JP2859007B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car washer of the type in which the body of the car or the body of the car is automatically cleaned as the car runs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, an apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-161062 is known as this kind of car washer. That is, a washing nozzle is provided in the lower part of the car washer body, and the lower part of the car can be washed by high pressure spraying as the car washer runs. In addition, 63-59768
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication, a device is known which includes a washing nozzle below a car washer and applies a high-pressure spray to a lower portion of a vehicle body side including a tire portion.

[0003]

By the way, all of the above-mentioned conventional apparatuses include a tire portion as an object to be cleaned.
Since a tire portion with much dirt can be washed only under the same conditions as other vehicle bottoms and side surfaces, there has been an inconvenience that the tire portion tends to be left unwashed. In addition, since such a conventional car washing machine is provided with a dedicated washing nozzle that acts on the lower portion or the side surface and performs spray cleaning within a required range, a washing nozzle is provided for each of the lower portion and the side surface when it is desired to wash both. However, there is a disadvantage that the apparatus becomes expensive.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a car washer capable of intensively cleaning a tire portion and eliminating unwashed tires. Also, the second
An object of the present invention is to obtain an inexpensive car washer capable of effectively performing a wide range of washing with a minimum necessary washing nozzle.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a car washer of the type in which the body of an automobile is automatically washed as the car washer body travels, and a cleaning nozzle for spraying high-pressure washing water toward both sides of the automobile. Oscillating means for periodically oscillating the washing nozzle up and down to enable washing of the automobile tire portion, means for detecting the traveling position of the car wash machine body, and Means for detecting, means for calculating the starting point and ending point of tire cleaning based on the tire detection signal from the detecting means and the running position given by the running position detecting means, and starting and ending points for tire cleaning calculated by the calculating means If the running position of the car wash machine body is between the stored starting point and end point of the tire washing, the swinging means is operated to swing the washing nozzle up and down and spray with a high pressure. And means for controlling to perform washing, in which attempted to solve the first problem.

Further, in a car washer of a type in which a car body is automatically washed as the car washer body runs, a washing nozzle for spraying washing water at high pressure toward both sides of the car,
Oscillating means for periodically oscillating the washing nozzle up and down to enable washing of the automobile tire portion, means for detecting the traveling position of the car wash machine body, and Means for detecting, means for calculating the starting point and ending point of tire cleaning based on the tire detection signal from the detecting means and the running position given by the running position detecting means, and starting and ending points for tire cleaning calculated by the calculating means Means for varying the running speed of the car wash machine body at least in two levels, and activating the swinging means to swing the washing nozzle up and down so that the body of the car wash machine runs at high speed and the side of the car. If the running position of the car washer is between the starting and ending points of the stored tire washing, the running speed of the car washer is switched to low-speed running to perform focused tire washing. And means, it is intended to solve the above first problem.

Further, in the above-described car washing machine, the washing nozzle is located at a lower end of the swing range and in a position where the washing water can act on the bottom surface of the automobile in a normal state in which the swinging means is not operated. High-pressure spray of washing water from the washing nozzle at the normal position makes it possible to wash the lower part of the car,
This is to solve the second problem.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of the same, showing an example in which the present invention is applied to a self-propelled portal car washer. 1 is a gate-shaped rail 2 ・ 2
The main body of the car washer reciprocating on the upper side cleans the vehicle body while moving across the vehicle A stopped between the rails 2. Reference numerals 3.4.4 and 4 denote rotating brushes and 5.6.6 and 6 denote blower nozzles, all of which are provided in the car washer body 1 and operate in a predetermined order with respect to the body of the automobile A as the body 1 travels to clean the body. And measure drying. Reference numeral 7.7 denotes a forward / reverse rotatable motor for rotating the wheels 8.8 to drive the car washer body 1, and at least one of the motors has a rotary encoder 9 for detecting rotation of its output shaft and outputting a pulse. Installed. 27, 27, a boarding platform for driving the car A to a washing position slightly higher than the car washing machine installation surface;

