JP7697387B2 - CAR WASH MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CAR WASH MACHINE - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a car wash machine that washes vehicles and a method for controlling the car wash machine.

Patent document 1 describes a car wash machine equipped with a car wash main body that moves relative to the vehicle to wash the vehicle.

JP 2006-205932 A

When washing a vehicle using the car wash machine described in Patent Document 1, washing of the vehicle may stop due to the special shape of the vehicle or a malfunction of a specific part of the car wash machine. In this case, if washing of the vehicle is restarted from the beginning, there is a high possibility that washing of the vehicle will stop again for the same reason when attempting to wash the part that was being washed at the time washing of the vehicle stopped. Therefore, no matter how many times washing of the vehicle is repeated, washing of the vehicle may not be completed to the end, and the vehicle may not be washed properly, and time and cost may be wasted by repeatedly washing the vehicle.

A car wash according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a car wash that washes a vehicle by sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle, and includes a car wash main body that moves relative to the vehicle while washing the vehicle, and a control unit that controls each part of the car wash, and for each of the plurality of processing steps, the processing content when restarted after interruption is predetermined for each abnormality at the time of interruption, and when an abnormality is detected during the execution of the processing step, the control unit interrupts the processing step, and after the interruption, resumes the processing step according to the processing content defined for the processing step and corresponding to the abnormality.

In addition, a method for controlling a car wash machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling a car wash machine equipped with a car wash machine body that washes a vehicle while moving relative to the vehicle, and includes a washing process for washing the vehicle by sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle, and for each of the plurality of processing steps, the processing content when resumed after interruption is predetermined for each abnormality at the time of interruption, and the washing process includes an interruption process for interrupting the processing step when an abnormality is detected during the execution of the processing step, and a restart process for restarting the processing step after the interruption in accordance with the processing content defined for the processing step and corresponding to the abnormality.

This reduces the likelihood of vehicle washing being interrupted again after it is resumed. This allows for both reduced washing costs and time, and the reliable execution of any process that requires rerun.

1A and 1B are a schematic side view and a schematic front view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control method for the car wash machine according to the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling the car wash machine in a first washing step according to the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling a car wash machine in an abnormality determination step according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle and a side brush for illustrating a method of controlling the side brush when a brush abnormality occurs according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling the car wash machine in a second washing step according to the embodiment.

<Car wash machine overview>
In this embodiment, an example of a car wash machine that washes a vehicle in a washing process that sequentially executes a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle will be described. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline side 2S of a car wash machine main body 4 and a remote panel 6, and an outline front 4F of the car wash machine main body 4, which are provided in a car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment includes a car wash machine main body 4 that washes a vehicle X, which is a vehicle to be washed. The car wash machine 2 further includes a remote panel 6 that acquires the car wash conditions of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. In the outline side 2S, the outline of the remote panel 6 is shown by a dotted line to indicate that the remote panel 6 is located further back than the vehicle X toward the paper surface.

As shown in the schematic front view 4F, the car wash machine main body 4 includes, for example, two frames 8 and a ceiling portion 10 connecting the upper ends of the two frames 8. The car wash machine main body 4 has a structure that allows the vehicle X to pass through a space 4S surrounded by the frames 8 and the ceiling portion 10 along the approach direction DA of the vehicle X, as shown in the schematic side view 2S. In this specification, the approach direction DA is defined as the direction from the front surface 4A to the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4. In this embodiment, the front surface 4A is, for example, the surface on which the operation panel 42 described below is provided.

<Car wash machine body>
The car wash machine main body 4 has wheels 12 on the lower part of each of the frames 8, and by rotating the wheels 12 using a drive unit (not shown), the car wash machine main body 4 moves relatively to the vehicle X in the front-rear direction along rails R arranged on the ground G. The rails R are formed, for example, along the approach direction DA. Here, the car wash machine main body 4 washes the vehicle X in the space 4S while moving relatively to the vehicle X.

As shown in FIG. 1, the direction of movement of the car wash machine body 4 toward the front surface 4A is referred to as the forward direction D1, and the direction toward the rear surface 4B is referred to as the backward direction D2. Hereinafter, the movement of the car wash machine body 4 in the forward direction D1 may be simply referred to as the forward movement of the car wash machine body 4, and the movement of the car wash machine body 4 in the backward direction D2 may be simply referred to as the backward movement of the car wash machine body 4.

The car wash machine main body 4 is provided with multiple brushes that slide over and brush the vehicle X as one of the cleaning sections. For example, the brushes provided in the car wash machine main body 4 include a top brush 14, a side brush 16, and a rocker brush 18, each of which is rotated by a rotary motor (not shown). The top brush 14 slides along the top surface of the vehicle X to clean the top surface of the vehicle X. The side brush 16 and the rocker brush 18 clean both side surfaces of the vehicle X.

A tank storage section 20 is arranged on the side of the car wash machine main body 4, housing multiple liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquid agents including detergent or wax. Above the tank storage section 20, a distribution piping section 22 is provided that distributes water including city water or liquid agents from each liquid storage tank. From the distribution piping section 22, a first water purification nozzle 24, a second water purification nozzle 26, a first detergent nozzle 28, a second detergent nozzle 30, a water-repellent coating nozzle 32, and a wax nozzle 34, which are included in the cleaning section, are each led out via an electromagnetic valve (not shown).

The first water purification nozzle 24 and the second water purification nozzle 26 are arranged on the front 4A side and the rear 4B side of each frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4, respectively, and spray water including city water onto the vehicle X. The first detergent nozzle 28 and the second detergent nozzle 30 are arranged on the front 4A side and the rear 4B side of each frame 8, respectively, and spray cleaning liquid including shampoo etc. onto the vehicle X. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 and the wax nozzle 34 are arranged on the rear 4B of the car wash machine main body 4. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 sprays a liquid water-repellent coating agent onto the vehicle X. The wax nozzle 34 sprays wax onto the vehicle X.

The car wash machine main body 4 is also provided with a blower 36 that generates an air current to dry the vehicle X. A top air blowing nozzle 38 and a side air blowing nozzle 40 are connected to the blower 36. The top air blowing nozzle 38 is provided at the top center of the car wash machine main body 4 and blows air toward the ceiling surface of the vehicle X. The side air blowing nozzles 40 are provided on both sides of the car wash machine main body 4 and blow air toward the sides of the vehicle X. The car wash machine main body 4 dries the vehicle X after washing by blowing air from the top air blowing nozzle 38 and the side air blowing nozzle 40.

