JP6919490B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a car wash machine that raises and lowers a car wash tool for washing or drying a vehicle to be washed by a chain.

A conventional car wash machine is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This car wash machine is equipped with a car wash machine body that moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle to be washed. The car wash machine main body has two opposite stand portions on the left and right and a ceiling portion connecting the upper ends of the stand portions, and is formed in a gate shape straddling the vehicle to be washed.

The car wash machine body is provided with a top brush that is raised and lowered by an elevating part. Elevating portions are provided on the left and right stand portions, respectively, and include a first sprocket, a second sprocket, a chain, an elevating motor, and a holding portion.

The left and right first sprockets are connected by a shaft and are pivotally supported by the car wash machine body. The elevating motor is connected to one end of the shaft and rotationally drives the first sprocket. The second sprocket is arranged below the first sprocket and is supported by the car wash machine body so as to be vertically movable. The chain is wound around the first sprocket and the second sprocket. The holding part is attached to each of the left and right chains.

The top brush is arranged in the horizontal direction in the axial direction and is held by the left and right holding portions. A rotary motor is connected to one end of the top brush in the axial direction.

In the car wash machine having the above configuration, the car wash machine main body moves in the front-rear direction, the chain is rotated by the drive of the elevating motor, and the top brush moves up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle to be washed together with the holding portion. In addition, the top brush is rotated by the drive of the rotary motor to clean the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned.

Further, in general, a car wash machine is provided with an upper limit sensor and a lower limit sensor for detecting the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding portion, respectively. Further, an elevating sensor for detecting the amount of elevating and lowering of the holding portion is provided. The upper limit sensor, lower limit sensor, and elevating sensor are formed by a photoelectric sensor or the like attached to the main body of the car wash machine.

The holding portion is placed in the upper limit position by the detection of the upper limit sensor during standby before car washing, and is placed in the lower limit position by the detection of the lower limit sensor at the start of washing by the top brush. Further, the elevating sensor detects the amount of rotation of the first sprocket, and when cleaning with the top brush, the elevating sensor detects the elevating sensor to elevate and lower the holding portion along the upper surface of the vehicle to be cleaned.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 09-309415

According to the above-mentioned conventional car wash machine, the chain of the elevating part is stretched due to wear due to aged use. When the elongation of the chain becomes large, the top brush that moves up and down by the detection of the lifting sensor may not be placed at a desired position and the cleaning force may decrease, or the chain may break. For this reason, maintenance work for regularly inspecting the elongation of the chain is required, which causes a problem that the convenience of the car wash machine is deteriorated.

By detecting the vertical position of the second sprocket that pulls the chain downward, the elongation of the chain can be detected. However, if a sensor for detecting the vertical position of the second sprocket is provided in addition to the upper limit sensor, the lower limit sensor, and the elevating sensor, the cost of the car wash machine increases.

Further, there is a similar problem when the blower nozzle for drying the vehicle to be cleaned moves up and down by the elevating part having a chain.

An object of the present invention is to provide a car wash machine capable of suppressing costs and improving convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a car wash machine main body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction, a car wash tool that is arranged on the car wash machine main body to wash or dry the vehicle to be washed, and the above. A car wash machine provided with an elevating part for raising and lowering a car wash tool, wherein the elevating part is arranged below the first sprocket and a first sprocket that is pivotally supported by the car wash machine body and driven to rotate. A second sprocket that is movably supported by the car wash machine body, a chain that is wound around the first sprocket and the second sprocket, and a holding portion that holds the car wash tool and is attached to the chain to move up and down. An upper limit detection unit that detects the upper limit position of the holding portion in which the holding portion is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the car wash machine main body, and a predetermined holding portion in the vertical direction with respect to the second sprocket. It is characterized by having a lower limit detecting unit for detecting the lower limit position of the holding unit arranged at the position and a distance detecting unit for detecting the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the present invention includes a photoelectric sensor in which the distance detection unit is attached to the holding unit, and a plurality of light reflecting units arranged in the car wash machine main body in the vertical direction with the light transmitting unit interposed therebetween. It is characterized by having a detection plate juxtaposed in parallel.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the present invention has a first detection element in which the upper limit detection unit is attached to the car wash machine main body to detect the holding unit, and the lower limit detection unit is attached to the second sprocket. It is characterized by having a second detection element that detects the holding portion.

