Portal car washing machine

Abstract

To provide a portal car washing machine that can: achieve miniaturization in the front-rear direction of a portal frame compared to a structure where a high-pressure pump unit is centrally deployed on one side part of the portal frame; achieve further miniaturization of the car washing machine by effectively utilizing a dead space outside a first lifting drive device within the side part of the portal frame as a storage space for the high-pressure pump unit; and contribute to reduction in pressure loss and leakage risk in high-pressure washing water piping.SOLUTION: A first high-pressure pump unit U1 is arranged inside one side part 1s of a portal frame 1 so as to be positioned on an outer side in a lateral direction of a first lifting drive device Dt1 for washing equipment Nt which is installed on the one side part 1s. A second high-pressure pump unit U2 is arranged inside the other side part 1s of the portal frame 1 so as to be positioned on the outer side part in the lateral direction of the first lifting drive device Dt1 for the washing equipment Nt which is installed in the other side part 1s.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a car wash machine, and in particular to a gate-type car wash machine equipped with a gate-type frame formed in a gate shape so that an automobile can be straddled and moved relatively in the fore-and-aft direction relative to the automobile, various cleaning devices for washing the car that are arranged on the gate-type frame and operate in response to the relative movement of the automobile, and a group of cleaning water injection pipes provided on the upper part and left and right sides of the gate-type frame and capable of spraying high-pressure cleaning water or various types of cleaning water toward the top surface and left and right sides of the automobile in response to the relative movement. [Background technology]

[0002] The above-mentioned portal-type car wash machine is conventionally known, for example as described in Patent Document 1 below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2004-230940 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the portal-type car wash machine of Patent Document 1, a high-pressure pump that supplies high-pressure washing water to a group of washing water jet pipes and centralized piping for distributing and supplying various types of washing water are arranged on the outer side of the side brushes within one of the left and right sides of the portal-type frame. In such a car wash machine, in order to increase the capacity of the high-pressure pump or to increase the number of centralized piping, for example, it is conceivable to increase the number of large high-pressure pumps or centralized piping and install them side by side in the front and rear on one side of the portal-type frame, but this may increase the front-to-rear length of the portal-type frame.

[0005] It is also possible to enlarge the diameter of the side brushes to improve their side-cleaning effect, but in that case, it would be necessary to widen the gate-shaped frame in the left-right direction to avoid interference between the larger diameter side brushes and the large high-pressure pump or centralized piping, which would result in the car wash machine becoming larger in the left-right direction.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a gate-type car wash machine that can solve the above problems even if the number of high-pressure pumps or centralized piping is increased, or even if the diameter of the side brushes is increased. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a gate-type car wash machine comprising: a gate-type frame formed in a gate shape so that an automobile can be straddled and movable in the front-rear direction relative to the automobile; various washing devices for washing a car arranged on the gate-type frame and operated in accordance with the relative movement of the automobile; and a high-pressure washing water jetting pipe group including an upper high-pressure washing water jetting pipe arranged separately from the various washing devices on the upper part of the gate-type frame and capable of jetting high-pressure washing water toward the top surface of the automobile in accordance with the relative movement, and left and right side high-pressure washing water jetting pipes arranged on both left and right sides of the gate-type frame, respectively, capable of jetting high-pressure washing water toward the left and right sides of the automobile in accordance with the relative movement, and left and right first lifting drive devices are provided on both left and right sides of the gate-type frame, capable of lifting and lowering some of the various washing devices, wherein a first high-pressure pump unit including a first pump capable of supplying high-pressure washing water to some of the high-pressure washing water jetting pipe group and a first motor for driving the first pump is arranged within one of the left and right sides of the gate-type frame so as to be positioned outside in the left and right directions of the first lifting drive device provided on the one side, The first feature is that a second high-pressure pump unit including a second pump capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to the remaining part of the high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group and a second motor for driving the second pump is arranged within the other of the left and right sides of the portal frame so as to be positioned left-right outside the first lifting drive device provided on the other side.

[0008] In addition to the first feature, the present invention has a second feature in that the various cleaning devices include left and right side brushes capable of brushing the left and right sides of the automobile, and the first and second high-pressure pump units are offset in the fore-and-aft direction from the side brushes located on the same left and right sides as the first and second high-pressure pump units.

[0009] Furthermore, in addition to the first or second characteristic, the present invention has a third characteristic in that the first and second high-pressure pump units each supply high-pressure cleaning water to the side high-pressure cleaning water injection pipes located on the same left and right sides as each of the first and second high-pressure pump units.

[0010] The present invention also provides a portal frame formed in a portal shape so that an automobile can be straddled and moved relatively in the front-to-rear direction with respect to the automobile, various washing devices for washing a car that are arranged on the portal frame and operate in association with the relative movement of the automobile, an upper washing water injection pipe group provided on the upper part of the portal frame and capable of injecting a plurality of types of washing water toward the top surface of the automobile in association with the relative movement, and left and right side washing water injection pipe groups provided on both the left and right sides of the portal frame, respectively, and capable of injecting the plurality of types of washing water toward the left and right side surfaces of the automobile in association with the relative movement, and left and right second lifting drive devices that can raise and lower some of the various washing devices are provided on both the left and right sides of the portal frame, respectively. A fourth feature of the gate-type car wash machine is that it comprises at least one first tank provided on either the left or right side of the gate-type frame for storing some of the multiple types of cleaning water, and a first centralized piping having at least multiple systems of first branch piping sections and first liquid supply pump groups for distributing and pressurizing the cleaning water from the at least one first tank to the corresponding upper cleaning water jet pipe group and the left and right side cleaning water jet pipe groups, and in which the first branch piping sections and first liquid supply pump groups are concentrated in a specific space within the one side, and the first centralized piping is located on the left-right outside of the second lifting drive device provided on the one side.

[0011] The present invention also relates to a gate-type car wash machine comprising a gate-type frame formed in a gate shape so that an automobile can be straddled and which is movable in the front-rear direction relative to the automobile, various washing devices for washing a car that are arranged on the gate-type frame and which operate in association with the relative movement of the automobile, an upper washing water jetting pipe group provided on an upper portion of the gate-type frame and capable of jetting a plurality of types of washing water toward the upper surface of the automobile in association with the relative movement, and left and right side washing water jetting pipe groups provided on both the left and right sides of the gate-type frame, respectively, and capable of jetting the plurality of types of washing water toward the left and right side surfaces of the automobile in association with the relative movement, and left and right second lifting drive devices are provided on both the left and right sides of the gate-type frame, respectively, which are capable of lifting and lowering some of the various washing devices. A fifth feature of the cleaning system is that it comprises at least one first tank provided on one of the sides for storing some of the multiple types of cleaning water, at least one liquid supply pump capable of sucking in and discharging cleaning water from the at least one first tank, and a first centralized piping having at least a plurality of first branch piping systems for distributing and pressurizing the cleaning water sucked in and discharged by the liquid supply pump from the at least one first tank to the corresponding upper cleaning water jet pipe group and the left and right side cleaning water jet pipe groups, and the middle portions of the first branch piping systems are concentrated in a specific space within the one of the sides, and the first centralized piping is located outside in the left and right directions of the second lifting drive device provided on the one of the sides.

[0012] In addition to the fourth or fifth feature, the present invention has a sixth feature in that the various cleaning devices include left and right side brushes capable of brushing the left and right sides of the automobile, and the first concentrated piping is offset in the front-to-rear direction from the side brushes on the same left and right sides as the first concentrated piping.

[0013] Furthermore, in addition to the fourth or fifth feature, the present invention has a seventh feature in that it further comprises at least one second tank provided on either the left or right side of the portal frame for storing a remaining portion of the multiple types of cleaning water, and a second centralized piping having at least one system of second branch piping section and second liquid feed pump group for distributing and pressurizing cleaning water from the at least one second tank or fresh water supply source to the corresponding upper cleaning water jet pipe group and the left and right side cleaning water jet pipe groups, wherein the second branch piping section and second liquid feed pump group are concentratedly arranged in a specific space within the other side, and the second centralized piping is located on the left-right outer side of the second lifting drive device provided on the other side.

[0014] Furthermore, in addition to the fourth or fifth feature, the present invention has an eighth feature in that it further comprises a high-pressure cleaning water jet pipe group including an upper high-pressure cleaning water jet pipe provided on the upper part of the portal frame and capable of jetting high-pressure cleaning water toward the top surface of the vehicle as the relative movement occurs, and left and right side high-pressure cleaning water jet pipes provided on both the left and right sides of the portal frame and capable of jetting high-pressure cleaning water toward the left and right sides of the vehicle as the relative movement occurs, and a first high-pressure pump unit disposed within one of the sides and including a first pump capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to a portion of the high-pressure cleaning water jet pipe group and a first motor for driving the first pump, and the various cleaning devices include left and right side brushes capable of brushing the left and right sides of the vehicle, and when viewed from the side of the portal frame, the first centralized piping is disposed on one side of the side brush in the fore-and-aft direction, and the first high-pressure pump unit is disposed on the other side.

[0015] In the present invention, "cleaning water" includes not only various chemical liquids (e.g., foam detergent, liquid detergent, and various coating agents) and fresh water, but also cleaning liquids obtained by appropriately mixing these chemical liquids with fresh water or other chemical liquids in a centralized piping, and foamed cleaning liquids obtained by mixing these cleaning liquids with high-pressure air in an ejector in a centralized piping to form bubbles. Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the first feature of the present invention, a pair of high-pressure pump units are provided to increase the pump capacity, and they are distributed and arranged on both the left and right sides of the portal frame. This makes it possible to prevent the portal frame from becoming longer in the front-rear direction compared to a structure in which the first and second high-pressure pump units are arranged front-rear on one side of the portal frame (i.e., all the high-pressure pump units are arranged in a concentrated manner on one side of the portal frame). Moreover, since the first and second high-pressure pump units are arranged on the outside of the first lifting drive device for the cleaning device in the corresponding side of the portal frame, the dead space outside the first lifting drive device in the side of the portal frame can be effectively used as a storage space for the high-pressure pump unit, which contributes to further miniaturization of the portal car wash. Furthermore, compared to a case in which the high-pressure pump unit is installed outside the portal frame, the piping from the high-pressure pump unit to each high-pressure cleaning water jet pipe in the portal frame is simple and short, which contributes to reducing pressure loss and the risk of water leakage.

[0017] According to the second feature, the first and second high-pressure pump units are offset in the fore-and-aft direction from the side brushes on the same left and right sides as each of them. Therefore, even if the diameter of the side brushes is increased to improve the cleaning effect, the effect of the fore-and-aft offset arrangement makes it possible to easily avoid mutual interference between the large-diameter side brushes and the high-pressure pump unit, thereby contributing to further miniaturization of the gate-type car wash.

[0018] According to the third feature, the first and second high-pressure pump units each supply high-pressure cleaning water to the side high-pressure cleaning water jet pipes located on the same left and right sides of each of the first and second high-pressure pump units, so that the high-pressure cleaning water supply paths from each high-pressure pump unit to the corresponding side high-pressure cleaning water jet pipes can be reasonably shortened, making the piping layout simple and easy.

[0019] According to a fourth feature, the car wash machine includes at least a first branch pipe section and a first liquid feed pump group of a plurality of systems for distributing and pumping the wash water from a first tank provided on one of the left and right sides of the portal frame to the corresponding upper wash water jet pipe group and the left and right side wash water jet pipe groups, and the first branch pipe section and the first liquid feed pump group are provided in a concentrated manner in a specific space in one of the sides, and the first concentrated pipe is located on the left and right outer side of the second lifting drive device for the washing device provided on one of the sides. This allows the dead space outside the second lifting drive device in one of the sides of the portal frame to be effectively used as a storage space for the first concentrated pipe, which contributes to the miniaturization of the portal car wash machine. In addition, there is no risk that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the first concentrated pipe is greatly reduced due to the side brushes, as in the case where the first concentrated pipe is provided on the outer side of the side brushes, which is advantageous in simplifying and miniaturizing the piping layout of the first concentrated pipe, and also makes maintenance work easier.

[0020] According to the fifth feature, the washing machine has at least a plurality of first branch pipe sections for distributing and pumping the washing water sucked and discharged from at least one first tank to the corresponding upper washing water jet pipe group and the left and right side washing water jet pipe groups, and the middle part of the first branch pipe section is provided with a first centralized pipe arranged in a specific space in the one side section, and the first centralized pipe is located outside the second lifting drive device provided in the one side section in the left and right direction. This allows the dead space outside the second lifting drive device in the one side section of the gate-type frame to be effectively used as a storage space for the first centralized pipe, which contributes to the miniaturization of the gate-type car wash machine. In addition, there is no risk that the degree of freedom of arrangement of the first centralized pipe is greatly reduced due to the side brushes, as in the case where the first centralized pipe is arranged outside the side brushes, which is advantageous in simplifying and miniaturizing the piping layout of the first centralized pipe, and also makes maintenance work easier.

[0021] According to the sixth feature, the first concentrated piping is offset in the front-to-rear direction from the side brush on the same left and right side as it. Therefore, even if the diameter of the side brush is increased to improve the cleaning effect, the effect of the front-to-rear offset arrangement makes it possible to easily avoid mutual interference between the large-diameter side brush and the first concentrated piping, thereby contributing to further miniaturization of the gate-type car wash.

[0022] According to the seventh feature, since the first and second centralized pipings are distributed on both the left and right sides of the portal frame, it is possible to prevent the portal frame from becoming longer in the front-to-back direction, compared to a structure in which both centralized pipings are arranged, for example, front-to-back on one side of the portal frame (i.e., all of the centralized piping is concentrated on one side of the portal frame). Furthermore, by increasing the number of centralized pipings and distributing them on the left and right, it is possible to simplify and downsize the piping layout of each centralized piping, which is not only advantageous in making the side of the portal frame more compact, but also increases the degree of freedom in designing the piping inside the side and makes maintenance work easier.

[0023] In addition, according to the eighth feature, when viewed from the side of the gate-shaped frame, the first centralized piping is arranged on one side of the side brush in the fore-and-aft direction, and the first high-pressure pump unit is arranged on the other side. Therefore, even if the diameter of the side brush is increased to improve the side cleaning effect, the first centralized piping and the high-pressure pump unit can be reasonably and compactly arranged in front of and behind the side brush, which is advantageous for making the car wash machine smaller as a whole. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall side view showing an outline of a car wash machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the main part of the car wash machine as seen from the rear (a view taken along the 2X arrow in FIG. 1, but the second air cylinder for driving the side brushes to open and close and the link mechanism connected thereto are omitted). [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the portion indicated by the arrow 3X in FIG. 2, with the intermediate portion of the guide rail omitted. [Figure 4] 4X-4X sectional view of Figure 3 [Diagram 5] Plan view from the 5X arrow in Figure 3 [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the entire side brush opening / closing drive mechanism (viewed from the arrow 6X in FIG. 2). [Figure 7] An air piping diagram showing an example of an air supply system to the first and second air cylinders. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an enlarged front view of a main part showing the movement of a main part of a posture control mechanism that changes the posture of a rotation shaft of a side brush, in which (a) shows a state in which the posture is changed from a free tilting state (shown by a chain line) to a first posture (shown by a solid line) in a V-shape, and (b) shows a state in which the posture is changed from the free tilting state (shown by a chain line) to a second posture (shown by a solid line) in a reverse V-shape. [Figure 9] 9X-9X sectional view of Figure 1 [Figure 10] 10X-10X cross section of Figure 1 [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view of the right side nozzle (in the fully retracted position) and the main part of the drive mechanism for the right side nozzle as viewed from the same direction as FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a front view of the right side nozzle (at the forward limit) and the main part of the drive mechanism for the right side nozzle as viewed from the same direction as FIG. 10. [Figure 13] 13X arrow view of Figure 11 [Figure 14] 1A to 1E are plan views showing first to fifth modified examples of the side nozzle together with the side of the gate-shaped frame. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a sixth modified example of the side nozzle together with the side of the portal frame. [Figure 16] 16 is a plan view of a side nozzle and its advance / retract drive device (viewed in the direction of arrow 16X in FIG. 12 ). [Figure 17] 17X-17X sectional view of Fig. 12 [Figure 18] 18X-18X cross section of Figure 17 [Figure 19] FIG. 19(A) is a front view showing the first centralized piping and its surroundings in the right part of the gate-shaped frame, and FIG. 19(B) is a view taken along the arrow 19BX in FIG. 19(A). [Figure 20] FIG. 19(A) is a front view showing the second centralized piping and its surroundings in the left side part of the gate-shaped frame, and FIG. 19(B) is a view taken along the arrow 19BX in FIG. 19(A). [Figure 21] 21(A) is a schematic plan view showing a mounting state of a movement position detection device for detecting the movement position on the guide rail of the left and right moving platform, (B) is a view taken along the line 21BX-21BX in FIG. 21(A), and (C) is a view taken along the line 21CX-21CX in FIG. 21(A). [Figure 22] 1A is a schematic front view showing an inclination detection device for detecting the inclination of a side brush rotating shaft, in which (A) shows a vertical position, (B) shows an inverted V-shape position, (C) shows an inclination position with an appropriate inclination angle, and (D) shows an inclination position with a large inclination angle. [Figure 23] FIG. 21(A) is a schematic plan view showing a main part (i.e., a part different from the second embodiment) of a second embodiment (i.e., an embodiment in which the opening / closing control mechanism of the movable table is electrically operated), which corresponds to FIG. [Figure 24] FIG. 1 is a side view and a plan view of a drive-through car wash with cars being washed and waiting to be washed. [Diagram 25] 1A and 1B are plan and front views of a vehicle in which the side brush is being brushed and washed, in which (A) shows a side washing state in which the side brush is in a V-shaped first position, (B) shows a state immediately before side contact in an inverted V-shaped second position, and (C) shows a side washing state in the inverted V-shaped second position (particularly when returning in control example 2). [Figure 26] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a movement trajectory of a side brush and a rotating shaft in a first forward movement process in the first control example. [Figure 27] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a movement trajectory of a side brush and a rotating shaft in a first return process in control example 1. [Figure 28] Flowchart of side washing operation in the forward direction in control examples 1 and 2 [Figure 29] Flowchart of surface pressure setting operation in forward and backward movement of control example 1 and in forward movement of control example 2 [Diagram 30] Flowchart of surface pressure adjustment operation in forward and backward movement of control example 1 and in forward movement of control example 2 [Diagram 31] Flowchart of door mirror surface pressure reduction operation in control examples 1 and 2 [Diagram 32]Flowcharts of the rotation switching operation and the side rear surface pressure reduction operation in the latter half of the forward movement in control examples 1 and 2 [Diagram 33] Flowchart of rear surface cleaning operation in the outward movement of control examples 1 and 2 [Diagram 34] Flowchart of side washing operation during return movement in control examples 1 and 2 (however, the side washing operation during return movement in control example 2 differs from control example 1 in steps S86, S88, and S89) [Diagram 35] Flowchart of door mirror surface pressure reduction operation during return movement in control examples 1 and 2 [Diagram 36] Flowchart of front washing operation during return run in control examples 1 and 2 [Figure 37] Flowchart of surface pressure setting operation in return run of control example 2 [Figure 38] Flowchart of surface pressure adjustment operation in return run of control example 2 [Figure 39] FIG. 1A is a side view and a plan view showing a first modified example of the side nozzle advance / retract drive device, showing the state of the side nozzle at the retreat limit and the advance limit. [Diagram 40] 39B is a side view showing a second modified example of the side nozzle advance / retract drive device, and FIG. 39C is a side view showing a third modified example of the side nozzle advance / retract drive device. (However, a plan view such as that shown in FIG. 39 is omitted.) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The first embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 22 and 24. FIG.