In FIG. 1, for simplicity, the illustration of each of the devices for washing vehicle X provided in the car wash machine main body 4 described above may be omitted. Also, the devices provided in the car wash machine main body 4 shown in FIG. 1 are merely examples, and in addition to the devices described above, the car wash machine main body 4 may be provided with devices for washing vehicle X and devices for assisting the washing, including conventionally known configurations, on the frame 8 or ceiling portion 10.

An operation panel 42 is disposed on the front of one of the frames 8 of the car wash machine main body 4. The operation panel 42 has operation buttons (not shown) for setting the car wash conditions. For example, a user who has dismounted from the vehicle X, or other technicians, etc., may operate the operation buttons to set the car wash conditions, etc.

<Control unit and remote panel>
Further, the car wash machine 2 includes a control unit 44 that controls the car wash machine main body 4. In particular, the control unit 44 controls the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 along the rail R and the operation of each part of the cleaning unit, thereby controlling the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may be provided in the car wash machine main body 4 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be located outside the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may transmit and receive information between the car wash machine main body 4 or a remote panel 6 described later by a communication device (not shown) or the like, and control the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 is composed of a processor such as a CPU, for example, and each control is realized by executing a control program stored in a memory on the processor.

The remote panel 6 is located, for example, on the front side of the car wash machine main body 4, and is arranged roughly along the direction of movement of the car wash machine main body 4. As shown in FIG. 1, the remote panel 6 is arranged so that its front face faces the side face of the vehicle X before it is washed by the car wash machine main body 4, in other words, before it enters the interior of the car wash machine main body 4. For this reason, the back face of the remote panel 6 is illustrated in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote panel 6 includes a housing 46 and a support column 48 that is erected on the ground G and supports the housing 46. The remote panel 6 may acquire at least a portion of the car wash conditions for the vehicle X to be washed by the car wash machine main body 4 through the operation of a touch panel or buttons (not shown) provided on the housing 46. The control unit 44 may control the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the vehicle X based on at least a portion of the car wash conditions acquired by the remote panel 6.

<Sensor>
The car wash machine main body 4 may further include an outlet sensor 50 and a vehicle shape sensor 52 as sensors. The outlet sensor 50 is located closer to the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4 than the above-mentioned side brushes 16, and the vehicle shape sensor 52 is located closer to the front surface 4A of the car wash machine main body 4 than the side brushes 16.

The exit sensor 50 is a sensor that detects whether or not the vehicle X has left the car wash area after the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4 is completed. The exit sensor 50 may be, for example, an optical axis sensor. In other words, the exit sensor 50 may be a sensor that determines whether or not an object is present between an optical element and an optical sensor by determining whether or not an optical sensor corresponding to an optical element detects electromagnetic waves such as infrared rays emitted from the optical element.

For example, after the washing of vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4 is completed, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 to a position where the exit sensor 50 detects vehicle X. Next, the control unit 44 informs the user in vehicle X to exit by using a voice from a speaker of the car wash machine main body 4 or an image on a monitor of the car wash machine main body 4. After this, the exit sensor 50 detects the exit of vehicle X from the car wash site because it no longer detects vehicle X after washing of vehicle X is completed. After the exit sensor 50 detects the exit of vehicle X from the car wash site, the control unit 44 may control each part, including the movement of the car wash machine main body 4, to accept the washing of the next vehicle X.

The vehicle shape sensor 52 is a sensor for measuring the external shape of the vehicle X to be washed. In particular, the vehicle shape sensor 52 detects the height of the vehicle X crossing a predetermined point. For example, the vehicle shape sensor 52 may have a plurality of optical axis sensors arranged in the vertical direction on the front side of the frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4 and on the space 4S side, with a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit arranged in a pair on each of the two frames 8. This allows the car wash machine main body 4 to estimate the height of the vehicle X for each position in a plan view from the change in the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X among the optical axis sensors included in the vehicle shape sensor 52. The control unit 44 may determine at least a part of the information on the external shape of the vehicle X from the detection result of the vehicle X by the vehicle shape sensor 52, and control each part of the cleaning unit based on the information to wash the vehicle X.

<Overview of vehicle washing method>
A method for washing a vehicle X using the car wash machine 2 will be described by explaining a method for controlling the car wash machine 2 with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing an example of a method for controlling the car wash machine 2.

In the control method for the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment, first, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car wash machine main body 4 or the remote panel 6 to accept a car wash request from a user of the vehicle X or the like (step S2). In the acceptance process, for example, the control unit 44 controls the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 to accept operations of the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 or the like from the user. As a result, the car wash machine 2 acquires information from the user, such as the setting of the car wash conditions for the vehicle X and the payment of the car wash fee.

Next, the control unit 44 controls the speaker of the car wash machine main body 4 or the monitor of the car wash machine main body 4 to guide the user in the vehicle X to move the vehicle X to a predetermined position and stop the vehicle X. In this embodiment, the control unit 44 guides the user to move the vehicle X, for example, to stop the vehicle X in front of the car wash machine main body 4.

In the reception process according to this embodiment, the car wash machine main body 4 is, for example, in a first initial position, which is the position furthest in the backward direction D2 within the movement range of the car wash machine main body 4. For example, the first initial position is the position of the car wash machine main body 4 when the wheels 12 are at the end of the rail R on the backward direction D2 side. The first initial position is also the position of the car wash machine main body 4 at the start of the first washing process described below.

<First cleaning process: Basic operation>
Following the reception step, the control unit 44 executes a first washing step through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4 (step S4). The first washing step will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a flow chart for explaining a method of controlling the car wash machine main body 4 in the first washing step.

In the first cleaning step, the control unit 44 first determines whether there is a cleaning unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have been recorded (step S4-2). Details of step S4-2 will be described in detail after the explanation of the interruption step and the like described later.

If the control unit 44 determines in step S4-2 that there is no washing unit with a predetermined number of recorded malfunctions or more, the control unit 44 starts the forward movement of the car wash machine main body 4 from the first initial position through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4, and starts washing the vehicle X (step S4-4). For example, the control unit 44 controls the rotational drive of the wheels 12 to move the car wash machine main body 4 from the first initial position toward the forward direction D1. As the car wash machine main body 4 continues to move forward, the vehicle X passes through the space 4S. Here, the control unit 44 cleans the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S by controlling each of the cleaning parts of the car wash machine main body 4.

