection means integrally provided with the upper surface nozzle and controlling the upper surface cleaning nozzle to move up and down, bringing the upper surface nozzle sufficiently close to the vehicle body and causing the upper surface nozzle to act on the vehicle body. It can be performed.

[0010] Further, the vehicle body detecting means constituted by a beam sensor or the like can detect the vehicle body due to scattered washing water, steam when hot water is used as the washing water, dirt attached to the beam sensor surface, and the like. If not,
Based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detecting means, the upper nozzle is controlled to move up and down in a stepwise manner so that the upper nozzle approaches the vehicle body to act on the vehicle body.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case in which a car wash processing device such as a sprinkling nozzle and a drying nozzle is provided in a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape, and the car body is washed and dried with the running of the car wash machine body. An example is shown in which the present invention is applied to a portal type car washer that sequentially performs processing.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a traveling system and vehicle shape detecting means of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing a drying nozzle of the embodiment of the present invention. Figure,
FIG. 4 is a front view showing the cleaning nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes 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 motors 4, 4 which can rotate normally and reversely, and along the rails 3, 3. Travel back and forth.

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 motor 4 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the direction of rotation of the 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.
Thus, switching is performed by detecting the dog 7 which is a projection provided on the lower part of the car wash machine main body 1 and fixed to the laying surface of the rail 3 to give the position of the car wash machine main body 1. The dog 7 provides a running start position of the car washer body.

Reference numeral 61 denotes an operation panel, which is provided on the front of the car wash machine main body 1 and allows the operator to operate the car wash machine by operating the operation panel.

The light projectors 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a,
The light receivers 10b, 11b, 12b, and 13b are photoelectric switches, and detect the height of the vehicle body to be washed by the car washer. The vehicle body is detected by blocking the light emitted from the light emitter and received by the light receiver by the vehicle body. 10a,
10b is the height H1 of the lower part of the vehicle, 11a and 11b are the height H2 of the roof position of the ordinary car, 12a and 12b are the height H3 of the roof position of the wagon car, and 13a and 13b are the heights that cannot be washed by the car washer. H4 is detected.

Reference numeral 15 denotes an upper surface drying nozzle, which is normally used in a returning process in which the car washer that started running from the running start position and performed the car wash in the forward process returns to the running start position. The upper surface drying nozzle 15 has carts 17 at both ends of arms 16 extending outward from both side surfaces thereof, and guide rails 18 standing upright on both sides of the car washer body 1.
18 so as to be able to move up and down. Trolley 1
7, 17 are through sprockets 20, 20, 20,
The chains 19 are suspended from the upper part of the car washer body 1 and are moved up and down by the operation of an air cylinder 21 interlocked with the chains 19 and 19 via a sprocket 14 provided on a rod portion.

The projectors 22a, 22a,
23a and the light receivers 22b and 23b are photoelectric switches provided on the carts 17 and 17 and constitute a vehicle body detecting means of the present invention. Regarding the arrangement of the photoelectric switches, the mounting positions of the photoelectric switches 22a and 22b located rearward with respect to the car wash body 1 are higher than the mounting positions of the photoelectric switches 23a and 23b located forward. When the photoelectric switches 22a and 22b, which are located rearward with respect to the car washer body 1 and reach the vehicle body first in the return process, detect the vehicle body, the rod of the air cylinder 21 is contracted, and the bogie 17,
17 is raised, and conversely, if the vehicle body is not detected, the rods of the air cylinder 21 are extended to lower the bogies 17 and 17, while being located in front, and in the return process, the photoelectric that will reach the vehicle body later. When the switches 23a and 23b detect the vehicle body, the expansion and contraction of the rod of the air cylinder 21 is stopped to hold the carts 17 and 17, and the carts 17 and 17 are relatively moved.
17 is moved up and down along the body shape.