[0026] 1 and 2, the gate-shaped frame 1 constituting the main body of the car wash machine A is formed in a gate shape that is movable relative to the vehicle V to be washed in the front-rear direction so as to straddle the vehicle V, and is composed of a hollow, gate-shaped rigid frame having an upper part 1t that straddles the vehicle V, and left and right side parts 1s that are integrally attached vertically to both left and right ends of the upper part 1t. A pair of front-rear and left-right wheels 3, 4 are rotatably supported on the lower parts of the left and right side parts 1s, and these wheels 3, 4 can roll on a pair of left and right running rails 2, 2 laid on the installation surface E of the car wash machine A.

[0027] A travel motor 5 (see FIG. 1) is interlocked with the left and right wheels 3, 3 on either the front or rear side via a reduction mechanism, and by driving this travel motor 5, the portal frame 1 can be made to travel back and forth on the traveling rails 2, 2. The forward end 1E and the backward end 1S of the portal frame 1 are regulated by stoppers (not shown) fixed at or near both ends of the traveling rail 2, and in particular, the backward end 1S is the processing start position where various processing courses for car washing begin, and the forward end 1E is the processing end position where the various processing courses end.

[0028] Thus, the traveling rail 2, the wheels 3, 4, the traveling motor 5, and the reduction mechanism cooperate with each other to form a relative drive means Dm that moves the gate-shaped frame 1 and the automobile V relatively in the front-rear direction. Note that in this specification, the front-rear direction of the car wash machine A and the front-rear direction of the automobile V are in an inverse relationship, and for example, the front side of the car wash machine A is the rear side of the automobile V.

[0029] The car wash machine A of the embodiment is a drive-through type car wash machine, and the car wash process thereof, as described later, starts from a state in Fig. 24 where the portal frame 1 is waiting at the return end 1S, which is the processing start position, and the automobile V is at a predetermined start position V2 where its front end Bf faces the entrance 1fo of the portal frame 1. After the start, the portal frame 1 travels one way or back and forth, and the car wash process ends when it reaches the outgoing end 1E, which is the processing end position.

[0030] Thus, in the portal frame 1, the opening on the front end face 1f side serves as the entrance 1fo through which the automobile V to be washed enters, while the opening on the rear end face 1r side of the portal frame 1 serves as the exit 1ro facing the rear end of the automobile V as it moves forward and exits after finishing the wash.

[0031] 24, an openable / closable barrier 41 is installed on the ground E near the front end of the traveling rail 2, and a reception machine Au is installed further ahead of it on the ground E. This reception machine Au has a reception operation panel Aua for performing various reception operations (for example, selection of a treatment course, payment of fees, and various optional operations related to the car wash), and waits for reception operation input by the driver or worker to a reception operation unit provided on the operation panel Aua before entering the car wash preparation process.

[0032] Further, behind the rear end of the traveling rail 2, a guide indicator 42 is installed to inform the driver of the automobile V of the car wash status through the internal space of the portal frame 1, and the guide indicator 42 can also display information to guide the automobile V to the start position V2 facing the entrance 1fo of the portal frame 1, and to encourage the driver to exit after the car wash. In addition to the guide indicator 42, a guide indicator 42' is also provided on the front end face 1f of the portal frame 1 to guide the automobile V to the start position V2.

[0033] A pair of left and right guide pipes 9, 9 extending parallel to the traveling rails 2 on the left-right inward side of the left and right traveling rails 2, 2 are fixedly protruding in a straight line on the installation surface E of the car wash machine A. When a driver who has completed the car wash registration drives the automobile V forward and into the start position V2, the guide pipes 9 can guide the automobile V in the correct direction to the start position V2 by bringing the guide pipes 9 into contact with the wheels W. The area inside the left and right guide pipes 9 is the area where the tires are allowed to stop at a vehicle position where the car can be washed, i.e., the tire stopping area (left-right width).

[0034] In this case, when the frontage of the car wash machine A (the distance between the inner walls 1si of the left and right side portions 1s) is set relatively large, the mutual distance between the left and right guide pipes 9 is also widened, and therefore, when the driver has poor driving skills or the width of the automobile V is small (for example, a light vehicle), as described below, the automobile V that has reached the start position V2 may come to a diagonal stop between the left and right guide pipes 9. Therefore, when the frontage of the car wash machine A is enlarged so that the mutual inner dimension between the left and right guide pipes 9 exceeds 2000 mm, the assumed maximum angle of diagonal stopping increases further, and there are more points to be careful of when controlling the side brush S, tire brush Z, etc., which may make control difficult.

[0035] A control device C (see FIG. 2) that controls the operation of the car wash machine A in cooperation with a control panel 100 installed on the front wall of the side part 1s is stored and installed in an appropriate position of the portal frame 1 (for example, within one of the left and right side parts 1s). This control device C has as its main component an electronic control unit including a microcomputer, to which are connected actuators and sensors that are linked to the various washing devices equipped in the car wash machine A, the travel motor 5, various control valves, a reception operation panel Aua, etc.

[0036] The control device C then controls the operation of the actuators of the car wash machine A based on reception operation input to the reception operation panel Aua (for example, selection of a treatment course, payment of a fee, instructions to execute the selected course, etc.), the detection results of the sensors, the operation status of the actuators, and a control program stored in advance, to execute the car wash treatment course received by the reception operation panel Aua.

[0037] Thus, before the start of the car wash, when the gate-shaped frame 1 is waiting at the return end 1S (processing start position), the driver of the automobile V parked at the reception position V1 beside the reception machine Au inputs a reception operation into the reception machine Au, and then moves the automobile V forward to the start position V2. This causes the gate-shaped frame 1 to start going, and the car wash process starts according to the process course selected at the reception machine Au. After that, when the series of car wash processes ends and the gate-shaped frame 1 reaches the outgoing end 1E (processing end position), the driver moves the automobile V forward from the start position V2 and exits the car wash machine A.

[0038] Thus, the normal car wash process of the car wash machine A starts with the gate-shaped frame 1 waiting at the return end 1S in FIG. 24 and the vehicle V stopped at a predetermined start position V2 with its front end Bf inserted a predetermined amount into the gate-shaped frame 1, and ends when the gate-shaped frame 1 travels at least 1.5 round trips between the forward end 1E and the return end 1S after the start and returns to the forward end 1E.

[0039] For example, in a basic car wash course performed in 1.5 round trips, a brushing cleaning process is performed on the body surface of the automobile V, for example, during the first forward process and the first return process of the portal frame 1, and then a rinsing process and a drying process are performed sequentially and in parallel during the second forward process. Note that a car wash course performed in 2.5 round trips can also be optionally implemented, and in this car wash course, a brushing cleaning process is performed on the body surface of the automobile V, for example, during the first forward process and the first return process of the portal frame 1, then a rinsing process is performed during the second forward process, and further a drying process is performed during the second return process and the third forward process.

[0040] The above-mentioned car wash course is one example, and various car wash modes can be set, for example, a coating agent application process and / or a high-pressure washing process may be added to the car wash process, and further, a reciprocating movement of the portal frame 1 may be added. However, in any case, a drying process is executed at least in the final outgoing process.

[0041] Various washing devices are stored and installed inside the gate-shaped frame 1. These washing devices are roughly divided into various car wash brushes capable of brushing and cleaning the body surface of the automobile V, multiple washing water supply systems that spray various types of washing water onto the body surface, various nozzles that blow drying air onto the body surface, and various sensors that can detect various parts of the automobile V.

[0042] The car wash brushes include a top brush T that is arranged on the upper part 1t of the gate-shaped frame 1 and can brush the top surface Bt and front and rear end surfaces Bf, Br of the automobile V, a pair of left and right side brushes S that are arranged on both left and right sides 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1 and can brush the left and right side surfaces Bs and front and rear end surfaces Bf, Br of the automobile V, and a pair of left and right tire brushes Z that are arranged on the lower parts of both left and right sides 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1 and can brush the front and rear wheels W of the automobile V, but the installation of a rocker brush (i.e., a brush dedicated to the lower parts of the sides, separate and independent from the side brushes S, for exclusively brushing the lower parts of the sides Bs of the automobile V) is omitted.

[0043] The tire brush Z is a brush designed specifically for brushing the wheels (and is therefore not used for brushing the lower parts of the vehicle sides like the rocker brush), and is made of a tough, harder brush material, different from the relatively soft brush material used for the rocker brush.

[0044] The nozzles also include a top nozzle Nt capable of spraying drying air onto the top surface Bt and front and rear end surfaces Bf, Br of the automobile V, and a pair of left and right side nozzles Ns capable of spraying drying air onto the left and right side surfaces Bs of the automobile V.

[0045] Thus, in the gate frame 1, the left and right side brushes S are disposed in the intermediate portion near the outlet 1ro in the front-rear direction of the gate frame 1, and the top brush T is disposed offset to one side in the front-rear direction (the front side in this embodiment) with respect to the rotation axis Js of the side brush S. The left and right tire brushes Z and the left and right advance / retract drive devices Dz that rotate and drive the tire brushes Z and advance / retract only in the left and right direction of the gate frame 1 with respect to the left and right wheels W (i.e., with movement restricted in the front-rear direction of the gate frame 1) are disposed in the front-rear direction intermediate between the side brushes S and an upper surface detection sensor 10 (which will be described later) in a side view of the gate frame 1 (as viewed in FIG. 1) (therefore, in this embodiment, below the top brush T).

[0046] As is clear from Fig. 9, the advance / retract drive device Dz for the tire brush Z includes a rotation drive unit MU with a built-in motor for rotation drive, which supports the tire brush Z so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in the substantially left-right direction, a double parallel link mechanism 19 whose base end is pivotally connected to the gate-shaped frame side part 1s and whose tip end is pivotally connected to the rotation drive unit MU, and a telescopic cylinder 18 interposed between the gate-shaped frame side part 1s and the long arm link of the parallel link mechanism 19 to apply an advance / retract drive force to the parallel link mechanism 19. As is clear from the solid line in Fig. 9, the front-rear positional relationship of each component of the advance / retract drive device Dz when the tire brush Z is at the retreat limit, which is the outermost position in the left-right direction, is such that the short arm link of the double parallel link mechanism 19 is located in front of the rotation drive unit MU located at the rearmost position (i.e., the front side in Fig. 9), the long arm link is located further in front of that, and the telescopic cylinder 18 is located further in front of that (i.e., the frontmost side in Fig. 9).

[0047] Incidentally, the tire brush advance / retract drive device as described above is well known (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-22487), and therefore further description will be omitted. However, in the above publication, the arrangement of each component of the tire brush advance / retract drive device in the front-rear direction of the gate-shaped frame is in a positional relationship opposite to that of the arrangement of each component MU, 18, 19 of the advance / retract drive device Dz of this embodiment. Also, in the advance / retract drive device Dz of this embodiment, due to the length relationship of the links of the double parallel link mechanism 19, as is clear from FIG. 9, the brush height is set to gradually decrease as the tire brush Z advances.

[0048] 1 and 9, the advance / retract drive device Dz for the tire brush Z is disposed at a position where it does not interfere with the lift guide rail 16b of the first lift drive device Dt1 that can lift and lower the top brush T. Moreover, as is clear from Fig. 1, the tire brush Z is disposed below the lift guide rail 16b of the first lift drive device Dt1, partially overlapping therewith in the front-rear direction of the gate-shaped frame 1. This overlapping arrangement ensures a distance in the front-rear direction between the upper surface detection sensor 10 and the wheel detection sensor SEw located in front of it, and the tire brush Z, making it possible to accurately determine the position and size of the wheels W before the wheels are washed.

[0049] An example of a structure for mounting the top brush T and the side brush S to the gate-shaped frame 1 will be described in detail later.

[0050] Meanwhile, between the lower part of the gate frame 1 and the installation surface E, there is provided a position detection means (not shown) capable of detecting whether the gate frame 1 is at the return end 1S or the forward end 1E illustrated in Figure 1, and the detection signal of this position detection means is sent to the control device C.

[0051] A rotary encoder 8 capable of detecting the amount of rotation of the output shaft (and thus the amount of travel of the portal frame 1) is connected to the output shaft of at least one of the traveling motors 5. Based on the detection results of this rotary encoder 8 and the position detection means, the control device C can detect the traveling position of the portal frame 1 by, for example, using the return end 1S as a reference and adding the output pulse of the rotary encoder 8 forward or subtracting it backward from that point.

[0052] Thus, the rotary encoder 8 and the position detection means cooperate with each other to constitute a relative position detection device SEx that detects the relative position in the longitudinal direction between the automobile V and the portal frame 1. The traveling position of the portal frame 1 can also be detected by the actual forward movement amount from the return end 1S and the actual backward movement amount from the forward end 1E.

[0053] An upper surface detection sensor 10 capable of detecting the shape of the upper surface of the body of the automobile V is disposed inside the portal frame 1 near the front end surface 1f, particularly at a position facing the entrance 1fo. This upper surface detection sensor 10 is configured as a multi-axis sensor in which multiple sets of photoelectric sensors 11, each made up of a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver, are arranged opposite each other on the left and right sides 1s of the portal frame 1 at equal intervals vertically.

[0054] Based on the detection results of this top surface detection sensor 10 and the detection results of the rotary encoder 8, the control device C can detect not only the front and rear end positions of the automobile V, but also the shape of the automobile when viewed from the side (more specifically, the shape of the bonnet surface and the shape of the roof surface, etc.), the type of automobile, the height, etc. The control device C may determine the type of automobile V to be washed and the height of the automobile V based on the photographic data of a camera installed around the portal frame 1 or the car wash machine A, or based on the reception information of the reception machine Au.

[0055] Further, a wheel sensor SEw is provided as a wheel detection device capable of detecting the wheels W of the automobile V at the lower part near the front end face 1f of the portal frame 1. This wheel sensor SEw is configured by attaching and fixing a set of photoelectric sensors 12, each consisting of a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver arranged opposite each other at the same height on the left and right, to a pair of left and right support frames 13 protruding downward from the bottom of the portal frame 1 in a height-adjustable manner.

[0056] Thus, the photoelectric sensor 12 can detect the wheel W (more specifically, the wheel front-rear width at the installation level of the photoelectric sensor 12) when light traveling from its light emitter to its light receiver is blocked by the wheel W (e.g., a tire), and the detection signal is also sent to the control device C. The control device C can detect the front-rear positions of the front and rear wheels W of the automobile V based on the detection results of this photoelectric sensor 12 and the detection results of the rotary encoder 8 (i.e., the traveling position of the portal frame 1), etc.

[0057] Furthermore, at the bottom of the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1, a vehicle entrance sensor SEf capable of detecting the front end of the automobile V is disposed a predetermined distance forward of the front end face 1f of the portal frame 1 (hence a predetermined distance forward of the top surface detection sensor 10) at a height position capable of detecting the front end of the vehicle. This vehicle entrance sensor SEf is configured by fixing a pair of photoelectric sensors 14, each of which is made up of a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver arranged opposite each other on the left and right at the same height, to the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1, respectively.

[0058] Thus, the photoelectric sensor 14 can detect that the front end Bf of the automobile V to be washed has passed the car wash start position V2 relative to the gate-shaped frame 1 waiting at the return end 1S (see Figure 24) when the light traveling from its light emitter to its receiver is blocked by the front end of the automobile V, and the detection signal is also sent to the control device C.

[0059] Then, when the unwashed automobile V is moved forward toward the front entrance 1fo of the portal frame 1, the entrance sensor SEf detects the front end Bf of the automobile V, and in response to the detection, the guide display 42' on the front end surface 1f of the portal frame 1 operates to notify the driver that the automobile V has reached the starting position V2 (i.e., the first notification is given), and the driver, seeing this, immediately stops the automobile.

[0060] In this case, even if the first notification is given, if the vehicle V does not stop but continues to move forward and the top surface detection sensor 10 detects the front end Bf of the vehicle V, the guide display 42' will operate to notify (i.e., give a second notification) in response to the detection, informing the driver that the vehicle V has passed the start position V2 (i.e., moved too far forward), thereby encouraging the driver to move the vehicle V backward. If the driver again recognizes the first notification as the vehicle V moves backward, the driver will immediately stop the backward movement, causing the vehicle V to stop at the predetermined start position V2. Then, after a predetermined time has elapsed in this state, the car wash will start.

[0061] In addition to or instead of such a notification by the guide display 42', the driver may be notified that the automobile V has reached the predetermined starting position V2 by a notification buzzer or an announcement.

[0062] Furthermore, on or near the rear end face 1r of the portal frame 1, there is disposed an exiting vehicle sensor SEr for detecting the exit of the rear end of the vehicle V from the exit 1ro. Like the entering vehicle sensor SEf, the exiting vehicle sensor SEr is composed of a photoelectric sensor consisting of a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver arranged in parallel on the left and right at the same height, and its detection signal is sent to the control device C, which confirms whether or not the rear end Br of the vehicle V that has finished washing is outside the portal frame 1. This exiting vehicle sensor SEr is disposed on both the left and right sides of the rear end face 1r of the portal frame 1 at a height position where it is possible to detect the exiting of the vehicle out of the exit 1ro by receiving light from the light emitter to the light receiver as the rear end (e.g., the rear bumper) of the vehicle V passes by.

[0063] A plurality of support plates 301 extending forward are detachably attached to the front end surface 1f of the portal frame 1. Left and right contact detection rods SEb capable of detecting the contact of the body surface (particularly the front end Bf) of the automobile V with the portal frame 1 in advance are supported in a vertical position by each of the support plates 301. The contact detection rods SEb are arranged to extend vertically at positions protruding forward and inwardly to the left and right by a predetermined distance from the inner corners of the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1 facing the entrance 1fo, and the support plates 301 are provided with a conventionally known detection mechanism 302 (e.g., a vibration sensor) capable of detecting the application of an external force to the contact detection rods SEb. As is clear from Figs. 1 and 24, the contact detection rods SEb are arranged forward of the vehicle entrance sensor SEf in the front-rear direction of the portal frame 1.

[0064] Incidentally, since it is conventionally known that the contact detection rod SEb is provided in a car wash and that the control device C controls the car wash A to completely stop in response to the detection of the vehicle body by the contact detection rod SEb, further explanation regarding the contact detection rod SEb will be omitted. Although not shown, a contact detection rod having a contact detection function similar to that of the contact detection rod SEb may be provided on the rear end surface 1r of the portal frame 1 as necessary.

[0065] Furthermore, a support arm 61 is fixed to the front end surface 1f of the portal frame 1, which extends further forward than the contact detection bar SEb and is located at approximately the same height as the vehicle entrance sensor SEf, and left and right side detection sensors SEs capable of detecting the left-right distance to the left and right side surfaces Bs of the vehicle V are provided at the front end of this support arm 61. This side detection sensor SEs is composed of a SONAC, i.e., an ultrasonic sensor, and like conventionally known ultrasonic sensors, has a transmitter that emits ultrasonic waves for measurement toward the vehicle side surface Bs and a receiver that receives the reflected waves of the ultrasonic waves that hit the vehicle side surface Bs and are reflected, and outputs the left-right distance to the vehicle side surface Bs calculated based on the time difference to the control device C.

[0066] The control device C controls the opening / closing control mechanism Dk described below for the side brush S, and controls the forward / backward drive of the side nozzle Ns and the tire brush Z (more specifically, the forward / backward drive devices Dns, Dz) based on the left-right distance detected by the side detection sensor SEs, and can further determine that the automobile V is parked at an angle based on the detection results of the relative position detection device SEx, which is capable of detecting the relative position between the portal frame 1 and the automobile V in the fore-and-aft direction, and the detection results of the left and right side detection sensors SEs.

[0067] When the car wash machine A is transported from a factory or the like by a transport vehicle before being installed on the installation surface E, the contact detection rod SEb, which is a protrusion from the front and rear end faces 1f, 1r of the gate frame 1, is temporarily removed from the gate frame 1 together with the support plate 301 and the detection mechanism 302, or is fixed to the gate frame 1 in a transport form that fits within the dimensions that can be mounted on the vehicle. In addition, all other protrusions (for example, the entrance sensor SEf, exit sensor SEr, side detection sensor SEs, and the support arms for these sensors) are also temporarily removed from the gate frame 1, or are fixed to the gate frame 1 in a transport form that fits within the dimensions that can be mounted on the vehicle.