In particular, in the first washing step, the control unit 44 controls the spraying of liquid from each nozzle provided in the car wash machine main body 4, and sprays the liquid onto the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. The control unit 44 also controls the movement and rotation of each brush provided in the car wash machine main body 4, and washes the vehicle X by sliding the brush over the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. In other words, the first washing step is a brushing step in which the brushes provided in the car wash machine main body 4 slide over the surface of the vehicle X. Thereafter, unless otherwise specified, the car wash machine main body 4 continues to move forward and wash the vehicle X passing through the space 4S.

After the car wash machine main body 4 moves forward and starts washing the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4, the control unit 44 determines whether the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the second initial position (step S4-6). Here, the second initial position is closer to the forward direction D1 side than the first initial position, for example, the position closest to the forward direction D1 side within the moving range of the car wash machine main body 4. For example, the second initial position is the position of the car wash machine main body 4 when the wheels 12 are at the end of the rail R on the forward direction D1 side. Alternatively, the second initial position may be the position of the car wash machine main body 4 at the time when the side brushes 16 have completed washing the rear surface of the vehicle X, or a position where the car wash machine main body 4 has moved forward a certain distance from that position.

In the first washing step, when the car wash machine main body 4 has washed the vehicle X passing through the space 4S while moving from the first initial position to the second initial position, it can be considered that washing of the vehicle X from the front end to the rear end by the car wash machine main body 4 has been completed. Step S4-6 may be performed, for example, by detecting that the wheels 12 are positioned at the end of the rail R in the forward direction D1, or by measuring the movement distance of the car wash machine main body 4 using a rotary encoder or the like. Alternatively, step S4-4 may be performed by detecting that washing of the rear surface of the vehicle X by the side brushes 16 has been completed, or by measuring the forward distance of the car wash machine main body 4 from that point in time.

In step S4-6, it is assumed that the control unit 44 determines that the car wash machine main body 4 has not yet moved to the second initial position. In this case, the control unit 44 determines whether a new abnormality has been detected during the execution of the first washing process (step S4-8). In this embodiment, an abnormality in the washing process of the vehicle X refers to an event that requires the operation of the car wash machine main body 4 to be temporarily interrupted and then resumed. Specific events that are included in the abnormality will be described in detail together with the explanation of the abnormality determination process described later.

If the control unit 44 determines in step S4-8 that no new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 continues the forward movement of the car wash machine main body 4 and the washing of the vehicle X through control of the car wash machine main body 4 (step S4-10). On the other hand, if the control unit 44 determines in step S4-8 that a new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 executes an interruption step in which the operation of the car wash machine main body 4 is interrupted (step S4-12). In the interruption step, for example, the control unit 44 interrupts the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4 by stopping the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 and stopping the operation of the washing unit.

Following the interruption step, the control unit 44 executes a control change step in which the control unit 44 identifies the abnormality detected in step S4-8 and changes the control content of the cleaning unit based on the identified abnormality (step S4-14). The control change step will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

<First cleaning process: Control change process: Malfunction>
After the operation of the car wash machine main body 4 is interrupted in the interruption step, the control unit 44 first determines whether the detected abnormality is an operational malfunction of the washing unit (step S10-2). For example, when an operational malfunction occurs in each of the washing units provided in the car wash machine main body 4, the washing unit may generate an abnormality signal indicating the operational malfunction and transmit the abnormality signal to the control unit 44. The control unit 44 may detect the operational malfunction of the washing unit by receiving the abnormality signal from each part of the washing unit.

For example, the control unit 44 may detect malfunction of the brushes, including malfunction of the brushes that makes it impossible to move or rotate due to a malfunction of the brushes. The control unit 44 may also detect malfunction of the nozzles, including malfunction of the nozzles that makes it impossible to spray liquid from the nozzles.

If the control unit 44 determines in step S10-2 that the detected abnormality is a malfunction of one of the cleaning units, the control unit 44 increments the record of the number of malfunctions for the cleaning unit in which the malfunction occurred by 1 (step S10-4). For example, in step S10-4, the control unit 44 may record the number of malfunctions for each cleaning unit individually in a memory (not shown) or the like. The number of malfunctions for each cleaning unit may be, for example, the cumulative number of times that a malfunction has been confirmed from the first operating day of the car wash machine 2 to the present time.

Following step S10-4, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so as to stop the operation of the malfunctioning cleaning unit (step S10-6). For example, if the malfunctioning cleaning unit is a brush, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the brush so as to stop the movement and rotation of the brush. If the malfunctioning cleaning unit is a nozzle, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the nozzle so as to stop the spraying of liquid from the nozzle.

<First cleaning process: Control change process: Brush abnormality>
In step S10-2, when the control unit 44 determines that the detected abnormality is not a malfunction of any of the cleaning units, the control unit 44 determines whether the detected abnormality is a brush abnormality (step S10-8). In this embodiment, the brush abnormality is an abnormality that is presumed to have occurred due to interference between the brush and the vehicle X during the brushing process in which the brush provided in the car wash machine main body 4 slides over the surface of the vehicle X.

For example, brush abnormalities include torque abnormalities of the brush caused by the brush getting caught on vehicle X. In general, when the rotation of the rotating brush is hindered by the brush getting caught on vehicle X due to the shape of vehicle X, or when the brush rotates in a position different from the normal position, a torque higher than normal is applied to the brush. For this reason, the control unit 44 may detect that a torque abnormality has occurred in a particular brush by detecting that a torque higher than a certain specified value is applied to the particular brush.

For example, the brush abnormality may include an overload of the rotary motor of the brush caused by the brush getting caught on the vehicle X. For example, the control unit 44 may detect that an overload has occurred in the rotary motor of a particular brush by detecting that a current higher than a certain specified value is flowing through the rotary motor of the particular brush.

In addition, for example, the brush abnormality includes an abnormal tilt of the brush that occurs when the brush moves to a position that is inappropriate for the shape of the vehicle X. The control unit 44 may detect that the tilt of a particular brush is abnormal by detecting that the tilt of the particular brush exceeds a specified range.

Each brush included in the car wash machine main body 4 may generate a signal having information including the torque of the brush, the current value flowing through the rotary motor, or the inclination at the time when the abnormality occurs, and transmit the signal to the control unit 44. The control unit 44 may determine the occurrence of a brush abnormality by receiving the signal from each brush.

<First cleaning process: Control change process: Regarding the control method of the side brush>
If the control unit 44 detects a brush abnormality in step S10-8, the control unit 44 executes a process of identifying the cause of the brush abnormality. In order to explain the process of the control unit 44 identifying the cause of the brush abnormality described above, a brush control method, an example of a reason for the occurrence of the brush abnormality, and a modified brush control method will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a process plan view of the side brush 16 and the vehicle, showing the trajectory of the side brush 16 when the vehicle X is washed by the side brush 16 in the first washing process.

