JP3695489B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a car wash machine provided with a top brush that moves up and down along a top surface shape of an automobile body as the body or the automobile travels, and brushes the body on a body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, this type of equipment uses wash water when it is washed, so the water adhering to the brush freezes after the car wash in winter, and if the car is washed as it is, the washing function deteriorates and the car body is damaged. There is a risk of attaching. Therefore, it is essential to defrost the brush when it is frozen.
[0003]
As a defrosting means at the time of freezing the brush, for example, water is sprayed toward the brush for a predetermined time before washing the car and the brush is rotated. The water spray on the brush and the duration of rotation of the brush can be registered in advance, and are set according to ambient conditions such as temperature.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when registering the rotation duration of the brush in advance as described above, the brush cannot be thawed within the registration time due to a sudden change in temperature or conditions depending on the region, or conversely, However, there is a problem that the user needs to change the registration time each time because the ice-breaking operation continues and it may become uneconomical.
[0005]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine that performs an ice-breaking operation according to the frozen state of the brush.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, in the car wash machine of the present invention, the body is brushed by moving up and down along the shape of the upper surface of the automobile body as the body or the automobile travels to the body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the automobile. The car wash machine including the top brush includes a detecting unit that detects a swing angle of the brush arm when the top brush is rotated, and a determining unit that determines a frozen state of the top brush based on a detection signal from the detecting unit.
[0007]
Further, the car wash machine has means for controlling to provide a brush deicing operation for sprinkling water while rotating the top brush when it is determined that the determination means is in a frozen state. Here, prior to the start of car washing, a freezing check operation of the top brush that rotates the top brush is performed, and it is sufficient to determine whether or not the freezing state is associated with the freezing check operation.
[0008]
In addition, when the determination unit determines that the frozen state has been released along with the ice-removing operation, the ice-removing operation is stopped. Here, the de-icing operation may be performed prior to the start of car washing in winter.
[0009]
[Action]
The car wash machine according to the present invention can determine the frozen state of the brush by detecting the swing angle of the brush arm when the top brush is rotated. Therefore, inconveniences such as brushing the vehicle body in the frozen state and damaging the vehicle body can be prevented. be able to. In addition, since the deicing operation is performed after determining the frozen state, the deicing operation can be performed only when necessary. Furthermore, if the frozen state is released along with the ice-breaking operation, the ice-breaking operation can be stopped immediately. Therefore, the top brush can be reliably de-iced in the shortest time.
[0010]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. Reference numeral 1 denotes a car-wash machine body formed in a gate shape. The rails 2 and 2 are reciprocated by rotating a wheel with a traveling motor (not shown) provided in the car-washer body 1, and between the rails 2 and 2. The vehicle body of the stopped automobile is configured to be washed.
[0011]
Reference numerals 3.3 are a pair of side brushes arranged on both sides of the main body, and are suspended in the main body 1 so as to run on a brush rail (not shown) that extends horizontally in the direction orthogonal to the rails 2, 2. It moves according to the side shape of the vehicle body to be cleaned and opens and closes. Reference numeral 4 denotes a top brush which is lifted and lowered by a lifting device 11 according to the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle. Numerals 6 and 6 are a pair of rocker brushes provided below both sides of the main body 1, and mainly clean the tires of the car and the lower half of the side of the vehicle body.
[0012]
7, 7, 7 are blower nozzles provided on the top and both sides of the front car wash machine main body, which blows high-pressure air on the vehicle body to scatter water droplets on the vehicle surface and dry it. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation panel provided on the front surface of the main body, which mainly operates the car wash machine. In addition, the car wash machine main body 1 is provided with nozzles for respectively spraying water, detergent and wax liquid.
[0013]
The top brush 4 is supported by the brush arms 5 and 5 so as to be pivotable in the vertical direction, and can swing back and forth with a support shaft 8 supporting the brush arms 5 and 5 as a fulcrum. The support shaft 8 is fixed to the carrier 16 and is moved up and down by a lifting device 11 including a chain 12, a shaft 13 and a motor 15. Accordingly, the top brush 4 also moves up and down.
[0014]
Reference numeral 10 denotes a deflection angle detection device that detects a deflection angle in the front-rear direction of the brush arms 5 and 5 due to the rotation of the top brush 6. In this embodiment, an encoder 10a that counts a pulse signal transmitted every time the brush arms 5 and 5 swing by a unit angle is employed as a swing angle detection device.
[0015]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a control system of an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 17 denotes a control unit having a microcomputer, 20 denotes a drive unit that performs energization operation of each motor or the like in accordance with a signal output from the control unit, and 18 denotes a temperature for estimating the necessity of the encoder 10a and brush deicing operation. The detection unit includes the sensor 22. The control unit 17 outputs a signal to the drive unit 20 based on the operation input in the operation unit 19 and the detection signal in the detection unit 18. Reference numeral 21 denotes an informing unit for informing that the brush is in a frozen state by lighting display and sound output.
[0016]
The present invention is configured as described above, and performs a de-icing operation when the brush is frozen. An example of the operation will be described below. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention. Since there is a risk of freezing of the car wash brush in the cold season such as winter, the freezing state of the top brush is judged immediately before entering the car wash process, and if it is not frozen, it proceeds to the car wash process and is frozen. In this case, the ice-breaking operation is subsequently performed.
[0017]
When the car wash start is input, first, in step 61, the temperature is checked. In step 62, if the temperature given by the temperature sensor 22 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature registered in advance, the controller 17 determines that there is a risk of freezing of the brush. In step 63, a freezing check operation is performed. On the other hand, when the temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, it is determined that the brush is not frozen and the car wash is started.
[0018]
In step 63, the elevating device 11 is driven to lower the top brush 4 to a predetermined position, and the motor 14 is driven to rotate the top brush 4. Here, the top brush 4 is not lowered to the bottom in order to prevent interference with the rocker brush 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotating top brush 4 contains a lot of water in the portion that was on the lower side during the car wash standby, and it is in a frozen state. Compared to the time of rotation, the rotation center of gravity is significantly biased and shakes greatly in the front-rear direction. As the top brush 4 shakes, the brush arms 5 and 5 swing in the front-rear direction with the support shaft 8 as a fulcrum.
[0019]
FIG. 5 is a graph showing the relationship between the de-icing operation duration and the swing angle of the brush arms 5 and 5 in the car wash machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. Time s _1, s ₂ where the deflection angle is detected by the encoder 10a is _{maximized, ..., s n-1,} s n, the maximum deflection angle alpha ₁ in _{..., α 2, ..., α} n-1, α n, ... From this, the angle change amount Δα = | α _n −α _n-1 | for each time is obtained. In step 64, if the deflection angle change amount Δα of the brush arms 5 and 5 is larger than the predetermined value C, it is determined that the top brush 4 is frozen, and this is notified by lighting display and sound output. Perform ice-breaking operation.
[0020]
In step 65, water is sprayed from a watering nozzle (not shown), and water is applied to the rotating top brush 4. It is desirable to use warm water as water at this time. As the deicing operation is continued, the vibration of the brush arms 5 and 5 decreases as the top brush 4 is deiced, and the deflection angle α gradually decreases and then becomes constant, so the angle change amount Δα also decreases. And approaching zero. In step 66, when the deflection of the brush arms 5 and 5 becomes constant and becomes stable at Δα≈0, it is determined that the deviation of the rotational center of gravity of the top brush 4 has been eliminated, that is, the defrosting of the top brush 4 has been completed. To do.
[0021]
If it is determined that the top brush has been de-iced, the de-icing operation is terminated in step 67 and the process proceeds to the car washing process.
[0022]
Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of another embodiment of the present invention. In step 71, the temperature is checked, and in step 72, it is determined whether or not the temperature given by the temperature sensor 22 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. If the air temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the car washing is started as it is. If the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, it is determined that there is a risk of freezing, and in step 73, an ice melting operation is performed to sprinkle water while rotating the top brush 4. During this ice-breaking operation, Δα is continuously obtained, and when Δα≈0 is stabilized in step 74, it is determined that the top brush 4 has been de-iced, and in step 75, the ice-breaking operation is terminated and the car wash is started. To do.
[0023]
The deicing operation of the top brush is not only performed immediately before the car washing process as in the embodiments described so far, but also repeatedly at predetermined time intervals during the car washing standby, or provided with means for detecting the temperature in the car washing machine. Then, it may be automatically performed when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention can prevent the inconvenience of washing with a frozen brush and can improve safety. In addition, since the freezing state of the top brush is determined from the change in the swing angle of the brush arm when the top brush is rotated, the ice can be reliably defrosted in the defrosting operation time corresponding to the freezing state of the top brush. Further, since the defrosting operation is stopped upon detecting that the frozen state has been released, it is not affected by the state of the brush such as individual differences in the car wash machine or the degree of brush damage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a car wash according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view showing a state where a top brush is swaying during an ice-breaking operation in a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between a de-icing operation duration and a brush arm swing angle in a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine body 2 Rail 3 Side brush 4 Top brush 5 Brush arm 6 Rocker brush 7 Blower nozzle 8 Support shaft 9 Operation panel 10 Swing angle detection device 11 Lifting device 12 Chain 13 Shafts 14 and 15 Motor 16 Carrier 17 Control part 18 Detection part 19 Operation unit 20 Drive unit 21 Notification unit 22 Temperature sensor