[0068] In the car wash machine A of the embodiment, the gate-shaped frame 1 does not need to be disassembled when transporting the vehicle, and the front-to-rear length of the gate-shaped frame 1 (i.e., the distance between the front and rear end faces 1f, 1r) is set to a length (i.e., 2400 mm or less) that fits comfortably within the dimensions that can be loaded onto a vehicle (for example, the vehicle width of a typical transport vehicle is 2500 mm).

[0069] 9, the top brush T includes a stepped rotating shaft Jt extending in the left-right direction along the upper part 1t of the gate-shaped frame 1, and a number of top brush bodies Tb, each having a base fixed to the outer periphery of the rotating shaft Jt. The top brush bodies Tb are made of a cloth material (e.g., nonwoven fabric, cotton cloth, etc.) or a brush material (e.g., chemical fiber, vegetable fiber, animal fiber, synthetic resin foam material such as sponge, etc.), and can rotate integrally with the rotating shaft Jt.

[0070] Next, an example of a first lifting / lowering drive device Dt1 that drives the rotation shaft Jtb of the top brush T to move up and down will be described with reference to Fig. 9. This first lifting / lowering drive device Dt1 is disposed near the inner wall 1si in the left and right side parts 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1 at a position corresponding to the top brush T in the left-right direction, and in this embodiment, includes lifting / lowering guide rails 16b fixed in the left and right side parts 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1, left and right lifting / lowering supports 16a that incorporate a motor that rotates and drives the rotation shaft Jtb and support both ends of the rotation shaft Jt, lifting / lowering sliders 16s that are connected to the lifting / lowering supports 16a so as to move up and down integrally therewith and can move up and down along the lifting / lowering guide rails 16b, and a first lifting / lowering drive means 16c that forcibly lifts and lowers the lifting / lowering supports 16a.

[0071] 9, the first lifting drive means 16c includes a first chain transmission mechanism 16c1 disposed along the lifting guide rail 16b, a drive shaft 16j rotatably supported on the upper part 1t of the portal frame 1 so as to rotate coaxially with the drive sprocket of the first chain transmission mechanism 16c1, and a motor (not shown) that rotates and drives the drive shaft 16j via a second chain transmission mechanism 16c2, and the upper and lower parts of the lifting support 16a are respectively connected to both ends of the chain of the first chain transmission mechanism 16c1. Therefore, the motor can lift and lower the lifting support 16a, and therefore the top brush T, along the lifting guide rail 16b via the first and second chain transmission mechanisms 16c1 and 16c2.

[0072] The configuration of the first lifting and lowering drive device Dt1 is not limited to that of the embodiment, and various conventionally known structural examples of a lifting and lowering drive device for a top brush can be implemented.

[0073] Next, an example of a support structure for the rotation shaft Js of the side brush S in the gate-shaped frame 1 will be described with reference to Figs.

[0074] A guide rail 30 extending linearly in the left-right direction is disposed on the upper part of the gate frame 1, and this guide rail 30 comprises a rail main body 31 in the form of a strip plate that is flat in the front-rear direction and long in the left-right direction, and rail shaft parts 32 integrally provided on both the left and right ends of the rail main body 31. An upper rail 31u having a mountain-shaped cross section is provided facing upward on the upper part of the rail main body 31, and a lower rail 31b having a rectangular cross section is provided facing downward on the lower part of the rail main body 31. The guide rail 30 is journaled on the left and right upper parts of the gate frame 1 so as to be rotatable about the axis of the rail shaft parts 32 by fitting and supporting the left and right rail shaft parts 32 rotatably in the left and right bearings Be fixed to the upper part of the gate frame 1, respectively.

[0075] A pair of left and right movable tables 33 are inseparably supported on the guide rail 30 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the longitudinal direction. That is, a plurality of upper rolling wheels 33a that can roll are journaled on the mountain-shaped upper rail 31u at the upper part of the movable table 33, and a plurality of lower rolling wheels 33b that can roll are journaled on both side surfaces and the lower end surface of the lower rail 31b at the lower part of the movable table 33.

[0076] Meanwhile, a square cylindrical rotating shaft holder 37 for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S is supported on the left and right moving bases 33 so as to be swingable in the left and right direction. The supporting structure will be specifically described below.

[0077] That is, the base end of the tilting support shaft 36, whose tip extends forward, is fixed (for example, by screwing, welding, etc.) to the front wall of the movable base 33 on one side of the rotating shaft holder 37 extending in the up-down direction. The middle part of this tilting support shaft 36 is rotatably inserted through the bearing part 39b into a bearing frame 39 that is fixed (for example, by screwing, welding, etc.) to the outer surface of the middle part of the rotating shaft holder 37 and protrudes to one left or right side. As a result, the rotating shaft holder 37 (and therefore the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S) is supported on the movable base 33 via the tilting support shaft 36, the bearing part 39b, and the bearing frame 39 so as to be tiltable in the left-right direction around the axis of the tilting support shaft 36.

[0078] Furthermore, the rear wall of a hollow box-shaped support frame 35 that houses a part of the bearing frame 39 is fixed (for example, by screws, welding, etc.) to the front wall of the movable table 33. The front and rear walls of this support frame 35 hold the bearing frame 39 in a slidable and rotatable manner from the front and rear, and rotatably fit and support the tip and base of the tilt support shaft 36, respectively. A reinforcing plate 35a is detachably fixed (for example, by bolts) to the front wall of the support frame 35, overlapping the outer surface of the front wall and engaging and supporting the tip half circumference of the tilt support shaft 36 so that it cannot rotate or come off.

[0079] The rotating shaft holder 37 has a hollow portion through which the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S passes, and the upper portion of the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S is supported rotatably but immovably in the axial direction by the rotating shaft holder 37 via a bearing portion 37b (see FIG. 3) provided in the holder 37. The base portion of the side brush body 34 made of a cloth material (e.g., nonwoven fabric, cotton cloth, etc.) or a brush material (e.g., chemical fiber, vegetable fiber, animal fiber, synthetic resin foam material such as sponge, etc.) is fixed to the rotating shaft Js extending downward from the rotating shaft holder 37, and the rotating shaft Js can rotate integrally with the rotating shaft Js.

[0080] Thus, the tilting support shaft 36, the bearing frame 39, the support frame 35, and the rotating shaft holder 37 cooperate with one another to form a support mechanism SP that rotatably supports the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S on the movable base 33 while suspending it so that it can tilt left and right. According to this support mechanism SP, the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S is suspended on the movable base 33 while being rotatably supported on the movable base 33 so that it can change position (i.e., tilt left and right) between a first position S1 (see Fig. 8 and Fig. 25(a)) that forms a V-shape when viewed from the front of the car wash machine A and a second position S2 (see Fig. 8 and Fig. 25(b)) that forms an inverted V-shape when viewed from the front of the car wash machine A, via a substantially vertical free position Sv (see the chain line in Fig. 8).

[0081] In the following description of this specification, when the first and second attitudes S1, S2 of the rotation shaft Js of the side brush S are simply described as "V-shaped" or "inverted V-shaped", this is used to mean "V-shaped when viewed from the front" or "inverted V-shaped when viewed from the front", but the expression "viewed from the front" will be omitted for convenience.

[0082] A motor base 38 is fixed to the upper part of each of the left and right rotating shaft holders 37, and a side brush rotating motor Ms is mounted on the motor base 38. The output shaft of the motor Ms is interlockingly connected to the upper part of the rotating shaft Js via a chain transmission mechanism. The left and right side brushes S are rotated in opposite directions by the operation of the motor Ms.

[0083] Between each movable stage 33 and the motor base 38, there are provided a first stopper mechanism 41 that determines the tilt limit when the rotary shaft holder 37 tilts the rotary shaft Js of the side brush S in a V-shape (i.e., the maximum tilt angle θ1 of the first position S1), a second stopper mechanism 42 that determines the tilt limit when the rotary shaft holder 37 tilts the rotary shaft Js in an inverted V-shape (i.e., the maximum tilt angle θ2 of the second position S2), and a first air cylinder AC1 that tilts the rotary shaft holder 37 left and right about the tilt support shaft 36. The piston rod of the first air cylinder AC1 is pivotally connected to either the motor base 38 or the movable stage 33, and the cylinder portion of the first air cylinder AC1 is pivotally connected to the other one of them.

[0084] The first stopper mechanism 41 has a V-shaped tilt limit at a position where the portion above the tilt support shaft 36 of the rotating shaft holder 37 is tilted inwardly by a predetermined angle θ1 (e.g., 5 degrees) from a substantially vertical free posture Sv, and in this embodiment has a first engaging piece 41a fixed to the moving base 33, and a first engaged piece 41b fixed and supported via a rubber damper 41d made of a solid rubber block to the motor base 38. Note that instead of the rubber damper 41d, a spring (e.g., a compression coil spring) capable of exerting a higher elastic repulsive force according to the amount of compression may be used.

[0085] On the other hand, the second stopper mechanism 42 has an inverted U-shaped tilt limit set at a position where the portion of the rotating shaft holder 37 above the tilting support shaft 36 is tilted outwardly from the free posture Sv by a predetermined angle θ2 (e.g., 3 degrees), and in this embodiment has a second engaging piece 42a fixed to the movable table 33 and a second engaged piece 42b fixed to the motor base 38.

[0086] Thus, the motor base 38, the first air cylinder AC1, and the first and second stopper mechanisms 41, 42 cooperate with each other to form a posture control mechanism SC. That is, this posture control mechanism SC is capable of exerting a posture control force that forcibly changes the posture of the rotation axis Js of the side brush S between the first posture S1 and the second posture S2 with respect to the movable base 33 based on the air pressure acting on the first air cylinder AC1, and can place the rotation axis Js in any of the first and second postures S1 and S2 and the vertical posture Sv.

[0087] 22, a tilt detection device SEk capable of detecting a relative angular displacement therebetween, i.e., the tilt of the rotation axis Js of the side brush S, is interposed between the bearing holder 37 and the movable base 33. This tilt detection device SEk includes a detection arm 67 having first and second detection arm portions 67a, 67b connected and fixed to a bearing frame 39 fixed to the bearing holder 37 so as to rotate integrally therewith, and first and second proximity sensors 68, 69 capable of detecting the approach and separation of the first and second detection arm portions 67a, 67b. Detection signals of the first and second proximity sensors 68, 69 are sent to the control device C.

[0088] For example, when the rotation axis Js of the side brush S is in a vertical position Sv (i.e., not inclined) as shown in Fig. 22(A), the first and second proximity sensors 68, 69 do not detect either the first or second detection arm 67a, 67b, and the control device C determines that the rotation axis Js is in a vertical position Sv. When the rotation axis Js of the side brush S is in a second position S2 (inverted V-shaped position) as shown in Fig. 22(B), the second proximity sensor 69 detects the approach of the first detection arm 67a, and the control device C determines that the rotation axis Js is in the second position S2. Furthermore, when the rotation axis Js of the side brush S is in a first position S1 (V-shaped position), particularly in a proper inclination angle, i.e., a weak V-shaped position, the first proximity sensor 68 detects the approach of the first detection arm 67a, and the control device C determines that the rotation axis Js is in the above-mentioned proper inclination angle.

[0089] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 22(D), when the rotation axis Js of the side brush S is in the first posture S2 (V-shaped posture), particularly when the rotation axis Js is at an excessively large inclination angle (i.e., a predetermined large inclination angle) that exceeds the above-mentioned appropriate inclination angle, the first proximity sensor 68 detects the approach of the first detection arm 67a, and the second proximity sensor 69 detects the approach of the second detection arm 67b, and the control device C determines that the rotation axis Js is at a large inclination angle.

[0090] Further, an opening / closing control mechanism Dk is provided between each movable table 33 and the upper part of the gate frame 1, which drives each movable table 33 (and therefore the left and right side brushes S) to open and close in the left and right direction along the guide rail 30. As is clear from Fig. 6, this opening / closing control mechanism Dk includes a link mechanism 50 (a bending link mechanism in the illustrated example) which links each movable table 33 with the upper part of the inner wall of the gate frame 1, and a second air cylinder AC2 interposed between a first link 51 of the link mechanism 50 and the gate frame 1. In the link mechanism 50, one end of a second link 52 is pivotally connected to the first link 51, and the other end, i.e., the operating end, is connected via a pivot 50p to a connecting frame 33t fixed to the movable table 33 and extending upward so as to be relatively rotatable.

[0091] The piston rod of the second air cylinder AC2 is rotatably pivotally connected 55 to either the first link 51 or the gate-shaped frame 1, and the cylinder portion of the second air cylinder AC2 is rotatably pivotally connected 56 to the other of them. Thus, the opening / closing drive mechanism Dk of the movable table 33 functions as an opening / closing control mechanism that can urge the left and right movable tables 33 (and therefore the rotating shaft holders 37 and the rotating shafts Js) in the left and right directions, i.e., in the opening / closing directions of the side brush S.

[0092] Between the guide rail 30 and the movable base 33, a movement position detection device SEd is provided which is capable of detecting the left-right movement positions of the left and right movable bases 33 on the guide rail 30 (in other words, the open / close positions of the left and right side brushes S). As shown in a schematic simplified view in FIG. 21 , the movement position detection device SEd includes a first chain 94c having one end attached to each of the left and right ends of one of the left and right movable tables 33 and disposed along the guide rail 30, a pair of first sprockets 94s, 94s that are inverted and wound around the middle of the first chain 94c and rotatably supported by the guide rail 30, a first rotary encoder 94r that can detect the amount of rotation of one of the first sprockets 94s, a second chain 95c having one end attached to each of the left and right ends of the other of the left and right movable tables 33 and disposed along the guide rail 30, a pair of second sprockets 95s, 95s that are inverted and wound around the middle of the second chain 95c and rotatably supported by the guide rail 30, and a second rotary encoder 95r that can detect the amount of rotation of one of the second sprockets 95s.

[0093] The detection signals of the first and second rotary encoders 94r, 95r are sent to the control device C, and based on the detection signals, the control device C can detect the left-right movement positions of the left and right moving stages 33 from the above-mentioned rotation amounts.

[0094] 3, 5 and 6, a swing arm 31A extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail body 31 of the guide rail 30 (to the rear of the car wash machine A in the illustrated example) is fixed to the rail body 31. A pair of upper and lower disk-shaped movable spring bearings 31As are fixedly provided in opposite directions to the tip of each swing arm 31A, and a pair of neutral springs 45 are compressed between each movable spring bearing 31As and a pair of upper and lower fixed spring bearings 44 provided on the portal frame 1 opposite to it.

[0095] As is clear from Fig. 3, an adjustment mechanism 40 is connected to the fixed spring receiving portion 44, which fixes the fixed spring receiving portion 44 to the fixed support wall 1w on the inner wall of the portal frame 1 so that the position of the fixed spring receiving portion 44 can be adjusted in the direction of expansion and contraction of the neutral spring 45, and the set load of the neutral spring 45 can be adjusted by adjusting the position. Note that in Fig. 5, the fixed spring receiving portion 44 is shown only by a chain line in order to clearly show the planar shape of the movable spring receiving portion 31As.

[0096] The rail body 31 and the movable base 33 (and therefore the side brush S) are normally held in a neutral position (see FIG. 4) that is not tilted in the front-rear direction by holding the swing arm 31A in a substantially horizontal neutral position with the elastic force of these neutral springs 45. When the side brush S receives a contact surface pressure of a predetermined level or more from the front and rear end faces Bf, Br of the automobile V, it is able to tilt in the front-rear direction around the axis of the rail shaft portion 32 while elastically deforming the neutral springs 45.

[0097] Although not shown, a longitudinal tilt sensor capable of detecting tilting of the swing arm 31A by a predetermined angle or more (and therefore rotation of the rail shaft portion 32 by a predetermined angle or more) is provided between the swing arm 31A and the portal frame 1, and a detection signal of this longitudinal tilt sensor is also sent to the control device C. Note that such longitudinal tilt sensors are conventionally well known in car washes (see, for example, JP 2000-198425 A).

[0098] 7 shows an example of an air circuit diagram for controlling the operation of the first and second air cylinders AC1, AC2. That is, a first branch pipe 61 having first to third pressure reducing valves Vg1 to Vg3 arranged in series for sequentially reducing the original pressure in stages extends from a main air pipe 60 connected via a pressure adjusting valve to an air pump AP provided at an appropriate position inside and outside the portal frame 1, and a first air pressure reduced by the first pressure reducing valve Vg1 can be introduced from a first branch pipe 611 branching out from between the first and second pressure reducing valves Vg1 and Vg2 of this first branch pipe 61 to the rod side air chambers of the first air cylinders AC1 on the left and right sides via a first opening / closing valve Vc1. On the other hand, from the second branch pipe 612 branching off and extending from between the second and third pressure reducing valves Vg2, Vg3 of the first branch pipe 61, the second air pressure reduced by the second pressure reducing valve Vg2 can be introduced into the cylinder base end side air chambers of the first left and right air cylinders AC1 via the second on-off valve Vc2, and further from the third branch pipe 613 connected to the first branch pipe 61 downstream of the third pressure reducing valve Vg3, the third air pressure reduced by the third pressure reducing valve Vg3 can be introduced into the cylinder base end side air chambers of the first left and right air cylinders AC1 via the third on-off valve Vc3.

[0099] The first on-off valve Vc1 allows the first branch pipe 611 to flow when it is open (i.e., when it is on), but blocks the first branch pipe 611 when it is closed (i.e., when it is off) and opens the rod side air chamber of the first air cylinder AC1 to the atmosphere. The second on-off valve Vc2 allows the second branch pipe 612 to flow when it is open (i.e., when it is on), but blocks the second branch pipe 612 when it is closed (i.e., when it is off) and connects the cylinder base end side air chamber of the first air cylinder AC1 to the atmosphere release pipe 62. The third on-off valve Vc3 allows the third branch pipe 613 to flow when it is open (i.e., when it is on), but blocks the third branch pipe 613 when it is closed (i.e., when it is off) and connects the cylinder base end side air chamber of the first air cylinder AC1 to the atmosphere release pipe 62. A fourth on-off valve Vc4 is provided at the outlet of the atmosphere release pipe 62, which is normally (ie, when off) shuts off the outlet but opens it to the atmosphere when activated (ie, when on).

[0100] The first air pressure is a V-shaped inclined pressure for contracting the first air cylinder AC1 to urge the rotating shaft holder 37 (rotating shaft Js) toward the V-shaped first attitude S1, and the second and third air pressures are air pressures for expanding the first air cylinder AC1 to urge the rotating shaft holder 37 (rotating shaft Js) toward the V-shaped second attitude S2. The first to third pressure reducing valves Vg1 to Vg3 are capable of exerting a pressure reducing function such that the inverted V-shaped inclined pressure based on the second air pressure is smaller than the V-shaped inclined pressure based on the first air pressure, and the inverted V-shaped inclined pressure based on the third air pressure is even smaller than the inverted V-shaped inclined pressure based on the second air pressure.

[0101] The control device C controls the operation of the first to fourth on-off valves Vc1 to Vc4, and for example, by controlling only the first on-off valve Vc1 out of all the on-off valves Vc1 to Vc4 to be on and contracting the left and right first air cylinders AC1, the posture of the side brush S (rotation shaft Js) can be set to a V-shaped first posture S1 (the tilt limit is regulated by the first stopper mechanism 41).