Further, in the car wash machine having the above configuration, the present invention has a detection element in which the upper limit detection unit is attached to the holding unit, and a detected unit provided in the car wash machine main body and detected by the detection element. The lower limit detecting unit detects the second sprocket by the detecting element.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the car wash machine having the above configuration includes a notification unit that notifies when the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit exceeds a predetermined amount.

According to the present invention, the elevating unit that raises and lowers the car wash tool has an upper limit detection unit, a lower limit detection unit, and a distance detection unit. The upper limit detection unit detects the upper limit position of the holding unit in which the holding unit is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the car wash machine main body. The lower limit detection unit detects the lower limit position of the holding unit in which the holding unit is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the second sprocket. The distance detection unit detects the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit.

As a result, when the chain is extended, the second sprocket is lowered and the distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position is increased, so that the extension of the chain can be detected by the distance detecting unit. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a sensor for detecting the elongation of the chain, and maintenance work for inspecting the elongation of the chain can be eliminated. Therefore, the cost of the car wash machine can be suppressed and the convenience can be improved.

Side view showing the car wash machine of the 1st Embodiment of this invention Front view showing the car wash machine of the first embodiment of the present invention Front view showing one side of the top brush of the car wash machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A side view showing one side of the elevating part of the car wash machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A side view showing a detection plate of an elevating part of a car wash machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A side view showing one side of the elevating part of the car wash machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

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 showing a car wash machine WA according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The car wash machine WA includes a remote panel 7 and a car wash machine main body 1.

The remote panel 7 is arranged along the traveling path R of the vehicle CA to be washed. The vehicle CA to be washed stops in front of the remote panel 7, and the user sets the car wash conditions by operating the remote panel 7 from within the vehicle CA to be washed.

With the buttons provided on the remote panel 7, it is possible to set car wash conditions using a liquid agent such as shampoo, waxing, and water repellent coat. In addition, the remote panel 7 can be used to set equipment such as a front guard, a fender pole, a side mirror, a rear wiper, and a roof carrier.

The car wash machine main body 1 is formed in a gate shape having two left and right facing stand portions 90 and a ceiling portion 91 connecting the upper ends of the stand portions 90.

A pair of left and right rails 2 are laid on the ground G, and wheels 3 provided on the bottom surface of the stand portion 90 are arranged on the rails 2. As a result, the car wash machine main body 1 is erected on the rail 2, travels on the rail 2 by being driven by a traveling motor (not shown), and moves back and forth with respect to the vehicle to be washed CA.

The stand unit 90 is provided with a tank storage unit 17 that stores a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquid agents such as detergent and wax. A distribution piping unit 18 for distributing the liquid agent from each liquid storage tank is provided above the tank storage unit 17. The distribution piping section 18 has solenoid valves (not shown) for the first and second water purification nozzles 11, 13, the first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15, the water repellent coat nozzle 14, and the wax nozzle 16 which are composed of injection nozzles. Derived through.

The first and second water purification nozzles 11 and 13 are arranged on the inlet surface 1a side and the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1, respectively, and inject the washing water to the vehicle CA to be washed. The first and second detergent nozzles 12 and 15 are arranged on the inlet surface 1a side and the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1, respectively, and inject detergent onto the vehicle CA to be washed. The water-repellent coat nozzle 14 and the wax nozzle 16 are arranged on the outlet surface 1b side of the car wash machine main body 1. The water-repellent coating nozzle 14 injects a liquid of the water-repellent coating agent onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The wax nozzle 16 injects liquid wax onto the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

An operation panel 8 is arranged on the front surface of one stand portion 90 of the car wash machine main body 1. The operation panel 8 has the same operation buttons (not shown) as the remote panel 7 for setting car wash conditions. A notification unit 89 for performing a predetermined notification by voice is provided below the operation panel 8. The notification unit 89 may perform notification by display.

Further, a vehicle shape sensor 9 is provided on the front surface of the stand portion 90. The vehicle shape sensor 9 is composed of a photoelectric sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like, and detects the vehicle length and the outer surface shape of the vehicle CA to be washed that enters the car wash machine main body 1.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes including a side brush 5, a rocker brush 6, and a top brush 4 that slide and brush on the vehicle CA to be washed. The side brush 5 cleans the front surface, side surface, and rear surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The rocker brush 6 cleans the lower parts of both side surfaces of the vehicle CA to be washed. The top brush 4 cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned.