Reference numeral 44 denotes a magnet fixed to the carriage 17, and a proximity switch is provided on the side of the car washer body 1 on a straight line on which the magnet 44 moves as the carriages 17 supporting the upper surface drying nozzle 15 move up and down. 45 and 46 are fixed, and switching is performed according to the movement of the magnet 44, thereby detecting the elevation position of the upper surface drying nozzle 15. The proximity switch 45 has the same height H2 as the photoelectric switches 11a and 11b that detect the roof position of the ordinary car, and the proximity switch 46 has the photoelectric switch 1 that detects the roof position of the wagon car.
It is provided at the same height H3 as 2a and 12b.

Reference numerals 24, 24 denote blowers for generating high-pressure wind,
Reference numerals 5 and 25 denote side drying nozzles disposed on both sides of the car washing machine main body 1, and 26, 26, 27 and 27 denote ducts for communicating the blowers 24 and 24 with the respective nozzles 15, 25 and 25. Nozzles 25, 25 are blowers 2
The high-pressure wind supplied from 4, 24 is blown toward the top and side surfaces of the vehicle body to remove water droplets attached to the vehicle body surface.

The upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 is provided with carts 32, 32 at both ends of arms 31, 31 extending outward from both side surfaces thereof.
32, and are formed so as to be able to move up and down on guide rails 33 erected on both sides of the car washer body 1.
Reference numeral 34 denotes a forward / reversely rotatable motor, which rotationally drives a rotating shaft 36 via a chain 35. By the rotation of the rotating shaft 36,
The carriages 32, 32 and the chains 38, which are fixed to the weights 37, 37, which balance the load of the upper surface cleaning nozzle 31,
38 is driven to rotate, and the carts 32, 32 are moved up and down. Reference numeral 39 denotes a rotary encoder which is connected to the rotary shaft 36 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 carts 32, 32.

The light projectors 40a,
41a, 43a and light receivers 40b, 41b, 42b are photoelectric switches provided on the carts 32, 32 and constitute a vehicle body detecting means of the present invention. The arrangement of the photoelectric switches is such that the photoelectric switches 40a and 4
0b and photoelectric switches 42a, 42b located at the rear
Is mounted at the middle position of the photoelectric switch 41a, 41
1b is higher than the mounting position. In a car wash in the forward process in which the car washer starts traveling from the traveling start position, the photoelectric switch 40a, which is located forward with respect to the car washer body 1,
When the vehicle 40b detects the vehicle body, the electric motor 34 is driven forward to raise the carriages 32, 32. Conversely, when the vehicle body is not detected, the motor 34 is driven reverse to lower the carriages 32, 32. When the switches 41a and 41b detect the vehicle body, the drive of the electric motor 34 is stopped to hold the trucks 32, 32, and the trucks 32, 32 are relatively moved up and down along the vehicle body shape. Further, in the return process in which the car washer returns to the direction of the traveling start position, the electric motor 34 is located rearward with respect to the car washer main body 1 and detects the vehicle body when the photoelectric switches 42a and 42b which reach the vehicle body first detect the vehicle body. Is driven forward to raise the carriages 32, 32, and conversely, when the vehicle body is not detected, the electric motor 34 is driven reversely to lower the carriages 32, 32, while the photoelectric switches 41a, 41 located at the middle position.
When b detects the vehicle body, the drive of the electric motor 34 is stopped to hold the carts 32, 32, and the carts 32, 32 are relatively moved up and down along the body shape.

The upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 sprays cleaning water onto the upper surface of the vehicle body to clean the vehicle body. 43, 43
Is a side washing nozzle that sprays washing water onto the side of the vehicle body to clean the vehicle body.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a pneumatic system for controlling the elevation of the upper surface drying nozzle. An air pressure source 47 supplies air at a predetermined pressure from a compressor or the like. 48 and 49 are regulators for keeping the pressure of the air supplied from the pneumatic source at a constant pressure. Reference numerals 50 and 51 denote three-port directional control valves that control supply of air to ports A and B of the air cylinder 21. 52, 52 are speed controllers for controlling the speed of the air cylinder 21;

