Bicycle wash

Abstract

Bicycle washing system (1) with a bicycle fixing device (30) in which a bicycle (80, 80') is held during a washing process carried out in the bicycle washing system and which has, characterized in that the bicycle fixing device (30) has a means for clamping a front part (91) of the bicycle, wherein the means for clamping acts between a handlebar (87) of the bicycle and a ground (40) on which the bicycle stands with a front wheel (82) during the washing process, in that a force can be applied to an upper side (92) of the handlebar with the means for clamping the front part, so that the front part of the bicycle can be pressed towards the ground.

Description

The present invention relates to a bicycle washing apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.Technical FieldThe bicycle market has changed greatly in recent years and has seen high growths, especially due to the sale of electric bicycles, so-called e-bikes. Bicycles, however, are not only purchased, but are increasingly leased. Thus, for example for rentalers and rental stations, the problem arises that the bicycles must be cleaned after the rental in order that they are cleanly available for the next rental operation. Hand washing is not only time consuming, but also consumes a lot of water. In addition, grease residues, for example from the bicycle chain lubrication, pass into the wash water and thus into the canalisation. Bicycle laundry is also useful in that removing dirt, mud and other debris extends the life of the bicycle and reduces maintenance costs and wear.Prior ArtFor these reasons, efforts have been made in recent years to build bicycle washing installations with which a bicycle can be washed and cleaned in an automated manner and which-ideally-can use the water several times. Examples of such bicycle washing installations can be found in DE 10 2020 134 327 A1, DE 10 2011 052 215 A1 and US 2010 / 0307531 A1. Some bicycle washing installations are also now on the market, for example the bicycle washing installation "cyb® bikewash" from cyb tech UG, Munich, https: / / cleanour-bike.com, which washes with a rotating large brush pair in a similar manner to a car washing installation, or the semi-automated washing installation "bio-circle®", https: / / bicycle washing installation.bio-circle.de, of which it is stated that the water is circulated.In order to be cleaned in the bicycle washing facility, the bicycle must be set in the latter or at least be adjusted in such a way that the cleaning devices, such as brushes, can become active. In principle, there are two basic variants here; on the one hand, there are systems in which the handlebar and saddle are not in the actual washing region of the bicycle washing system, i.e. they project from the top of the washing system, for example in US 2010 / 0307531 A1 already cited above and in DE 10 2020 134 327 A1 and DE 10 2011 052 215 A1 likewise already cited above. In the other basic type, the bicycle is completely located in the wash booth or wash chamber during washing. Here too, however, it must be fixed in some way so that it does not flip over when the sprayed-on water occurs or, if present, when washed with brushes. In this version, too, different approaches are known in principle, for example US 2010 / 0307531 A1 engages on the down tube of the bicycle with the aid of a hook and holds it firmly in this way (cf. FIG. 1 there). In CN 106 915 335 A, the bicycle is braced on longitudinal rods in such a way that it can be supported there with the pedals. Points of application on the seat tube are also known. Alternatively, fixing takes place via the link. In EP 0 637 531 B1, a suspension device is provided for this purpose, which consists of a hook attached to a support above the bicycle in the handlebar region, wherein a further hook is provided in the saddle region. DE 295 13 590 U1 proposes a bicycle box with a holder for engaging a bicycle on its handlebar for parking a bicycle. The handlebar of the bicycle is connected to the knuckle arm via the bracket. It follows from the description and the figures that this holder holds the link by gripping it around on both sides of the link clamping point on the link rod. This makes it possible for the bicycle to be pushed into and out of the bicycle box while standing on the guide channel, via the articulated arm connected to a carriage on an upper rail. The steering rod must consequently be firmly connected to the articulated arm via the holder. A mere suspension as in EP 0 637 531 B1, for example, would be unsuitable.All the holders on the frame or seat tube have the disadvantage that there is shadow formation during the washing process, so that insufficiently cleaned sites remain. When a bicycle washing facility is used in the industrial field, for example at bicycle rental stations or for preparing used bicycles for sale, this is unacceptable or produces too much manual work in the follow-up. The fastening to the handlebar via a hook, as described for example in EP 0 637 531 B1, is not sufficiently secure against tilting and there is the risk that the bicycle will easily slide out of the hook. A very exact setting is also necessary, because otherwise the hook does not engage under the bicycle sufficiently. The fitting of a holder as in DE 295 13 590 U1 is also relatively time-consuming, since the connecting rod must be enclosed therewith. Also, most often any structures are attached to handlebar rods, such as brakes, bells, cycle computers, or battery state of charge indicators. Also shopping baskets and the like are easily attached to the handlebar. Although the superstructures or the devices inserted therein, such as electronic displays and smartphones, have to be removed for