The car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a blower 20 that generates an air flow to dry the vehicle CA to be washed. A side blower nozzle 22 and a top blower nozzle 21 are connected to the blower 20. The side blow nozzles 22 are provided on both stand portions 90, respectively, and blow air toward the side surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The top blower nozzle 21 is provided on the ceiling portion 91 and blows air toward the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be cleaned. The top brush 4 (car wash tool) and the top blower nozzle 21 (car wash tool) are moved up and down by the elevating part 25 (see FIG. 3) described later.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic front view of the top brush 4 on the right side. The left and right stand portions 90 (see FIG. 2) are provided with elevating portions 25 for raising and lowering the top brush 4. The elevating portion 25 has a sprocket 26 (first sprocket) and a sprocket 27 (second sprocket) arranged vertically. The sprockets 26 and 27 are arranged in the horizontal direction whose axial direction is orthogonal to the moving direction of the car wash machine main body 1.

The left and right sprockets 26 arranged above are connected to the car wash machine main body 1 by a shaft 28a rotatably instructed. An elevating motor 28 is connected to one end of the shaft 28a. The lower sprocket 27 is pivotally supported by a shaft portion 34a on a base 34 having an L-shaped cross section that is movably supported by the car wash machine main body 1 in the vertical direction. An endless chain 29 is wound around the upper and lower sprockets 26 and the sprocket 27. The base 34 is provided with a weight portion 35 formed of one or more metal plates. Tension can be applied to the chain 29 by the weight of the sprocket 27 including the weight portion 35.

The left and right chains 29 are each provided with a holding portion 30 for holding the top brush 4. A swinging portion 40 that is swingably supported by the shaft portion 40a is attached to the holding portion 30. A rotary motor 41 is arranged on one of the swinging portions 40. The top brush 4 has a horizontal rotating shaft extending in the left-right direction, a shaft portion 4a at one end in the axial direction is connected to the rotating motor 41, and a shaft portion 4a at the other end is pivotally supported by the swinging portion 40.

The chain 29 goes around by the drive of the elevating motor 28, and the top brush 4 (car wash tool) moves up and down together with the holding portion 30. The top brush 4 comes into contact with the vehicle CA to be cleaned and swings in the front-rear direction, and is rotated by the drive of the rotary motor 41 to perform cleaning.

Further, an upper limit detecting unit 32 for detecting an upper limit position in which the holding unit 30 is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the car wash machine main body 1 is provided on the upper portion of the car wash machine main body 1. The base 34 is provided with a lower limit detection unit 33 that detects a lower limit position in which the holding portion 30 is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the sprocket 27.

That is, the upper limit position of the holding portion 30 is defined by the position with respect to the car wash machine main body 1, and the lower limit position is defined by the position with respect to the sprocket 27. As a result, the lower limit position of the holding portion 30 is lowered by the extension of the chain 29.

The upper limit detection unit 32 is formed by a detection element (first detection element) composed of a photoelectric sensor. Similarly, the lower limit detection unit 33 is also formed by a detection element (second detection element) composed of a photoelectric sensor. The upper limit detection unit 32 and the lower limit detection unit 33 may be formed by a magnetic sensor or a limit switch.

Further, one stand portion 90 is provided with a distance detecting portion 38 that detects the moving distance of the holding portion 30. FIG. 4 shows a side view of one of the elevating portions 25. The distance detection unit 38 has a detection element 31 attached to the holding unit 30 and a detection plate 36 attached to the car wash machine main body 1.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the detection plate 36. The detection plate 36 is formed in a comb shape extending in the vertical direction, and a plurality of light reflecting portions 36a are arranged side by side in the vertical direction with the light transmitting portion 36b interposed therebetween. The light transmitting portion 36b may be formed by a slit-shaped through hole. The detection element 31 is composed of a photoelectric sensor, and detects the moving distance of the holding unit 30 by pulse-detecting the reflected light of the light reflecting unit 36a. As a result, the distance detection unit 38 can detect the amount of elevation of the holding unit 30 and detect the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit 30.

The top blower nozzle 21 (see FIG. 2) is also raised and lowered by the raising and lowering portion 25 similar to the top brush 4.