Numeral 10 denotes a lower washing nozzle, which is usually provided at a lower position a on both sides of the car washer body 1 as shown in FIG. . Also, the lower cleaning nozzles 10
Is located in front of the main body 1 as shown in FIG. 2, and at least when the main body 1 moves forward, the cleaning by the nozzles 10 and 10 is at a position preceding the brushes 3 and 4. The ejection directions of the left and right nozzles 10 are slightly changed in the front and rear directions when viewed from above, so that the sprays from the nozzles do not interfere with each other at the center of the bottom of the automobile.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a water supply device for storing washing water supplied from a water source such as tap water, and for supplying water to the car washer body 1 via a water supply hose 13 as a pump 12 is driven. Water supply hose 1
The washing water sent by 3 is sprayed from a well-known spraying nozzle (not shown) provided in each part of the main body 1, and a part of the water is branched to a branch pipe 14 and communicated with a high-pressure pump 15 mounted on the main body 1. I do. When the high-pressure pump 15 is driven, the cleaning water sent from the pipe 14 is pressurized to press the lower cleaning nozzle 1.
0.10 and spray with high pressure from the same nozzle. Reference numeral 26 denotes an electromagnetic valve that opens the branch conduit 14 when the high-pressure pump 15 is driven.

Reference numerals 16 and 16 'denote tire detecting means, which are located at a lower part further forward than the lower washing nozzles 10 and 10 at the front end of the car washer body 1, and provided with a light emitting element 16 and a light receiving element 16' to allow the main body 1 to travel. Accordingly, it detects that the beam signal transmitted and received between the two elements is blocked by the tire and outputs a detection signal.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a main part of the embodiment. Reference numeral 17 denotes a swinging means for swinging the lower washing nozzle 10 up and down. The swinging means 17 supports the washing nozzle 10 at one end and is pivotally supported by the car wash machine main body 1. It includes a moving arm 18, an air cylinder 19 connected to the other end of the swing arm 18 to rotate the arm 18, and a proximity switch 20 responsive to a magnet built in a piston of the cylinder 19. Normally air cylinder 1
9, the cleaning nozzle 10 is held at the detection position of the proximity switch 20, that is, the normal position a, and the air cylinder 19 is periodically expanded and contracted as necessary to swing from the normal position a to a predetermined upper position b. Let it. Note that the rocking means 17 can be configured by combining a cam or a link or the like with a motor instead of the air cylinders 19, 19, so that the motor can be electrically controlled by a known control means to thereby determine the cycle of the rocking. And speed can be adjusted more finely.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the lower cleaning nozzle 10. As shown in FIG.
Are used as rotary direct-type nozzles. This nozzle 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a substantially cylindrical rotor in which a water conduit P is formed in an axial direction and a blade I is provided on a part of the side circumference in a casing 21 having a substantially shell-shaped outer shape and forming an internal space S having a substantially trapezoidal cross section. 22. The casing 21 is connected to a high-pressure hose 24 communicating with the high-pressure pump 15 at the base B, and
The cleaning water that is more pressure-fed is jetted from the nozzle portion N into the internal space S. The jet water from the nozzle portion N acts on the blades I to rotate the rotor 22, whereby the rotor 22 rolls and comes into contact with the inner wall of the casing 21 to rotate around the tip of the rotor 21. The washing water filled in the casing 21 passes through the water guide channel P of the rotor 21 and the fountain port 25.
More released.

As a result, the cleaning water discharged from the lower cleaning nozzle 10 is radiated in a divergent manner in a ring-shaped trajectory in accordance with the rotation of the rotor 22. Here, the jet flow from the nozzle 10 is instantaneously discharged as a linear flow without diffusion, so that it is possible to apply the washing water at a high pressure with a small pressure loss even at a position away from the nozzle 10, and as a result As a result, high detergency can be exhibited over a wide range.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. Reference numeral 30 denotes a control unit including a microcomputer; 31, an operation panel provided on the front of the car wash machine main body 1; 32, output devices such as the pumps 12 and 15. It is a relay board that performs the energizing operation of. The control unit 30 executes a required car wash program in accordance with an operation input on the operation panel 31, and gives a car wash operation via the relay board 32. 38 is the main body 1
The running speed of the main body 1 can be changed in at least two levels by a speed variable circuit that changes the rotation speed of the running motors 7.