cleaning, the holders and also ringing and brakes are also present on the handlebar during the washing process. As a result, either the holder cannot be placed because there is just one superstructure, or superstructures may be damaged.Object Setting Up To AchieveIt is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a bicycle washing facility such that the bicycle is securely held in the bicycle washing facility, that it is easy to fix and that it can also be used for different bicycle sizes and bicycle types.Description of the InventionThis object is achieved by a bicycle washing installation according to claim 1.The bicycle washing device according to the invention has a bicycle fixing device. The bicycle is held therein during the washing process. In other words, a bicycle fixing device is referred to as a component of a bicycle washing system which serves to hold the bicycle in a stable position during the washing process, wherein the bicycle is preferably held in an upright position according to the invention, i.e. in a position in which the two wheels stand on the ground and the frame with saddle and handlebar stands more or less vertically above the wheels.According to the invention, a means for clamping a front part of a bicycle is provided as part of the bicycle fixing device. With the aid of the means for clamping, a force can be applied to an upper side of a bicycle handlebar in such a way that the front part of the bicycle is pressed in the direction of the underlying surface, that is to say toward the ground on which the bicycle stands. In other words, the means clamps the front part of the bicycle between the ground on which the front wheel stands and the handlebar.It has been found in experiments that such a means is very practicable in application. The means for clamping is placed on top of the handlebar and a force is applied, thereby pressing the front part of the bicycle onto the ground. As a result, the bicycle is already standing on the ground in a very stable manner and at the same time is freely accessible from all sides. In particular, the very elongated parts such as wheels, chain, pedals, frames, etc. are accessible on all sides without a holder, as in the prior art, partly shading the bicycle. At the same time, this means is applicable to any bicycle size, because it simply needs to be lowered further, in order to fix a child bicycle, for example.After the washing process, the agent is dissolved and the bicycle can be removed from the cleaning chamber, thus from the bicycle washing installation.In a preferred embodiment, an adjustment rail is provided. This adjustment rail is the base on which the bicycle stands with at least the front wheel during the washing process. In the preferred embodiment, an adjustment rail is consequently provided, which is in particular configured in the manner of a trough or trough and in which at least the front wheel, but particularly preferably both wheels of the bicycle, are adjusted. This on the one hand facilitates positioning of the bicycle, i.e. the user knows exactly where the wheels are to be adjusted or the front wheel is to be added. In addition, this achieves exact positioning of the bicycle front part relative to the rear part, i.e. rotation about the axis of rotation on the handlebar tube does not take place, but rather the bicycle is adjusted to be elongate. Moreover, a trough-like or trough-like adjusting rail prevents the wheels from slipping in the lateral direction, as might occur in the case of a wet, flat substrate.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the means for clamping is a handlebar clamping device which can be placed on the upper side of the handlebar and which can be lowered in the direction of the underlying surface, whereby the front part of the bicycle, more precisely the handlebar of the bicycle with the entire front part of the bicycle, is clamped between the underlying surface and the handlebar clamping device.The link clamping device is particularly preferably pneumatically or electrically height-adjustable, wherein in the most preferred embodiment a pneumatic height adjustment is provided. This is less susceptible to problems and can be used safely, in particular in the wet environment of a bicycle washing installation. With the aid of the pneumatic height adjustment, the link clamping device will act on the link rod and press it in the direction of the underlying surface and thus effect the clamping. A pneumatically height-adjustable or electrically height-adjustable handlebar clamping device is particularly comfortable to operate; both the lowering and the release of the contact pressure can be effected quite easily for a user. It is also possible, with the aid of a suitable control, to adjust this in such a way that it is not possible to exert too much or too little pressure.The link clamping device preferably has two fixing arms. Each fixing arm is provided for being placed on a link half.In an even more preferred embodiment, the two fixing arms are laterally adjustable in one plane. It is thereby possible to place each fixing arm at a location of the link which is free of superstructures and / or which is particularly well suited for other reasons as a support surface for a fixing arm. For this purpose, the first and the second fixing arm are particularly preferably at an angle α to one another. This angle α is adjustable and is preferably between 30° and 150°.As already mentioned, the fixing arms are preferably rotatably mounted in a horizontal plane. It is preferably provided that the first and the second fixing arm are coupled to one another via intermediate gear sections, also called gear segments. It is then sufficient that one of the two fixing arms