The three-port directional control valve 48 is opened to the atmosphere,
When 49 is released to the pneumatic source, the rod of the air cylinder 21 protrudes, and the upper surface drying nozzle 15 descends. When the three-port directional control valve 48 is opened to the pneumatic source and 49 is opened to the atmosphere, the rod of the air cylinder 21 is retracted, and the upper surface drying nozzle 15 rises. 3-port directional control valve 48,
When both 49 are released to the air pressure source, the rod of the air cylinder 21 stops, and the upper surface drying nozzle 15 is held.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an operation panel 61 which is operation means of the present invention. The operation panel 61 has an LCD display 62 for displaying an operation guide of the car washer, a course key 63 for selecting a car wash course, a nozzle up / down key 66 for manually performing a nozzle avoidance operation during car wash, and a low speed car wash. A low-speed start key 61, a high-speed start key 62 for performing car washing at a high speed, a stop key 67 for stopping car washing, a numeric keypad 68 for inputting various data, a card reader / writer 6 for receiving a prepaid card known as a car washing fee.
9. Coin mech 70 for inserting coins, key switch 71 for switching power on / off, switching between management mode and operation mode
It has.

The card reader / writer 69 has a function of permitting and prohibiting the acceptance of a card. Further, the coin mech 70 has a block function of prohibiting coin insertion. In the management mode, you can check the operation of each part of the car washer,
For example, the total number of car washes is displayed. In the operation mode, a customer who wants to wash the car performs a car wash reception operation and a car wash. The numeric keypad 68 is accepted only in the management mode, and is normally operated in the operation mode.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. Reference numeral 54 denotes a microcomputer, which comprises a CPU 55 for performing arithmetic processing, a memory 56 for storing programs and various data, and input / output interfaces 57, 57. The input / output interfaces 57, 57 include a traveling position detecting rotary encoder 5, Sensor 6,
Vehicle height measuring photoelectric switches 10a, 10b, 11a, 11
b, 12a, 12b, 13a, 13b, blowers 24, 2
4. Air cylinder 21 for raising and lowering the upper surface drying nozzle, photoelectric switch 22a, 22b, 23a, 2 for raising and lowering the upper surface drying nozzle
3b, 3-port directional control valves 50, 51, proximity switch 4
5, 46, an electric motor 34 for elevating the upper cleaning nozzle, a rotary encoder 39 for detecting the position of the upper cleaning nozzle, and photoelectric switches 40a, 40b, 41a, 4 for elevating the upper cleaning nozzle.
1b, 42a, 42b and the operation panel 61 are connected.

An inverter 53 controls the number of revolutions of the motors 4 and 4 for running the car washer.
1 to change the frequency of the power supplied to the car washer running motors 4, 4 to change the rotation speed of the motors 4, 4 to appropriately change the running speed of the car washer, Configure.

Reference numeral 58 denotes a high-pressure pump,
And the cleaning water jetted from the side cleaning nozzles 43, 43 is supplied.

Reference numeral 59 denotes an abnormal signal input of the photoelectric switch for elevating and lowering the upper surface drying nozzle. Numeral 60 denotes an abnormal signal input of the photoelectric switch for elevating and lowering the upper surface cleaning nozzle. This signal is output when there is an obstacle to the detection of the vehicle body by the photoelectric switch, such as a decrease in the light receiving sensitivity due to the influence of dirt or the like attached to the camera.

The microcomputer 54, the vehicle height measuring photoelectric switches 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a,
The rotary encoders 12b, 13a and 13b and the traveling position detecting rotary encoder 5 interact with each other to constitute the vehicle shape detecting means of the present invention.