The operation panel 31 has a course selection key 33 for selecting a desired course from a plurality of preset car washing courses A and B, and a lower washing using a high pressure spray by the lower washing nozzle 10 as an optional operation. Or option key 3 to enter if you want to wash the side
4 and a start key 3 for starting car washing with the contents set using the course selection key 33 and the option key 34
5 is provided. An indicator lamp 36 is attached to each of the course selection key 33 and the option key 34,
Illuminated display of courses and optional operations that have been keyed.

36 and 37 are the air cylinders 19.1
9 is a three-way solenoid valve having an open-to-atmosphere port.
When the electromagnetic valve 37 is opened to the air supply side, the air cylinders 19, 19 are contracted. [State 2] When the electromagnetic valve 36 is opened to the air open side and the electromagnetic valve 37 is opened to the air supply side, the air cylinder 19, 19 is opened. 19 can be extended. Therefore, if [State 1] and [State 2] are periodically and alternately given based on a signal from the control unit 30, the swing arm 18 is rotated to swing the lower cleaning nozzle 10 up and down. it can. 38
Reference numeral 39 denotes a flow rate control valve connected to the atmosphere opening ports of the three-way solenoid valves 36 and 37. The response speed of the air cylinders 19 and 19 can be adjusted by adjusting the displacement. The swing range and swing speed of the lower cleaning nozzles 10 are set by the switching cycle between [State 1] and [State 2].

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view in which an operation example in the embodiment is arranged. (1) An operation in which a lower washing is added as an option to the car washing course A, (2) An operation in which a side washing is added to the car washing course A, 3) Three examples of the operation of adding the lower cleaning and the side cleaning to the car wash course B are shown. Car wash course A is a course in which the body is washed and dried while the main body makes one reciprocation. Unlike course B, both the lower washing and the side washing cannot be optionally performed. Accept.

(1) Car wash course A + lower part wash The course A is selected by the course selection key 33 and the option key 34
When the start key 35 is pressed, the car wash is started. The car wash machine body 1 moves forward and causes the brushes 3, 4, 4 to act on the vehicle body at a predetermined timing,
Water and detergent water are sprayed with the driving of the pump 12 to perform brushing cleaning. In addition, the high-pressure pump 15 is driven to perform high-pressure spray from the lower cleaning nozzles 10. At this time, the lower cleaning nozzles 10 are located at the normal position a and discharge water from the lower edge of the vehicle body to the bottom surface to perform lower cleaning.
In this way, when the car washer body 1 reaches the rear end of the car body, the running and washing operations are stopped, and the car body 1 is subsequently moved backward to blow air from the blower nozzles 5, 6, 6 to dry the car body.

(2) Car wash course A + side washing The course A is selected by the course selection key 33 and the option key 34
When the start key 35 is pressed, the car wash is started. The car wash machine body 1 goes and goes and performs brushing washing in the same manner as in the above (1). Further, the high-pressure pump 15 is driven and the oscillating means 17 is operated, so that the lower cleaning nozzles 10 and 10 perform high-pressure spraying while oscillating up and down to clean the lower part of the side of the vehicle body prior to the brushing cleaning. In this way, when the car washer body 1 reaches the rear end of the car body, the running and washing operations are stopped, and the car body 1 is subsequently moved backward to blow air from the blower nozzles 5, 6, 6 to dry the car body.

(3) Car wash course B + side washing + lower washing The course B is selected by the course selection key 33 and the option key 34
Bottom cleaning and side cleaning are specified by
When 5 is pressed, car washing starts. The car wash machine body 1 goes forward and performs brushing and washing in the same manner as in (1) and (2) above. Further, similarly to the above (2), the high-pressure pump 15 and the oscillating means 17 operate to clean the lower part of the side surface of the vehicle body. When the main body 1 of the car washer reaches the rear end of the vehicle body, the main body 1 is continuously moved back and the same brushing cleaning as in the forward movement is performed. Here, while the high-pressure spray from the lower cleaning nozzles 10 is continuously performed, the operation of the swing means 17 is stopped, and the lower cleaning is performed.