In each process plan view of FIG. 5, only the outer shape of the vehicle that comes into contact with the side brush 16 is shown. In addition, in each process plan view of FIG. 5, only the side brush 16 is shown out of the various parts of the car wash machine main body 4. Furthermore, in each process plan view of FIG. 5, the positional relationship between the side brush 16 and the vehicle X, for example, immediately after the front of the vehicle X has been washed by the side brush 16, is shown. Furthermore, in each process plan view of FIG. 5, the trajectory of the side brush 16 thereafter is shown, as described below.

First, a normal control method of the side brush 16 by the control unit 44 when no abnormality occurs will be described with reference to step S4-A in FIG. 5. For example, the vehicle X has a bumper BP1 at the front end and a side mirror M behind the bumper BP1. In the first cleaning step, the control unit 44 cleans the side of the vehicle X by rotating the side brush 16 while moving it along the trajectory 16A shown in step S4-A in FIG. 5.

More specifically, after the side brushes 16 have washed the front of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 retracts each of the two side brushes 16 into the frame 8, sufficiently widening the distance between the two side brushes 16. Next, the control unit 44 advances the car wash machine main body 4 until each side brush 16 reaches the pressing position PA. Here, the distance from the front end of the vehicle X to the pressing position PA along the traveling direction of the vehicle X is defined as distance L1.

Next, the control unit 44 moves the two side brushes 16 closer to each other until they come into contact with the vehicle X. Here, the control unit 44 may receive a signal transmitted from each side brush 16, including data on the tilt caused by the contact with the vehicle X. The control unit 44 determines the position of the left and right sides of the vehicle X from the distance each side brush 16 has been moved by the time the side brush 16 comes into contact with the vehicle X.

Next, the control unit 44 determines the appropriate position of each side brush 16 from the determined positions of the left and right sides of the vehicle X, and controls the position of each side brush 16. For example, the control unit 44 controls the position of each side brush 16 so that the distance between the left and right sides of the vehicle X and each side brush 16 is distance L2.

Then, the control unit 44 controls the forward movement of the car wash machine main body 4 and the rotation of each side brush 16 while maintaining the distance L2 between the left and right sides of the vehicle X and each side brush 16, thereby cleaning the left and right sides of the vehicle X with the side brushes 16. The control unit 44 may receive signals including data on the inclination of each side brush 16 transmitted sequentially from each side brush 16 and control the position of the side brush 16. As a result, the control unit 44 may detect the contact between the side brush 16 and the side mirror M of the vehicle X, and control each side brush 16 to move away from the vehicle X with respect to the portion where the side mirror M is located. The control unit 44 may estimate the position of the side mirror M in advance from the shape of the vehicle X detected by the vehicle shape sensor 52 before the side brush 16 contacts the side mirror M.

<First cleaning process: Control change process: Brush abnormality caused by bumper>
Next, brush abnormalities caused by the shape of the bumper of the vehicle X will be described with reference to step S4-B in Fig. 5. For example, as in the case of vehicle XA shown in step S4-B in Fig. 5, depending on the type of vehicle, the vehicle may have a bumper BP2 that has a larger curved portion than the bumper BP1 of the vehicle X and that reaches the side surface. When attempting to wash the vehicle XA having such a bumper BP2 whose curved portion reaches the side surface using the side brush 16 under normal control, a brush abnormality may occur in the side brush 16.

For example, as shown by trajectory 16B, the side brushes 16 are brought close to each other and brought into contact with the side of vehicle XA. Here, because the bumper BP2 of vehicle XA has a larger curved portion than the bumper BP1, the side brush 16 comes into contact with the curved portion of the bumper BP2 of vehicle XA. In this case, the side brush 16 may slide on the curved surface of the bumper BP2 and tilt significantly toward the front end of vehicle XA, and the control unit 44 may detect a brush abnormality due to the abnormality in the tilt of the side brush. Furthermore, when the side brush 16 rotates in this state, a torque larger than normal is generated in the side brush 16, or the rotation motor of the side brush 16 may be overloaded, and the control unit 44 may detect a brush abnormality.

An example of a method for avoiding the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the shape of the bumper BP2 described above will be described with reference to step S4-C shown in FIG. 5. For example, it is possible to control the position of the side brush 16 along the trajectory 16C shown in step S4-C of FIG. 5. This allows the car wash machine 2 to avoid contact between the side brush 16 and the bumper BP2, and to avoid the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the shape of the bumper BP2.

For example, the control unit 44 positions each side brush 16 closer to the rear end of the vehicle XA than the pressing position PA when bringing the side brushes 16 closer to each other, thereby avoiding contact between the side brushes 16 and the bumper BP2. For example, the control unit 44 brings the side brushes 16 closer to each other at the pressing position PB, where the distance from the front end of the vehicle X is a distance L3 that is longer than distance L1.

As a result, each side brush 16 comes into contact with the side of the vehicle XA without coming into contact with the bumper BP2. After the side brush 16 comes into contact with the side of the vehicle XA, the control unit 44 may control the side brush 16 in the same manner as it controls a normal side brush 16.

<First cleaning process: Control change processing: Brush abnormality caused by fender>
Next, a brush abnormality caused by the shape of the fender of the vehicle X will be described with reference to step S4-D in Fig. 5. For example, as in the case of vehicle XB shown in step S4-D in Fig. 5, depending on the type of vehicle, the vehicle may have a fender OF that covers the periphery of the front wheel.

When attempting cleaning using the side brush 16 under normal control, the control unit 44 moves the side brush 16 along the trajectory 16D. More specifically, the control unit 44 causes the side brush 16 to abut against the side of the vehicle XB forward of the fender OF, and then moves the car wash machine main body 4 forward. For this reason, the control unit 44 may control the position of the side brush 16 based on the position of the side of the vehicle XB where the fender OF is not provided.

In this case, the control unit 44 performs cleaning of the fender OF with the side brush 16 in a state where the side brush 16 and the fender OF are closer than necessary and the force pressing the side brush 16 against the fender OF is stronger than necessary. Therefore, the side brush 16 may get caught on the fender OF, generating a large torque on the side brush 16 or overloading the rotation motor of the side brush 16, and the control unit 44 may detect a brush abnormality.

An example of a method for avoiding the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the shape of the fender OF described above will be described with reference to step S4-E shown in FIG. 5. For example, it is possible to control the position of the side brush 16 along the trajectory 16E shown in step S4-E of FIG. 5. This reduces the force with which the side brush 16 is pressed against the fender OF in the car wash machine 2, making it possible to avoid the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the fender OF.