is moved horizontally in order to adjust the angle α. Via the gearwheel segment or the toothed wheel segments engaging one another, the second fixing arm is also moved correspondingly. The adjustment is thus simpler. The tooth size or the tooth distance specifies a fixed amount in which the angle α can be adjusted.According to an even more preferred embodiment, flexible material in the form of a fixing strip is applied to the underside of each fixing arm. Any material which is relatively soft, at least in comparison to e.g. the guide element material, and which can adapt to a surface contour of another object is suitable as such a flexible material. The adaptation should of course be reversible, since in a bicycle washing facility, a great many different bicycles are washed, each having, for example, different handlebar widths and handlebar contours. The presence of the resilient material has the great advantage that existing structures are not damaged or scratched. It is thus possible, for example, also to place a fixing arm on the bell without the bell being damaged in the process.Particularly preferably, rubber or a rubber-containing material is used as the flexible material of the fixing strip. Even more preferably, this is not a block made of a rubber material, but rather divided material, for example in the manner of rubber knobs, rubber lamellae, rubber bristles and / or rubber stops. Such a material fits well to surface contours and easily maintains permanent wetness.As mentioned above, the means for clamping the bicycle front part is already sufficient to secure a bicycle in the bicycle washing system according to the invention during the washing process. According to a preferred embodiment, an adjustment groove or adjustment rail is additionally provided on the subgrade side, into which the bicycle is adjusted with its two wheels and which brings about an elongated correct alignment of the bicycle. Alternatively to the adjustment rail or in addition to the adjustment rail, it is provided in a further preferred embodiment that the bicycle fixing device has a guide roller with which the front wheel of the bicycle can be positioned. This guide roller engages the front wheel, is lowered, for example, onto the front wheel and thus additionally serves as a tipping guard in the manner of a holder. Similar to the steering clamp, the guide roller clamps the front wheel.The guide roller, viewed in side view or in cross section, has in particular a watch-glass-like shape. A channel-like shape, i.e. a notch in the form of a large "U" or large "V", are also favorable geometries. The guide roller thus takes up more or less the shape of the tyre.Similar to the link clamping device, the guide roller is height-adjustable, in particular pneumatically or electrically height-adjustable. The guide roller is preferably fastened to an articulated arm, also called a holding arm, which can be fastened to the bicycle fixing device and provides a pivot point.According to a further preferred embodiment, the bicycle fixing device, or even only the adjustment rail, is displaceable or telescopic, so that it can be pulled out of the bicycle washing installation and inserted into it again. The bicycle does not need to be lifted into the bicycle washing facility in this way or fixed in the constricted conditions of the bicycle washing facility, but the adjusting rail and particularly preferably the complete bicycle fixing device can be pulled out or pushed out of the bicycle washing facility. With sufficient space outside the bicycle washing facility or, if need be, in the rear region of the bicycle washing facility, the bicycle can be adjusted, positioned and fixed.Particularly preferably, a frame is provided in which, among other things, the bicycle fixing device is accommodated. In addition, the frame preferably has further components of the bicycle washing installation, such as a crank turning means or cleaning brushes. Water-conducting parts such as lines and nozzles and spray heads are preferably guided in the interior of the housing, in which the frame together with the bicycle fixing device and further attachments is housed.Brief Description of the FiguresThe present invention can be understood even better if reference is made to the enclosed figures, which show, by way of example, particularly advantageous possible embodiments, without restricting the present invention to these, wherein FIG. 1 : a side view of a rack of a bicycle washing system according to the invention; FIG. 2 : a perspective illustration of the arrangement from FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 : the frame of the bicycle washing system from FIG. 1 in a front view and in the working position; FIG. 4 : shows the frame of FIG. 1 in a rear view, wherein a rest position is shown; FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 4, but in the working position; FIG. 6 : a perspective illustration of a bicycle fixing device according to the invention; FIG. 7A : the detail A from FIG. 6 ; FIG. 7B : shows the detail B from FIG. 6 ; FIG. 8A is another perspective view of the bicycle fixing device; FIG. 8B : shows the detail C from FIG. 8A ; FIG. 9A is a front view of the bicycle fixing device in a first holding position; FIG. 9B shows the holding position of FIG. 9A in a plan view; FIG. 9C : shows a second holding position of the bicycle fixing device in a front view; FIG. 9D : shows the holding position of FIG. 9C in plan view; FIG. 10 : a second side view of the frame of a bicycle washing system according to the invention, wherein two bicycles and different crank positions of these bicycles are symbolically entered; and FIG. 11 : shows a bicycle washing installation according to the invention in a side