JPH08541U - Rocker brush device for car wash machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) 【Abstract】 PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To clean a wheel with a rocker brush, a circular corner portion formed by a rim and a wheel cap becomes insufficient.
When the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body are washed with the side brushes, the inclined front and rear surfaces are not properly contacted with each other, and some of the washing is left behind. SOLUTION: The front and rear surfaces 46 and 50 are cleaned by rocking a rocker brush 15 along the inclination of the front and rear surfaces 46 and 50 by rocking a rocking arm 31, and moving the parallel four-link mechanism 17 with a large horizontal stroke. Rocker brush 15
Can be performed by moving in the horizontal direction in a posture that follows the inclination. The lower part 47 of the outer side surface can be washed by rotating the parallel four-link mechanism 17 in the horizontal direction with a small stroke. The rocker brush 15 is swung around the left-right axis 26 to displace the insufficiently cleaned portion 48a generated at a position facing the rotation direction 49 at a right angle, so that the entire region of the wheel 41 is covered. You can do it.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the device belongs]

 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rocker brush device for a car washer used for operating a rocker brush in a car washer.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In a conventional car washing machine, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-34917, a pair of left and right arms that are swingable around a vertical axis are provided on the main body of the car washing machine, and the free ends of these arms are A rocker brush (lower side surface cleaning brush) is attached via a brush shaft, and a brush driving motor is provided in each arm. Both rocker brushes are configured to be able to move toward and away from each other by swinging the arms, and by the approaching movements, the lower halves of both sides of the vehicle body including the wheels are cleaned. The front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body were cleaned by moving a pair of left and right side brushes (side surface cleaning brushes) toward and away from each other along the front and rear surface of the vehicle body.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the above-mentioned conventional type, the bristles of the rocker brush spread at right angles to the axis of the brush shaft due to the rotational centrifugal force of the brush shaft. It is bent so that it becomes, that is, it wraps around the brush shaft. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the corner portion 62 formed by the rim 60 and the wheel cap 61 is formed in an inward step, so that the wheel is cleaned by the rocker brush as described above. At this time, the cleaning of the circular corner portion 62, particularly the front and rear arc portions 62a facing each other at right angles to the brush bristle rotating direction 63, becomes insufficient.

That is, when the rocker brush comes into contact with the rim 60 and the wheel cap 61, the contact pressure causes the brush bristles to flex easily to the rear side of the rotation, which makes it difficult for the bristles to enter the front and rear arc portions 62a, and the cleaning is performed. Will be insufficient. The upper and lower circular arc portions other than the front and rear circular arc portions 62a face the circular arc portions 62a in parallel with the brush bristle rotating direction 63, so that the brush bristle easily enters and sufficient cleaning can be performed.

The problem that it is difficult to enter the front and rear circular arc portions 62a can be solved to some extent by adopting a hard round bristle bristle, but in this case, the tire 64, the rim 60, It will be easy to damage the wheel cap 61 and the like.

When cleaning the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body with the side brushes, if the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body are tilted, the side brush does not come into contact with the entire front and rear surfaces (entire area), There was a portion left unwashed.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is capable of sufficiently cleaning the entire lower parts of both outer side surfaces of the vehicle body including the wheels by the rocker brush, and also suitably cleaning the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body. The object is to provide a rocker brush device for a car wash machine that can be used.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a rocker brush device for a car wash according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a pair of left and right parallel to the car wash main body, which are rotatable in the horizontal direction and are independent of each other. A quadruple link mechanism and a rotation drive device are provided, and holding arms are provided at the free ends of both parallel quadruple link mechanisms. The holding arms are swingable about the left-right axis and opposite to each other. A moving arm and a swing drive device are provided, and the swing arm is provided with a rocker brush rotatable about an axis of rotation orthogonal to the horizontal axis and a rotation drive device. It was done.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when cleaning the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body, the vehicle and the car wash main body are relatively stopped at a predetermined position, and then a pair of left and right rocker brushes are driven by the rotation drive device. Is rotated about the axis of rotation, the rocking arm is rocked by the rocking drive device around the axis of the left-right direction to cause the rocker brush to follow the inclination of the front surface and the rear surface of the vehicle body. In this state, the rotation drive device rotates the parallel four-link mechanism toward and away from each other with a large stroke in the horizontal direction, so that both rocker brushes are aligned with the inclination of the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body. It can be moved in the horizontal direction in the horizontal direction. As a result, the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body can be sufficiently washed with the rocker brush.