When the first reciprocating process is completed and the second reciprocating process is started, the brushes 3, 4, and 4 are operated, and at the same time, the wax is sprayed from the spray nozzles, thereby waxing the vehicle body. Then, when going back, the blower nozzles 5, 6,
Air is blown out from 6 to dry the vehicle body, and a series of operations is completed.

In the car washing operation exemplified above, the tire position is detected by the tire detecting means 16 and 16 ', and the focused cleaning of the tire portion is performed. The details are shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a control operation executed when a pulse signal from the rotary encoder 9 is input to the control unit 30. The rotary encoder 9 moves the car wash machine body 1 by a predetermined unit distance with the driving of the motor 7. A pulse is output each time the vehicle runs.

With the input of the pulse, it is determined whether the pulse is associated with the forward or backward movement of the car wash machine body 1.
(1) The counter L for giving the traveling position is incremented by 1 when the movement is associated with the going forward (2), and is decremented by 1 when the movement is caused by the returning movement (3).

Subsequently, it is confirmed whether or not the process currently being executed is the first one (4). If the process is the first one, the signals from the tire detecting means 16 and 16 'are checked. It is checked whether or not the tire detection state has been switched between the time of the previous pulse input and the current time (5). If the tire detection state has been detected, the detection means 16, 16 'and the lower cleaning nozzle are determined based on the value of the counter L at that time. The starting point LS of the tire cleaning is calculated and stored in consideration of the difference D between the installation positions 10 and 10 and the predetermined correction value C1 for assuming the end face of the tire (6) (see FIG. 9). When the tire detection state has been changed to the non-detection state this time (7), the difference D between the installation position and the correction value C2 (see FIG. 9) is also based on the value of the counter L at that time. Calculate and store the end point LE of the tire washing taking into account
(9).

Further, it is confirmed whether or not the car being executed involves optional work. If the car wash involves optional work, an optional routine is executed (10), and if not, return is performed. In this way, the running position of the main body 1 and the tire position of the automobile being washed are detected based on the pulse signal from the encoder 9. In the above description, it is not distinguished whether the detected tire position is the front wheel or the rear wheel. However, actually, the front wheel and the rear wheel are determined according to the detected order, and stored in the respective memory areas. Go.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the contents of the optional routine. The priority cleaning of the tire portion is performed based on the tire position given by the start point LS and the end point LE previously stored.

The traveling position L of the car washer body 1 and the starting point LS are compared (11), and if they are equal, it is checked whether the option being executed is lower washing or side washing (12). The oscillating means 17 is operated to clean the tire portion (13). On the other hand, if the side cleaning is being performed, the running speed of the main body 1 is switched to the low speed via the speed variable circuit 38, and the focused cleaning of the tire portion is performed (14).

If L = LS is not recognized in step (11), the traveling position L of the main body 1 is compared with the end point LE (1).
5) If both are equal, it is checked whether the option being executed is lower washing or side washing (16). If lower washing is being performed, the operation of the swinging means 17 is stopped to terminate the tire section (17). On the other hand, if the side cleaning is being performed, the traveling speed of the main body 1 is switched from the low speed to the normal high speed via the speed variable circuit 38, and the focused cleaning of the tire portion is completed (18).

As described above, the tire position is stored at the time of the first forward movement of the main body 1, and the tire cleaning at the time of the optional work can be performed based on the stored position.

This embodiment is configured as described above, and the lower cleaning, the tire cleaning, and the side cleaning can be effectively performed using the pair of lower cleaning nozzles 10. In particular, since a rotary direct-type nozzle is used as the lower cleaning nozzle 10, a high cleaning power can be exerted even in a place away from the nozzle, and as in many conventionally known lower cleaning devices, the nozzle moving means The cleaning of the lower part with high effect is realized without providing specially. In addition, since the fountain from the nozzles 10 is not blocked by the tires and acts on the bottom of the vehicle body, the nozzles 10
Is moved up and down to switch the operation so that the tires can be cleaned thoroughly, and high-pressure spray is used effectively. Furthermore,
The side washing is performed prior to the brushing, and the lower side of the vehicle body to which mud or sand is liable to adhere is spray-washed, so that a mud or sand is not brushed, and a safe car wash without damaging the car body can be provided. Since the running speed of the main body 1 is reduced and the high-pressure spray is sufficiently applied to the tires during the cleaning of the side surfaces of the tires, the tires are not left unwashed.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various types of car washer and embodiments can be considered without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, claims 1 and 2
The present invention can be implemented in a continuous automatic car washer that carries out car washing while transporting the car by a conveyor or the like.