[0102] Moreover, by controlling either the second or third on-off valve Vc2, Vc3 to be on and extending the cylinder AC1, the side brush S (rotation shaft Js) can be brought into an inverted V-shaped second posture S2 (the tilt limit is regulated by the second stopper mechanism 42). In this case, for example, when it is desired to apply a strong reverse V-shaped pressure (i.e., a strong reverse inclination pressure) to the rotation shaft Js of the side brush S, the second and fourth on-off valves Vc2, Vc4 can be turned on simultaneously, and when it is desired to switch from a state in which the strong reverse V-shaped pressure is applied to a weak reverse V-shaped pressure (i.e., a weak reverse inclination pressure), the second on-off valve Vc2 can be turned off and at the same time the fourth on-off valve Vc4 can be turned off for a short time to release the strong reverse V-shaped pressure, and then the third and fourth on-off valves Vc3, Vc4 can be turned on simultaneously. Thus, the fourth on-off valve Vc4 functions to shut off the release side port of the off-side on-off valve Vc2 or Vc3 from the atmosphere when a strong reverse V-shaped pressure or a weak reverse V-shaped pressure is applied.

[0103] In addition, the control device C can control the state to be switched to an approximately vertical, free-tilting state in which no air pressure is applied to either of the pair of air chambers of the first air cylinder AC1 by, for example, turning off the first to third on-off valves Vc1 to Vc3 and turning on only the fourth on-off valve Vc4, and can also control the state to be switched to an approximately vertical neutral position in which air pressure is applied to both air chambers by turning on the first on-off valve Vc1 and the second or third on-off valve Vc2, Vc3.

[0104] Thus, even when the side brush S (rotating shaft Js) is in the above-mentioned free tilting state, during brushing and cleaning of the side Bs of the automobile V, the movable base 33 receives a closing pressure (i.e., cleaning pressure) as described below, and therefore the side brush S assumes a slightly inclined V-shaped posture (first posture S1) that roughly follows the upper part of the side Bs in response to the contact reaction force that the brush body 34 receives from the side Bs.

[0105] Incidentally, a technology in which an air cylinder (in the illustrated example, the second air cylinder AC2) is used as the actuator of the opening / closing control mechanism Dk that moves the movable table 33 that suspends the rotation shaft Js of the side brush S left and right (opens and closes the side brush S), and the supply and exhaust control of air pressure to and from each air chamber on the rod side and cylinder base end side of the air cylinder AC2 is performed by a control valve device 65 consisting of a plurality of electromagnetic control valves is conventionally known in the field of car washes (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-153177). Therefore, a specific illustration of the control valve device 65 that controls the supply and exhaust of air pressure to the second air cylinder AC2 in the air circuit in Fig. 7 is omitted.

[0106] Thus, this control valve device 65 is configured to be able to switch between an opening side control mode in which the left and right second air cylinders AC2 urge the movable platform 33 to the opening side, i.e., the cylinder extension side, and a closing side control mode in which the movable platform 33 is urged to the closing side, i.e., the cylinder contraction side, by using two systems of air pressure with different pressures (in this embodiment, a fourth air pressure supplied from a second branch pipe 63 branched off from the main air piping 60, and the first air pressure supplied from the first branch pipe 61). Note that in addition to such a control mode switching mode, a switching mode that can be selected to switch to a control mode in which the movable platform 33 is not urged to either the closing side or the opening side may be selected.

[0107] Moreover, while the above-mentioned closing side control mode is being executed, the control valve device 65 is also capable of variable force control to temporarily weaken the closing side biasing force of the movable table 33 by releasing or lowering the air pressure in the rod side air chamber of the second air cylinder AC2 and / or by increasing the air pressure in the cylinder base end side air chamber. Thus, the control valve device 65 can selectively apply to the movable table 33 any one of an opening direction biasing force (i.e., strong opening pressure) and a weaker opening direction biasing force (i.e., weak opening pressure), and a closing direction biasing force (i.e., closing pressure) and a weaker closing direction biasing force (i.e., cleaning pressure).

[0108] Thus, the weaker closing direction biasing force (i.e., cleaning pressure) is set when the side brush S brushes and cleans the side surface Bs of the automobile. The opening direction biasing force (i.e., strong opening pressure) and closing direction biasing force (i.e., closing pressure) are set mainly when the side brush S is opened and closed in a process other than the brushing cleaning. The weaker opening direction biasing force (i.e., weak opening pressure) is set when the side brush S passes beside the door mirror DM while avoiding contact with the door mirror DM or reducing the contact surface pressure, as described below.

[0109] The air pump AP, the first and second on-off valves V1, V2 and the respective electromagnetic control valves of the control valve device 65 are controlled in operation by control signals output from the control device C.

[0110] In the first embodiment described above, the opening / closing control mechanism Dk for the side brush S is air-driven and the second air cylinder AC2 is used as the actuator, but the opening / closing control mechanism Dk may be electrically driven in the second embodiment. In this case, as shown in a simplified schematic diagram in Fig. 23, for example, one sprocket shaft of each of the first and second sprockets 94s, 95s in the movement position detection device SEk is rotated by first and second electric motors Mk, Mk' fixed to the guide rail 30 and capable of rotating in both directions via chain mechanisms 96, 96', and the operating current value of this electric motor Mk is controlled by the control device C.

[0111] In this case, the aforementioned closing pressure and washing pressure (weak closing pressure), as well as the strong opening pressure and weak opening pressure, which the opening / closing control mechanism Dk exerts on the left and right movable tables 33 may be controlled by the control device C so that the electric motors Mk, Mk' can output rotational forces in the rotational directions corresponding to these pressures. Incidentally, since it is conventionally known in gate-type car washes that the opening / closing control mechanism Dk for the side brush S is of an electric type, further explanation regarding the control of the electric motor Mk will be omitted.

[0112] The second lifting drive device Dt2, which drives the support shaft Jtn of the top nozzle Nt to move up and down, is disposed on the inside of the left and right side parts 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1 at a position corresponding to the top nozzle Nt in the front-rear direction. As is clear from Fig. 10, the second lifting drive device Dt2 basically has a similar configuration to the first lifting drive device Dt1, which drives the top brush T to move up and down, and includes, for example, lifting guide rails 17b fixed within the left and right side parts 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1, left and right lifting supports 17a connected to and supported by the nozzle support shaft Jn connected to both ends of the nozzle body of the top nozzle Nt, lifting sliders 17s connected to the lifting supports 17a so as to move up and down integrally therewith and capable of moving up and down along the lifting guide rails 17b, and second lifting drive means 17c forcibly lifting and lowering the lifting supports 17a.

[0113] The configuration of the second lifting and lowering drive means 17c is basically the same as that of the first lifting and lowering drive means 16c described above, so the same reference numerals are used and further description is omitted. The second lifting and lowering drive device Dt2 is also not limited to the embodiment, and various conventionally known top nozzle lifting and lowering drive devices can be implemented. In addition, drying air can be pressure-fed into the top nozzle Nt through a duct from a blower (not shown) mounted in the gate-shaped frame 1.

[0114] Next, with reference to Figures 10 to 18, we will explain an example of the left and right side nozzles Ns and the left and right side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns that drives them forward and backward approximately horizontally (i.e., approximately in the left and right directions) relative to the left and right side surfaces Bs of the automobile V.

[0115] The nozzle body 20 of the left and right side nozzles Ns comprises a hollow tip portion 21 having an inwardly extending nozzle hole 21j (which can therefore face the side surface Bs of the automobile) at its tip end and formed into a tapered triangular shape in plan view, and a hollow base portion 22 integrally connected to the open base end of the tip portion 21, extending in the vertical direction like the tip portion 21, and formed into a rectangular shape in plan view. The internal spaces of the tip portion 21 and the base portion 22 are directly connected to each other, and define an expansion chamber 20c which is connected to the nozzle hole 21j and is long in the vertical direction.

[0116] The base 22 includes an upper half base 22a and a lower half base 22b each having a rectangular horizontal cross section, and an intermediate base 22m that is wider than the upper half base 22a and the lower half base 22b in a plan view and integrally connects the upper half base 22a and the lower half base 22b. The upper half base 22a and the lower half base 22b are formed such that their rectangular cross sections gradually narrow as they move upward and downward from the intermediate base 22m. The horizontal cross section of the intermediate base 22m is formed into a wide isosceles trapezoidal shape that is an extension and expansion of the triangular horizontal cross section of the tip 21 in the direction in which the side nozzle Ns retreats, and a cylindrical connecting tube portion 22ma for connecting an air duct is integrally connected to the base end of the intermediate base 22m.

[0117] The nozzle body 20 is detachably coupled to and held by a holding member 90 fixed to the output end (support members 75, 85 as second output parts described later) of the side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns. The holding member 90 has a tip 90a on the nozzle body 20 side and a base 90b fixed to the tip of the support members 75, 85 with a plurality of bolts and nuts b1. As is clear from FIG. 16, a notch 90ac is formed in the tip 90a of the holding member 90 into which the lower half base 22b of the nozzle body 20 is fitted, and the lower surface of the intermediate base 22m of the nozzle body 20 is placed on the upper surface of the tip 90a around the notch 90ac and fixed with a plurality of bolts and nuts b2.

[0118] 10, a blower 28 is installed and fixed in the corresponding side section 1s of the portal frame 1 above each side nozzle Ns. An upstream end 291 of an air duct 29 that is generally S-shaped when viewed from the front is connected and fixed to an outlet section 28a of the blower 28, and a downstream end 292 of the air duct 29 is fitted and connected to the connecting tube section 22ma of the side nozzle base 22 (particularly the intermediate base section 22m) described above. The connection is detachably and firmly fastened with a fastener (not shown) such as a conventionally known fastening band.

[0119] Thus, the air discharged from the blower 28 is pressurized and supplied through the air duct 29 into the base 22 of the side nozzle Ns (and therefore into the expansion chamber 20c), and the supplied air is squeezed within the tapered tip 21 of the side nozzle Ns and can be forcefully ejected from the nozzle 21j toward the side surface Bs of the automobile (i.e., toward the inner side in the left-right direction of the portal frame 1).

[0120] The air duct 29 is basically flexible but is formed into a cylindrical shape from a material with a certain degree of rigidity (for example, a hard cloth, a rubber material, a synthetic resin material, or a laminated composite of these materials.) When the side nozzle Ns is at the retreat limit relative to the automobile side surface Bs by the side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns described later, the air duct 29 is curved and deformed into an S-shape as is clear from Figures 10 and 11, and exerts a repulsive force that resists the deformation.

[0121] Meanwhile, openings 23 are provided in the inner walls 1si of the left and right side portions 1s of the portal frame 1, through which parts of the advance / retract drive device Dns and the side nozzles Ns can appear and disappear when the advance / retract drive device Dns is operated. Notches (see, for example, the escape recess 23a in FIG. 13) are formed on the inner edges of the front and rear sides of this opening 23 to avoid interference with the advance / retract drive device Dns even when the advance / retract drive device Dns tilts slightly forward and backward around the vertical tilt support shaft 310, as will be described later.

[0122] Further, the base ends Gb of a pair of buffer members G are detachably connected to the nozzle body 20 of each side nozzle Ns by means of a fastener 9, and the tip portions Ga of the buffer members G extend forward and backward from the outer surfaces 21f, 21r of the tapered tip portion 21 of the nozzle body 20, respectively. This allows the buffer members G to sufficiently protrude from the outer surfaces 21f, 21r of the tip portion 21 of the nozzle body 20 in the front-rear direction of the portal frame 1, so that the buffer members G can effectively prevent contact between the side nozzles Ns and the automobile V, which is effective in preventing damage to the vehicle body surface. The front side of the nozzle body 20 corresponds to the side along which the portal frame 1 advances during the drying process performed by operating the side nozzles Ns when the portal frame 1 travels.

[0123] As is clear from Figures 11 to 13, the above-mentioned fixing device 9 includes a first fixing member 91, one end of which is overlapped with the outer surfaces of the upper half base 22a and the lower half base 22b at a position adjacent to the intermediate base 22m of the nozzle body 20 and fixed with a bolt nut b3, a second fixing member 92, the base of which is fixed to the other end of the first fixing member 91 with a bolt nut b4, and a third fixing member 93, the base plate of which is overlapped with the base end of the buffer member G and fixed with a plurality of bolt nuts b5 and the tip plate of which is overlapped with the tip of the second fixing member 92 and fixed with a plurality of bolt nuts b6. The third fixing member 93 is made of a plate material with an L-shaped cross section that extends vertically along the outer surfaces 21f and 21r of the tip 21 of the nozzle body 20.

[0124] The nozzle body 20 of the side nozzle Ns may be fixed to the holding member 90 (therefore, the support member 75, 85) that supports and fixes the nozzle body Ns so that its position can be adjusted in at least one of the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions. In this case, for example, if the bolt hole through which the bolt shaft of the bolt nut b1 is inserted is formed as a long hole that is long in the up-down or front-rear direction, the nozzle body 20 can be fixed to the holding member 90 (therefore, the support member 75, 85) so that its position can be adjusted in the up-down or front-rear direction along the long hole. Also, if the bolt holes through which the bolt shafts of the bolt nuts b2, b3 are inserted are formed as long holes that are long in the left-right direction of the gate-shaped frame 1, the nozzle body 20 can be fixed to the holding member 90 (therefore, the support member 75, 85) so that its position can be adjusted in the left-right direction (i.e., the nozzle advancement / retraction direction) along the long hole.

[0125] The buffer member G may be fixed to the nozzle body 20 that supports and fixes it so that its position can be adjusted in at least one of the up-down, left-right, and front-rear directions. In this case, for example, if the bolt hole through which the bolt shaft of the bolt nut b4 is inserted is formed as a long hole that is long in the left-right or front-rear direction of the gate frame 1, the buffer member G can be fixed to the nozzle body 20 so that its position can be adjusted in the left-right direction (i.e., the nozzle advancement and retreat direction) or front-rear direction along the long hole. Furthermore, if the bolt holes through which the bolt shafts of the bolt nuts b5 and b6 are inserted are formed as long holes that are long in the up-down direction of the gate frame 1, the buffer member G can be fixed to the nozzle body 20 so that its position can be adjusted in the up-down direction along the long hole.

[0126] The cushioning member G is made of a material (hard rubber, cloth, etc.) that has sufficient rigidity not to easily deform even when it comes into contact with the automobile V and is not likely to scratch the vehicle body surface, and is formed into a shape that can cooperate with the nozzle body 20 of the side nozzle Ns to cover at least most of the opening 23.

[0127] 13, the amount of left-right projection of the buffer member G is set so that the buffer member G is located outboard of the left-right outer end position of the nozzle main body 20. When the side nozzle Ns is at its most rearwardly distant position from the side surface Bs of the automobile V, the buffer member G is located in the opening 23 at approximately the same position in the left-right direction as the inner wall 1si of the side portion 1s of the portal frame 1. This allows the buffer member G to efficiently block most of the opening 23 while avoiding mutual interference with the portal frame 1 at the rearwardly distant position of the side nozzle Ns.

[0128] 14 and 15 show modified examples of the buffer member G and the side nozzle Ns. That is, in the above embodiment, the buffer member G is formed in a shape capable of covering at least most of the opening 23 (i.e., the front and rear parts), but in the first modified example shown in Fig. 14(A), the buffer member G extends only to the front side of the portal frame 1 from the outer surface 21f of the tip 21 of the nozzle main body 20, and is formed in a shape capable of covering the half of the opening 23 on the front side of the portal frame 1.

[0129] 14(B) to 14(E) show various variations of the first modified example. For example, in the second modified example shown in FIG. 14(B), the tip Ga of the buffer member G is located on the left and right inner side of the inner wall 1si of the gate-shaped frame side part 1s at the retreat limit of the side nozzle Ns, and is arranged to overlap with the inner wall 1si of the periphery of the opening 23. In the third modified example shown in FIG. 14(C), the buffer member G is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and a pair of inner ends are bonded to the outer surfaces 21f, 22f of the tip 21 and base 22 of the nozzle main body 20 or fixed with a joint (not shown). In the fourth modified example shown in FIG. 14(D), the buffer member G is formed in a solid block shape or a hollow block shape (not shown), and the inner end surface is bonded to the outer surface 21f of the tip 21 of the nozzle main body 20 or fixed with a joint (not shown).

[0130] 14(E), the tip 21 of the nozzle body 20 is formed in a form in which the nozzle hole 21j is offset toward the rear of the gate frame 1, and the outer surface 21f of the tip 21 is formed in a slope that is biased toward the rear of the gate frame 1 more than in the embodiment and other modifications. As a result, the gap between the opening 23 and the outer surface 21f of the tip 21 becomes relatively large, but the form of the tip Ga is set so that it can be efficiently covered by the tip Ga of the buffer member G.

[0131] 14(A)-(E), the nozzle hole 21j provided at the tip of the tip portion 21 of the nozzle body 20 has a structure in which small bead portions 21jb extend from the opening edge of the nozzle hole 21j toward the front and rear of the portal frame 1. The small bead portions 21jb reinforce the opening edge of the nozzle hole 21j and can provide a buffer function when an external force is applied. In this case, if the small bead portion 21jb is formed relatively thick and sturdy, the base end portion Gb of the buffer member G can be integrally joined or detachably fixed to the small bead portion 21jb.

[0132] Furthermore, a sixth modified example is shown in Fig. 15. In the above embodiment and the first to fifth modified examples, the opening 23 provided in the inner wall 1si of the side portion 1s of the portal frame 1 is configured as a hole whose entire periphery is closed, but in the sixth modified example, the opening 23 is formed as a notch whose rear half is open. Even with such a notched opening 23, the side nozzle Ns can appear and disappear, and the front half of the opening 23 is covered by the buffer member G when the side nozzle Ns is at the rear limit.

[0133] 14(B)-(E) and 15 can be implemented not only in the front half of the buffer member G that can cover the front half of the opening 23 in the embodiment, but also in the rear half of the buffer member G that can cover the rear half of the opening 23. The small bead portion 21jb provided in the nozzle 21j in the first to fifth modified examples in Figs. 14(A)-(E) can also be provided in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 13 and the sixth modified example shown in Fig. 15.

[0134] Next, an example of the side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns will be described with reference mainly to FIGS. This advance / retract drive device Dns comprises a first mechanism L1 supported by the gate-shaped frame 1 and having a first output part (connecting link 73 described later) displaceable in the approximate advance / retract direction of the side nozzle Ns relative to the side surface Bs of the automobile, that is, in the approximate left-right direction in terms of the gate-shaped frame 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "nozzle advance / retract direction" in this specification), a second mechanism L2 having a support member 75 as a second output part displaceable in the nozzle advance / retract direction and having the base 22 of the side nozzle Ns held by said support member 75, a speed-doubling mechanism L including an interlocking mechanism I which interlocks and connects the first and second mechanisms L1, L2 to each other so as to increase the displacement stroke of the second output part 75 in the nozzle advance / retract direction more than the displacement stroke of the connecting link 73 in the nozzle advance / retract direction while keeping the height of the second output part 75 approximately constant, and an air cylinder 26 as an actuator capable of applying a forward driving force to at least the first link 71 (and therefore the first mechanism L1).

[0135] In the embodiment, the first mechanism L1 is composed of a first parallel link mechanism L1 including a support frame 70 supported on the corresponding side 1s of the portal frame 1 so as to be tiltable back and forth via a vertical tilting support shaft 310 (see Figures 11, 12, 16, and 17), a pair of first links 71 each having one end supported via a bearing so as to be swingable left and right around the axis of a pair of base shafts p1 supported at the same height and at a constant distance from each other on the upper part of the support frame 70, and a connecting link 73 connected to the other end of the pair of first links 71 via a pair of first intermediate shafts pm of the same height and bearings so as to be swingable left and right.

[0136] In this case, the connecting link 73 constitutes the first output portion of the first parallel link mechanism L1 as the first mechanism, and in this embodiment is constituted by a hollow rigid frame formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open upper surface. The support frame 70 not only supports the first parallel link mechanism L1, but also functions as a suspending means for suspending the entire side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns including the first parallel link mechanism L1 on the side portion 1s of the portal frame 1.