Further, when cleaning the lower portions of both outer side surfaces of the vehicle body, the two parallel quadruple link mechanisms are horizontally moved by the rotation drive device while the rocker brush is rotated around the rotation axis by the rotation drive device. The rocker brush can be brought into contact with the lower parts of both side surfaces of the vehicle body including the outer side surface of the wheel by rotating the vehicle with a small stroke, and then the car wash machine body and the vehicle are moved relatively to each other. Normal cleaning of the lower outer surface can be performed. Then, while the rocker brush is in contact with the outer surface of the wheel, the rocking brush is moved laterally through the rocking arm by the rocking drive device while stopping or slightly moving the relative movement between the car wash machine body and the vehicle. By oscillating around the axis, the insufficient cleaning portion that occurs at a position facing the rotation direction of the rocker brush can be displaced around the axis in the left-right direction. Regular cleaning can be performed over the entire area.

[0011]

[Embodiment of device]

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 as a state in which it is adopted in a traveling type car wash machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gate-type car washer main body 1 is mounted on a rail 3 via a plurality of wheels 2 in a front view, and is used for a traveling drive device (not shown). By operation, it can travel back and forth on a certain road.

A first washing water arch 4, a first wax arch 5, a second washing water arch 6, a second wax arch 7, and a detergent arch 8 are arranged in this order on the car wash main body 1. And a top nozzle 9 and a side nozzle 10 for drying are provided at the location of the first cleaning water arch 4, and the top brush 11 and the side brush 12 have swingable arms 13 and 14, respectively. Is installed through.

A pair of left and right rocker brushes 15 are provided at the lower portions on both sides of the car wash machine body 1 so that they can move toward and away from each other. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a pair of left and right inverted L-shaped holding arms 16 are arranged in a front view, and the free ends of the parallel four-link mechanism 17 are connected to the upper surfaces of the holding arms 16. The base end of the parallel quadruple link mechanism 17 is connected to the car wash machine body 1 side via a fixture 29.

The parallel four-link mechanism 17 includes a support arm 18 and a tie rod 19. The pair of left and right parallel quadruple link mechanisms 17 are connected to the car wash machine body 1 via the fixtures 29 and the like so as to be horizontally rotatable and movable toward and away from each other. The holding arm 16 is connected so as to be relatively rotatable in the horizontal direction.

Further, a cylinder device (an example of a rotation driving device) 20 for rotating the parallel four-link mechanism 17 is provided on the car wash machine body 1 side, and the tip of the piston rod 21 thereof has the supporting arm 18 It is connected to the free end of a lever 23 fixed to the lower part of a support shaft 22 penetrating the base end of the lever. As a result, the support arm 18 moves integrally with the lever 23. An operating device 24 for operating the cylinder device 20 is provided on the car wash machine body 1 side.

A horizontal shaft 27, which is rotatable around a horizontal axis 26, is provided so as to project from the lower side of the vertical frame portion 25 of the holding arm 16 and opposite side surfaces thereof. The horizontal shaft 27 is interlockingly connected to the swing drive device 30 via a transmission device 28 arranged in the vertical frame portion 25. The swing drive device 30 is composed of, for example, an electric motor or a cylinder device.