view and in a schematic illustration with the bicycle set.DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFIGS. 1-11 show a single exemplary embodiment of a bicycle washing facility according to the invention, wherein a side view of the entire bicycle washing facility is shown in a sectional view and schematically in FIG. 11. Figures 1-5 show various views of the rack into which the bicycle is set during the washing operation. FIGS. 6-9 show the bicycle fixing device in detail. Finally, FIG. 10 shows how two bicycles of different lengths can be adjusted and fixed in the bicycle washing facility with the aid of the bicycle fixing device.For the sake of better understanding, the figures are not described separately in the following, but across the figures. For the sake of better clarity of the figures, not all reference numerals are entered in all the figures.As can be seen in FIG. 11, a frame 2 is mounted in a housing 8 of the bicycle washing installation 1, surrounded by water-conducting lines 20, which frame 2 together with the bicycle fixing device 30 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 1-5, on the basis of which the setting of the bicycle 80 and the crank rotation means 10, also referred to as pedal drive unit, are explained in more detail.As can be seen particularly well in FIG. 2, for example, the frame 2 preferably has a frame 23 which, roughly speaking, is in two parts and consists of a lying part 38 and a part 39 which is arranged perpendicular thereto (cf. also FIG. 1 ). The frame 2 can thus be roughly referred to as an L-shaped frame, more precisely as a lying L with the longer leg of the L as a lying component.The bicycle fixing device 30 according to the invention is part of the frame 2 with a bicycle adjustment rail 25 on which the bicycle 80 (see FIG. 11 ) is placed. Via a roller 26 for sliding on the bicycle 80, the bicycle 80 is slid onto the bicycle adjustment rail 25, over the rollers 3 and 4 present in the bicycle adjustment rail 25.The bicycle fixing device 30 also has an L-shape, roughly speaking, and is divided into a standing element 46 and a reclining element 47. It has a front end 53 and a rear end 54.The bicycle adjuster rail 25 is preferably channel-like (see FIG. 2 ), i.e. it has a roughly V-shape when viewed in cross section. The gutter shape facilitates positioning of the bicycle 80 because the adjustment position is predetermined, and is useful in securing the bicycle during the washing process because lateral shifting of the wheels 81, 82 is prevented.Particularly preferably, the bicycle adjuster rail has a number of slots 41 (see FIG. 6 ) through which the wash water can drain during the washing process and consequently be collected in the region of the bottom 37 in the housing 8 (see FIG. 11 ).The front wheel 82 of the bicycle 80 stands on the bicycle adjustment rail 25 in the region of the rollers 4 and partially on the rollers 4-the rollers for supporting the front wheel. Preferably, three rollers 4, 4, 4' and 4", are provided. The rearmost roller, i.e. the roller closest to the door 9 of the housing 8 (cf. FIG. 11 ) for supporting the front wheel 82, is arranged higher than the two other rollers 4 and 4". This prevents unintentional rolling back of the wheel without disturbing when the bicycle 80 is actually to be moved, i.e. is to be pushed in or removed from the washing installation.Preferably, there are also three rollers for supporting the rear wheel 3, the rollers 3, 3' and 3" (cf. FIGS. 1 and 10 ). The rear wheel 81 of the bicycle typically stands on at least two of these rollers 3, 3', 3", although it also functions if the rear wheel 81 rests on only one of these rollers 3, 3', 3".The rollers 3, 3', 3" allow at least the rear wheel 81 of the bicycle 80 to rotate during the washing process. The rollers 3, 3', 3" are consequently rotatably mounted. Preferably, they are rotatable in both directions to allow the rear wheel 81 to rotate in both directions.The bicycle 80 is inserted into the bicycle fixing device 30 by being slid over the roller 26 and placed on the bicycle adjuster rail 25. As the name suggests, the bicycle fixing device 30 serves substantially to support and fix the bicycle 80 during the washing process.According to the invention, a means for clamping a front wheel 82 is provided. This means clamps the front wheel 82 by acting on the handlebar 87, thereby urging the front wheel 82 against the ground on which it stands - in the preferred embodiment, the adjustment rail 25; this fixes the bicycle 80 in its upright position.A front wheel clamping device according to the invention is the handlebar clamping device 32.The handlebar clamping device 32 is height-adjustable. Two fixing ledges 33, 43 attached to two fixing arms 35, 45 are pressed down (force F) onto the top 92 of the handlebar 87 of the adjusted bicycle 80, thereby securing the bicycle 80. The fixing strips 33, 43 could also be referred to as brush strips, because of their preferred shape. Each fixation strip 33, 43 comprises a series of pin-like elements, which preferably consist of a resilient and wash-resistant material such as rubber or silicone. Alternatively, for example, strip-like elements could be provided, likewise preferably made of a soft and wash-resistant material. The fixing strips 33 and 43 are pressed onto the upper side 92 of the control arm via the first fixing arm 35 and second fixing arm 45.Since a plurality of components and superstructures such as brake operating levers, bells, tachos, electric motor operating units, cup holders, etc. are typically present on the link 87, which could break when the link clamping device is placed thereon, the two fixing arms 35, 45 (in some cases also referred to simply as "arms") are