For example, the control unit 44 abuts the side brush 16 against the vehicle XB at the pressing position PA, and then controls the position of each side brush 16 so that the distance between the left and right side of the vehicle XB and each side brush 16 is distance L4, which is longer than distance L2. This allows the control unit 44 to clean the side of the vehicle XB with the side brush 16 while reducing the force pressing each side brush 16 against the fender OF.

After the car wash machine body 4 has been moved forward sufficiently, the control unit 44 may control the side brush 16 in the same manner as the control of the normal side brush 16. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may control the side brush 16 taking into account that the fender OF is also formed around the rear wheel of the vehicle XB.

<First cleaning process: Control change process: Changing the control content in response to brush abnormality>
4, if the control unit 44 determines in step S10-8 that the detected abnormality is a brush abnormality, the control unit 44 determines whether the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred is the bumper of the vehicle X (step S10-10). For example, the control unit 44 may identify the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred, from the position of the brush when the brush abnormality occurred. For example, if the position of the side brush 16 when the brush abnormality occurred is the above-mentioned pressing position PA, the control unit 44 may identify the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred as the bumper of the vehicle X.

If the control unit 44 determines in step S10-10 that the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred was the bumper of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 determines that the detected brush abnormality is caused by the bumper of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 changes the brush control content so that the brush does not touch the surface of the bumper (step S10-12). For example, as described above, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the side brush 16 so that the position at which the side brush 16 is pressed against the vehicle X is changed from the pressing position PA to a pressing position PB closer to the rear end of the vehicle X. By controlling the brush with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can prevent the brush from being pressed against the bumper and reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the bumper.

In step S10-10, it is assumed that the control unit 44 determines that the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush malfunctioned was not the bumper of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 then determines whether the part against which the brush was in contact when the brush malfunctioned was the fender OF of the vehicle X (step S10-14). For example, if the position of the side brush 16 when the brush malfunctioned was a predetermined distance toward the rear end of the vehicle X from the pressing position PA described above, the control unit 44 may determine that the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush malfunctioned was the fender OF of the vehicle X.

If the control unit 44 determines in step S10-14 that the part of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred was the fender OF of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 determines that the detected brush abnormality is caused by the fender OF of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 changes the brush control content so as to reduce the force pressing the brush against the surface of the fender OF (step S10-16). For example, as described above, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the side brush 16 so that the distance between the side brush 16 and the left and right surfaces of the vehicle X becomes distance L4, which is longer than distance L2. By controlling the brush with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can reduce the force pressing the brush against the fender OF and reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the fender OF.

<First cleaning process: Control change process: Unknown abnormality>
In step S10-14, it is assumed that the control unit 44 determines that the portion of the vehicle X against which the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred is not the fender OF of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 determines that although the detected abnormality is a brush abnormality, the brush abnormality is caused by something other than the bumper and the fender OF of the vehicle X.

For example, the control unit 44 then changes the brush control content so that the distance between the brush and the surface of the vehicle X that the brush was in contact with when the brush abnormality occurred is increased (steps S10-18). For example, the control unit 44 identifies the position on the surface of the vehicle X that the brush was in contact with when the brush abnormality occurred, from the position of the brush when the brush abnormality occurred. Next, when the brush is in that position, the control unit 44 changes the brush control content so that the brush is moved further away from the vehicle X than usual. By controlling the brush with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can reduce the force pressing the brush against the surface of the vehicle X described above, and reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities.

Here, the identification of the cause of the brush abnormality and the change in the control content in response to the brush abnormality described with reference to FIG. 5 have both been described using the side brush 16 as an example. However, steps S4-8 to S4-18 in this embodiment are not limited to the process of identifying the cause of the brush abnormality in the side brush 16 and changing the control content.

For example, steps S4-8 to S4-18 according to this embodiment may be steps for identifying the cause of a brush abnormality in any of the brushes, including the top brush 14 or the rocker brush 18, included in the car wash machine main body 4, and changing the control content. For any brush abnormality in any of the brushes, in steps S4-8 to S4-18, the control unit 44 changes the brush control content in the brushing process so that the distance between the brush and the vehicle X becomes longer than when the brush was interrupted.

If the control unit 44 determines in step S10-8 that the detected abnormality is not a brush abnormality, the control unit 44 determines that the cause of the abnormality is unknown. In this case, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so that the operation of the cleaning unit is stopped while the car wash machine main body 4 is located before or after the position at which the abnormality occurred (step S10-20).

For example, the control unit 44 identifies the position of the car wash machine main body 4 when the abnormality occurs. Next, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the washing unit so that the operation of each part of the washing unit is stopped if the car wash machine main body 4 is located before or after that position. By controlling each part of the washing unit with the changed control content, the control unit 44 does not operate the washing unit before or after the position where the abnormality occurred even when the cause of the abnormality is unknown, thereby reducing the occurrence of abnormalities due to the same cause.

By performing steps S10-2 to S10-20 described above, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit of the car wash machine main body 4 based on the abnormality that has occurred. Upon completion of steps S10-2 to S10-20, the control unit 44 completes step S4-14, in other words, the control change process.

<First cleaning step: re-execution>
3, following step S4-14, the control unit 44 controls the rotational drive of the wheels 12 to move the car wash machine body 4 to the first initial position (step S4-16). In step S4-16, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine body 4 backward, for example, until the wheels 12 reach the most rearward direction D2 side of the rail R. Therefore, when step S4-16 is completed, the car wash machine body 4 is in the first initial position, in other words, the car wash machine body 4 is in the same position as when the first washing process was started.

Next, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car wash machine main body 4 to move the car wash machine main body 4 forward from the first initial position and resume washing of the vehicle X according to the changed control content of the washing unit (step S4-18). In other words, in step S4-18, the control unit 44 controls each washing unit of the car wash machine main body 4 according to the control content of the washing unit changed in step S4-14, and executes the first washing process again.

In step S4-14, the control unit 44 changes the control content of each washing unit based on the abnormality that previously occurred. In other words, the first washing process is interrupted due to the detection of an abnormality, and the processing content when restarted after the interruption is determined for each abnormality. Furthermore, in step S4-14, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the washing unit so that the processing content corresponding to the abnormality determined for the first washing process is executed after restart. Therefore, step S4-18 is a restart process in which the first washing process is restarted with the processing content corresponding to the abnormality. Therefore, from step S4-18 onwards, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the reoccurrence of a previously occurring abnormality.