A C-shaped swing arm 31 is attached to the inner end of the horizontal shaft 27 so as to swing around a horizontal axis 26. That is, the inner end of the horizontal shaft 27 is fitted and fixed to the lower portion of the vertical frame portion 32 of the swing arm 31, and the swing arm 31 is attached with the sides of the upper and lower horizontal frame portions 33 facing each other facing each other. To be Further, at the inner end of the swing arm 31, a rotary shaft (vertical axis) 36, which is rotatable around a rotary shaft center 35 orthogonal to the left-right direction shaft center 26, is attached between both lateral frame parts 33. The rocker brush 15 is attached by integrally forming the rotary shaft 36 and the brush shaft 37. The rotary shaft 36 is interlocked with a rotary drive device 39 such as an electric motor via a transmission device 38.

Reference numeral 40 denotes an automobile, and its wheels 41 are composed of a wheel cap 42, a rim 43, and tires 44. Reference numeral 45 indicates an operation panel. The car wash action in the above-described embodiment will be described below.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the vehicle 40 is stopped at a predetermined position while the car washer body 1 is moved to a predetermined position (home position) A and stopped. Then, the rotation driving device 39 is operated to rotate the rocker brush 15 around the rotation axis 35. In this state, the swing drive device 30 is operated to swing the swing arm 31 around the horizontal axis 26. The swinging of the swinging arm 31 is continued until the rocker brush 15 follows the inclination of the front surface 46 of the vehicle body.

By actuating the actuating device 24, the piston rod 21 of the cylinder device 20 expands and contracts, and in conjunction with this, the parallel four-link mechanism 17 rotates horizontally in a large stroke. At this time, the holding arm 16 always moves while maintaining the same mounting posture even if the parallel quadruple link mechanism 17 rotates. As a result, when the piston rod 21 extends as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, the rocker brushes 15 move horizontally toward each other, and as shown by the phantom line in FIG. 3, the piston rod 21 shrinks. When moved, the rocker brushes 15 move away from each other in the horizontal direction. In this way, the pair of left and right rocker brushes 15 are made to follow the inclination of the vehicle body front surface 46, and are moved toward and away from each other with a large stroke in the horizontal direction, so that the vehicle body front surface 46 can be sufficiently cleaned by the rocker brushes 15.

After cleaning the front surface 46 of the vehicle body as described above, the car wash machine body 1 is reciprocated in the front-rear direction. At that time, as shown by the one-dot chain line (a) in FIG. When the wheel 41 is moved from the separated state, the lower half of the vehicle body can be washed by contacting both outer side surfaces 47 of the rocker portion of the vehicle body, and as shown in (b) and (c) of FIG. The wheel cap 42, the rim 43, etc. can be cleaned by bringing them into contact with the outer surface of the.

For example, when the wheel 41 is extremely dirty, in the above-described normal cleaning, as shown in FIG. 8, a corner portion 48 formed by the rim 43 and the wheel cap 42, particularly a rotation direction 49 of the rocker brush 15, is used. The front and rear circular arc portions 48a facing each other at a right angle with respect to the above are insufficiently cleaned. In anticipation of such a situation, or regardless of dirt, turn on the process switch of the operation panel 45 and start the desired car wash. Then, when the rocker brush 15 faces the wheel 41, the car wash machine body 1 stops or moves at a slow speed, and the above-described cleaning shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 is performed.

Then, the swing drive device 30 is operated based on the process, and the horizontal shaft 27 is rotated in one direction at a set angle via the transmission device 28. As a result, the rocker brush 15 is swung in one direction around the horizontal axis 26 via the swing arm 31, and as shown in FIG. As the 48a moves in one direction, most of the arc portion 48a in FIG. 8 undergoes regular cleaning.

Further, based on the process, the swing drive device 30 is actuated in the opposite direction to the above to swing the rocker brush 15 in the other direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the arc portion 48a, which is insufficiently washed, moves in the other direction, so that all of the arc portion 48a in FIG. 8 undergoes regular washing. After that, the rocker brush 15 is returned to the normal posture as shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7D, when cleaning the rocker part outer side surfaces 47 of the vehicle body, the rocker brush 15 is swung around the horizontal axis 26 as described above. By performing the cleaning while doing so, a strong cleaning power can be exhibited.

