JPH05112211A - Car washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a car washing machine, with which burden on the operator(s) is reduced through automating works of applying wax to tires and the time for car wash operations is shortened. CONSTITUTION:A water arch 18 and a tire wax arch 19 are arranged on the body 1 of a car washing machine, wherein the nozzles of these two types of arches are positioned in line as confronting the centers of wheels 20 of a car 15, and the front wheel position and rear wheel position of the car 15 are sensed from the car height signal given by a sonic sensor 15, and in these positions as determined, tire wax and then water are sprayed onto the tires of the wheels 20 from the nozzles. Thus the burden on the operator(s) is reduced through automation of works of applying wax to the tires and also the time for car wash operations can be shortened, which ensures that the working effectiveness is improved. Spraying the water after the wax spray can make uniform the wax application.

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 function of waxing tires of wheels.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional car washing machine, a pair of left and right lower side surface cleaning brushes wash the lower half of both sides of the vehicle body from the rocker part including the wheels. By this, the tires of the wheels are waxed.

[0003]

As described above, since the worker waxes the tire, the burden on the worker is large, and the car-washing work is completed only during the time when the worker waxes the tire. There is a problem that it takes time and the car washing efficiency deteriorates.

The present invention solves the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a car washing machine that automates the waxing of tires to reduce the burden on workers and shorten the car washing work time.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, a car washer of the present invention comprises a car wash body, a tire wax arch for spraying tire wax onto tires of wheels of a vehicle to be washed, and water for the tire. A water arch to be sprayed is arranged, and the nozzle of the tire wax arch and the nozzle of the water arch are arranged in parallel at the height position of the tire.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a sonic sensor for detecting the vehicle height of the vehicle is provided in the car wash main body, and the shape of the vehicle detected by the vehicle height signal of the sonic sensor is used.
The front wheel position and the rear wheel position of the vehicle are detected, and at the front wheel position and the rear wheel position, tire wax is sprayed from the nozzle of the tire wax arch of the first invention, and then water is sprayed from the nozzle of the water arch. It is characterized in that it is provided with a control device.

[0007]

With the structure of the first aspect of the invention, the tire wax is sprayed from the nozzle of the tire wax arch and the water is sprayed from the nozzle of the water arch on the tire of the wheel to perform waxing.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the shape of the vehicle to be washed is detected from the vehicle height signal of the sonic sensor,
The front wheel position and the rear wheel position of the vehicle are detected from the detected shape of the vehicle, and at the front wheel position and the rear wheel position, tire wax is sprayed from the nozzle of the tire wax arch, and then water is discharged from the nozzle of the water arch. Is sprayed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are a side view and a front view of a car washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

The car wash main body 1 has a gate shape in a front view, is mounted on a rail 3 via a plurality of wheels 2, and is fixed by the operation of a traveling drive device (not shown). It freely travels back and forth on the route. The main body 1 of the gate type car wash has a first wash water arch 4, a first wax arch 5,
A second wash water arch 6, a second wax arch 7, and a detergent arch 8 are arranged in this order, and a top nozzle 9 and a side nozzle 10 for drying are provided at the location of the first wash water arch 4.
And a pair of left and right blower devices 11 for simultaneously supplying air to both nozzles 9 and 10 to supply air, and a top brush 12 and a side brush 13 via swingable arms (not shown), respectively. It is installed. Further, a pair of left and right rocker brushes 14 are provided at the lower portions of both sides of the car wash machine body 1 so as to be able to approach and separate from each other, and at the front upper portion of the car wash machine body 1, a sonic detecting a vehicle height of a vehicle 15 to be washed. A sensor 16 is provided, and an operation panel 17 on which a car wash start switch, a car wash stop switch, a car wash course selection switch and the like are arranged is provided on the front side portion.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the car wash machine body 1, between the sonic sensor 16 and the rocker brush 14,
The water arch 18 and the tire wax arch 19 are arranged, and the nozzle 18A of the water arch 18 and the nozzle of the tire wax arch 19
19A is arranged at a position facing the center of the wheel 20 of the vehicle 15. Water and wax are sprayed from the nozzle 18A of the water arch 18 and the nozzle 19A of the tire wax arch 19 onto the tire 20A of the wheel 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the water arch 18 is supplied with water from a submersible pump 23 in a water tank 22 via a pipe 21, and the tire wax arch 19 is connected to a wax tank 25 via a pipe 24 for wax. Tire wax is supplied from the pump 26. The submersible pump 23 and the wax pump 26 are driven by a control device 27 provided in the car wash machine body 1.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 27 comprises a microcomputer having an input interface section 28, an output interface section 29, a memory section 30 for storing data and programs, and a control control section 31, and is used for a car wash machine. The control system is large, and this control device 27, operation panel 1
7. A sensor system 32 including a sonic sensor 16 and the like, a drive system 34 including a traveling motor (traveling drive device) 33, a submersible pump 23 and a wax pump 26, and a control device 27 from an operation panel 17. An operation signal for starting and stopping, and a detection signal of the sensor system 32 are input and stored, and the drive system 34 is controlled according to the operation signal to control the entire operation of the car wash machine body 1.