particularly preferably movable relative to one another. They are preferably arranged in a V shape with respect to one another (cf. FIGS. 8 and 9 ). The fixing arms 35, 45 consequently assume an angle α with respect to one another which is adjustable-as indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 2-arrow W. In other words, the two fixing arms 35, 45 can be rotated horizontally about a pivot point P (cf. FIG. 9B ) present on the stand element 46 of the bicycle fixing device 30 and can thus be adjusted. As a result, the fixing arms 35, 45 can be adjusted such that when the fixing arms 35, 45 are lowered onto the link rod 89 of the link 87, no superstructures or attachments present there are damaged, but instead a location is found at which the link 87 can be held, for example in each case in the region of the handles 88.FIGS. 9A and 9B show fixing arms 34, 45 which are spaced further apart from one another in comparison with the position in FIGS. 9C and 9D - the angle α in FIG. 9B is correspondingly greater than the angle α in FIG. 9D. Depending on the width of the steering rod and on the superstructures present on the steering rod 89, a larger or smaller angle α can thus be selected. Children's bicycles with a very small handlebar width and bicycles, e.g. for men with very wide shoulders and with a correspondingly wide handlebar, can also be fixed.Typically, the angle α is between 0°, preferably 30°, and 150°.FIG. 7B shows a detail of the fixing arm 35 in detail. The fixing arm 35 is lever-like-roughly speaking-and has a fixing strip 33 on its underside 57 opposite the upper side 58. The inner sides 59 of the two fixing arms 35, 45 face each other. Preferably, a stopper 60 is provided, which protects the two fixing arms from damage.In the particularly preferred embodiment shown, the locating ledge 33 is made of rubber or a similar compliant material, e.g., silicone elastomers or thermoplastic polymers. The fixing strip 33, like a brush, has a base body 61 with a plurality of individual bristles 62. Instead of bristles, one could also speak of threads or needles. The bristles 62 conform to the contour of the handle 87 to be held and are also soft and elastically deformable so that they do not cause damage even if they rest on the bell or brake lever, for example. As already mentioned, stubble-like structures or lamella structures are also well suited.A switch 34 is provided on the end side 56 of the fixing arm 35, by means of which switch the height of the fixing arms 35, 45 can be adjusted: height adjustment movement V, cf. FIG. 10 : the width, i.e. the angle α, is adjusted manually by lateral movement of the fixing arms 35, 45 towards one another or away from one another, as will be described in particular below.FIG. 8B shows the fixing arm revolving device 48 in detail. Each fixing arm 35, 45 is rotatably mounted via corresponding pivot bearings 49, 50. On the side facing each other, each fixing arm 35, 45 has gear wheel sections 63, 64, the teeth of which engage with each other. If the user of the bicycle washing system now engages with a fixing arm 35 or 45 in order to adapt it to the handlebar width and configurations, the other fixing arm 45 or 35 carries along the movement via the mutually toothed first and second toothed wheel sections 63, 64. This simplifies the handling and the setting of the fixing arms 35, 45.In the particularly preferred embodiment of the bicycle washing system 1 presented in the figures, the bicycle fixing device 30 has, as a further means for fixing the bicycle in the washing system, a pivotable guide roller 31 which is thus adjustable in its height, indicated by the example in FIGS. 1 and 2 by two different positions, designated 31 and 31' (see also a detailed illustration in FIG. 7A ). The front wheel 82 is placed against the guide roller 31. The guide roller 31 preferably has an hourglass shape-cf. FIGS. 2 and 7A. As a result, the front wheel 82 is more or less clamped and secured laterally. The guide roller 31 is preferably pneumatically controlled.The swivel movement S of the guide roller 31 takes place about a swivel axis 51. Two holding arms 52, 52' support the guide roller 31.The bicycle fixing device 30 is movable relative to the frame 2. For adjusting the bicycle 80, the bicycle fixing device 30 is pulled out of the frame 2 and thus out of the housing 8 of the washbox and is pushed in again after the bicycle has been set up and fixed. For this purpose, the frame 2 has a carriage over which the bicycle fixing device can slide. For guidance, a pair of rollers 42, 42' is provided on each side of the bicycle fixing device 30, among other things, which rollers slide guided over a respective slide rail 44, 44', e.g. a tube. At the rear end of the frame 24, sliding surfaces 55, 55' are provided (cf. FIG. 2 ). After extension, the rear end 54 of the bicycle fixing device 30 or of the adjusting rail 25 rests on the floor on which the housing 8 stands. The bicycle 80 can be pushed on over the roller 26 and fixed in the fixing device 30. Subsequently, the bicycle fixing device 30 together with the bicycle 80 thereon is inserted into the housing 8 and the washing process is started.In order to wash the entire bicycle 80 as much as possible during washing, shadow formation must be avoided. Despite movable nozzles and despite the use of brushes, locations which are not cleaned-for example the contact surfaces of the wheels and covered regions under the protective sheets-generally remain. Therefore, a crank rotation means 10 is preferably provided, which is fastened to a pivot tube 5, for example with a tube clamp 19, so that the crank rotation means 10 can be pivoted in or pivoted out from a rest position (cf. FIG. 4 ) into an