Claims (5)

In the car wash machine equipped with a top brush that moves up and down along the top surface shape of the car body as the main body or the car travels to the main body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the car,
A pair of brush arms pivotally supported by the main body and swingable back and forth along the traveling direction of the main body or the automobile, and supporting the top brush between the ends of the brush arm,
A car wash machine comprising: detecting means for detecting a swing angle of a brush arm during rotation of a top brush; and determining means for determining a frozen state of the top brush based on a detection signal from the detecting means. In the car wash machine equipped with a top brush that moves up and down along the top surface shape of the car body as the main body or the car travels to the main body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the car,
A pair of brush arms pivotally supported by the main body and swingable back and forth along the traveling direction of the main body or the automobile, and supporting the top brush between the ends of the brush arm,
Detection means for detecting a swing angle of the brush arm during rotation of the top brush, determination means for determining the frozen state of the top brush based on a detection signal from the detection means, and the determination means determines that the brush is in a frozen state. And a means for controlling so as to provide a brush de-icing operation that sprinkles water while rotating the top brush. The car wash machine according to claim 2, wherein a freezing check operation of the top brush that rotates the top brush is performed prior to the start of the car wash, and it is determined whether or not the freezing state is accompanied with the freezing check operation. Car wash machine. In the car wash machine equipped with a top brush that moves up and down along the top surface shape of the car body as the main body or the car travels to the main body formed in a gate shape so as to straddle the car,
A pair of brush arms pivotally supported by the main body and swingable back and forth along the traveling direction of the main body or the automobile, and supporting the top brush between the ends of the brush arm,
Detection means for detecting the swing angle of the brush arm during rotation of the top brush, determination means for determining the frozen state of the top brush based on a detection signal from the detection means, and brush defrosting that sprinkles water while rotating the top brush And a means for controlling to stop the ice-breaking operation when it is determined that the frozen state has been unraveled by the determining means along with the ice-breaking operation. 5. The car wash machine according to claim 4, wherein the de-icing operation is executed prior to the start of the car wash in winter.

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