In controlling the upper surface drying nozzle, the microcomputer 54, the upper surface drying nozzle raising / lowering air cylinder 21, and the upper surface drying nozzle raising / lowering photoelectric switch 22a, 22
The b, 23a, 23b and the three-port directional control valves 50, 51 interact with each other to constitute the first control means of the present invention.
Further, the microcomputer 54, the air cylinder 21 for elevating and lowering the upper surface drying nozzle, the photoelectric switches 22a, 22b, 23a and 23b for elevating and lowering the upper surface drying nozzle, the three-port directional control valves 50 and 51, and the proximity switches 45 and 46 interact with each other. Constitute the second control means of the present invention. In controlling the upper surface cleaning nozzle, the microcomputer 54,
Upper surface cleaning nozzle elevating motor 34, upper surface cleaning nozzle position detecting rotary encoder 39, upper surface cleaning nozzle elevating photoelectric switch 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 42
a and 42b interact to constitute the first control means and the second control means of the present invention.

The microcomputer 54, the upper-level drying nozzle elevating photoelectric switch abnormality signal input 59, and the upper-surface cleaning nozzle elevating photoelectric switch abnormality signal input 60 interact with each other to constitute the abnormality detecting means of the vehicle body detecting means of the present invention. .
It should be noted that the abnormality of the vehicle body detecting means is caused not only when an abnormal signal of the photoelectric switch is input, but also when the vehicle shape detecting means detects an automobile having a low vehicle height, the upper surface drying nozzle and the upper surface cleaning nozzle are moved to the upper limit position. However, when the vehicle is in a state that cannot be normally detected, such as in a state in which the vehicle body is detected, it is determined that the vehicle body detecting means is abnormal.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. First, a description will be given of an example in which cleaning by low-speed traveling is performed in the forward process, and drying by low-speed traveling is performed in the return process. In low-speed car washing, the car washer detects the car body by means of body detecting means integrally provided on the upper surface washing nozzle and the upper surface drying nozzle,
The vertical movement of the upper surface cleaning nozzle and upper surface drying nozzle, which controls the vertical movement by driving the air cylinder and electric motor, follows the shape of the car body that moves relatively with the running of the car wash machine at a speed that enables car washing. Car wash. As shown in FIG. 8A, the car A performing car washing stops at a predetermined position at the start of car washing, and the operator operates the operation panel 61 provided on the car washing machine main body 1 to change the car washing course. By specifying and pressing the low-speed start key 64, the car wash is started.

In the car washing process, as shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 8 (c), the car washer body 1 starts running, and first, the vehicle height detecting photoelectric switch detects the shape of the vehicle body. First, the photoelectric switch for detecting the lower part of the vehicle is mounted on the light projector 10.
a and the light receiver 10b are shielded from light by the vehicle body, and the vehicle body is detected. The car washer stores the running position of the car washer body 1 detected by the running position detecting rotary encoder 5 in the memory 56 as the front end position CS of the vehicle A at this time. Subsequently, the photoelectric switch for detecting the position of the roof of the ordinary vehicle is shielded from light between the light emitter 11a and the light receiver 11b by the vehicle body, and detects the vehicle body. The car wash machine sets the traveling position of the car wash machine body 1 at this time to the front end position RS of the roof portion of the car A.
Is stored in the memory 56. Thereafter, the photoelectric switch for detecting the position of the roof of the ordinary vehicle is provided with the light emitting device 11a and the light receiving device 1
When the light shielding by the vehicle body between 51 and the vehicle body is no longer detected and the vehicle body is no longer detected, the car wash machine stores the running position of the car wash machine body 1 at this time in the memory 56 as the rear end position RE of the roof portion of the car A. In addition, the photoelectric switch that detects the lower part of the car,
When the light blocking by the vehicle body between the light emitter 10a and the light receiver 10b is released and the vehicle body is no longer detected, the car wash machine stores the running position of the car wash machine body 1 at this time in the memory 56 as the rear end position CE of the vehicle A. . In this manner, the position of the moving car washer body 1 and the detection result of the photoelectric switch for detecting the vehicle body are stored in association with each other, and as shown in FIG.
Is detected.

