JPH0687410A - Car wash equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] In a car wash device of a type that has a charge reception means and receives a predetermined charge and gives a car wash operation,
Depending on the day of the week or the date, the car wash fee is switched between the normal rate and the discount rate and applied, and the discount rate is applied during times when there are few car wash customers or on the day of the week to equalize the operating rate of the car wash equipment. [Structure] A car wash fee is provided according to the time of day, the day of the week, or the date by providing a storage means for storing a normal charge according to a plurality of car wash courses with different contents and a means for setting a discount charge according to the car wash course. Is applied after switching to the normal charge or the discounted charge, and when the applied charge is accepted, a car wash operation is given.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a car wash device of a type which receives a predetermined car wash fee and gives a car wash operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this type of paying car wash apparatus, for example, a spray car wash machine installed in a coin car wash area and a gate type car wash machine installed in a gas station are known.
A charge is set for such a car wash device according to the contents of the car wash operation that can be provided by the device, and the car wash device operates by accepting the charge with cash or a card. The car wash device is provided with a means for setting and inputting a charge, and the charge is set freely for each store where the car was washed.

[0003]

By the way, the operating rate of the installed car wash device often differs greatly depending on the time of day, the day of the week, the difference between holidays / weekdays, etc. Leveling up the operating rate is one of the issues for owners, as it may result in dissatisfaction with the user due to the long time and insufficient wiping work. As a countermeasure to this, first, a method of promoting the usage by discounting the car wash fee at the time of low operation rate can be considered, but with the conventional device, it is necessary to change and input the fee each time the discount is made, and it is necessary to manage a large amount. It required labor.

[0004]

The present invention provides a means for selecting a desired course from a plurality of car wash courses having different contents, a storage means for storing a normal fee according to the car wash course, and a car wash course. A means for setting a discounted fee according to the above, a means for providing a timekeeping means, a means for switching the car wash fee to a normal fee or a discounted fee according to the time of day, day of the week or date, and accepting the fee applied by the fee accepting means. And a control means for giving a car wash operation are provided to solve the above problems.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example in which the present invention is applied to a coin car washing device will be described below. FIG. 1 is a layout diagram of a car wash yard CW in which the embodiment apparatus is installed.
It shows a car wash that employs a system as described in Japanese Patent No. Reference numeral 1 is a car washing device main body, and 2 is a terminal device installed in each of a plurality of car washing areas WA. The car wash device body 1 is provided with tanks for storing water, detergent water, and the like, and a plurality of pumps connected to each terminal 2 via a pipe 3 and for pumping the wash water stored in the tanks.
Each of the terminal devices 2 is provided with a spray gun 4 for injecting cleaning water that is pressure-fed from the pipe line 3, so that car washing work can be performed in each car washing area WA. Reference numeral 5 denotes a cable connecting the device body 1 and the terminal device 2, and includes a power supply line 6 and a signal line 7 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the car wash apparatus body 1. Reference numeral 10 denotes a control unit, which includes a control board 11 including a microcomputer, a relay board 12 for driving a pump provided in the main body 1, a solenoid valve for switching a pipeline, and the like.
An operation panel 13 for setting the car wash fee, car wash time, etc.
An energization circuit 14 that turns on / off the energization of the terminal device 2.

The control board 11 transmits / receives a signal to / from the terminal device 2 through the signal line 7 in the transmission / reception circuit 15,
A control signal is output to the relay board 12 in response to an operation input in the terminal device 2 to give a car wash operation. Further, the control board 11 can start / stop the business by the terminal device 2 via the energizing circuit 14. On the control board 11,
In addition to the transmitting / receiving circuit 15, a memory 16 and a calendar clock 17 are provided to store the data input on the operation panel 13, and the calendar clock 17 is based on the stored data.
It enables control according to the time, day of the week, and month given by.

On the operation panel 13, an LCD display 18,
A keyboard 19 and a printer 20 are provided.
The keyboard 19 is provided with a numeric keypad 21 for data input, a cursor key 22, a registration key 23, a correction key 24, and management function keys 25-1 to 25-4 such as "total", "charge", "timer", and "clock". There is.

A method of setting a car wash fee on the operation panel 13 will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a screen displayed on the display device 18 in response to an input on the keyboard 19.

Normally, the display 18 displays a screen A indicating the current date and time (1). Here, when setting the car wash fee, first, the "charge" key 25-2 is pressed.
When "Charge" key 25-2 is pressed, screen B is displayed.
(2) The numeric keypad 21 is used to specify whether the normal charge is set, the discount charge is set, or the set charge is printed. When "1. Set normal charge" is selected, screen C is displayed (3). A predetermined charge for the car wash courses X to Z that can be selected by the terminal device 2 is displayed on the screen C, and the cursor key 22 is used to move the cursor to the position where the charge needs to be changed. You can enter the number according to the change fee. After that, if the registration key 23 is pressed, the entered charges are stored in the memory 16 of the control board 11. If there is an input error, the correction key 24 may be used to reset the display to the state before the input, and then the input may be performed again.