Note that step S4-16 may be executed by the control unit 44 detecting an operation of the operation panel 42 or the like by the user after the interruption process and the control change process are performed. Also, step S4-18 may be executed by the control unit 44 detecting an operation of the operation panel 42 or the like by the user after the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the first initial position in step S4-16.

In steps S4-16 and S4-18 according to this embodiment, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 to the first initial position, and then executes the first washing process again. However, this is not limited to this, and the car wash machine main body 4 may move the car wash machine main body 4 to a position slightly forward from the first initial position in step S4-16, as long as washing of the vehicle X in the first washing process can be executed again from the front of the vehicle X in step S4-18. For example, the car wash machine 2 may move the car wash machine main body 4 in step S4-16 to a position where the front of the vehicle X can be washed by the side brushes 16.

Following step S4-18, the control unit 44 again performs the judgment in step S4-6. As a result, even after the first cleaning process is restarted, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S4-6 to S4-10 unless a new abnormality is detected. Here, if a new abnormality is detected in step S4-8, the control unit 44 executes steps S4-12 to S4-18 again. If steps S4-12 to S4-18 have been executed multiple times, the control unit 44 may execute the first cleaning process again by adding new changes to the control content of the cleaning unit to the changes that have occurred up to that point.

As a result, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S4-4 to S4-18 until it is determined in step S4-4 that the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the second initial position. If the control unit 44 determines in step S4-4 that the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the second initial position, the control unit 44 stops the forward movement of the car wash machine main body 4 and the washing of the vehicle X (step S4-20).

In step S4-20, the control unit 44 stops the operation of the car wash machine main body 4, for example, in a manner similar to that of step S4-12, and stops the forward movement of the car wash machine main body 4 and the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. Upon completion of step S4-20, the car wash machine 2 completes the first washing process.

If an abnormality caused by a malfunction of the cleaning unit is detected in the first washing process, the record of the number of times the cleaning unit has malfunctioned is incremented by one in step S10-4 described above, but this record may be maintained even when another vehicle X is washed. Therefore, when another vehicle X is washed by the car wash machine 2, one malfunction of the cleaning unit is recorded in step S4-2.

In addition, when multiple vehicles X are washed using the car wash machine 2, the malfunction of the washing unit may be recorded multiple times. In particular, there is a high probability that an abnormality caused by a malfunction of the washing unit will occur even when other vehicles X are washed using the car wash machine 2 until the malfunction is resolved by servicing the washing unit, etc. For this reason, in step S4-2, the malfunction of the washing unit may be recorded multiple times.

If it is determined in step S4-2 that there is a cleaning unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have been recorded, the control unit 44 stops the operation of the cleaning unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have been recorded (step S4-22). In other words, the control unit 44 applies the process content corresponding to the malfunction of the cleaning unit, that is, washing the vehicle X in a state in which the operation of the cleaning unit is stopped, to the execution of the first cleaning process during the period in which the malfunction of the cleaning unit continues.

By means of step S4-22, the car wash machine 2 can stop the operation of the washing unit that is malfunctioning before the car wash machine main body 4 actually washes the vehicle X. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the occurrence of detection of an abnormality caused by a malfunction of the washing unit and interruption of the operation of the car wash machine main body 4 each time the car wash machine 2 washes the vehicle X.

In addition, if an abnormality occurs during the washing process of a certain vehicle X due to a sudden malfunction of the washing unit, the malfunction of the washing unit may not occur during the washing process of another vehicle X. Therefore, in step S4-22, the operation of the washing unit is not stopped unless a malfunction of the washing unit is confirmed a predetermined number of times or more, thereby reducing unnecessary stopping of the washing unit.

In step S4-2, the control unit 44 may stop the operation of a cleaning unit that has recorded a malfunction a predetermined number of times or more in a certain predetermined period of time if it is determined that there is a cleaning unit that has recorded a malfunction a predetermined number of times or more. For example, the control unit 44 may stop the operation of a cleaning unit that has recorded a malfunction a predetermined number of times or more in a day if it is determined that there is a cleaning unit that has recorded a malfunction a predetermined number of times or more. In this way, the control unit 44 reduces unnecessary stopping of the operation of the cleaning unit, for example, even when the car wash machine 2 has been used for a long period of time and the cumulative number of sudden malfunctions of the cleaning unit reaches a predetermined number or more.

In this embodiment, the malfunction of the parts of the car wash machine main body 4 has been described using the cleaning unit as an example of malfunction, but is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 44 may detect a malfunction of a part of the car wash machine main body 4 other than the cleaning unit, such as a sensor provided in the car wash machine main body 4. Furthermore, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the part so as to stop the operation of the part after the first cleaning process is resumed.

<Second cleaning step>
Returning to FIG. 2, following the first washing step, the control unit 44 executes a second washing step as a washing step for washing the vehicle X by the car wash machine 2 through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4 (step S6). In the second washing step, the car wash machine 2 washes the vehicle X through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4 by the control unit 44, as in the first washing step. In other words, the second washing step is included in one of a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle X, which are sequentially executed by the car wash machine 2. The second washing step will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method for controlling the car wash machine main body 4 in the second washing step.

In the second washing step, the control unit 44 first determines whether there is a washing unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have been recorded (step S6-2) in the same manner as in step S4-2. In step S6-2, for example, the number of malfunctions recorded when the car wash machine 2 washed another vehicle X, or the number of malfunctions recorded in the first washing step that has already been performed, may be recorded.

If it is determined in step S6-2 that there is a washing unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have been recorded, the control unit 44 stops the operation of the washing unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have been recorded in the same manner as in step S4-22 (step S6-4). As a result, the car wash machine 2 performs the second washing process in a state in which the operation of the washing unit for which a malfunction has been detected in a washing process that has already been performed, such as the first washing process, has been stopped. Note that even in step S6-4, the operation of a washing unit for which a predetermined number of malfunctions have not been recorded is not stopped. As a result, the car wash machine 2 can reduce unnecessary stops of the operation of the washing unit, for example, even when a sudden malfunction of the washing unit occurs in the first washing process, etc., and the washing unit can be used normally in the second washing process.

Following step S6-2 or step S6-4, the control unit 44 determines whether the brush control content has been changed in the first cleaning process (step S6-6). For example, if the control unit 44 has changed the brush control content in step S4-14, the control unit 44 may record the control content. Also, in step S6-6, the control unit 44 determines whether the cleaning unit control content has been changed in the first cleaning process by checking whether there is any recorded control content.