operating position (cf. FIG. 5 ; see also FIGS. 2 and 3 ). In the working position, the crank rotation means is pivoted towards the bicycle; in the rest position, it is pivoted away from the bicycle. For the pivoting movement, corresponding actuating cylinders such as hydraulic cylinders or pneumatic cylinders 6 are provided.The crank rotation means 10 can also be referred to as a crank drive unit or-because of the engagement on the pedal which takes place in the preferred embodiment-as a pedal drive unit.In an alternative version, the crank rotation means 10 is clamped onto the pivot tube 5.A similar pivot tube 5' is provided on the opposite side of the bicycle adjustment rail 25, again with a corresponding pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 6' - see FIG. 2. Thus, for example, nozzle arrangements or brush arrangements can be pivoted in or also optionally additional bicycle side fixing means, e.g. in an alternative to the wheel fixing unit 30 used in the present bicycle washing system 1.The crank rotating means 10 comprises a driver 11 with a blade 12 fixed to a shaft 13. The blade 12 and shaft 13 assembly is in turn rotatably mounted via a shaft 15 to a bracket 14. The rotation is effected by means of a rotary drive 16, which can be, for example, pneumatic or electric. The holder 14 is fastened to the swivel tube 5 by means of a fastening unit, here a pipe clamp 19 (cf. FIG. 2 ).The blade 12 is board-like and is preferably made of a plastic material. The height H is very much smaller than the width B or the length L of the sheet 12, and the length L is again greater, preferably about 50-150% greater, than the width B of the sheet 12.The blade 12 can assume different positions relative to the holder 14 as a result of the rotational movement about the shaft 15, cf. the positions I, II, III and IV of the crank 83 with pedal 84 in FIG. 10.FIG. 10 schematically shows how two bicycles of different lengths are set in the frame 2 and thus in the bicycle fixing device 30. The two bicycles 80 and 80' are schematically represented by the front wheel 82, which is valid for both wheels, and the rear wheel 80 and 80', respectively, with associated crank 83 and 83', respectively, as well as pedals 84 and 84'. The associated sprocket 86 or 86' can also be seen for each bicycle 80, 80'. The drive unit of the respective bicycle has been identified by the reference numerals 85 and 85', respectively.The bicycle 80 with associated rear wheel 81 and bicycle drive unit 85 is longer than the bicycle 80' with associated rear wheel 81' and bicycle drive unit 85'. Accordingly, the bicycle drive unit 85 is placed more toward the rear end 24 of the chassis 2 than the bicycle drive unit 85' of the bicycle 80'. The crank rotating means 10 of the bicycle washing device is mounted at a fixed location of the frame 2, approximately centrally.As can be seen in the schematic illustration of FIG. 10, the bicycle drive unit 85', i.e. the bicycle drive unit of the shorter bicycle 80', is located in front of the crank rotation means 10, i.e. more in the direction of the front end 29 of the frame 2 than the bicycle drive unit 85 of the longer bicycle 80 which is arranged further in the direction of the rear end 24, i.e. on the other side of the crank rotation means 10.Four positions are shown in FIG. 10 for each pedal crank 83, 83'. The Roman numerals I, II, III and IV designate the same for the crank 83'. The position data I - IV are to be transmitted to the pedal crank 83. In the present embodiment, the crank 83, 83' is rotated in the direction toward the front end 29, illustrated or indicated in FIG. 10 by the arrow r.In the illustration of FIG. 10, three positions of the driver 11 are entered, designated 11', 11" and 11"'. A single driver 11 is thus present; however, this driver 11 is shown in three different positions. As can be seen, depending on the direction of rotation of the driver 11, it will determine whether the pedal 84, 84' comes to lie on the top side of the blade 12 or on the bottom side thereof. In the direction of rotation r indicated by a corresponding arrow in FIG. 10, the pedals 84 and 84' are carried along on the underside of the blade 12 and are likewise set in rotation by the rotation r, indicated by corresponding arrows k, k'. The rotation k or k' is transmitted through the chain (not shown) to the corresponding rear wheel 81, 81' shown by the circular movement K, K'.As can also be seen in FIG. 10, the rear wheels 81, 81' are mounted on two or three rollers provided in the horizontal part 38 of the frame 2; the rear wheel 81 is mounted on the rollers 3' and 3'', and the rear wheel 81' is mounted on the rollers 3 and 3'. The front wheel 82 stands on the rollers 4 and 4". The roller 4', which is located higher than the other two rollers 4, 4", serves predominantly to retain the front wheel 82 so that the wheel does not roll backwards.As already explained in detail above, in the illustrated particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bicycle 80, 80' is held in the frame 2, more precisely in the bicycle fixing device 30, due to the interaction a plurality of components: a first fixing takes place via the handlebar 87 of the bicycle 80, 80' by the handlebar clamping device 32 as an embodiment of a means according to the invention for clamping a front part 91 of the bicycle. The fixing arms 35, 45 are lowered onto the handlebar 87, shown by the double arrow V. The two fixing arms 35, 45 (see FIG. 2 ) are placed on the handlebar and thus secure the bicycle 80 by clamping it between the handlebar clamping device 32 and the base 40. In this way, it is protected from tipping over.Preferably, a guide roller 31 is added as a further holding element. The guide roller 31 