[0137] The second mechanism L2 is composed of a second parallel link mechanism L2 including a support member 75 that fixes and supports the base 22 of the side nozzle Ns, a pair of second links 72 whose one ends are supported via bearings so as to be swingable left and right around the axis of a pair of tip shafts p2 supported on the support member 75 at the same height and at a fixed distance from each other, and a pair of second intermediate shafts pm' that are arranged coaxially with the pair of first intermediate shafts pm (in this embodiment, they are integrally connected on the extended axis) and a connecting link 73 that is connected to the other end of the second link 72 via a bearing so as to be swingable left and right.

[0138] In this case, the support member 75 constitutes the second output section of the second parallel link mechanism L1 as the second mechanism, and in this embodiment is constituted by a rigid frame extending in the nozzle advance / retract direction, and the first and second links 71, 72 are all formed to have the same length, and both ends of an intermediate shaft combination body pmc which integrates the first and second intermediate shafts pm, pm' are supported by the front and rear side walls of the connecting link 73. Unlike the embodiment, the lengths of the first and second links 71, 72 may be set to be different.

[0139] The tilting support shaft 310 described above is for tilting the side nozzle Ns in the front-rear direction around the tilting support shaft 310 to smoothly move the side nozzle Ns away from an object (e.g., an automobile V) when the side nozzle Ns comes into contact with the object during the drying process, and is normally held in a fixed position by being spring-biased to a neutral position. In addition, although not shown, a stopper mechanism that defines the tiltable range of the side nozzle Ns or its forward / rearward drive device Dns and a tilt sensor that detects the tilt are provided inside the side portion 1s of the portal frame 1, and the control device C performs control such as stopping the car washing operation in response to the tilt sensor detecting a predetermined tilt. The support mechanism for the side nozzle Ns via the tilting support shaft 310 as described above is well known in the art for car washes, and will not be described further here.

[0140] 16 and 17, the second parallel link mechanism L2 as the second mechanism of the speed-doubling mechanism L is offset relative to the first parallel link mechanism L1 as the first mechanism toward the side nozzle Ns in the front-to-rear direction of the portal frame 1. This makes it possible to separate the first parallel link mechanism L1 as far as possible from the side nozzle Ns in the front-to-rear direction of the portal frame 1 by utilizing this offset arrangement, so that even when the side nozzle Ns is at its rearmost position, interference between the first parallel link mechanism L1 and the side nozzle Ns can be reasonably avoided.

[0141] The interlocking mechanism I also includes a gear transmission mechanism 74 located around the connecting link 73 (in the hollow portion of the connecting link 73 in this embodiment) which interlocks and connects the first and second links 71, 72 to each other so as to angularly displace the first and second links 71, 72 by the same angle to one side and the other side with respect to a virtual vertical line perpendicular to the first and second intermediate shafts pm, pm' (intermediate shaft combination body pmc) when the air cylinder 76 serving as an actuator is operated.

[0142] The gear transmission mechanism 74 has, for example, first and second gears g1, g2 fixed to the opposing side surfaces of at least one first link 71 and at least one second link 72 adjacent thereto in the front-rear direction. The first and second gears g1, g2 are disposed in a hollow connecting link 73 and mesh with each other with the same number of teeth (i.e., tooth number ratio=1). This meshing causes the first and second links 71, 72 to interlock with each other and to be angularly displaced by the same angle to one side and the other side with respect to the virtual vertical line, as described above. Unlike the embodiment, the first and second gears g1, g2 may be set to have different numbers of teeth (i.e., tooth number ratio≠1).

[0143] Thus, when the first parallel link mechanism L1 is swung forward by the air cylinder 27 as an actuator from a state in which the side nozzle Ns is at the rearmost position and stored in the side part 1s of the portal frame 1, the second parallel link mechanism L2 also swung forward via the interlocking mechanism I. In this case, in conjunction with the movement and displacement of the connecting link 73 as the first output part of the first parallel link mechanism L1, the support member 75 advances in the same direction relative to the connecting link 73, and the total displacement amount of the support member 75 at this time is the sum of the advance amount accompanied by the downward displacement of the support member 75 relative to the connecting link 73 and the advance amount accompanied by the upward displacement of the connecting link 73 relative to the support frame 70 (portal frame side part 1s), and therefore the support member 75 can be displaced in the same direction relative to the portal frame side part 1s by a displacement amount longer than the latter advance amount.

[0144] Thus, in the speed-doubling mechanism L of the embodiment, the displacement stroke of the support member 75 serving as the second output part of the second parallel link mechanism L2 relative to the portal frame side part 1s can be made longer than the displacement stroke of the connecting link 73 serving as the first output part of the first parallel link mechanism L1, and at that time, the above-mentioned upward displacement and downward displacement are offset, so that the support member 75 serving as the second output part of the second parallel link mechanism L2 (and therefore the side nozzle Ns) can move back and forth approximately horizontally (i.e., with almost no vertical displacement).

[0145] As a result, even when the first mechanism, i.e., the first parallel link mechanism L1 is entirely housed within the side portion 1s of the portal frame 1 with the side nozzle Ns at its rearmost position, the speed-doubling mechanism L ensures that the displacement stroke of the second mechanism, i.e., the second output portion (support member 75) of the second parallel link mechanism L2 relative to the portal frame side portion 1s is sufficiently longer than that of the first output portion (connecting link 73) of the first parallel link mechanism L1, so that the advancement and retreat stroke of the side nozzle Ns, whose base portion 22 is held by the support member 75, can be sufficiently long. Therefore, even if the width of the portal frame 1 is widened or the diameter of the side brush S is increased, the side nozzle S can be accurately driven forward and backward with a sufficient operating stroke without particularly widening the width of the left and right side portions of the portal frame 1 in the left and right direction, which is advantageous in preventing the car wash machine A from becoming larger in size in the advancement and retreat direction, and the special provision of the speed-doubling mechanism L allows the support member 75 and therefore the side nozzle NS to be quickly advanced and retreated.

[0146] Furthermore, in the embodiment, since a speed doubling mechanism L is used that combines two parallel link mechanisms L1, L2 and the interlocking mechanism I between them, there is no need to particularly increase the link length of each parallel link mechanism L1, L2, which is advantageous in terms of miniaturizing the forward / backward drive device Dns.

[0147] The first and second parallel link mechanisms L1, L2 are arranged so that when the side nozzle Ns is at its rearmost position, farthest from the side surface Bs of the automobile V, the first and second intermediate shafts pm, pm' (and therefore the connecting link 73) are located lower than the base shaft p1 and the tip shaft p2, and the weight of the connecting link 73 and the gear transmission mechanism 74 generates a moment in the rearward direction (i.e., the direction to move the side nozzle Ns away from the side surface Bs of the automobile V) on the first and second links 71, 72. Thus, the connecting link 73 and the gear transmission mechanism 74 constitute a rearward biasing means that utilizes their gravity to bias the side nozzle Ns in the rearward direction.

[0148] According to this backward biasing means, the side nozzle Ns in the forward position can be rapidly moved backward by the biasing force of gravity, so that if an accident or the like occurs during side drying and it is necessary to rapidly move the side nozzle backward, the rapid backward movement can be smoothly performed using only the driving force of the actuator. Moreover, the side nozzle Ns can be biased in the backward direction with a simple biasing structure that utilizes the weight of the connecting link 73 and the gear transmission mechanism 74 for interlocking the first and second links 71, 72 with each other.

[0149] In the side nozzle Ns of this embodiment, the base 22 of the nozzle body 20 is connected to and fixed to the downstream end 292 of the flexible duct hose 29, whose upstream end 291 is connected to and fixed to the discharge portion 28a of the blower 28 fixed inside the portal frame 1, as described above. When the side nozzle Ns is at its rearmost position, a repulsive force from the duct hose 29 acts on the side nozzle Ns in a direction that moves the side nozzle Ns closer to the side surface Bs of the automobile V, thereby reducing the burden on the motor 76 as an actuator when opening the side nozzle Ns.

[0150] The duct hose 29 is designed so that the connection between its upstream end 291 and the discharge portion 28a of the blower 28 is at an appropriate height near the center in the left-right direction of the portal frame side portion 1s, as is clear from Figure 10, so that the repulsive force received from the duct hose 29 when the side nozzle Ns moves forward from the rear limit and the repulsive force received from the duct hose 29 when it moves backward from the forward limit are balanced as much as possible, and also so that the S-shaped curve portion in the middle of the duct hose 29 is not too long.

[0151] Incidentally, the repulsive force can be reduced to zero or to a minimum depending on the material, support form, etc. of duct hose 29. In addition, in the embodiment, discharge part 28a of blower 28 is directly connected to upstream end 291 of duct hose 29, but discharge part 28a of blower 28 may be connected to duct hose 29 via a relay duct that relays between it and duct hose 29. In this case, the connection position between discharge part 28a and duct hose 29 can be set more easily and appropriately.

[0152] As is clear from FIG. 1, the aforementioned cleaning water supply system includes upper cleaning water injection pipe group 101-104 arranged on the upper part 1t of the portal frame 1 and capable of spraying multiple types of cleaning water onto the top surface Bt of the automobile V, and left and right side cleaning water injection pipe group 201-204 arranged on the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1, respectively, and capable of spraying multiple types of cleaning water onto the left and right side surfaces Bs of the automobile V.

[0153] Of these, the upper cleaning water spray pipe group includes an upper rinse water spray pipe 101, an upper liquid detergent spray pipe 102, an upper foam detergent spray pipe 103, and an upper coating agent spray pipe 104, which are arranged on the upper part 1t of the portal frame 1 and can spray multiple types of cleaning water such as rinse water, liquid detergent, foam detergent, and coating agent onto the upper surface Bt of the automobile, and the side cleaning water spray pipe group includes a side rinse water spray pipe 201, a side liquid detergent spray pipe 202, a side foam detergent spray pipe 203, and a side coating agent spray pipe 204, which are arranged on the left and right sides 1s of the portal frame 1 and can spray multiple types of cleaning water such as rinse water, liquid detergent, foam detergent, and coating agent onto the side surface Bs of the automobile.

[0154] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the upper foam detergent spray pipe 103 and the upper coating agent spray pipe 104 are attached to a lifting support 108 that is mounted on the gate-shaped frame 1 so as to be capable of being raised and lowered via a third lifting drive device Dt3, and are shown as being capable of being raised and lowered together with the lifting support 108; however, the upper foam detergent spray pipe 103 and the upper coating agent spray pipe 104 may also be supported on the upper part 1t of the gate-shaped frame 1 so as not to be able to be raised or lowered.

[0155] 19, at least one first tank, a liquid detergent tank t1 and a foam detergent tank t2, for storing some of the multiple types of cleaning water, and a first centralized piping CL1 having at least a plurality of first branch piping sections 150 and a first liquid supply pump group 160 for distributing and pumping the liquid detergent and foam detergent as cleaning water from the tanks t1 and t2 to the corresponding upper cleaning water jet pipe group and some of the left and right side cleaning water jet pipe groups (i.e., the upper liquid detergent jet pipe 102 / upper foam detergent jet pipe 103, and the side liquid detergent jet pipe 202 / side foam detergent jet pipe 203). In the first centralized piping CL1, the first branch piping section 150 and the first liquid supply pump group 160 are fixed together to a first piping base B1 arranged and fixed in a specific space in one side 1s, so that they are concentrated in the specific space.

[0156] The first branch piping section 150 mainly comprises a detergent branch pipe group 151 branching off from detergent supply pipes extending from the liquid detergent tank t1 and the foam detergent tank t2, a water branch pipe group 152 branching off from a water supply pipe extending from a fresh water supply source (not shown) and capable of being opened and closed by a water solenoid valve 152v, a first ejector group 153 mixing the water from the water branch pipe group 152 with the detergent in the detergent branch pipe group 151, a second ejector group 154 ​​mixing the mixed detergent that has passed through the first ejector group 153 with air from an air supply source (not shown) to foam the detergent, and a liquid delivery pump group 160 (specifically, a plurality of liquid delivery pumps P11 to P15) that sucks in the liquid detergent and foam detergent from the liquid detergent tank t1 and the foam detergent tank t2 and pressure-feeds them to the detergent branch pipe group 151.

[0157] The downstream ends of the above-mentioned detergent branch pipe group 151 are connected to the aforementioned upper liquid detergent spray pipe 102, upper foam detergent spray pipe 103, as well as the side liquid detergent spray pipe 202, and side foam detergent spray pipe 203 through a detergent connection pipe group (not shown) routed within the portal frame 1.

[0158] In this embodiment, the first piping base B1 (and therefore the first centralized piping CL1) is formed in a box shape that is flat in the front-to-rear direction of the gate frame 1, and the above-mentioned main components 151-154, P11-P15, etc. of the first centralized piping CL1 are fixed in parallel to the inner wall of the box. Although not shown, the first piping base B1 may be configured in the shape of a plate having an appropriate shape (for example, a rectangle) that is flat in the front-to-rear direction of the gate frame 1, and in that case, the main components 151-154, P11-P15, etc. of the first centralized piping CL1 are fixed in parallel to the plate surface of the plate-shaped first piping base B1.

[0159] Also, as is clear from Figures 1, 10, and 19, the first piping base B1 (and therefore the first concentrated piping CL1) is located to the left and right outside of the second lifting drive device Dt2 for lifting and lowering the top nozzle described above in the side portion 1s on the same side.

[0160] On the other hand, on the other side 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1, as shown in Fig. 20, there are disposed three kinds of coating agent tanks t3-t5 as at least one second tank for storing a remaining part of the cleaning water among the plurality of kinds of cleaning water, and a second centralized piping CL2 having at least a plurality of second branch piping sections 250 and a second liquid supply pump group 260 for distributing and pumping various coating agents appropriately adjusted (for example, mixed or diluted with fresh water) from the tanks t3-t5 and rinsing water (clean water) from a fresh water supply source to the upper and side coating agent jetting pipes 104, 204 and the upper and side rinsing water jetting pipes 101, 201. In the second centralized piping CL2, the second branch piping section 250 and the second liquid supply pump group 260 are fixed together to a second piping base B2 arranged and fixed in a specific space in the other side 1s, so that they are concentrated in the specific space.

[0161] The second branch piping section 250 mainly includes a coating agent branch pipe group 251 branched from coating agent supply pipes extending from the three types of coating agent tanks t3 to t5, a water branch pipe group 252 branched from a water supply pipe extending from a fresh water supply source (not shown) and capable of being opened and closed by a water solenoid valve 252v, a first ejector 253 that merges the water from the water branch pipe group 252 with the coating agent of a specific coating agent branch pipe from the coating agent branch pipe group 251, a second ejector 254 that mixes air from an air supply source (not shown) with the mixed coating agent that has passed through the first ejector group 253 to foam it, and a liquid delivery pump group 260 (specifically, a plurality of liquid delivery pumps P11' to P15') that sucks the coating agent from the three types of coating agent tanks t3 to t5 and pressure-feeds it to the coating agent branch pipe group 251.

[0162] The downstream ends of the coating agent branch pipe group 251 are connected to the upper coating agent spray pipe 104 and the upper coating agent spray pipe 204 through a coating agent connection pipe group (not shown) routed within the portal frame 1. The downstream ends of the water branch pipe group 252 are connected to the upper rinse water spray pipe 101 and the side rinse water spray pipe 201 through a fresh water connection pipe group (not shown) routed within the portal frame 1.

[0163] The second piping base B2 (hence the second concentrated piping CL2) is formed in a box shape that is flat in the front-to-rear direction of the gate frame 1, like the first piping base B1, and the above-mentioned main components 251-254, P11'-P15', etc. of the second concentrated piping CL2 are fixed in parallel to the inner wall of the box. Although not shown, the second piping base B2 may be configured in the shape of a plate having an appropriate shape (e.g., rectangular) that is flat in the front-to-rear direction of the gate frame 1, and in that case, the main components 251-254, P11'-P15', etc. of the second concentrated piping CL2 are fixed in parallel to the plate surface of the plate-shaped second piping base B2.

[0164] 1 and 20, the second piping base B2 (and therefore the second concentrated piping CL2) is located outside in the left-right direction of the second lifting drive device Dt2 for lifting and lowering the top nozzle in the side part 1s on the same side. Furthermore, as is clear from Fig. 1, the first and second concentrated piping CL1, CL2 are located above the advancing and retracting drive devices Dns for the left and right side brushes S, which will be described later. Also, as is clear from Fig. 1 and 16, the first and second concentrated piping CL1, CL2 are located above the support frame 70 and the first parallel link mechanism L1 (first mechanism) that are offset from the side nozzle Ns in the front-rear direction of the gate-shaped frame 1 for the side nozzle advancing and retracting drive device Dns.

[0165] According to the above-described embodiment, within one of the left and right side 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1, there is provided a first centralized piping CL1 which has at least multiple systems of first branch piping sections 150 and first liquid supply pump groups 160 for distributing and pressurizing cleaning water from the first tanks t1, t2 to the corresponding upper cleaning water jetting pipe groups 101-104 and the left and right side cleaning water jetting pipe groups 201-204, and in which the first branch piping sections 150 and the first liquid supply pump groups 160 are concentrated in a specific space within one of the side 1s, and this first centralized piping CL1 is located on the left-right outside of the second lifting drive device Dt2 for the top nozzle provided on one of the side 1s.

[0166] This allows the dead space outside the second lifting drive device Dt2 in one side portion 1s to be effectively used as storage space for the first centralized piping CL1, thereby reducing the size of the portal type car wash machine A. In addition, there is no risk that the degree of freedom in arranging the first centralized piping CL1 is significantly reduced due to the side brush S, as in the case where the first centralized piping CL1 is arranged outside the side brush S, which is not only advantageous in simplifying and miniaturizing the piping layout of the first centralized piping CL1, but also makes maintenance work easier.

[0167] In the above embodiment, not only the first branch pipe section 150 but also the first liquid feed pump group 160 are centrally arranged in the first centralized pipe CL1, but a third embodiment (not shown) in which the first liquid feed pump group 160 is separated from the first centralized pipe CL1 and arranged, for example, inside or near the first tanks t1, t2 can also be implemented. In this case, the cleaning liquid sucked and discharged from the first tanks t1, t2 by the first liquid feed pump group 160 (specifically, the first to fifth liquid feed pumps P11 to P15) can be pumped to the corresponding upstream end of the first branch pipe section 150. Thus, the above-mentioned alternative embodiment 1 can also achieve the same effects as those of the above embodiment.

[0168] In particular, the first concentrated pipe CL1 in the embodiment is disposed offset in the front-rear direction with respect to the side brush S present on the same left and right side as the first concentrated pipe CL1. As a result, even if the diameter of the side brush S is increased to improve the cleaning effect, the effect of the front-rear offset arrangement described above makes it possible to naturally avoid mutual interference between the large-diameter side brush S and the first concentrated pipe CL1, thereby achieving further miniaturization of the portal type car wash.

[0169] Furthermore, the first and second centralized piping CL1, CL2 are distributed and arranged on the left and right side parts 1s, 1s of the portal frame 1. This makes it possible to prevent the portal frame 1 from becoming long in the front-rear direction, as compared with a structure in which the two centralized piping CL1, CL2 are arranged, for example, in the front-rear direction on one side part 1s of the portal frame 1 (i.e., all of the centralized piping CL1, CL2 are concentrated and arranged on one side part 1s of the portal frame 1). Furthermore, by increasing the number of centralized piping CL1, CL2 and distributing them to the left and right, it is possible to simplify and downsize the piping layout of each centralized piping CL1, CL2, which is not only advantageous in making the side part 1s compact, but also increases the degree of freedom in designing the piping inside the side part 1s and makes maintenance work easier.

[0170] As is clear from Figures 1 and 9, the car wash machine A of the embodiment is equipped with a high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group 500 that is capable of spraying high-pressure cleaning water that is sufficiently higher than the cleaning water sprayed from the upper and side cleaning water injection pipe groups 101-104, 201-204 described above and is capable of cleaning the vehicle body surface at such high water pressure, first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 that are capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to the high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group 500, and first and second high-pressure cleaning water centralized piping that is arranged directly above the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 within the left and right sides 1s of the portal frame 1 and includes an external water introduction section to each high-pressure pump unit U1, U2 and a branch piping section for distributing the high-pressure cleaning water from each high-pressure pump unit U1, U2 to the high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group 500 (i.e., the upper high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe 105 and the left and right side high-pressure cleaning water injection pipes 205, 205 described below).