If it is determined in step S6-6 that there is a cleaning unit whose control content has been changed in the first cleaning process, the control unit 44 changes the brush control content based on the brush control content changed in the first cleaning process (step S6-8). For example, the control unit 44 changes the brush control content changed in the first cleaning process in accordance with the control content recorded in step S4-14.

As mentioned above, brush abnormalities are often caused by the shape of the vehicle X. For this reason, if the brush is controlled with normal control content in the second washing process, there is a high probability that the brush abnormality will occur again when the part of the vehicle X that caused the brush abnormality is washed with the brush. For this reason, by performing steps S6-8, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the occurrence of a brush abnormality again when the part of the vehicle X that caused the brush abnormality in the first washing process is washed with the brush.

Following step S6-2 or step S6-4, the control unit 44 starts reverse movement of the car wash machine main body 4 from the second initial position through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4, and starts washing the vehicle X (step S6-10). In step S6-10, the control unit 44, for example, moves the car wash machine main body 4 from the second initial position in the reverse direction D2, and washes the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S, as in the first washing process. Note that if the control content of any of the washing units has been changed between the execution of step S6-2 and the execution of step S6-10, the control unit 44 controls that washing unit according to the changed control content from step S6-10 onwards.

Note that if only an abnormality with an unidentified cause occurs in the first cleaning process and a change is made to the control content of the cleaning unit, no change is made to the control content of the cleaning unit between the execution of step S6-2 and the execution of step S6-10. In this way, if only an abnormality with an unidentified cause occurs in the first cleaning process, the control unit 44 may control the cleaning unit with normal control content in the second cleaning process.

For example, if an abnormality of unknown cause occurs in the first washing process, the abnormality may be specific to the first washing process in which the car wash machine main body 4 moves forward to wash the vehicle X. In this case, even if the control unit 44 controls the washing unit with normal control content in the second washing process, no abnormality may occur. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can reduce unnecessary changes to the control content of the washing unit in the second washing process.

However, in this embodiment, this is not limited to the above, and even if a change in the control content of the washing unit is made due to an abnormality of unknown cause, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the washing unit in the second washing process based on the changed control content. In this way, if a change in the control content of the washing unit is made due to some abnormality in the first washing process, the control unit 44 may change the control content of each part of the car wash machine main body 4 in the second washing process based on the changed control content.

After the car wash machine main body 4 starts moving backward and washing the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4, the control unit 44 determines whether the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the first initial position (step S6-12). In the second washing process, when the car wash machine main body 4 moves from the second initial position to the first initial position and washes the vehicle X passing through the space 4S, it can be considered that washing of the vehicle X from the rear end to the front end by the car wash machine main body 4 has been completed. Step S6-12 may be performed, for example, by a method similar to that of step S4-6.

In step S6-12, it is assumed that the control unit 44 determines that the car wash machine main body 4 has not yet moved to the first initial position. In this case, the control unit 44 determines whether a new abnormality has been detected during the execution of the second washing process (step S6-14). If the control unit 44 determines in step S6-14 that a new abnormality has not been detected, the control unit 44 continues to reverse the car wash machine main body 4 and wash the vehicle X through control of the car wash machine main body 4 (step S6-16). On the other hand, if the control unit 44 determines in step S6-14 that a new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 executes an interruption process in which the operation of the car wash machine main body 4 is interrupted (step S6-18) in the same manner as in step S4-12.

Following the interruption step, the control unit 44 executes a control change step in which the control unit 44 identifies the abnormality detected in step S4-8 and changes the control content of the cleaning unit based on the identified abnormality (step S6-20). The control change step for the second cleaning step may be executed by the same method as the control change step for the first cleaning step. In other words, the control change step for the second cleaning step may be executed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

Following step S6-20, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 to the first initial position through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4, and executes the first washing process again in accordance with the changed control content of the washing unit (step S6-22). In step S6-22, for example, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 backwards until the wheel 12 reaches the most rearward direction D2 side of the rail R. Next, the control unit 44 executes the first washing process again in the same manner as described above, except that the control content of the washing unit of the car wash machine main body 4 has been changed.

When the first washing process is re-executed in step S6-22, the control content of the washing section of the car wash machine main body 4 by the control unit 44 is changed according to the abnormality that has occurred so far. Therefore, even when the first washing process is re-executed in step S6-22, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the reoccurrence of the abnormality that previously occurred.

However, if an abnormality occurs when the first washing process is re-executed, the control unit 44 may interrupt the operation of the car wash machine main body 4, identify the abnormality, and change the control content of the washing unit according to the abnormality. If the control content of the washing unit is changed when the first washing process is re-executed, the control unit 44 may also change the control content of the washing unit in the subsequent second washing process.

Next, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car wash machine main body 4 to move the car wash machine main body 4 backward from the second initial position and resume washing of the vehicle X according to the changed control content of the washing unit (step S6-24). In other words, in step S6-24, the control unit 44 controls each washing unit of the car wash machine main body 4 according to the control content of the washing unit changed in step S6-20 and the re-executed first washing process, and executes the second washing process again.

In step S6-20, the control unit 44 changes the control content of each washing unit based on the abnormality that previously occurred. In other words, in the second washing process, the processing content when restarting after interruption is determined for each abnormality. Furthermore, in step S6-20, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the washing unit so that the processing content corresponding to the abnormality determined for the second washing process is executed after restart. Therefore, step S6-24 is a restart process in which the third washing process is restarted with the processing content corresponding to the abnormality. Therefore, from step S6-24 onwards, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the reoccurrence of a previously occurring abnormality.

After step S6-24, the control unit 44 again performs the judgment in step S6-12. As described above, even after the second cleaning process is restarted, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S6-12 to S6-16 unless a new abnormality is detected. If a new abnormality is detected in step S6-14, the control unit 44 executes steps S6-18 to S6-24 again. If steps S6-18 to S4-24 have been executed multiple times, the control unit 44 may execute the first cleaning process and the second cleaning process again by adding new changes to the control content of the cleaning unit to the changes that have occurred up to that point.

As a result, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S6-12 to S6-24 until it is determined in step S6-12 that the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the first initial position. If the control unit 44 determines in step S6-12 that the car wash machine main body 4 has moved to the first initial position, the control unit 4 stops reverse movement of the car wash machine main body 4 and washing of the vehicle X (step S6-26). Upon completion of step S6-26, the car wash machine 2 completes the second washing process.