In the car wash machine WA having the above configuration, a predetermined car wash setting is performed from the remote panel 7, and the vehicle to be washed CA is stopped at a predetermined position. At this time, the holding portion 30 is arranged at the upper limit position. After that, the car wash machine main body 1 moves toward the rear of the vehicle CA to be washed, and the side brush 5, the rocker brush 6, and the top brush 4 start washing the vehicle CA to be washed.

At the start of cleaning the top brush 4, the holding portion 30 is arranged at the lower limit position. At this time, the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit 30 is detected by the distance detecting unit 38. The top brush 4 moves up and down by pulse detection of the distance detection unit 38 based on the detection result of the vehicle shape sensor 9, and cleans the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be washed.

Following the washing with the rotary brush, the car wash machine main body 1 moves in the front-rear direction, and the top blower nozzle 21 and the side blower nozzle 22 start drying the vehicle CA to be washed. At this time, the top blower nozzle 21 moves up and down by pulse detection of the distance detection unit 38 based on the detection result of the vehicle shape sensor 9, and dries the upper surface of the vehicle CA to be washed.

Further, when the chain 29 is stretched due to wear due to aged use, the sprocket 27 is lowered and the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding portion 30 is increased. Therefore, the distance detection unit 38 can detect the elongation of the chain 29. At this time, when the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit 30 exceeds a predetermined amount, the notification unit 89 notifies. As a result, the staff of the car wash can grasp the replacement time of the chain 29, and the chain 29 is replaced. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a sensor for detecting the elongation of the chain, and maintenance work for inspecting the elongation of the chain can be eliminated.

The moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding portion 30 may be displayed on the operation panel 8 or the like to notify that the replacement time of the chain 29 is approaching. Further, it may be transmitted to the communication terminal for the staff that the replacement time of the chain 29 has been reached or the replacement time is approaching.

According to the present embodiment, the elevating unit 25 for raising and lowering the car wash tool including the top brush 4 and the top blower nozzle 21 has an upper limit detection unit 32, a lower limit detection unit 33, and a distance detection unit 38. The upper limit detection unit 32 detects the upper limit position of the holding unit 30 in which the holding unit 30 is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the car wash machine main body 1. The lower limit detection unit 33 detects the lower limit position of the holding unit 30 in which the holding unit 30 is arranged at a predetermined position in the vertical direction with respect to the sprocket 27 (second sprocket). The distance detection unit 38 detects the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit 30.

As a result, when the chain 29 is extended, the sprocket 27 is lowered and the distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position is increased, so that the extension of the chain can be detected by the distance detection unit 38. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a sensor for detecting the elongation of the chain 29, and maintenance work for inspecting the elongation of the chain 29 can be eliminated. Therefore, the cost of the car wash machine WA can be suppressed and the convenience can be improved.

Further, the distance detection unit 38 is arranged in the car wash machine main body 1 and the detection element 31 composed of a photoelectric sensor attached to the holding unit 30, and a plurality of light reflection units 36a are arranged side by side in the vertical direction with the light transmission unit 36b interposed therebetween. It has a detection plate 36 to be used. As a result, the distance detecting unit 38 that detects the moving distance of the holding unit 30 by pulse-detecting the reflected light of the light reflecting unit 36a can be easily realized.

Further, the upper limit detection unit 32 is attached to the car wash machine main body 1 to have a detection element (first detection element) for detecting the holding unit 30, and the lower limit detection unit 33 is attached to the sprocket 27 to detect the holding unit. It has a detection element (second detection element). Thereby, the upper limit detection unit 32 and the lower limit detection unit 33 can be easily realized.

Further, a notification unit 89 for notifying when the moving distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position of the holding unit 30 exceeds a predetermined amount is provided. This makes it possible to easily inform the car wash staff that the chain 29 has been extended.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, FIG. 6 shows a side view of the elevating portion 25 of the car wash machine WA of the second embodiment. For convenience of explanation, the same parts as those in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the configurations of the upper limit detection unit 32 and the lower limit detection unit 33 are different from those in the first embodiment. Other parts are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The holding portion 30 is provided with a detection element 37 formed by a bidirectional limit switch or the like. Further, the car wash machine main body 1 is provided with a detected portion 39 projecting inward. The upper limit detection unit 32 that detects the upper limit position of the holding unit 30 is formed by the detection element 37 and the detected unit 39. The lower limit detection unit 33 for detecting the lower limit position of the holding unit 30 is formed by the detection element 37.