In step (2), "2. Set discount rate"
When is selected, screen D is displayed (4). A predetermined discount charge for the car wash courses X to Z is displayed on the screen D, and if the discount charge has not been set yet, the already set normal charge is displayed. Here, in the same manner as described above, the numeric keypad 21 and the cursor key 22 are used to input a numeral to be a discounted charge, and the registration key 23 is pressed to store the input charge in the memory 16.

When the registration key 23 is pressed, the screen E is continuously displayed (5), and the mode for setting the discount charge application condition is entered. Here, using the ten-key pad 21, the day of the week to which the discount rate is applied is designated, and the designated item is highlighted and visualized. If "8. Exclude holidays" is designated among the designated items, the discount rate will not be applied to the days designated as holidays on the calendar regardless of the day of the week. Screen E
When the above setting is completed, the registration key 23 is pressed to store it in the control board 11. After this, screen F is displayed further
(6) Continue to be required to enter discount conditions. Here, enter the time zone to which the discount charge should be applied using the ten-key pad 21, then specify whether the relationship with the day of the week condition entered in step (5) is AND or OR, and register when the setting is completed. The key 23 is pressed to store it in the control board 11.

For example, "1" to "5" and "8" are designated on the screen E of FIG. 3, and the time is "10:00" on the screen F.
-If "1.AND" is specified with "15:30" set, the discount rate will be applied only from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays excluding Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. . Note that on screen F, "2.
If "OR" is specified, the discount rate will be applied on weekdays excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, or from 10am to 3:30 pm regardless of the day of the week.

Thus, step (3) or step (4)
When the charge is set in (6) to (6), the screen G is subsequently displayed (7), and the user is asked to input from what time the set charge should be valid. In this case as well, the ten-key 21 and the cursor key 22 are used to input the date when the set fee is valid, and when the input is completed, the registration key 23 is pressed to store it in the control board 11. Here, when the set day and month is input, the setting data is immediately transferred to the terminal device 2 through the signal line 7, and the charge setting can be changed immediately.

Finally, the screen H is displayed (8), and an input as to whether to print out the set contents is requested. When "1. print" is designated, the screens C to G are input. The data is printed out from the printer 20 in a predetermined format
Return to (1). Also, in step (2),
When “3. Print the set charge” is selected, the normal charge, discount charge and discount conditions that have already been set are stored in the memory 16
It is further loaded and printed out from the printer 20 in the same format as above.

The method of setting the charge on the operation panel 13 has been described above.
Various management tasks can be performed using. "Aggregate" key 25-1
By pressing and inputting with the ten-key pad 21, the car wash performance data stored in the memory 16 is loaded, and the total data of the number of car washes and the amount of money received by the terminal device 2 are displayed on the daily total,
It is possible to output to the display unit 18 or the printer 20 in units such as monthly total, each terminal, and each car wash course. By pressing the "timer" key 25-3 and performing an input operation using the ten-key pad 21, it is possible to set a feasible car wash course timer and set the start time and end time of the terminal device 2. The timer setting for the car wash course is, for example, that the A course performs water cleaning for 3 minutes, the B course performs water cleaning for 1 minute, detergent cleaning for 2 minutes, and water cleaning for 1 minute, and so on. And can be set freely. Also, by pressing the "clock" key 25-4 and performing an input operation using the ten-key pad 21, it is possible to set the time, day and month of the calendar clock 17, and specify a holiday.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the control system of the terminal device 2. Reference numeral 31 is a terminal board including a microcomputer, 32 is an operation panel, and the operation panel 32 accepts inputs such as a car wash fee and a car wash course.
1 requests the control board 11 to perform a car wash operation via the signal line 7. The terminal board 31 includes a transmission / reception circuit 33 and a memory 34, stores data such as a car wash fee and a timer set value transmitted from the control board 11, and receives a car wash based on the stored data.

The operation panel 32 comprises a charge acceptance section 35, a course selection section 36 and an operation display section 37. The charge acceptance unit 35 is provided with a coin device 38 that accepts a car wash charge with coins, a card reader / writer 39 that accepts a charge with a prepaid card, and a status display unit 40. In the course selection section 36, a selection key 41 for selecting a desired course from the car wash courses X to Z that can be executed by this car wash device, and a start key 42 for inputting a car wash start.
A charge display unit 43 that displays the amount of money received by the charge reception unit 35 and the charge of the car wash course, and an error monitor 44 that lights up and displays when there is an error in operation. The operation display unit 37 also displays a time display unit 45 that displays the remaining time of the car wash course that is being executed, and a process display unit 46 that lights and displays whether the injected cleaning water is water or detergent water.
It consists of Although not shown in particular, the operation panel 32 is provided with a voice output device in addition to the above, and is configured to notify by voice of start and stop of car washing, process switching, error occurrence and the like.