<Drying process>
Returning to Fig. 2, following the second washing step, the control unit 44 executes a drying step of drying the vehicle X by the car wash machine 2 through control of each part of the car wash machine main body 4 (step S8). In this embodiment, the drying step is a step of drying the vehicle X washed by the car wash machine main body 4 by the car wash machine main body 4, and may be included in the washing step of washing the vehicle X by the car wash machine 2 described above. In other words, the drying step may be included in one of a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle X that are sequentially executed by the car wash machine 2.

In the drying process, the control unit 44 controls the blower 36 of the car wash machine body 4 to blow air to each blower nozzle and controls the position of each blower nozzle while moving the car wash machine body 4 forward from the first initial position through control of each part of the car wash machine body 4. As a result, the car wash machine body 4 dries the vehicle X by blowing air to the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. For example, the control unit 44 dries the vehicle X by the car wash machine body 4 until the car wash machine body 4 moves to the second initial position. As a result, drying is performed from the front end to the rear end of the vehicle X, and the drying process is completed. Note that the control unit 44 may stop the forward movement of the car wash machine body 4 and the drying of the vehicle X and complete the drying process at the point in time when it is determined that the drying of the vehicle X by the car wash machine body 4 has been completed, even before the car wash machine body 4 moves to the second initial position.

If the control unit 44 detects an abnormality even during the drying process, the control unit 44 changes the control content of each part of the car wash machine main body 4 in response to the abnormality. For example, suppose that an abnormality occurs during the drying process, in which a malfunction of each air blower nozzle makes it impossible to change the position of each air blower nozzle. In this case, the control unit 44 may control the drying of the vehicle X by controlling the blowing of air from the blower 36 to each air blower nozzle without changing the position of each air blower nozzle. Alternatively, suppose that an abnormality occurs during the drying process, in which a malfunction of the blower 36 makes it impossible to blow air to each air blower nozzle. In this case, the control unit 44 may omit the drying process and inform the user in the vehicle X of the omission of the drying process and the exit of the vehicle X by a method described below.

Upon completion of the drying process, the washing of vehicle X using the car wash machine 2 is completed. After completion of the drying process, the control unit 44 may notify the user in vehicle X to exit by using a voice from a speaker of the car wash machine main body 4 or a signal light, etc. For example, as described above, the control unit 44 may move the car wash machine main body 4 to a position where the exit sensor 50 detects vehicle X, and notify the user in vehicle X to exit. In this case, the control unit 44 may detect the exit of vehicle X from the car wash by confirming that the exit sensor 50 no longer detects vehicle X.

Following completion of the drying process, the control unit 44 may control each part, including the movement of the car wash machine main body 4, to accept the washing of the next vehicle X. Here, if a malfunction of the washing unit of the car wash machine main body 4 has been recorded a predetermined number of times or more during the washing process of the previous vehicle X, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the car wash machine main body 4 so as to stop the operation of the washing unit during the washing process of the next vehicle X.

<Summary>
The car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment washes the vehicle X by sequentially executing a first washing step, a second washing step, and a drying step as a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle X. Here, for each of the processing steps including the first washing step, the second washing step, and the drying step, processing contents after interruption are predetermined for each abnormality. Furthermore, after interruption in each of the first washing step, the second washing step, and the drying step, the control unit 44 resumes the processing step in accordance with the processing contents corresponding to the abnormality.

As a result, the car wash machine 2 can properly execute the process and improve the probability of completing the process without interruption, compared to when the car wash machine main body 4 is operated normally after restarting. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can achieve both reduced washing costs and washing time and reliable execution of a process that requires re-execution.

In particular, each of the first and second cleaning processes is a brushing process in which a brush is used to slide over the surface of the vehicle X. In the brushing process, the processing content corresponding to the brush abnormality includes processing to control the brush so that the distance between the brush and the vehicle X becomes longer than when the process was interrupted. This allows the car wash machine 2 to reduce the possibility of a brush abnormality occurring when the brushing process is executed again.

In general, brush abnormalities are often caused by the external shape of the vehicle being washed by the car wash machine, and the frequency of brush abnormalities tends to increase especially when the vehicle has an unusual external shape. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 reduces the possibility of brush abnormalities occurring when re-running, thereby improving the possibility of completing the washing process for the vehicle X regardless of the shape of the vehicle X.

In particular, when a brush abnormality occurs during the brushing process due to the shape of the bumper or the shape of the fender of the vehicle X, the car wash machine 2 resumes the brushing process according to the unique processing steps corresponding to each when the brushing process is resumed. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the possibility of a brush abnormality occurring when the process is resumed, regardless of the shape of the bumper of the vehicle X or the presence or absence of a fender, etc.

In the above-mentioned processing steps, the processing content corresponding to an abnormality caused by a malfunction of a part of the car wash machine main body 4 includes a process of stopping the operation of the part and restarting the processing step. Here, when an abnormality caused by a malfunction of a part of the car wash machine main body 4 occurs during a processing step, the car wash machine 2 applies the stop of the operation of the part during the execution of each processing step thereafter for the period during which the malfunction continues. In this way, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the number of times that an abnormality caused by a malfunction of a part of the car wash machine main body 4 is detected multiple times, and can reduce interruptions of the washing process.

The car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment can reduce the wasteful consumption of city water, cleaning agents, etc. by reducing the occurrence of multiple interruptions in the washing process due to the same abnormality. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can contribute to the achievement of Goal 6 "Clean Water and Sanitation" and Goal 12 "Responsible Consumption and Production" of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining different technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments are also included in the technical scope of this disclosure.

2 Car wash machine 4 Car wash machine body 14 Top brush (brush)
16 Side brush (brush)
18 Rocker brush (brush)
44 Control unit

Claims (2)

A car wash machine that washes a vehicle by sequentially performing a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle,
a car wash machine body that moves relative to the vehicle while washing the vehicle;
A control unit that controls each unit of the car wash machine,
One of the plurality of processing steps is a brushing step in which a rotating brush provided in the car wash machine body is slid over the surface of the vehicle,
The control unit is
When a rotating brush abnormality that is presumably caused by interference between the rotating brush and the vehicle is detected during the brushing process, the brushing process is interrupted;
After the interruption, the brushing process is resumed according to a process corresponding to the abnormality in the rotating brush, which process is determined for the brushing process;
The processing content includes a process of controlling the rotating brush so that the distance between the center of the rotating brush and the vehicle is longer than during the brushing process before the brushing process is interrupted. the brushing step includes a step of sliding the rotating brush over a surface of the vehicle fender,
The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the rotating brush abnormality includes a rotating brush abnormality that is presumed to be caused by interference between the rotating brush and a surface of a fender of the vehicle.

Images