The driving method of the traveling motor (traveling driving device) 33, the submersible pump 23, and the wax pump 26 based on the vehicle height detection signal of the sonic sensor 16 by the control device 27, which is the gist of the present invention, will be described below with reference to FIG. This will be described based on the block diagram of the main part of the control controller 31 of the control device 27 of FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 41 is a travel control unit for outputting a drive signal to the travel motor 33, 42 is a tire wax control unit for outputting a drive signal to the submersible pump 23 and the wax pump 26, and a tire wax control unit. In order to supply the front wheel position and the rear wheel position of the vehicle 15 to the vehicle 42, the tire position calculator 43
Is provided, and is attached to the tire position detection unit 43, and from the vehicle height detection signal from the sonic sensor 16, the vehicle 15 shown in FIG.
The position of the boundary between the ceiling portion 15C and the rear window portion 15D (hereinafter, referred to as P point) and the rear end position of the trunk portion 15E (hereinafter,
A vehicle body position detection unit 44 for detecting the F point), a traveling control unit
A traveling speed signal from the traveling control unit 41, which integrates the traveling speed signal from 41 to detect the forward traveling distance k from the home position (HP) which is a predetermined position of the car wash machine body 1. And a reverse travel distance calculation unit 46 for detecting a reverse travel distance g from a back position (BP) which is a travel end position of the car wash machine body 1, and a vehicle body position detection unit.
When the P point detection signal is input from 44, the forward traveling distance k at the time of input is stored and the traveling distance W to the P point is output, and the P point traveling distance memory unit 47 and the vehicle body position detection unit 44 output the F point detection signal. Is input, the forward traveling distance k at the time of input is stored and the traveling distance R to the F point is output, and the F point traveling distance memory section 48 and the vehicle body position detecting section 44 detect the P point detection signal and the F point detection signal. Is provided and the forward traveling distance k is input from the forward traveling distance calculation unit 45, and a vehicle type detection unit 49 for detecting the vehicle type of the vehicle 15 is provided. Further, based on the operation signal from the operation panel 17 and the detection signal of the sensor system 32, it outputs a forward movement command signal and a backward movement command signal to the traveling control unit 41, and the vehicle body position detection unit 44 and the forward traveling distance calculation unit 4
5, P point mileage memory unit 47, F point mileage memory unit 4
8 and the operation control unit 50 that outputs a forward drive command signal to the vehicle type detection unit 49 and outputs a reverse drive command signal to the tire wax control unit 42 and the backward travel distance calculation unit 46.

Vehicle body position detector 44, forward traveling distance calculator 4
5, P point mileage memory unit 47, F point mileage memory unit 4
8, and the vehicle type detection unit 49 receives the forward command signal,
The vehicle body position detection content, the forward travel distance calculation value, and the memory value are respectively reset, and when the tire wax control unit 42 and the reverse travel distance calculation unit 46 input the reverse command signal, the control content and the reverse travel distance calculation value are reset.

A procedure for detecting the points P and F from the vehicle height detection signal from the sonic sensor 16 in the vehicle body position detecting section 44 will be described with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. 7 and the flowchart of FIG.

The sonic sensor 16 is, as shown in FIG.
Front window section 15B and rear window section of vehicle 15
At 15D, the reflection of the sound waves is oblique, so the vehicle height cannot be detected. Therefore, by detecting the point where the sonic sensor 16 becomes undetectable from the above phenomenon, the vehicle
15 front windows 15B and rear windows 15D
Is detected, and the range in which the vehicle heights before and after the front window portion 15B and the rear window portion 15D are detected can be determined as the hood portion 15A, the ceiling portion 15C, and the trunk portion 15E of the vehicle 15. Further, the points P and F can be detected.

First, as shown in FIG. 8, a sonic sensor is used.
It is judged whether the vehicle height of the vehicle 15 detected by the vehicle height detection signal of 16 is higher than the height h corresponding to the height of the ceiling portion 15C (step-1), and the ceiling portion 15C is detected (step-
2) Next, it is determined whether the vehicle height is zero, that is, the floor is detected (step-3). When the floor is detected, it is determined that the F point is detected and the F point detection signal is output (step-
4) and end. If the vehicle height is not zero in step-3, it is determined whether the sonic sensor 16 cannot be detected (step-5). If it cannot be detected, it is determined that the point P has been detected, and the point P detection signal is output. Output (step-6). In this way, the vehicle body position detection unit 64 detects the points P and F, and outputs the P point detection signal and the F point detection signal.