can be lowered by a pivoting movement S, illustrated by a corresponding double arrow, to such an extent that the front wheel 82 is secured, i.e. the guide roller 31 lies on the tire and clamps it in. In Fig. 10 two possible positions of the guide roller 31 are shown - marked 31 and 31'. In other words, a single guide roller 31 is provided on the frame 2 or the bicycle fixing device 30, which is part of the frame 2. However, this can assume different positions, i.e. is height-adjustable. It is pivotable in order to be able to fix wheels with different wheel diameters.Moreover, the preferred shape of the adjusting rail 25, for example, in the manner of a trough or a V-shaped, also provides support for the wheels 81, 82.Individual ones of the rollers 3, 4 can also provide support to the adjusted bicycle 80. Thus, preferably one of the front rollers 4 is located above the adjusting rail 25 or protrudes somewhat from the same--roller 4' cf. for example FIG. 1--and prevents the bicycle 80 from rolling back.It should be made clear that only the means for clamping the bicycle front part-here realized by the handlebar clamping device 32-is sufficient to achieve the object according to the invention. The further means are intended as preferred embodiments and can be added; each entails an improvement in the fixation of the bicycle.FIG. 11 shows a very simplified and schematic side view of the wash booth of a bicycle washing installation 1, wherein, however, the side parts of the housing 8 are omitted. Drives, feeds, sequences, controls, water cleaning components, etc. are also omitted.On the side of the rear end 24 of the rack 2 there is a door 9 for putting the bicycle 80 into the bicycle washing facility 1, more precisely into its washing cabin. The bicycle fixing device 30 can be pulled out of the housing 8 for this purpose, as already described above, and can be lowered at one end obliquely in the direction of the ground, i.e. toward the underlying surface 40, on which the bicycle washing installation 1 is set up, so that the bicycle 80 can be pushed upward on an inclined plane or can be pushed into the bicycle washing installation 1.The bicycle 80 is fixed in the bicycle fixing device 30 of the frame 2 as described above. The crank rotation means 10 is pivoted in via the pivot tube 5 and is brought from the rest position into the working position (cf. FIGS. 4 and 5 ).In the present preferred embodiment, two brushes are also connected to the pivot tube 5, the brushes 22 and 22', which consequently can likewise be folded up to the working position, that is to say can be folded up toward the bicycle 80. With the brushes 22, 22' the cleaning of the spokes and the rim takes place, in addition to the cleaning via the water discharge from the nozzles 21, It has been found in practice that a purely brushless operation of the bicycle washing installation 1 is possible, but that spokes, rim and tire are sometimes so strongly stretched that an additional mechanical cleaning with brushes or similar mechanical cleaning means has proven advantageous.In the housing 8 of the bicycle washing facility 1, various water-conducting lines are permanently laid and arranged. Only a few water-conducting lines are shown, designated by the reference numerals 20, 20', 20". As can be seen, they extend both parallel to the ceiling 36 of the housing 8 of the bicycle washing installation 1 and perpendicular thereto, in particular in a central region. A plurality of nozzles are respectively attached to the water-conducting lines 20, 20', 20", wherein only one nozzle can be seen in the present case, the nozzle 21, A plurality of different nozzle types are preferably installed in a bicycle washing installation 1, in order to utilize their different jet geometries for the most thorough and gentle cleaning of the bicycles possible. Preferably, at least two different nozzle types are used in order to supply water to the bicycle and to all its individual parts as far as possible from different directions and with different water jet geometries. For example, slot nozzles, flat jet nozzles, cone nozzles and also vortex nozzles, such as Venturi nozzles, can be used.Not shown in the present figures or exclusively indicated via the drive unit 7 (cf. for example FIGS. 1 and 10 ) are the drive and water pumping devices and systems and the further water-carrying components, i.e. feed and waste water lines. The focus of the present invention is on improving the bicycle mounting in the bicycle washing apparatus. However, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that the water-conducting lines and all drive units, for example for the swivel tube 5 and for the rotational systems such as the rotary drive 16, must be provided accordingly. Control elements and the like are likewise absent.The design possibilities shown in the individual figures can also be connected to one another in any desired form.List of reference characters1 Bicycle washing facility 2 Frame 3 Rollers for mounting the rear wheel 4 Rollers for mounting the front wheel 5 Swivel tube 6 Cylinder 7 Drive unit 8 Housing 9 Door 10 Crank rotation means 11 Driver 12 Blade 13 Shaft 14 Holder 15 Shaft 16 Rotary drive 19 Pipe clamp 20 Water-conducting line 21 Nozzle 22 Brush 23 Frame 24 Rear end of the frame 25 Bicycle adjusting rail 26 Roller for sliding the bicycle 29 Front end of the frame 30 Bicycle fixing device 31 Guide roller 32 Link clamping device 33 Fixing strip 34 Switch 35 First fixing arm 36 Ceiling 37 Floor 38 Part of the frame 39 Standing part of the frame 40 Base 41 Slot 42, 42' Roller pair 43 Fixing strip 44, 44' slide rail 45 second fixing arm 46 standing element 47 lying element 48 fixing arm twisting device 49 rotary bearing 50 rotary bearing 