[0171] In the above-mentioned first and second concentrated pipes for high-pressure cleaning water, the above-mentioned external water inlet section and branch pipe section are supported by box- or plate-shaped pipe bases 601, 602 similar to the pipe bases B1, B2 attached to the above-mentioned first and second concentrated pipes CL1, CL2 for various types of cleaning water, but in Figures 1 and 9, only the pipe bases 601, 602 are shown, and the external water inlet section and branch pipe section are not shown.

[0172] Next, the high-pressure washing water jetting pipe group 500 will be explained. An upper high-pressure washing water jetting pipe 105 capable of jetting high-pressure washing water toward the top surface Bt of the automobile V as the gate-shaped frame 1 moves forward and backward relative to the automobile V is disposed at the upper portion near the exit 1ro, and left and right side high-pressure washing water jetting pipes 205 capable of jetting high-pressure washing water toward the left and right side surfaces Bs of the automobile V as the gate-shaped frame 1 moves forward and backward are disposed at the left and right side portions 1s near the entrance 1fo of the gate-shaped frame 1. The upper high-pressure washing water jetting pipe 105 and the left and right side high-pressure washing water jetting pipes 205, 205 are included in the high-pressure washing water jetting pipe group 500.

[0173] 1 and 9, the first high-pressure pump unit U1 capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to a part of the high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipe group 500 is disposed within one of the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1 and positioned outside the left and right direction of the first lifting drive device Dt1 provided on the one side part 1s. The first high-pressure pump unit U1 includes a first mounting base B3 formed in a box or plate shape and fixed to the inner wall of the one side part 1s in which it is housed, a first pump P1 and a first motor M1 for driving the first pump which are respectively attached to a lower pump base B3p and an upper motor base B3m fixed to the first mounting base B3, and the output shaft of the first motor M1 is interlocked with the pump shaft of the first pump P1 via a transmission mechanism B3t.

[0174] The second high-pressure pump unit U2 capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to some or all (all in the embodiment) of the remaining high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipe group 500 is disposed so as to be located inside the other left or right side 1s of the portal frame 1 and outside in the left-right direction of the first lifting drive device Dt1 provided on the other side 1s, as is clear from Fig. 1 and Fig. 9. The second high-pressure pump unit U2 includes a second mounting base B4 formed in a box or plate shape and fixed to the inner wall of the other side 1s in which it is housed, a second pump P2 and a second motor M2 for driving the second pump, which are respectively attached to a lower pump base B4p and an upper motor base B4m fixed to the second mounting base B4, and the output shaft of the second motor M2 is interlocked with the pump shaft of the second pump P2 via a transmission mechanism B4t.

[0175] The first and second motors M1, M2 are operated and controlled by a control device C. In the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 of the embodiment, the suction sides of the first and second pumps P1, P2 are connected to a fresh water supply source (not shown), and the fresh water supplied therefrom can be pressurized to a high pressure, and high-pressure cleaning water is supplied to the side high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipes 205 on the same left and right sides of each of the pumps. In the embodiment, the piping layout is such that only one of the high-pressure pump units on the left or right (the second high-pressure pump unit U2 in the embodiment) supplies high-pressure cleaning water to all of the upper high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipes 105.

[0176] The piping layout from the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 to each part of the high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group 500 is not limited to the embodiment, and various variations are possible. For example, the upper high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe 105 may be divided into two groups (for example, a right group and a left group, or an inner group and an outer group), and the high-pressure cleaning water from the first high-pressure pump unit U1 may be supplied to the upper high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe 105 of one of the groups, while the high-pressure cleaning water from the second high-pressure pump unit U2 may be supplied to the upper high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe 105 of the remaining (i.e., the other) group. In addition, the high-pressure cleaning water from the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 is not limited to being supplied to the side high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe 205 on the same left and right side as the high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 as in the embodiment, but may be supplied to the side high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe 205 on the opposite left and right side.

[0177] In the embodiment, the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 are offset to one side in the front-rear direction (front side in the embodiment) with respect to the side brush S on the same left and right side as each of them. Moreover, as is clear from Fig. 1, the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 are arranged on one side of the side brush S in the front-rear direction, and the first and second concentrated pipes CL1 and CL2 are arranged on the other side. As a result, even if the left and right side brushes S are made larger in diameter to improve the side washing effect, the first and second concentrated pipes CL1 and CL2 and the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 can be reasonably and compactly arranged in front of and behind the side brush S, which is advantageous in reducing the size of the car wash machine A as a whole.

[0178] Thus, in the above embodiment, a pair of high-pressure pump units U1, U2 are provided to sufficiently increase the pump capacity, and the high-pressure pump units U1, U2 are distributed and arranged on the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1. This makes it possible to prevent the portal frame 1 from becoming longer in the front-to-rear direction, compared to a structure in which the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 are arranged in the front-to-rear direction only on one side part 1s of the portal frame 1 (i.e., all of the high-pressure pump units U1, U2 are concentrated and arranged on one side part 1s of the portal frame 1).

[0179] Moreover, since the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 are each disposed outside the first lifting drive device Dt1 for the top brush in the corresponding side portion 1s of the portal frame 1, the dead space outside the first lifting drive device Dt1 in the side portion 1s can be effectively utilized as storage space for the high-pressure pump units U1, U2, thereby achieving further miniaturization of the portal type car wash machine A. Furthermore, compared with the case where the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 are disposed outside the portal frame 1, the piping from the two high-pressure pump units U1, U2 to the respective high-pressure washing water jet pipes 105, 205, 205 in the portal frame 1 is simplified and shortened, which is advantageous in reducing pressure loss and the risk of water leakage in the high-pressure washing water pipelines.

[0180] In addition, the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2 in the embodiment are disposed offset in the front-rear direction with respect to the side brushes S present on the same left and right sides as the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2. As a result, even if the diameter of the side brushes S is increased to improve the cleaning effect, the effect of the front-rear offset arrangement described above makes it possible to naturally avoid mutual interference between the large-diameter side brushes S and the high-pressure pump units U1, U2, and to achieve further miniaturization of the portal type car wash machine A.

[0181] Furthermore, since the first and second high pressure pump units U1, U2 each supply high pressure cleaning water to the side high pressure cleaning water jet pipes 205, 205 located on the same left and right sides of each of them, the high pressure cleaning water pipelines leading from each high pressure pump unit U1, U2 to the corresponding side high pressure cleaning water jet pipes 205, 205 can be reasonably shortened, making the piping layout simple and easy.

[0182] In addition, an external piping unit (not shown) is installed on the installation surface E of the car wash machine A, which houses a fresh water supply source and a high-pressure air supply source for supplying fresh water and high-pressure air to the first and second centralized piping CL1, CL2 and the first and second high-pressure pump units U1, U2, respectively, and the fresh water supply source and high-pressure air supply source in this external piping unit are connected to each of the centralized piping CL1, CL2 and each of the high-pressure pump units U1, U2 via conventionally known connection means (not shown).

[0183] Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. In the standby state of the car wash machine A, the gate-shaped frame 1 stops and waits at the processing start position, i.e., the return end 1S, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 1 and Fig. 24. During this standby state, the automobile V is driven into the reception position V1 and stopped there, and after the driver inputs a reception operation to the reception machine Au, the automobile V is advanced to the start position V2, which is detected by the entrance sensor SEf. This starts the car wash process, the gate-shaped frame 1 starts moving forward, and the car wash process starts according to the processing course selected by the reception machine Au.

[0184] Here, an example of a case where the basic car wash course is selected will be described. First, the control device C executes a brushing cleaning process in which liquid detergent and / or foam detergent is sprayed from the upper and side washing water spray pipe groups (e.g., the upper liquid detergent spray pipe 102, the upper foam detergent spray pipe 103, and the side liquid detergent spray pipe 202, the side foam detergent spray pipe 203) onto the body surface of the automobile V during the first forward process and the first return process of the portal frame 1, and then operates the top brush T and the side brush S. During the forward movement, a rinsing process is performed in which clean water alone without adding any chemicals is sprayed onto the vehicle body surface from the upper and side rinse water spray pipes 101, 201, or from the upper coating agent spray pipe 104 and the side coating agent spray pipe 204 or the upper foam detergent spray pipe 103 and the side foam detergent spray pipe 203 which precede them during the forward movement, to wash away detergent and the like on the vehicle body surface, and a drying process is performed in which the top nozzle Nt and the side nozzle Ns are operated to blow away moisture on the vehicle body surface and dry it.

[0185] In the above drying process, the control device C controls the lifting and lowering of the top nozzle Nt (specifically, the second lifting and lowering drive device Dt2) based on the detection signal of the top surface detection sensor 10, and drives the side nozzle Ns (specifically, the advancing and retreating drive device Dns) toward and away from the side surface Bs of the automobile based on the detection signal of the side surface detection sensor SEs.

[0186] In particular, during the first forward process and the first return process, the top surface detection sensor 10 detects the top surface Bt of the automobile V, which changes in height as the gantry frame 1 travels, and based on the detection signal, the control device C controls the lifting and lowering of the first lifting drive device Dt1 while rotating the top brush T in accordance with the shape of the top surface of the body of the automobile V (vehicle shape), thereby brushing and cleaning the top surface Bt of the body with an appropriate contact pressure.

[0187] In addition, during the first forward and first return processes of the gate-shaped frame 1, the wheel sensor SEw detects the front and rear wheels W, and based on the detection signal and the detection signal of the side detection sensor SEs, the control device C controls the operation of the forward and backward drive device Dz for the tire brush to clean the tires with the tire brush Z.

[0188] Next, the operating modes of the left and right side brushes S (specifically, the movable base 33 which suspends the rotation axis Js so that it can be tilted left and right) during the first forward process and the first return process, i.e., examples of control of the posture control mechanism SC and the opening / closing control mechanism Dk of the side brushes S, will be described in detail with reference to Figures 26 to 37.

[0189] In particular, Figures 26 and 27 show a control example 1 in which the automobile V to be washed is a low-height vehicle such as a sedan. In Figures 26 and 27, the small circle and the solid line passing through it indicate the position of the rotation axis Js of the side brush S at the height of the tilting support shaft 36 and its movement trajectory, respectively, and the large circle and the chain line passing through it indicate the position of the brush body of the side brush S from a predetermined height (e.g., 600 mm above the ground) at which the brush body can come into contact with the vehicle body surface and its movement trajectory, respectively. Thus, when the small circle is on the left or right inner side of the large circle (i.e., closer to the vehicle body), the rotation axes Js of the left and right side brushes S are in a first V-shaped position S1, and conversely, when the large circle is on the left or right inner side of the small circle (i.e., closer to the vehicle body), the rotation axes Js of the left and right side brushes S are in a second inverted V-shaped position S2. The magnitude of the left-right positional deviation between the small circle and the large circle represents the degree of inclination of the rotation axis Js (that is, the magnitude of the inclination angle). [First going process of control example 1] 26, the left and right side brushes S (rotation shafts Js) that are at the open end together with the movable platform 33 at the start of the car wash before the first movement of the portal frame 1 begins rotate forward in response to the start of the car wash, assume an inverted V-shaped second position S2 due to the strong inverted V-shaped pressure acting on the first air cylinder AC1, and are closed to the closed end together with the movable platform 33 by the closing pressure acting on the second air cylinder AC2. In this case, even if the stopping position of the automobile V stopped at the start position V2 is offset to the left or right, the control device C sets the position of the closed end based on the detection signals of the side detection sensor SEs and the top surface detection sensor 10 so that washing starts with the left and right side brushes S closed at the left and right center position of the automobile V.

[0190] When the side brush S reaches the closed end, the gate-shaped frame 1 moves forward and a contact between the side brush S and the front end of the vehicle V is detected by a longitudinal tilt sensor (not shown), the forward movement of the gate-shaped frame 1 stops, and the left and right side brushes S become free to tilt and are opened to the open end together with the movable base 33, and the front end is cleaned by the side brush S during the opening process. The side brush S stops rotating forward when it reaches the open end.

[0191] In this way, the "side surface washing operation during forward movement" is started as the side brush S reaches the open end. An example of the control of the side surface washing operation will be described next with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

[0192] First, in step S1, the side brush S, which has reached the open end after cleaning the front end, advances following the portal frame 1, and in step S2 it is determined whether the advance has reached a predetermined amount (i.e., an advance amount that can avoid the front corner), i.e., whether closing should begin. If it is determined in step S2 that the side brush S has advanced a predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step S3, where the advancement of the portal frame 1 (side brush S) is stopped, then to step S4, where the side brush S is rotated forward, and further to step S5, where the "surface pressure setting operation" subroutine shown in Fig. 29 is executed.

[0193] In the subroutine for the surface pressure setting operation, first, in step S21, a weak reverse tilt pressure is applied to the first air cylinder AC1 to set the side brush S (rotation axis Js) in the second V-shaped posture S2, and then the process proceeds to step S22, where a closing pressure is applied to the second air cylinder AC2 to start the closing operation of the movable base 33 (side brush S). ​​Note that in this case, in this embodiment, the weak reverse tilt pressure is applied to the first air cylinder AC1 to check whether the tilt detection device SEk has detected the reverse tilt angle, but the process may proceed to the next process (step S22) after the tilt detection device SEk detects the reverse tilt angle.

[0194] Then, when the side brush S in the second position S2 (inverted V-shaped inclination position) comes into contact with the vehicle body side surface Bs as a result of the execution of steps S21 and S22, the side brush S (rotation axis Js) changes its position to the first position S1 (inverted V-shaped inclination position) via the vertical position Sv under the influence of the closing pressure. In this case, if the inclination angle of the side brush S in the first position S1 is within a predetermined inclination angle range (hereinafter referred to as the "appropriate inclination angle" in this specification) where appropriate side surface cleaning can be performed, side surface cleaning is performed normally. Therefore, in step S23, it is determined based on the detection result of the inclination detection device SEk whether the side brush S has reached the appropriate inclination angle (?), and if not, the process returns to step S22 and is repeated.

[0195] If it is determined in step S23 that the appropriate tilt angle has been reached, the process proceeds to step S24, where the pressure acting on the second air cylinder AC is changed from the previous closing pressure to a lower cleaning pressure (hence optimal for side cleaning). This ends the surface pressure setting operation, so the process proceeds to step S6, where the gate-shaped frame 1 (side brush S) is moved forward again, side cleaning is started with the side brush S in the first position S1, particularly with the appropriate tilt angle, and then the process proceeds to step S7, where the "surface pressure adjustment operation" subroutine shown in Figure 30 is executed.

[0196] In the above-mentioned subroutine for adjusting the surface pressure, first, in step S31, it is determined whether both the left and right side brushes S are at the appropriate inclination angle (?), and if it is determined that the inclination angles are appropriate, the surface pressure adjusting operation is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S31 that at least one of the side brushes S is not at the appropriate inclination angle (i.e., the inclination angle is a large inclination angle that exceeds the appropriate inclination angle, or is in a free tilt state of approximately zero, i.e., a non-inclined state, or is a reverse inclination angle), the process proceeds to step S32, where it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the large inclination angle (?).

[0197] If step S32 determines that the result is No (i.e., the tilt angle is approximately zero and the side brush S is in a free tilting state or the side brush S is too far away from the vehicle body side surface Bs), the process proceeds to step S36, where the same process as the above-mentioned "surface pressure setting operation" subroutine (i.e., step S5) is performed. As a result, the side brush S comes into contact with the vehicle body side surface Bs again in the first tilt attitude S1, and the acting pressure on the second air cylinder AC is reset to the washing pressure, and the surface pressure adjustment operation ends.

[0198] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S32 that the tilt angle is the large tilt angle (i.e., the contact surface pressure of the side brush S is excessively large), the process proceeds to step S33, where the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is changed to the strong opening pressure. As a result, the side brush S is urged away from the vehicle body side surface Bs, and the tilt angle should be reduced from the previous large tilt angle. Then, in step S34, it is determined whether the tilt angle of the side brush S has reached the appropriate tilt angle (?), and if it has reached the appropriate tilt angle, the process proceeds to step S35, where the working pressure on the second air cylinder AC is changed from the strong opening pressure to the cleaning pressure, thereby completing the surface pressure adjustment operation. Note that if it is determined in step S34 that the tilt angle of the side brush S reaches the appropriate tilt angle, step S34 is repeated until the tilt angle of the side brush S reaches the appropriate tilt angle.

[0199] Then, when the above-mentioned surface pressure adjusting operation subroutine (i.e., step S7) is executed a predetermined required number of times (for example, once or a predetermined multiple times), the process proceeds to step S8. In this step S8, it is determined whether or not a corresponding operation for the door mirror DM (in this embodiment, an operation for reducing the contact surface pressure of the side brush S against the door mirror DM) should be performed (?). In this step S8, the control device C can determine whether or not the corresponding operation (in this embodiment, an operation for reducing the contact surface pressure against the door mirror DM) is required based on, for example, whether or not a selection operation icon for the corresponding operation on the display unit of the reception machine Au is operated, or whether or not the corresponding operation is performed in the car wash course selected and operated on the same display unit, or whether or not the corresponding operation is performed in the car wash operation preset for each individual car wash machine A.

[0200] If it is determined in step S8 that the above-mentioned corresponding operation should be performed, the process proceeds to step S9, where a subroutine for the above-mentioned corresponding operation during outbound travel is executed. In this subroutine, first, in step S41, it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the start position for the above-mentioned operation, i.e., the surface pressure reduction start position. This surface pressure reduction start position is set to, for example, a position where the side brush S is near the front end of the roof of the automobile V (i.e., a predetermined amount forward from the front end of the roof as a specific part of the vehicle body, in other words, a predetermined amount forward of the door mirror DM estimated from the front end of the roof).

[0201] Thus, the door mirror DM is an example of a lateral protrusion for ensuring rear visibility at the side of the automobile V, and the detection of a specific vehicle body part (in this embodiment, the front end of the roof) away from this door mirror DM in the fore-and-aft direction can be estimated and calculated by the control device C based on the vehicle body top surface shape (particularly the roof front end position) detected by the top surface detection sensor 10. In other words, the top surface detection sensor 10 and the control device C cooperate with each other to constitute a predetermined area estimation means capable of estimating a predetermined area in which the surface pressure should be reduced, including the door mirror DM and the areas in front and behind it, based on the detection of the specific vehicle body part. The specific vehicle body part may be a part other than the front end of the roof, for example, a suitable location of the windshield (for example, the front end, rear end, etc.).

[0202] If it is determined in step S41 that the side brush S moving forward together with the portal frame 1 has reached the surface pressure reduction start position (i.e., the start point of the above-mentioned predetermined area), the process proceeds to step S42, where the acting pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is changed to a strong opening pressure. As a result, the left and right side brushes S start an opening operation while continuing to move forward, gradually moving away from the vehicle body side surface Bs, and the inclination angle of the side brush S gradually decreases accordingly. Next, in step S43, it is determined whether the side brush S has reached a vertical position Sv, and if so, the process proceeds to step S44.

[0203] In step S44, the movement position of the movable base 33 at the time when the side brush S assumes the vertical posture Sv is stored, and a target opening position where the movable base 33 opens a predetermined amount (for example, 50 mm) from that movement position is set, and the working pressure of the first air cylinder AC1 is switched to an inclined pressure, whereby the side brush S changes its posture to the first posture S1. Next, the process proceeds to step S45, where it is determined whether the movable base 33, and therefore the side brush S, has reached the target opening position (?), and if the target opening position has been reached, the process proceeds to step S46, where the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is switched to a weak opening pressure. In this case, the weak opening pressure is a predetermined surface pressure that is sufficiently smaller than the normal opening pressure (i.e., strong opening pressure) at which the contact surface pressure of the side brush S begins to move in the opening direction due to the contact surface pressure with the side surface Bs of the automobile.