At the same time that the detection of the vehicle body is performed,
The upper surface cleaning brush is controlled to move up and down along the contour of the vehicle body, and the vehicle is washed. The car washer runs at a low speed while spraying washing water from the top washing nozzle and the side washing nozzle, and is integrally provided with the top washing nozzle 30 as shown in FIGS. 10 (a), (b) and (c). Photoelectric switch 41
a and 41b detect the body of the automobile A,
The upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 is lifted and lowered so that a and 40b do not detect the vehicle A body, and the upper surface cleaning nozzle 15 is acted on the vehicle A body to wash the vehicle.

When the outgoing washing process is completed, the car washer enters a returning drying process. The car washer activates the blower and runs at a low speed while injecting high-pressure air from the upper surface drying nozzle and the side surface drying nozzle.
As shown in (b) and (c), the photoelectric switches 23a and 23b provided integrally with the upper surface drying nozzle 15
When the vehicle body is detected, the photoelectric switches 22a and 22b
The upper surface drying nozzle 15 is set so that the vehicle body is not detected.
, The upper surface drying nozzle 15 is acted on the vehicle body of the automobile A to perform drying, and returns to the traveling start position to finish the car washing.

At the time of this car washing, the light receiving sensitivity of the photoelectric switch serving as the vehicle body detecting means provided integrally with the upper surface washing nozzle is reduced due to the influence of dirt attached to the photoelectric switch, and an abnormal signal is output. In this case, the car washer performs the car washing by controlling the upper surface washing nozzle in a stepwise manner. FIG.
(A) As shown in FIG.
The motor is driven up and down by driving the electric motor while counting the pulses output from the rotary encoder, and is held at the height H2 of the roof position of the ordinary car, which is the photoelectric switch serving as the vehicle shape detecting means, and the car washing is started. Next, the car washer is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), when the upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 reaches a position just before the distance L1 in consideration of safety from the front end position RS of the roof portion detected by the vehicle shape detecting means, the upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 is moved to a wagon. The height of the roof position H3 is raised and held, and the car wash is continued. Next, the car washer is shown in FIG.
When the upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 reaches a position behind the distance L2 from the rear end position RE of the roof portion detected by the vehicle shape detecting means in consideration of safety, the upper surface cleaning nozzle 30 is moved to the normal vehicle roof position. And hold it down to the height H2 to continue car washing. By controlling the upper surface cleaning nozzle in this way, even if the vehicle body detecting means provided integrally with the upper surface cleaning nozzle has a detection abnormality, the upper surface cleaning nozzle is stepped according to the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detecting means. Carriage control according to the vehicle shape can be performed by controlling the elevation.

If the photoelectric switch, which is a vehicle body detecting means integrally provided with the upper surface drying nozzle, has a reduced light receiving sensitivity due to the influence of dirt or the like attached to the photoelectric switch and an abnormal signal is output, a car wash machine is provided. Performs car washing by controlling the upper surface drying nozzle in a stepwise manner. As shown in FIG.
The car washing machine raises and holds the upper surface drying nozzle 15 until it is detected by a proximity switch provided at the same height as the height H2 of the ordinary car roof position, and starts car washing. Then
In the car washer, as shown in FIG. 13B, the upper surface drying nozzle 15 detects the rear end position R of the roof portion detected by the vehicle shape detecting means.
From E, when reaching the position before the distance L3 in consideration of safety, the upper surface drying nozzle 15 is raised and held until it is detected by a proximity switch provided at the same height as the height of the wagon car roof position H3, Continue car wash. Next, as shown in FIG.
When the vehicle reaches a position behind the distance L4 in consideration of safety from the front end position RS of the roof portion detected by the vehicle shape detecting means, the upper surface drying nozzle 15 is set to the same height as the height H2 of the ordinary vehicle roof position. It is lowered and held until it is detected by the provided proximity switch, and car washing is continued. By controlling the upper surface drying nozzle in this manner, even if the vehicle body detecting means integrally provided with the upper surface drying nozzle has a detection abnormality, the upper surface cleaning nozzle is stepwisely changed according to the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detecting means. Carriage control according to the vehicle shape can be performed by controlling the elevation.