51 pivot axis 52, 52' holding arm 53 front end of the bicycle fixing device 54 rear end of the bicycle fixing device 55, 55' sliding surface 56 end face 57 underside 58 upper side 59 inner side 60 stopper 61 base body 62 bristles 63 first gear section 64 second gear section 80 bicycle 81 rear wheel 82 front wheel 83 crank 84 pedal 85, 85' bicycle drive unit - schematically 86 ring gear 87 handlebar 88 handle 89 handlebar 90 handlebar clamping point 91 front part of the bicycle 92 handlebar upper side L length B width H height F force r, K, k rotational movement I, II, III, IV Positions of the pedal crank with pedal S Pivoting movement P Pivot point V Height adjustment movement W Angle adjustment movement α AngleReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2020 134 327 A1 [0003, 0004]DE 10 2011 052 215 A1 [0003, 0004]US 2010 / 0307531 A1 [0003, 0004]CN 106 915 335 A

[0004] EP 0 637 531 B1 [0004, 0005]DE 295 13 590 U1 [0004, 0005]Cited Non-Patent Literaturehttps: / / cleanour-bike.com

[0003]

Claims

A bicycle washing apparatus (1) comprising a bicycle fixing device (30) in which a bicycle (80, 80') is held during a washing process performed in the bicycle washing apparatus, and characterized in that the bicycle fixing device (30) comprises a means for clamping a front part (91) of the bicycle, wherein the means for clamping acts between a handlebar (87) of the bicycle and a substrate (40) on which the bicycle stands with a front wheel (82) during the washing process by a force being able to be applied to an upper side (92) of the handlebar with the means for clamping the front part, such that the front part of the bicycle is pushable in the direction of the substrate.Bicycle washing installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bicycle fixing device (30) has as a base on which the bicycle (80, 80') at least partially stands an adjustment rail (25), into which at least the front wheel (82) of the bicycle can be adjusted.Bicycle washing installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the means for clamping is a handlebar clamping device (32), which can be placed on the upper side of the handlebar and by means of which a force can be applied in the direction of the base, so that the front part (91) of the bicycle can be pressed in the direction of the base.Bicycle washing installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handlebar clamping device (32) is pneumatically or electrically height-adjustable.Bicycle washing installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the link clamping device (32) has a first fixing arm (35) and a second fixing arm (45), wherein the first fixing arm can be placed on a first half of a link rod (89), as viewed from a link clamping point (90), and the second fixing arm can be placed on a second half of the link rod (89), which second half lies opposite the first half.Bicycle washing installation according to claim 5, characterised in that the first and the second fixing arm (35, 45) are at an angle (α) to each other, wherein the angle (α) is adjustable and in particular is adjustable between 30° and 150°.Bicycle washing installation according to claim 6, characterised in that each fixing arm (35, 45) is rotatably mounted and in particular has a respective toothed wheel section (63, 64), wherein the toothed wheel sections engage one another and couple the first and the second fixing arm to one another, so that the angle (α) of the fixing arms can be adjusted, wherein an adjustment is effected in each case by a fixed amount which corresponds to at least one tooth width as an angle divider.Bicycle washing installation according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterised in that each fixing arm has on an underside (57) a layer of a resilient material which can be placed on the handlebar (87) when clamping the front part (91) of the bicycle, in particular a layer of an elastic material such as a rubber material, a silicone elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the elastic material preferably assumes a form of knobs, lamellae, bristles (62) and / or stoppers.Bicycle washing installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bicycle fixing device (30) comprises a guide roller (31) for positioning the front wheel (82) of the bicycle, in particular as a protection against lateral slipping of the front wheel.Bicycle washing installation according to claim 9, characterised in that the guide roller (31) is height-adjustable, in particular is pneumatically or electrically height-adjustable.Bicycle washing installation according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that the adjusting rail (25) is channel-like with a depression in which at least the front wheel (82) can be adjusted, in particular wherein the front wheel and a rear wheel (81) can be adjusted.Bicycle washing installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the adjusting rail (25) has at least one roller (4) which can prevent the front wheel (82) from rolling back.Bicycle washing installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bicycle fixing device (30) is longitudinally displaceable so that it can be pushed out of the bicycle fixing device and thus out of the bicycle washing installation (1) and pushed in again in order to set the bicycle (80) into the bicycle washing installation or to remove it again from the same.Bicycle washing installation according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a frame (2) is provided which accommodates the bicycle fixing device, wherein the frame is accommodated in a housing (8) of the bicycle washing installation (1) which can be closed during the washing process.

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