[0204] In steps S41 to S46, the gate-shaped frame 1 continues to move forward. When the side brush S reaches the target open position as described above, the acting pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is a weak opening pressure, so that the contact surface pressure that the side brush S in the first inclined posture S1 exerts on the door mirror DM is sufficiently reduced, and in this state the side brush S moves forward while rotating forward along the side of the door mirror DM. At this time, the side brush S brushes the door mirror DM and the surrounding side surface Bs of the vehicle to some extent, so a minimum side cleaning effect is achieved.

[0205] In this embodiment, the predetermined amount used to set the target opening angle in step S44 is set to a distance at which the side brush S contacts the door mirror DM with a contact surface pressure lower than normal while passing to the side of the door mirror DM, but if the predetermined distance is changed to a distance slightly longer than this distance, it is possible to implement a control example in which the side brush S can be prevented from contacting the door mirror DM and damage to the door mirror DM due to contact with the side brush S is reliably prevented. In this case, the predetermined amount may be switchable, for example, with a selection icon for the corresponding operation on the display unit of the reception machine Au, or may be switchable according to the required performance of the car wash machine when the car wash operation is preset for each individual car wash machine A.

[0206] Next, the process proceeds to step S47, where it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the end of the aforementioned predetermined region, i.e., the end position of the surface pressure reducing operation for the door mirror DM. If the end position has been reached, the process proceeds to step S48, where the surface pressure setting operation subroutine is executed similarly to the above-mentioned step S5. As a result, the pressure acting on the first air cylinder AC1 is returned to the weak reverse slope pressure from the slope pressure up until that point (i.e., during the surface pressure reducing operation). Thus, the subroutine of the surface pressure reducing operation for the door mirror in step S9 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S10. Note that, if it is not determined in step S8 that the corresponding operation should be performed, the process skips step S9 and proceeds to step S10.

[0207] In step S10, a determination is made as to whether or not the rotation of the side brush S should be switched during the side washing process after the door mirror avoidance operation. In this step S10, the control device C determines whether or not rotation switching is required based on, for example, the presence or absence of rotation switching in the car wash course selected and operated on the display unit of the reception machine Au, or the presence or absence of rotation switching in the car wash operation preset for each individual car wash machine A.

[0208] If it is determined in step S10 that the rotation switching operation of the side brush S should be performed, the process proceeds to step S11, where a subroutine for the rotation switching operation is executed. In the subroutine for the rotation switching operation, as is clear from Fig. 32(A), first, in step S51, it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the rotation switching position (?). This determination can be made by the control device C based on, for example, the shape of the upper surface of the vehicle body detected by the upper surface detection sensor 10, for example, that the side brush S has passed the center of the roof of the automobile V or has advanced a predetermined amount beyond the front or rear end of the roof.

[0209] Then, if it is determined in step S51 that the side brush S has reached the rotation switching position, the process proceeds to step S52, where the forward movement of the gate-shaped frame 1 is temporarily stopped, and during the temporary stop, in step S53, the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is switched to the weak opening pressure or the cleaning pressure is turned off while the working pressure of the first air cylinder AC1 is maintained at the weak reverse inclination pressure, and further in step S54, the rotation direction of the side brush S is switched to the reverse direction. Further, in step S55, a subroutine of a surface pressure setting operation similar to that of step S5 described above is executed, whereby, in a state in which the weak reverse inclination pressure is applied to the first air cylinder AC1 and thus the side brush S, cleaning pressure is applied to the second air cylinder AC2 and thus the movable table 33. Note that in step S55, the subroutine of the surface pressure setting operation as described above is not executed, and the weak reverse inclination pressure may be applied to the first air cylinder AC1 and the cleaning pressure may be applied to the second air cylinder AC2.

[0210] Thus, steps S53 to S55 are performed during the relatively short period (e.g., 3 seconds) during which the portal frame 1 is temporarily stopped in step S52, and after the temporary stop, the process proceeds to step S56 where the portal frame 1 resumes forward movement, and accordingly, the forward movement of the side brush S, which has been switched to the reverse rotation state, and therefore side cleaning, resumes. Next, the process proceeds to step S12 where a subroutine for adjusting the surface pressure is executed, similar to the process described in step S7, and then the process proceeds to step S13 where a subroutine for reducing the surface pressure on the rear side surface is executed.

[0211] 32(B), first, in step S61, it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the rear corner turning start position (i.e., a position a predetermined distance forward of the vehicle from the rear end of the vehicle), and if it is determined that the side brush S has reached the rear corner turning start position, the process proceeds to step S62, where the forward movement of the portal frame 1 is decelerated. Next, in step S63, the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is switched to the weak opening pressure, and the working pressure of the first air cylinder AC1 is switched to the inclined pressure, and this switching reduces the contact surface pressure when the side brush S brushes from the rear side surface of the vehicle V to the rear corner, and this, together with the effect of the forward deceleration described above, makes it possible to suppress excessive turning of the side brush S due to the influence of the reverse switching.

[0212] Next, the process proceeds to step S64, where it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the rear end position of the vehicle (?), and if it is determined that the side brush S has reached the rear side, the subroutine for reducing the surface pressure on the rear side surface is terminated, and the side surface washing operation during forward travel is also terminated. In this case, the rear end position of the vehicle can be determined by the control device C based on the detection result of the upper surface detection sensor 10, for example.

[0213] 33 shows an example of control of rear washing operation during forward travel. That is, when it is determined in step S71 that the side brush S has reached the rear end position of the vehicle, the process proceeds to step S72, where the forward movement of the portal frame 1 is stopped or further decelerated. Next, the process proceeds to step S73, where the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is switched to a closing pressure and the working pressure of the first air cylinder AC1 is switched to a reverse weak inclined pressure, so that the left and right side brushes S accurately go around to the rear of the vehicle V through the rear corners and close toward the center of the rear to brush the rear.

[0214] If it is determined in step S74 that a predetermined number of seconds have elapsed after the processing of step S73, the process proceeds to step S75, where the portal frame 1 is moved forward. If it is determined in step S76 that the side brush S has moved away from the rear of the automobile after traveling a predetermined distance in the forward movement, the process proceeds to step S77, where the forward movement of the portal frame 1 is stopped, but the side brush S may continue to rotate in the reverse direction or may be temporarily stopped.

[0215] Thus, the forward rear washing operation is completed, and simultaneously with the completion thereof, or after a predetermined time has elapsed, the gate-type frame 1 starts to reverse (go backward), and the return washing process, which will be described next, starts. [First go-around process of control example 1] In this cleaning process during return travel, as is clear from Fig. 27, first, while applying a strong reverse tilt pressure to the side brush S (rotation shaft Js) via the first air cylinder AC1 and a closing pressure to the movable base 33 via the second air cylinder AC2, the side brush S in the reverse rotation state moves backward. Then, as the side brush S comes into contact with the rear surface of the vehicle, the reverse movement is stopped and both the left and right side brushes S close to the center are moved a predetermined amount (for example, 150 mm) to the right. After that, the strong reverse tilt pressure is turned off to put the side brush S into a free tilting state, and a strong opening pressure is applied to the movable base 33 via the second air cylinder AC2, which causes the side brush S to open to the open position stored during the outbound travel, and the side brush S performs rear cleaning during return travel during the opening movement.

[0216] When the side brush S reaches the open position, the side cleaning operation during return travel shown in FIG. 34 is started.

[0217] That is, in step S81, it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the open position (?), and if it is determined that it has reached the open position, the process proceeds to step S82, where a weak opening pressure is applied to the second air cylinder AC2 and therefore the movable table 33, while a tilting pressure is applied to the first air cylinder AC1 and therefore the side brush S (rotation shaft Js), and in step S83 the rotation of the side brush S is switched to normal rotation, and further in step S84 the backward movement (low speed) of the gate-shaped frame 1 is resumed. This executes a surface pressure reduction operation on the rear side surface during return travel, similar to the surface pressure reduction operation on the rear side surface during forward travel (i.e., see step S13).

[0218] Next, the process proceeds to step S85, where it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the end position of the surface pressure reducing operation for the rear side surface during the return movement (?). This end position of the surface pressure reducing operation approximately coincides with the start position of the surface pressure reducing operation for the rear side surface during the forward movement (i.e., the start position of the side brush S turning around the rear corner, which was the determination criterion in step S61), and can be determined by the control device C.

[0219] Then, if it is determined in step S85 that the end position of the surface pressure reducing operation has been reached, the process proceeds to step S86, where the surface pressure setting operation is performed similarly to the processing in steps S5 and S48. Next, the process proceeds to step S87, where the reverse speed of the portal frame 1 is changed to a normal reverse speed that is faster than the speed (low speed) set in step S84, and the process proceeds to step S88, where the surface pressure adjustment operation is performed similarly to the processing in steps S7 and S12. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S89, where it is determined (?) whether to cause the side brush S to perform a corresponding operation to the door mirror DM (an operation for reducing the contact surface pressure of the side brush S with the door mirror DM in this embodiment) in a determination processing manner similar to that in step S8 during outbound travel.

[0220] If it is determined in step S89 above that a corresponding operation should be performed on the door mirror DM (in this embodiment, an operation for reducing the contact surface pressure of the side brush S on the door mirror DM), the process proceeds to step S90, where a subroutine for the corresponding operation on the door mirror DM during a return run is executed. In this subroutine, as is clear from Fig. 35, first, in step S101, it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the start position for the corresponding operation. If it is determined that the side brush S has reached the start position, the process proceeds to step S102, where a process (weak opening pressure, tilt pressure) is performed to obtain a minimum side washing effect without damaging the door mirror DM, similar to step S46, whereby an action and effect equivalent to that of step S46 can be achieved.

[0221] Next, the process proceeds to step S103, where it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the end position of the above-mentioned corresponding operation (?). If it is determined that the side brush S has reached the end position, the process proceeds to step S104, where a surface pressure setting operation similar to the processing of steps S5 and S86 is performed, and then the above-mentioned subroutine for reducing or avoiding the contact surface pressure of the door mirror DM (i.e., step S90) is terminated.

[0222] The start and end positions of the corresponding operation, which are the criteria in steps S101 and S103, can be determined from the corresponding operation area that is specified and stored by the control device C during the side washing operation in the forward movement. The control device C also stores the movement position of the movable platform 33 in the forward movement. Therefore, based on this information, the side brush S in the backward movement can be moved so as to follow approximately the same trajectory as the movement trajectory in the corresponding operation area of ​​the side brush S in the forward movement.

[0223] After step S90 for the corresponding operation is completed, the portal frame 1 continues to move backward, but proceeds to step S91, where a surface pressure setting operation similar to the processing of steps S5, S48, and S86 is executed, whereby the side brush S, in the first posture S1 (V-shaped inclined posture), brushes and cleans the vehicle side surface Bs forward of the corresponding operation area. In this case, since a cleaning pressure is applied to the second air cylinder AC2, and therefore the movable platform 33, by the surface pressure setting operation of step S91, when the side brush S, which is moving backward together with the portal frame 1, approaches the front corner of the vehicle V, the cleaning pressure causes it to move around the front corner and toward the center of the vehicle front surface Bf.

[0224] Next, the process proceeds to step S92, where it is determined whether the side brush S has reached the vehicle front end position (?), and if it is determined that the side brush S has reached the vehicle front end position, the side washing operation during return movement is terminated, and the front washing operation during return movement is subsequently started. Note that the vehicle front end position can be determined by the control device C, for example, based on the detection result of the upper surface detection sensor 10.

[0225] 36 shows an example of control of the front washing operation during return travel. That is, if it is determined in step S111 that the side brush S has reached the vehicle front end position, the process proceeds to step S112, where the backward movement of the portal frame 1 is temporarily stopped. Next, the process proceeds to step S113, where the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is switched to the closing pressure while the working pressure of the first air cylinder AC1 is kept at the reverse weak inclination pressure. Then, if it is determined in step S114 that a predetermined number of seconds have elapsed since the temporary stop (therefore, the side brush S has reached the closing end), the process proceeds to step S115, where the portal frame 1 is again moved backward.

[0226] Then, if it is determined in step S116 that the amount of backward movement has reached a predetermined amount (and therefore the vehicle is sufficiently far from the front), the process proceeds to step S117, where the pressure acting on the second air cylinder AC2, and therefore the movable table 33, is switched to a strong opening pressure, the weak reverse inclination pressure that had been acting on the first air cylinder AC1, and therefore the side brush S, is turned off, and the forward rotation of the side brush S is stopped, but the portal frame 1 continues to move backward.

[0227] As a result, the non-rotating side brush S starts to open while moving backward while remaining in a free tilting state. Then, if it is determined in step S118 that the side brush S has reached the open end, and further if it is determined in step S119 that the portal frame 1 has reached the backward limit (i.e., the return end 1S), the process proceeds to step S120, where the rearward movement of the portal frame 1 is stopped and the opening operation of the side brush S is stopped at the open end, and the front washing operation during the return movement is completed.

[0228] Thus, the front and rear surface washing action and side surface washing action by the side brush S during the outward movement, and the front and rear surface washing action and side surface washing action during the return movement are completed. [Control Example 2, first outbound and return process] Incidentally, as a variation of the above-mentioned control example 1, control example 2, which differs from control example 1 only in the subroutine for setting the surface pressure during the side washing operation at the return run (i.e., step S86) and the subroutine for adjusting the surface pressure (i.e., steps S88, S91) (hence the other processes are the same as those of control example 1), can also be implemented as the present invention. Therefore, in this control example 2, only the process steps (i.e., S86, S88, S89, S91) that are different from control example 1 will be described below mainly with reference to Figures 37 and 38.

[0229] That is, in the subroutine for the surface pressure setting operation during the side washing operation on the return trip (step S86), first, in step S221, a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the first air cylinder AC1 to set the side brush S (rotation axis Js) in the second attitude S2 of an inverted V-shape, and then the process proceeds to step S222, in which a closing pressure is applied to the second air cylinder AC2 to start the closing operation of the movable base 33 (side brush S). ​​Next, the process proceeds to step S223, in which it is determined whether the movable base 33 has reached the left / right movement position (assumed side position) stored in the surface pressure setting operation on the outbound trip, and if so, the process proceeds to step S224.

[0230] In this case, in step S224, the pressure acting on the second air cylinder AC is changed from the closing pressure to the cleaning pressure, but since the strong reverse inclination pressure is acting on the first air cylinder AC1, the side brush S (rotation shaft Js) is held in the inverted V-shaped position (second position S2) while cleaning the side surface thereafter. This ends the surface pressure setting operation, so proceed to step S87.

[0231] Incidentally, instead of the process of step S223, step S224 may be executed (ie, switching to the cleaning pressure) in response to the passage of a predetermined time (predetermined seconds) after the closing pressure starts to act in step S222.

[0232] On the other hand, in the subroutine for adjusting the surface pressure during the side cleaning operation when returning (steps S88, S91), first, in step S231, it is determined whether the rotation axis Js of the side brush S is maintained in a reverse inclined state (?), and if it is maintained, the surface pressure adjustment operation ends, and if it is not maintained, the process proceeds to step S232.

[0233] Then, in step S232, it is determined whether the side brush S (rotation axis Js) is in a vertical position (?), and if it is in a vertical position, the process proceeds to step S233, where the working pressure of the second air cylinder AC2 is changed to a weak opening pressure. As a result, the side brush S is urged away from the vehicle body side surface Bs, and its inclination angle should be slightly increased from the previous vertical position. Therefore, in step S234, it is determined whether the inclination angle of the side brush S (rotation axis Js) has reached the appropriate inclination angle (?), and if it has reached the appropriate inclination angle, the process proceeds to step S235, where the working pressure on the second air cylinder AC2 is changed from the weak opening pressure to the washing pressure, thereby completing the surface pressure adjustment operation.

[0234] If it is determined in step S232 that the position is not vertical (and therefore not in the reverse tilted position), the process proceeds to step S236, where the pressure acting on the second air cylinder AC2 is changed to the strong opening pressure, and then the process proceeds to step S232, where it is determined again whether the position is vertical (?). Thus, if the process finally proceeds to step S235, where the pressure acting on the second air cylinder AC is reset to the cleaning pressure, the surface pressure adjustment operation is completed.

[0235] Furthermore, in the return side washing operation process in control example 2, in step S89 where a process for determining whether an operation to reduce the surface pressure of the door mirror DM or an avoidance operation is required is performed, the criteria for determining whether or not it is required are different from those in control example 1. That is, in step S89 in control example 2, the options for determining whether or not it is required to perform a corresponding operation on the door mirror DM (i.e., an operation for reducing the surface pressure of the side brush S on the door mirror DM or an avoidance operation) are not as diverse as in claim 1, and basically it is determined that the corresponding operation is not required, and the process proceeds to step S92.

[0236] Incidentally, the case where it is determined in step S89 that the above-mentioned corresponding action is necessary is limited to the case where there is a circumstance that makes the above-mentioned corresponding action absolutely necessary (for example, a special option operation on the reception machine Au, etc.). Therefore, in control example 2, in the side washing process during a return run, the process basically proceeds from step S89 to step S92, and the acting pressure on the first air cylinder AC1 becomes a strong reverse inclination pressure, so that the side brush S passes to the side of the door mirror DM while maintaining the reverse V-shaped posture S1 (thus without applying excessive contact surface pressure).

[0237] In the above-described control example 2, after the strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the first air cylinder AC1 in the surface pressure setting operation (step S221) during the side washing process when returning, the strong reverse inclination pressure keeps the rotation axis Js of the side brush S in the inverted V-shape position (i.e., in the inverted V-shape position as shown in FIG. 25(c)), and side washing continues. As a result, when returning, the brushing cleaning effect of the side brush S on the side Bf (especially the lower part of the side) of the vehicle V can be increased compared to when going out, and the door mirror DM can be easily avoided.

[0238] In the car wash machine A of the embodiment described above, the rotation shafts Js of the left and right side brushes S are suspended from the left and right movable tables 33 so as to be tiltable in the left and right direction so that the rotation shafts Js can change their posture between a first posture S1 in which the rotation shafts Js are inclined downwardly and outwardly to the left and right and a second posture S2 in which the rotation shafts Js are inclined downwardly and inwardly to the left and right. A posture control mechanism SC is connected to the rotation shafts Js of the left and right side brushes S, and the posture control mechanism SC controls the rotation shafts Js to move in the second posture S2 so that the side brushes S brush at least a predetermined area of ​​the side surface Bs of the automobile when the opening / closing control mechanism Dk applies a predetermined closing force to the movable tables 33. During the surface cleaning process (particularly in the control example 1, the side cleaning process outside the execution area of ​​the corresponding operation to reduce or avoid the surface pressure of the side brush S on the door mirror DM when the portal frame 1 moves forward and backward, and in the control example 2, the side cleaning process outside the execution area of ​​the corresponding operation when the portal frame 1 moves forward), a predetermined second position side biasing force (weak reverse U-shaped pressure) is applied, and while the predetermined second position side biasing force keeps the rotation axis Js in the second position S2 when the side brush S is not in contact with the side surface Bs of the vehicle, during the side cleaning process, it is set to a magnitude that allows the rotation axis Js to take the first position S1 in response to contact of the side brush S with the side surface Bs of the vehicle.

[0239] As a result, the contact pressure acting on the side brush S against the vehicle side Bs during the side cleaning process is the pressure of the side brush S's own weight when the side brush S, suspended from the movable base 33 and biased in the closing direction by the opening / closing control mechanism Dk, comes into contact with the vehicle side Bs and exerts on the vehicle side Bs in the first position S1, and also includes the inward pressure due to the biasing force for the second position acting on the side brush S by the position control mechanism SC, so that a sufficient contact pressure can be secured overall, thereby improving the cleaning effect. Therefore, even if the side brush S tries to separate from the lower half of the vehicle side Bs due to the increase in the repulsive force (hence the contact pressure) from the vehicle side Bs caused by increasing the diameter of the side brush S to improve the side cleaning effect, the biasing force for the second position acting on the side brush S from the position control mechanism SC will increase the adhesion of the side brush S to the vehicle side Bs, thereby contributing to improving the cleaning effect. Furthermore, the effect of imparting the second position side biasing force does not change the normal inclined cleaning position in which the side brush S contacts the vehicle side surface Bs in the first position S1 based on its own weight, so there is no risk of a decrease in the cleaning effect on the upper half of the vehicle side surface Bs.