Next, an example in which the car washer is run at high speed to wash the car will be described. In high-speed car washing, the car washer detects the car body by means of the car body detection means provided integrally with the upper surface washing nozzle and upper surface drying nozzle, and drives the air cylinder and electric motor to control the ascent and descent of the upper surface washing nozzle and upper surface drying nozzle. The elevating operation performs the car washing at a speed that cannot sufficiently follow the shape of the body of the automobile that moves relatively with the travel of the car washer. Therefore, the car washer detects the vehicle body by means of the vehicle body detection means provided integrally with the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the upper surface drying nozzle, and controls the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the upper surface drying nozzle to move up and down. It is determined that there is a risk of contact between the vehicle body and the vehicle body. In the same way as when the vehicle body detection means described above is detected abnormally, the top surface can be washed in multiple steps according to the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection means. Control the elevation of the nozzle and top drying nozzle. By controlling the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the upper surface drying nozzle in this way, even in a case where the high-speed car washing cannot control the nozzle sufficiently following the vehicle shape, the vehicle can be washed according to the vehicle shape.

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, in the embodiment,
Although the car washer having the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the upper surface drying nozzle has been described, the same control can be performed even when a known car washing machine having the upper surface cleaning brush and the side surface cleaning brush is provided with the upper surface cleaning nozzle and the upper surface drying nozzle. Needless to say.

Further, in the embodiment, the example of the portal type car washer which sequentially performs processes such as washing and drying on the vehicle body as the main body of the portal type car washer is running has been described.
Even in the case of a continuous type car washer in which the car is moved by moving the car inside the car wash machine body formed in a tunnel shape, the car body is matched with the vehicle shape while detecting the car body with the body detection means integrated with the nozzle. The control for raising and lowering the nozzle and the control for raising and lowering the nozzle stepwise to a plurality of heights according to the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection means are appropriately selected according to the washing speed and the state of the vehicle body detection means. Can be done.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, a car wash processing device such as a sprinkling nozzle and a drying nozzle is provided in a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape, and the car wash machine body and the car body to be washed are relatively moved. In a car washer that cleans the car body,
Vehicle shape detecting means for detecting the shape of an automobile, an upper surface nozzle provided in the car wash machine body so as to be able to move up and down, a vehicle body detecting means which moves up and down integrally with the upper surface nozzle to detect the vehicle body, and the upper surface nozzle First control means for raising and lowering the nozzles to a plurality of heights, and second control means for raising and lowering the upper surface nozzle in accordance with a detection signal from the vehicle body detecting means so as to act on the upper surface of the vehicle in a non-contact manner. Means for selecting one of the first control means and the second control means to cause the upper surface nozzle to act on the vehicle body, thereby ensuring safe operation without fear of contact between the upper surface nozzle and the vehicle body. It is possible to achieve both a car wash and a car wash having a high washing effect by bringing the upper surface nozzle and the vehicle body as close as possible.