That is, when the holding unit 30 rises, the detection element 37 comes into contact with the detected unit 39, and the upper limit position of the holding unit 30 is detected. When the holding portion 30 is lowered, the detection element 37 comes into contact with the lower sprocket 27, and the lower limit position of the holding portion 30 is detected.

According to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the upper limit detection unit 32 has a detection element 37 provided in the holding unit 30 and a detected unit 39 provided in the car wash machine main body 1, and the lower limit detection unit 33 is formed by the detection element 37. As a result, the upper limit detection unit 32 and the lower limit detection unit 33 can be formed by one detection element 37. Therefore, the cost of the car wash machine WA can be reduced.

In the first and second embodiments, one of the top blower nozzle 21 and the top brush 4 may be raised and lowered by the elevating portion 25 provided with the chain 29, and the other may be raised and lowered by a wire or the like. Further, the car wash machine WA may be provided with only one of the rotating brush and the blower nozzle.

According to the present invention, it can be used in a car wash machine that raises and lowers a car wash tool such as a rotating brush and a blower nozzle by a chain.

1 Car wash machine body 4 Top brush (car wash tool)
5 Side brush 6 Rocker brush 7 Remote panel 8 Operation panel 9 Vehicle shape sensor 21 Top blower nozzle (car wash tool)
22 Side blower nozzle 25 Lifting part 26 Sprocket (1st sprocket)
27 Sprocket (2nd sprocket)
28 Lifting motor 28a Shaft 29 Chain 30 Holding part 31, 37 Detection element 32 Upper limit detection part 33 Lower limit detection part 34 Base 35 Weight part 36 Detection plate 36a Light reflection part 36b Light transmission part 38 Distance detection part 39 Detected part 40 Shaking Moving part 41 Rotating motor 89 Notification part 90 Stand part 91 Ceiling part CA Washed vehicle WA Car wash machine

Claims (3)

A car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction, a car wash tool that is arranged on the car wash machine body to wash or dry the car wash tool, an elevating part that raises and lowers the car wash tool, and a notification unit. It is a car wash machine equipped with
The elevating part
The first sprocket, which is pivotally supported by the car wash machine body and is rotationally driven,
A second sprocket arranged below the first sprocket and supported by the car wash machine body so as to be vertically movable.
A chain wound around the first sprocket and the second sprocket,
A holding portion that holds the car wash tool and is attached to the chain to move up and down,
A first detection element provided on the main body of the car wash machine, arranged at a position higher than the second sprocket, and detecting the holding portion,
A second detection element attached to the second sprocket to detect the holding portion, and
It has a distance detection unit that detects the amount of elevation of the holding unit .
Prior Symbol distance detecting unit further detects a first position in which the first sensing element detects the holding portion, the distance between the second position where the second sensing element detects the holding portion death,
The car wash machine is characterized in that the notification unit notifies when the distance between the first position and the second position exceeds a predetermined amount. A car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle to be washed in the front-rear direction, a car wash tool that is arranged on the car wash machine body to wash or dry the car wash tool, an elevating part that raises and lowers the car wash tool, and a notification unit. It is a car wash machine equipped with
The elevating part
The first sprocket, which is pivotally supported by the car wash machine body and is rotationally driven,
A second sprocket arranged below the first sprocket and supported by the car wash machine body so as to be vertically movable.
A chain wound around the first sprocket and the second sprocket,
A holding portion that holds the car wash tool, is attached to the chain to move up and down, and has a detection element attached.
A detected portion attached to the main body of the car wash machine, arranged at a position higher than the second sprocket, and detected by the detection element.
It has a distance detection unit that detects the amount of elevation of the holding unit .
Before SL sensing device further detects the second sprocket,
The distance detection unit further detects the distance between the first position where the detection element detects the detected unit and the second position where the detection element detects the second sprocket.
The car wash machine is characterized in that the notification unit notifies when the distance between the first position and the second position exceeds a predetermined amount. The distance detecting unit has a photoelectric sensor attached to the holding unit, and a detection plate arranged on the car wash machine main body and having a plurality of light reflecting units arranged side by side in the vertical direction with the light transmitting unit interposed therebetween. The car wash machine according to claim 1 or 2.

Images