Next, the procedure for discriminating the vehicle type of the vehicle 15 in the vehicle type detection unit 49 will be described with reference to the explanatory view of FIG. 9 and the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the size of the vehicle 15 from the front wheel to points P and F is substantially determined depending on the vehicle type. In addition, the vehicle 15 is a predetermined position (tire mate 35 position)
Since the vehicle is stopped, the distance between the car wash machine body 1 and the front wheels is always constant, and the distance s between the sonic sensor 16 and the center of the front wheels is also constant.

When the point P is detected, if the dimension from the front wheel to the point P is less than 2700 mm, the vehicle type is discriminated as a passenger car or a light passenger car, and further, as shown in FIG. 9 (a), from the front wheel to the point F. When the size is 2900 mm or more Passenger car, Fig. 9
As shown in (b), when it is less than 2900 mm, it is determined to be a light passenger vehicle, and when the dimension from the front wheel to point P is 2700 mm or more and less than 3200 mm, it is determined to be a small van, as shown in FIG. 9 (c). As shown in 9 (d), when the dimension from the front wheel to the point P is 3200 mm or more, it is determined to be a medium-sized van. Further, as shown in FIG. 9E, when the point P is not detected and only the point F is detected, it is determined that the vehicle is a wagon vehicle.

First, as shown in FIG. 10, a vehicle body position detecting section
It is confirmed whether the P point detection signal is input from 44 (step -1). When the input is confirmed, the forward traveling distance k (initial value 0) input from the front wheel traveling distance calculation unit 45 is used to detect the sonic sensor 16 and the front wheel. The value obtained by subtracting the distance s between the centers is 2700 mm
If it is less than (step-2), this (ks) is 27
If it is less than 00 mm, it is confirmed whether the F point detection signal is input from the vehicle body position detection unit 44 (step-3). When F point detection signal is input, the above (ks) is 2900mm.
If it is less than 2900 mm, it is judged as a light passenger car and a light passenger car detection signal is output (step-5). If it is more than 2900 mm, it is judged as a passenger car and a passenger car detection signal is output. (Step-6). In step-2, when (ks) is 2700 mm or more, it is next determined whether this (ks) is less than 3200 mm (step-
7) If it is less than 3200 mm, it is determined to be a small van and outputs a small van detection signal (step-8). If it is 3200 mm or more, it is determined to be a medium van and outputs a medium van detection signal (step-9). .. When the P point detection signal is not input in step-1, it is confirmed whether the F point detection signal is input from the vehicle body position detection unit 44 (step-1
0), if the F point detection signal is input, it is judged as a wagon vehicle and a wagon vehicle detection signal is output (step-11).
In this way, the vehicle type detection section 49 determines the vehicle type of the vehicle 15 and outputs the detection signal to the tire position calculation section 43.

The car wash machine body 1 by the tire position calculation unit 43
The procedure for calculating the distance from the wax arch 19 at the BP position to the rear wheel position and the distance to the front wheel position according to the vehicle type will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG.

When the vehicle type is determined, as shown in FIG.
The rear wheel position is specified. For passenger cars, 100 mm from the P point to the trunk 15E side, for light passenger cars, 100 mm from the P point to the ceiling 15C side, and for small vans, P
The point is 700 mm from the point to the ceiling 15C, the medium van is 500 mm from the point P to the ceiling 15C, and the wagon is 400 mm from the point F to the ceiling 40C.

FIG. 11 shows the case where the vehicle 15 is a light passenger vehicle. In FIG. 11, the distance between the wax arch 19 and the water arch 18 is j, the wax arch 19 and the sonic sensor are
The distance between 16 is m, the diameter of the wheel 20 is d, the total travel distance input from the forward travel distance calculation unit 45 is L, and the BP of the car wash machine body 1
Assuming that the distance from the wax arch 19 at the position to the rear end X of the rear wheel is x, and the distance from the wax arch 19 at the BP position of the car wash machine body 1 to the rear end Y of the front wheel is y, as shown in FIG. x = (L−W + 100) −m−d / 2 y = (L−s) −m−d / 2 is calculated. Similar calculations are performed for other vehicle types.

Due to the operation of the tire position calculating section 63, the distance x from the wax arch 19 at the BP position of the car wash main body 1 to the rear end X of the rear wheel, and the distance from the wax arch 19 at the BP position of the car wash main body 1 to the front wheel. The distance y to the rear end Y is calculated and output to the tire wax control unit 42.