[0034]

According to the present invention, the starting point and the ending point of tire cleaning are calculated and stored based on the running position of the car washer body when the tire is detected, and the stored starting point and ending point are stored. When it is detected that the cleaning nozzle has reached the tire portion by comparing the travel position of the car washer with the traveling position of the car washer body, controls such as starting the oscillation of the washing nozzle or reducing the traveling speed of the car washer body are performed, and the tire and the wheel are cut off. Since the washing can be performed intensively, the car can be washed without leaving unwashed tire portions. Moreover, since the cleaning nozzle does not directly contact the tire to detect the tire position as conventionally known, a separate detecting means is provided to calculate and store the tire position in advance, so that the nozzle and the tire are strong. There is no danger of touching and damaging any of them, and there is no inconvenience that the tire is left unwashed by a delay until the tire is detected by contact. Usually,
If the washing nozzle is located at the lower end and the washing water can be sprayed from this position under high pressure to wash the lower part of the car,
It can be used not only for cleaning tires and side surfaces of automobiles, but also for cleaning the bottom of automobiles, and a wide range of cleaning can be effectively performed with the minimum necessary number of cleaning nozzles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an explanatory plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a main part of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a control operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of a main part of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 3.4.4 Brush 5.6.6 Blower nozzle 7.7 Motor for running 9 Rotary encoder 10.10 Lower washing nozzle 11 Water supply device 15 High pressure pump 16.16 'Tire detection means 17 Swing means 30 Control unit 31 Operation panel 38 Speed variable circuit

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A car wash type car wash machine for automatic cleaning the body of an automobile with the traveling of the main body, both sides of the motor vehicle
A high-pressure spray of cleaning water toward the
The cleaning nozzle is periodically swung up and down, and the tire part of the car is
Oscillating means that enables washing of the car, and the traveling position of the car wash machine body
Means for detecting vehicle
Means for detecting an ear, and a tire detection signal from the detection means.
And the travel position given by the travel position detection means.
Means for calculating the start and end points of the ear cleaning, and
Means for storing the calculated start point and end point of the tire cleaning;
The starting and ending points of tire cleaning stored in the running position of the car wash machine
If it is between the points, the oscillating means is activated to activate the cleaning nozzle.
The tires are washed by high pressure spray while swinging
Car wash, characterized in that it comprises a means, for cormorants control requiring. 2. A car wash type car wash machine for automatic cleaning the body of an automobile with the traveling of the main body, both sides of the motor vehicle
A high-pressure spray of cleaning water toward the
The cleaning nozzle is periodically swung up and down, and the tire part of the car is
Oscillating means that enables washing of the car, and the traveling position of the car wash machine body
Means for detecting vehicle
Means for detecting an ear, and a tire detection signal from the detection means.
And the travel position given by the travel position detection means.
Means for calculating the start and end points of the ear cleaning, and
Means for storing the calculated start point and end point of the tire cleaning;
Means for varying the running speed of the car washer body in at least two levels, and actuating the oscillating means to raise and lower the washing nozzle
The car washer body was driven at high speed while swinging
Spray cleaning was performed and the running position of the car wash machine was memorized.
If the car is between the start and end points of tire washing,
Means for controlling the running speed to be switched to low-speed running to perform focused tire cleaning . 3. The car washer according to claim 1, wherein
The washing nozzle has a normal state in which the swinging means is not operated.
At the bottom of the swing range, wash water is applied to the bottom of the car.
Cleaning nozzle in the normal position
High-pressure spray of cleaning water from the
A car wash machine characterized by being accessible .