Normally, in the course selection section 36, the selection key 4
1, the display lamps 47 attached to the vehicle 1 are sequentially turned on, and the fee for the course indicated by the lamp 47 is sequentially displayed on the fee indicator 43 to notify the car wash fee. Charge reception section 35
When the charge is accepted, the charge indicator 43 is switched to a mode in which the accepted amount is displayed, and further the car wash course that can be executed for the accepted amount is displayed by lighting the display lamp 47. Here, when the selection key 41 with the lamp 47 lit is pressed and the start key 42 is input, a car wash request is output to the control board 11 to start car wash, and the spray gun 4 attached to the terminal device 2 is started. More washing water is sprayed. With the start of car washing, a number of lamps corresponding to the timer time of the execution course are turned on in the time display unit 45, the lamps are sequentially turned off and the remaining time is displayed every time a unit time elapses, and the process display unit 46 is displayed. The washing water being sprayed is displayed. When the timer has elapsed and the car wash ends, the car wash fee is settled with respect to the amount received by the fee reception unit 35, and if there is a remaining amount, it will be returned, and if it is a card, the contents of the card will be rewritten and returned.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the control board 11, and the operation of the embodiment will be described below in more detail with reference to this figure. The control board 11 checks the time given by the calendar clock 17 and confirms whether it is the start time (11). When the start time is reached, the start processing routine is executed (12), the energizing circuit 14 is turned on, and a check signal is sent via the signal line 7.
Check the operation of the terminal device 2. Then, the initialization routine is executed (13), and the initial data such as the car wash fee and the timer time stored in the memory 16 are transferred to the terminal board 31, and the terminal board 31 stores these initial data in the memory 34. Remember. When this initial setting is completed, the car wash can be accepted, and the terminal device 2 displays the "accepting" lamp 40-in the status display section 40 of the operation panel 32.
1 lights up.

Thereafter, when a car wash request is output from the terminal device 2 (14), a car wash operation routine is executed (15), and the memory 1
Based on the timer time stored in 6, a control signal is output to the relay board to give a car wash operation. The control board 11
Always refers to the discount conditions stored in the memory 16, and when the time comes to switch the charge between the normal charge and the discount charge (16), the charge to be switched is transferred to the terminal board 31 and the charge is switched. (17). If the applied charge is a discounted charge, the operation panel 32 is displayed on the terminal device 2.
The "discount in progress" lamp 40-2 in the status display section 40 is turned on. In this way, when the car wash is open and it reaches the end time
(18) The routine of the end-of-work process is executed (19), and after confirming the end of the car washing work in all the terminal devices 2, the energizing circuit 14 is turned off.

This embodiment is configured as described above, and if the discount charge and the discount condition are set, the car wash charge is automatically switched between the normal charge and the discount charge according to the condition, and the management is performed. No labor is required, and if the discount is set in the car wash device body 1, each terminal device 2 operates based on the setting data, and there is no need to set the discount for each terminal. Moreover, since the applied charge is notified to the customer by the status display lamp of the terminal device 2 and the accompanying charge is always displayed on the terminal device 2, there is an advantage that the discount charge can be appealed to the customer and the customer attraction effect is great. is there.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various embodiments can be considered. For example,
The car wash apparatus to be implemented is not limited to the above-mentioned type, but can be applied to a well-known gate type car wash machine, a conveyor type continuous car wash machine, or an independent spray car wash machine other than the system type. In this case, if the terminal device is not necessary, the operation panel 32 can be directly connected to the control board 11 to simplify the configuration. Also, the setting of the discount charge is
Instead of inputting the charge as it is, it is possible to input the discount rate or the discount amount and to calculate the charge in the control board 11, whereby the trouble of setting the discount charge for each car wash course can be omitted.

[0024]

The present invention is configured as described above and applies the car wash fee by switching it between the normal rate and the discount rate according to the time of day, the day of the week, or the date, so that the discount rate can be applied to a time zone or a day of the week when there are few car wash customers. Can be applied to equalize the operating rate of the car wash device. Further, since the applied charge is automatically switched by the car wash device, it is not necessary to input the change of the charge, and the management labor can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a layout view of a car wash room in which an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the car wash device body 1 in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a display screen on the display device 18 in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the terminal device in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control board 11 in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash device main body 2 Terminal device 10 Control part of the car wash device main body 11 Control board including storage means, discount charge setting means and control means 13 Operation panel 31 Terminal board 32 Operation panel including car wash course selection means CW car wash lot

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kotoshi Nakazawa 1825 Amamiya, Sarahaku City, Nagano MK Seiko Co., Ltd. Product Development Laboratory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A car-washing device of a type which is provided with a charge receiving means and receives a predetermined charge to give a car-washing operation, a means for selecting a desired course from a plurality of car-washing courses having different contents, and a means for selecting the desired car-washing course. It is equipped with a storage means for storing normal charges, a means for setting a discount charge according to the car wash course, and a clocking means, and the car wash charge is switched between the normal charge and the discount charge depending on the time of day, day of the week or date. And a control means for giving a car wash operation when the applied charge is received by the charge receiving means.