The present invention also provides a car washing machine, comprising: speed changing means for changing a speed at which the car washing machine body and the car body to be washed are relatively moved; and the car washing machine body and the car body being moved by the speed changing means. When the car is washed by relatively moving at a high speed, the upper surface nozzle is stepped up and down to an appropriate height according to the vehicle shape by the first control unit based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection unit. When performing the car wash by relatively moving the car wash body and the car body at a low speed by the speed changing means, means for controlling the vertical movement of the upper nozzle along the car body by the second control means, In a high-speed car wash, the upper nozzle is controlled to move up and down in steps based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection means, and the upper nozzle is made to approach the vehicle body to some extent to act on the vehicle body. It is possible to achieve both high-speed car washing and car washing with a high car washing effect.In low-speed car washing, the car body detecting means provided integrally with the upper nozzle detects the car body and controls the upper washing nozzle to move up and down. By bringing the upper surface nozzle to the vehicle body sufficiently close to the vehicle body, highly effective car washing can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, in the above-described car washing machine,
An abnormality detecting means for judging an abnormality detected by the vehicle body detecting means; and when the abnormality detecting means judges that the abnormality is detected, the upper surface nozzle is stepped to an appropriate height according to the vehicle shape by the first control means. Means for controlling the ascent and descent of the vehicle, the vehicle body detecting means constituted by a beam sensor, etc. may be affected by the effects of scattered washing water, steam when hot water is used as washing water, dirt attached to the beam sensor surface, etc. When the vehicle body cannot be detected, the upper nozzle can be controlled up and down stepwise based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detecting means, and the upper nozzle can be made to approach the vehicle body to act on the vehicle body.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is an explanatory front view showing a drying nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a pneumatic system for controlling the elevation of a top drying nozzle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation panel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of 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.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine main body 5 Rotary encoder for traveling position detection 10a, 10b Vehicle height detection photoelectric switch 11a, 11b Vehicle height detection photoelectric switch 12a, 12b Vehicle height detection photoelectric switch 13a, 13b Vehicle height detection photoelectric switch 15 Top surface drying Nozzle 21 Air cylinder 22a, 22b for ascending and descending upper surface drying nozzle 22a, 22b Photoelectric switch 23a, 23b for ascertaining upper surface drying nozzle vehicle body 30 Photoelectric switch for ascertaining upper surface drying nozzle body 30 Upper surface cleaning nozzle 34 Motor for ascending and descending upper surface cleaning nozzle 39 Rotary for upper surface cleaning nozzle position detection Encoders 40a, 40b Upper surface cleaning nozzle body detecting photoelectric switch 41a, 41b Upper surface cleaning nozzle body detecting photoelectric switch 42a, 42b Upper surface cleaning nozzle body detecting photoelectric switch 45, 46 Upper surface drying nozzle position detecting proximity switch 53 The microcomputer 59 top drying nozzle elevating photoelectric switch abnormality signal input 60 top photoelectric switch cleaning nozzle elevating abnormal signal input 61 control panel for controlling the line speed changes inverter 54 car washes

Claims (5)

[Claims] A car wash processing device such as a sprinkling nozzle and a drying nozzle is provided in a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape, and the car wash body and the car body to be washed are relatively moved to wash the car body. In a car washer, a vehicle shape detecting means for detecting a shape of an automobile, an upper surface nozzle provided to be capable of ascending and descending in the car washer body, and a vehicle body detecting means for ascending and descending integrally with the upper surface nozzle to detect the vehicle body. A first control means for controlling the elevation of the upper nozzle to a plurality of heights, and a second control means for controlling the elevation of the upper nozzle in accordance with a detection signal from the vehicle body detecting means so as to act on the upper surface of the vehicle in a non-contact manner. And a means for selecting one of the first control means and the second control means and causing the upper surface nozzle to act on the vehicle body. 2. A car washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a speed changing means for changing a speed at which said car washing machine body and a car body to be washed are relatively moved, and said car washing machine body and said car body are moved by said speed changing means. When the car is washed by relatively moving at a high speed, the upper surface nozzle is stepped up and down to an appropriate height according to the vehicle shape by the first control means based on the vehicle shape detected by the vehicle shape detection means. When the car wash is performed by relatively moving the car wash body and the car body at a low speed by the speed changing means, the upper surface nozzle is moved to the second position.
Means for controlling up and down movement along the vehicle body by the control means. 3. The car washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said abnormality detecting means for judging a detection abnormality of said vehicle body detecting means, and said upper surface nozzle is set to said first nozzle when said abnormality detecting means judges that the detection is abnormal. Means for stepwise controlling up and down to an appropriate height according to the vehicle shape by the control means of (1). 4. The car washer according to claim 1, wherein said upper nozzle is a washing nozzle for spraying washing water onto an automobile body. 5. The car washer according to claim 1, wherein the upper nozzle is a drying nozzle that blows air onto an automobile body.