The cleaning of the vehicle body rear surface 50 is similar to the cleaning of the vehicle body front surface 46 described above. As shown in the two-dot chain line (e) in FIG. 6 and in FIG. After that, a sufficient stroke can be performed by moving them toward and away from each other with a large stroke in the left-right direction.

As described above, while the car wash machine body 1 is reciprocatingly moved, the rocker brush 15 is used to clean the front and rear surfaces 46, 50 of the automobile 40, the lower portions of both outer side surfaces 47 and the outer side surfaces of the wheels 41. As shown in FIG. 2, the contact / separation movements of the brushes 11 and 12, the cleaning water supply through the cleaning water arches 4 and 6, the wax supply through the wax arches 5 and 7, and the cleaning agent arch 8 are performed. The desired car wash can be performed by operating it in an appropriate combination with the supply of detergent through.

As shown in the above-described embodiment, the parallel quadruple link mechanism 17 is provided so as to rotate in the horizontal direction, so that the rocker brush 15 can be moved toward and away from the rocker brush 15 in the horizontal direction with a large stroke. The car wash main body 1 can be made compact and easily realized.

[0030]

[Effect of device]

 According to the first aspect of the present invention described above, by swinging the rocker brush together with the swing arm around the left-right axis, the outer surface of the wheel can be used in addition to cleaning the lower half of the vehicle body from the rocker portion of the vehicle body. The cleaning can be performed properly and sufficiently over the entire area. As a result, it is possible to easily employ a rocker brush made of soft and long bristles that does not damage the rim or the wheel cap.

Moreover, the rocker brush can easily face almost the entire front and rear surface of the vehicle body by rotating the parallel quadruple link mechanism with a large stroke in the horizontal direction, and swings around the axis in the left-right direction. By moving it, it is possible to follow the inclination of the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body, which allows the rocker brush to move horizontally and horizontally in the same posture along the inclination of the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body. The front and rear surfaces of the vehicle can be thoroughly cleaned. At this time, by providing the parallel four-link mechanism so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, it is possible to easily realize a structure in which the rocker brush is moved toward and away from the left and right horizontal directions with a large stroke in a compact car washing machine body.

As described above, according to the present invention, the rocker brush can sufficiently wash the entire lower portion of both outer side surfaces of the vehicle body including the wheels, and further can suitably wash the front and rear surfaces of the vehicle body. The car washing efficiency can be improved compared to the conventional one, and sufficient car washing can be performed in a short time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rocker brush device of a car washing machine showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing an operating state of a rocker brush in the rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing an operating state of a rocker brush in the rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing an operating state of the rocker brush in a normal posture during wheel cleaning by the rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing an operating state in a one-way rocking posture of the rocker brush during wheel cleaning by the rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing an operating state in a rocking direction of the rocker brush in another direction when the wheel is washed by the rocker brush device of the car wash machine.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing an operating state of a rocker brush during wheel cleaning, showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Car Wash Machine Main Body 12 Side Brush 15 Rocker Brush 16 Holding Arm 17 Parallel Quadruple Link Mechanism 18 Support Arm 19 Tie Rod 20 Cylinder Device (Rotation Drive Device) 24 Actuator 26 Horizontal Shaft Center 27 Horizontal Shaft 30 Swing Drive Device 31 Swing arm 35 Rotational axis 36 Rotational axis 39 Rotational drive device 40 Car 41 Wheel 42 Wheel cap 43 Rim 46 Front of car body 47 Both outsides of rocker part 48 Corner 48a Arc part 49 Rotation direction 50 Rear of car body

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A car wash machine main body is provided with a pair of left and right parallel four-series link mechanisms which are rotatable in the horizontal direction and can be moved toward and away from each other, and a rotation drive device. Each of the holding arms is provided with a swing arm and a swing drive device that are swingable around the horizontal axis and opposite to each other, and the swing arm has a horizontal axis. A rocker brush device for a car wash, comprising a rocker brush rotatable about an orthogonal rotation axis and a rotation drive device.