When the reverse traveling distance g from the BP from the reverse traveling distance calculating unit 46 becomes the above distance x, the tire wax control unit 42 waits until the wax arch 19 passes through the rear wheels.
That is, the wax pump 26 is driven until the traveling distance reaches (x + d), and then (x + j), the water arch.
The submersible pump 23 is driven until the 18 passes the rear wheel, that is, until the mileage of (x + j + d) is reached, and the rear wheel is sprayed with wax, and then water is sprayed. And
The reverse travel distance g from BP from the reverse travel distance calculation unit 46
However, when the distance becomes the above-mentioned y, the wax pump 26 is driven until the wax arch 19 passes through the front wheels, that is, until the traveling distance becomes (y + d). Until it passes, ie (y +
The submersible pump 23 is driven until the traveling distance of j + d) is reached, and wax is sprayed on the front wheels, and then water is sprayed.

Next, the operation of the traveling motor 33, the wax pump 26, and the submersible pump 23 when the vehicle 15 is washed by the car wash machine body 1 according to the above embodiment will be described. After stopping the vehicle 15 at a predetermined position on the tire mate 35, the operation panel 17 is operated to input the start of cleaning. Then, the control device 27 controls the traveling motor.
33 drive the car wash machine body 1 forward and
And drive the side brush 13 etc. to wash the vehicle 15,
The car washer body 1 is stopped at the position. At this time, the vehicle detection signal of the sonic sensor 16 detects the points P and F of the vehicle 15, the vehicle type of the vehicle 15 is specified, and the distance between the rear wheel position and the front wheel position of the vehicle 15 (the above distances x and y). ) Is calculated. Subsequently, the control device 27 drives the traveling motor 33 to move the car wash machine body 1 backward, and the top nozzle 9 and the side nozzles 10 are driven.
Are driven to dry the vehicle 15, and the car washer body 1 is stopped at the HP position. At this time, the wax pump 26 and the submersible pump 23 are sequentially driven at the rear wheel position and the front wheel position to spray the tire wax and water on the rear wheel and the front wheel in order.

Thus, while the car wash machine body 1 is running, the wax pump 26 and the submersible pump 23 can be sequentially driven to wax the rear wheels and the front wheels. By automating the hooking, the burden on the worker can be reduced, the labor can be reduced, the car washing work time can be shortened, and the work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, by spraying wax and then spraying water, the wax can be made uniform and can be waxed evenly.

In this embodiment, the tire 20A is waxed when the car wash machine body 1 is first moved backward, but the tire 20A is moved forward or backward from the second round trip.
It goes without saying that waxing can be carried out.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the tire wax is sprayed from the nozzle of the tire wax arch and the water is sprayed from the nozzle of the water arch on the tire of the wheel, so that waxing is performed. Can be automated, the burden on the worker can be reduced, the labor can be reduced, the car washing work time can be shortened, and the work efficiency can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the shape of the vehicle to be washed is detected from the vehicle height signal of the sonic sensor, and the front wheel position and the rear wheel position of the vehicle are detected from the detected vehicle shape. At the front wheel position and the rear wheel position, the tire wax is sprayed from the nozzle of the tire wax arch, and then the water is sprayed from the nozzle of the water arch, so that the tire can be waxed accurately. Furthermore, by spraying wax and then spraying water, the wax can be made uniform and can be waxed evenly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a car washing machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the car wash machine.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an arrangement and a piping system of a wax arch and a water arch of the car wash machine.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state of spraying a tire with a wax arch and a water arch of the car wash machine.

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

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of a control control unit of the control device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of vehicle height detection by a sonic sensor of the car wash machine.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle body position detection unit of the control device for the car wash machine.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing external dimensions of a vehicle for identifying a vehicle type by the car wash machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a vehicle type detection unit of the control device for the car wash machine.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of a tire wax control unit of the car washing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Car Wash Machine Main Body 15 Vehicle 16 Sonic Sensor 18 Water Arch 19 Wax Arch 20 Wheel 20A Tire 23 Submersible Pump 26 Wax Pump 27 Controller

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A car wash main body is provided with a tire wax arch for spraying tire wax on tires of wheels of a vehicle to be washed, and a water arch for spraying water on the tire, and a nozzle of the tire wax arch and the above. A car washing machine characterized in that water arch nozzles are arranged in parallel at the height position of the tire. 2. A car washing machine body is provided with a sonic sensor for detecting the vehicle height of the vehicle, and the front wheel position and the rear wheel position of the vehicle are detected from the shape of the vehicle detected by the vehicle height signal of the sonic sensor. 2. The car wash machine according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for spraying tire wax from the nozzle of the tire wax arch and then spraying water from the nozzle of the water arch at the front wheel position and the rear wheel position.