[0240] Moreover, the car wash machine A of the embodiment includes a movement position detection device SEd capable of detecting the movement position in the left-right direction of the moving platform 33, a tilt detection device SEk capable of detecting the vertical position Sv of the rotation axis Js of the side brush S and each tilt of the first position S1 side and the second position S2 side with respect to the vertical position Sv, and a control device C capable of controlling the opening / closing control mechanism Dk based on the detection results of the movement position detection device SEd and the tilt detection device SEk. As a result, when the automobile V stops at an angle, it is possible to detect a situation in which one of the left and right side brushes S strongly bites into the automobile side surface Bs based on the left-right tilt state of the rotation axis Js of the left and right side brushes S, and to control the opening / closing control mechanism Dk to the side where the side brush S moves away from the automobile side surface Bs. Therefore, as is clear from the processing of steps S31 to S36, when the side brush S bites too much into the automobile side surface Bs due to the automobile stopping at an angle, the side brush S is automatically moved away from the automobile side surface Bs, thereby improving safety. In particular, in the case of a car wash machine in which the opening (the distance between the left and right inner walls) of the portal frame 1 is widened, the widening of the opening increases the angle of the diagonal stopping, making the above-mentioned over-engagement more likely to occur; however, by processing steps S31 to S36, the above-mentioned over-engagement can be more effectively suppressed.

[0241] As is clear from steps S9, S41 to S48 in the above control examples 1 and 2, the movable base 33 opens as the side brush S, which is brushing the side surface Bs of the automobile during the side surface washing process, reaches the start point of a predetermined area (hereinafter simply referred to as the corresponding operation area) in which the corresponding operation should be performed on the door mirror DM as a lateral protrusion for ensuring rear visibility, and the opening operation of the movable base 33 is stopped when the movable base 33 opens a predetermined amount from the movement position at the time when the vertical attitude Sv of the rotation axis Js is detected during the opening operation. Then, the opening operation of the movable base 33 is maintained for a predetermined period from the time when the side brush S stops until the side brush S passes the side of the door mirror DM and reaches the end point of the corresponding operation area, and further, a first attitude biasing force can be applied to the rotation axis Js of the side brush S during the predetermined period.

[0242] As a result, during the specified period, the side brush S can move along the side of the door mirror DM while avoiding contact with the door mirror DM or while making contact with it with reduced contact pressure, depending on the setting of the specified amount. Therefore, particularly in the former state, there is no risk of the door mirror DM being deformed or damaged by contact with the side brush S, and in the latter state, the side brush S held in the first position S1 (V-shaped position when viewed from the front) can clean the door mirror DM and the surrounding side surface Bs of the vehicle to the minimum extent necessary.

[0243] In addition, in the above-mentioned control examples 1 and 2, when the inclination angle detection device SEk detects the vertical position of the rotating axis Js while the movable table 33 is opening in response to the side brush S brushing the side surface Bs of the vehicle during the side cleaning process reaching the start point of the specific operating area, the opening operation of the movable table 33 is stopped at a left / right movement position opened a predetermined amount from the left / right traveling position at the time of detection, and the stopped position is maintained for a predetermined period until the side brush S passes to the side of the door mirror DM and reaches the end point of the specific operating area, thereby executing an avoidance operation or a surface pressure reduction operation for the door mirror DM, but the timing of detection of the vertical position of the rotating axis Js is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0244] For example, a fourth embodiment is also possible in which the specific left-right movement position at the time when the tilt angle detection device SEk detects the vertical position of the rotation axis Js during the closing operation in the initial stage of the side washing process, that is, before the side brush S reaches the specific operation area from the open position and is in the second position S2 (inverted V-shape position), is stored in the control device C, and the opening operation of the movable base 33 is stopped when the side brush S opens a predetermined amount from the stored specific left-right movement position. In this case, the movement is maintained for a predetermined period from the time when the opening operation of the movable base 33 is stopped until the side brush S passes the side of the door mirror DM and reaches the end point of the specific operation area, and the first position side biasing force is applied to the rotation axis Js of the side brush S during the predetermined period. Therefore, in this fourth embodiment, the processing effect of reducing or avoiding the surface pressure of the side brush S on the door mirror DM can be achieved similarly to the previous embodiment.

[0245] In the car wash machine A of the embodiment, an upper surface detection sensor 10 that detects the upper surface Bt of the automobile is disposed at the entrance 1fo opening at the front end side of the gate-shaped frame 1, and further forward of the upper surface detection sensor 10 and spaced apart (preferably 250 to 450 mm), an entrance sensor SEf that can detect the front end of the automobile V entering the entrance 1fo before the upper surface detection sensor 10 is disposed. The control device C starts the car wash process based on the detection signal of the entrance sensor SEf, and after the start of the car wash, controls the lifting and lowering of the top nozzle Nt and the top brush T based on the detection signal of the upper surface detection sensor 10. Further, a side detection sensor SEs consisting of left and right ultrasonic sensors that can detect the left-right distance from the left and right side surfaces Bs of the automobile V is disposed on the gate-shaped frame 1 and spaced apart (preferably 100 to 300 mm) forward of the entrance sensor SEf.

[0246] With this type of one-sensor arrangement, the left and right side detection sensors SEs can detect the lateral distance to the side Bs of the vehicle (and therefore the shape of the side of the vehicle) early on before the entrance sensor SEf detects the front end of the vehicle, so that noise processing of the detected distance near the front corners of the vehicle V can be performed earlier (and therefore more simply and accurately).As a result, the detection accuracy of the side shape of the vehicle V is improved overall, and the detection results can be used to more efficiently control the advance and retreat of the side cleaning equipment (e.g., side brush S, tire brush Z, side nozzle Ns, etc.), and the diagonal parking state can also be detected quickly and accurately.

[0247] Here, we will provide a supplementary explanation of the noise processing of the detection distance near the front corner mentioned above. That is, the ultrasonic sensor conventionally known as the side detection sensor SEf detects distance based on the time it takes for its output sound waves to hit the surface of the target, be reflected, and be input to the side detection sensor SEf, so there is a limit to the distance detection range (directional angle: the range indicated by the two-dot chain line extending in a sector shape from the side detection sensor SEs in Fig. 24), and the detection sensitivity varies depending on the angle and curvature of the target surface.

[0248] Therefore, the detection tendency (detection mode with respect to inclination) differs between when the side detection sensor SEf detects distance near the front corner of the automobile V and when the side detection sensor SEf detects distance on the vehicle body side Bs after the corner. Due to this relationship, if the automobile V is parked at an angle and the front right corner and the front left corner of the automobile V are misaligned longitudinally, the diagonal parked automobile cannot be judged with sufficient reliability unless a predetermined judgment condition related to the misalignment is satisfied (for example, a condition that the detection tendencies of the left and right side detection sensors SEf become similar and the similar state continues for a certain period or more).

[0249] Therefore, if distance detection by the left and right side detection sensors SEf is performed prior to the start of the car wash (i.e., the start of detection of the vehicle front end by the vehicle entrance sensor SEf and vehicle height detection by the top surface detection sensor 10) for a predetermined section corresponding to the above-mentioned fixed section until the time when the diagonal stopping is determined to be reliable, the diagonal stopping determination can be performed early with high accuracy, and the diagonal angle and vehicle width of the diagonally stopped automobile V can be detected quickly and accurately. In this case, the control device C can accurately estimate the tire diameters and center positions (front-to-rear deviation) of the left and right front wheels based on, for example, the detection results of the side detection sensor SEf (and thus the diagonal determination results) and the detection results of the tire sensor SEw, and can quickly and accurately determine, based on the estimation results, whether to perform or cancel tire washing and how much time difference the left and right front wheels should be washed sequentially.

[0250] Furthermore, since the control device C can quickly and accurately detect the oblique angle and vehicle width (hence the left-right center position) of the diagonally parked automobile V based on the detection results of the left and right side detection sensors SEf as described above, the control device C can use the detection results to control the side washing devices of the car wash machine A that are easily affected by the diagonal parking other than the tire brush Z. This makes it possible to accurately control the opening and closing of, for example, the left and right side brushes S and the side nozzles Ns according to the oblique angle and vehicle width (hence the left-right center position) of the diagonally parked automobile V.

[0251] Furthermore, in order to prevent contact between the automobile V and the portal frame 1 in the case where the automobile V approaches the portal frame 1 beyond a predetermined car washable width due to, for example, being parked biased to one side in the left-right direction, in this embodiment, left and right contact detection rods SEb capable of detecting the approach of the front part of the automobile to the portal frame 1 are disposed on the front end face 1f of the portal frame 1. Then, left and right side detection sensors SEs are disposed at a predetermined interval forward of the contact detection rods SEb.

[0252] The side detection sensor SEs is disposed at a position on the left and right outer side of the inner wall 1si of the left and right side parts 1s of the portal frame 1, at a distance equal to or greater than the shortest measurable distance of the side detection sensor SEs, so that the side detection sensor SEs can detect an area greater than the opening width (at least within the opening) of the portal frame 1. The side detection sensor SEs is disposed forward of the contact detection rod SEb to avoid the widening of the directional angle range of the side detection sensor SEs disposed on the left and right outer sides. If the side detection sensor SEs can be disposed sufficiently outward in the left and right direction in this manner, the detection range of the side detection sensor SEs can be the area forward of the front end surface 1f of the car wash machine A. In this case, the side detection sensor SEs can accurately detect the approach of a vehicle to the front end surface 1f before the contact detection rod SEb does, so that it is possible to safely notify the driver that the parking position is incorrect and control the car wash operation to stop at an earlier stage, and it is also possible to replace the contact detection rod SEb.

[0253] This allows the side detection sensor SEs, which is located further forward than the contact detection bar SEb (and therefore farther forward than the entrance sensor SEf), to detect the left-right distance from the side Bs of the vehicle at an even earlier timing, making it possible to more simply and accurately process noise in the detected distance near the front corners of the vehicle, and thus further improving the overall detection accuracy of the vehicle's side shape. Therefore, the detection results can be used to more efficiently control the advance and retreat of the side washing device, and the detection of an obliquely parked vehicle can be more quickly and accurately performed.

[0254] The car wash machine A of the embodiment includes an upper surface detection sensor 10 arranged to face an entrance 1fo opening at the front end side of the gate-shaped frame 1, and left and right side nozzles Ns arranged to face an exit 1ro opening at the rear end side of the gate-shaped frame 1. The side brush S and the top brush T arranged to be offset from each other in the front-rear direction are arranged between the upper surface detection sensor 10 and the side nozzles Ns in a side view, and the left and right tire brushes Z and their forward and backward drive devices Dz are arranged on the side of the top brush T of the side brush S in the front-rear direction within the gate-shaped frame 1. The left and right movable tables 33 are provided on the upper part 1t of the gate-shaped frame 11 so as to be movable in the left and right direction, and the rotation shafts Js of the left and right side brushes S are rotatably supported by the left and right movable tables 33, respectively, and are suspended so as to be tiltable in the left and right direction so as to change their position between a first position S1 in which the rotation shaft Js is inclined downward and outward to the left and right or extends substantially vertically, and a second position S2 in which the rotation shaft Js is inclined downward and inward to the left and right, and a position control mechanism SC is connected to the rotation shafts Js of the left and right side brushes S, which can place the rotation shaft Js in the second position S2.

[0255] As a result, when the side brush S brushes the side surface Bs of the automobile, the rotation axis Js of the side brush S is placed in the second position S2 tilted downward and inward to the left and right, or the side surface cleaning position of the side brush S is controlled under the action of a position control force that can place it in the second position S2, so that the side cleaning range by the side brush S can be expanded to a wide range including the lower part of the side surface Bs, thereby enabling a high cleaning effect to be achieved. Therefore, even if the rocker brush is omitted, the side brush S placed in the second position S2 or receiving a position control force toward the position S2 can effectively clean the lower part of the side surface Bs of the automobile V, particularly the lower part that wraps around downward and inward to the left and right, so that the rocker brush can be omitted.

[0256] Moreover, if the rocker brush is omitted in this way, the gate-shaped frame 1 and therefore the car wash machine A can be made smaller in the front-rear direction even if the side brush S is made larger in diameter or a tire brush Z is arranged in the front-rear space between the side brush S and the upper surface detection sensor 10. Also, by arranging the tire brush Z inside the gate-shaped frame 1, it is possible to eliminate the problem during installation of the car wash machine when it is arranged outside the gate-shaped frame 1 (i.e., the trouble of removing the tire brush Z from the gate-shaped frame 1 when transporting the car wash machine A before installation and then reattaching it after installation).

[0257] Moreover, in this embodiment, the left and right side brushes S are connected to a control device C that controls the attitude and / or rotation of the rotating shaft Js to compensate for a decrease in the brushing effect on the lower part of the side Bs when the brushing effect is reduced in the process of brushing the side Bs of the automobile V in a first attitude S1 in which the rotating shaft Js is tilted downward and outward to the left and right. As a result, although the side brush S cleans the side of the automobile in the above-mentioned tilted attitude (first attitude S1) so as to follow the shape of the upper part of the side Bs of the automobile, when the brushing effect on the lower part of the side Bs decreases depending on the tilting condition, the decrease in brushing effect can be compensated for by controlling the attitude and / or rotation of the rotating shaft Js, so that a good cleaning effect can be obtained over the entire upper and lower parts of the side Bs of the automobile.

[0258] In the previous embodiments (i.e., the first to fourth embodiments), the rotating shafts Js of the left and right side brushes S each have a single-shaft structure, and the left and right tilt attitude and rotation of the rotating shafts Js are attitude-controlled or rotation-controlled on a rotating shaft Js basis (i.e., uniformly across the entire side brush S). ​​However, with regard to the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S, although not shown in the figures, it is also possible to implement a fifth embodiment in which the rotating shaft Js is divided into an upper rotating shaft and a lower rotating shaft whose attitude can be controlled independently of each other, or a sixth embodiment in which the rotating shaft Js is divided into an upper rotating shaft and a lower rotating shaft whose rotation can be controlled independently of each other.

[0259] Incidentally, the technology for dividing the side brushes into upper and lower brushes in a portal-type car wash and enabling the upper and lower brushes to be rotated independently of each other is well known, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 3723893.

[0260] In the fifth embodiment, the upper end of the lower rotating shaft is connected to the lower end of the upper rotating shaft so that it can be bent in the left-right direction. In this case, the control device C is configured to be able to execute, according to the car wash course selected by the reception machine Au, control example A in which the upper rotating shaft and the lower rotating shaft are arranged in a straight line (i.e., cannot be bent) and tilted left and right in the same way as the rotating shaft Js in the previous embodiment, control example B in which a weak reverse inclination pressure is applied only to the lower rotating shaft at the same timing as the weak reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotating shaft Js in the previous embodiment to improve the washing effect on the lower part of the side Bs, or control example C in which a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied only to the lower rotating shaft at the same timing as the strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotating shaft Js in the previous embodiment to further improve the washing effect on the lower part of the side Bs.

[0261] According to the fifth embodiment, particularly in control examples B and C, by applying a reverse inclination pressure to the lower rotating shaft, the posture of the lower rotating shaft can be controlled so that it fits more closely to the vehicle side Bs, particularly the lower part of the side that tapers inwardly downward, making the contact surface pressure on the upper and lower parts of the vehicle side Bs more equal. In other words, by controlling the posture of a part (the lower rotating shaft) of the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S, a good cleaning effect can be obtained over the entire top and bottom of the vehicle side Bs.

[0262] In the sixth embodiment, the upper and lower rotating shafts are linked to each other by dedicated motors so that the rotations of the upper and lower rotating shafts can be controlled independently of each other. In this case, the control device C is configured to be able to execute, according to the car wash course selected by the reception machine Au, control example A' in which the upper and lower rotating shafts are rotated at a uniform speed to rotate each part at a uniform speed similar to the rotating shaft Js in the previous embodiment; or control example B' in which the rotational speed of the lower rotating shaft is controlled to be slightly faster than that of the upper rotating shaft at the same timing as when a weak reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotating shaft Js in the previous embodiment, so that the contact surface pressure of the side brush S against the side surface Bs of the automobile is slightly higher at the lower part of the side than at the upper part of the side, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the lower part of the side; or control example C' in which the rotational speed of the lower rotating shaft is controlled to be significantly faster than that of the upper rotating shaft at the same timing as when a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotating shaft Js in the previous embodiment, so that the contact surface pressure of the side brush S against the side surface Bs of the automobile is sufficiently higher at the lower part of the side than at the upper part of the side, thereby improving the cleaning effect on the lower part of the side.

[0263] According to the sixth embodiment, particularly in control examples B' and C', by rotating the lower rotating shaft at a relatively high speed (i.e., faster than the upper rotating shaft), the contact surface pressure of the side brush S with the automobile side Bs, particularly the lower part of the side that tapers inwardly downward, can be made relatively high, and the lower brush can easily enter the shape of the side that tapers inwardly downward, making the contact surface pressure on the upper and lower parts of the side Bs more equal. In other words, by controlling the rotation of a part (the lower rotating shaft) of the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S, a good cleaning effect can be obtained over the entire top and bottom of the automobile side Bs.

[0264] As a result, in the fifth and sixth embodiments described above, there is no need to specially provide additional brushes such as rocker brushes for the lower part of the automobile side surface Bs between the side brush S and the upper surface detection sensor 10 in the fore-and-aft direction within the portal frame 1. As a result, as in the previous embodiments, the top brush T and tire brush Z can be arranged spatially efficiently between the side brush S and the upper surface detection sensor 10 in the fore-and-aft direction, and furthermore, a high cleaning effect can be achieved over the entire upper and lower parts of the automobile side surface Bs while still miniaturizing the portal frame 1.

[0265] Furthermore, in the first to sixth embodiments, a mechanism (i.e., the aforementioned support mechanism SP and opening / closing control mechanism Dk) is provided for suspending the side brush S, which can improve the cleaning effect on the lower part of the automobile side Bs, so that the side brush S can be moved left and right while being tilted left and right. Therefore, even if the opening of the car wash machine A is widened, it can be accommodated by simply changing the design to increase the left and right movement dimension of the side brush S.

[0266] Furthermore, by combining a structure in which the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S can be bent at the middle, and in particular the lower rotating shaft can be controlled to an inverted inclined position, as in the above-mentioned fifth embodiment, with a structure in which the rotating shaft Js of the side brush S is divided into an upper rotating shaft and a lower rotating shaft, and in particular the lower rotating shaft can be controlled to rotate at a relatively high speed, as in the sixth embodiment, the cleaning effect can be further improved.

[0267] In the embodiment described above, with regard to the side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns, the speed doubling mechanism L, which moves the side nozzle Ns forward and backward in the nozzle advance / retract direction, has two parallel link mechanisms L1, L2 as its main parts (first and second mechanisms). A first modified example of this speed doubling mechanism is shown in Figure 39(A), and second and third modified examples are shown in Figures 40(B) and (C).

[0268] That is, the speed-doubling mechanism L' of the advance / retract drive device Dns according to the first modified example shown in Fig. 39(A) includes a fixed support frame 83 as a guide member having a substantially horizontal first moving guide surface 83g on its upper surface that extends in the nozzle advance / retract direction and fixed to the inner wall of the side part 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1, a movable support 84 formed by a substantially horizontal upper plate part 84a integrally connected to a substantially horizontal lower plate part 84b whose lower surface is slidably placed and supported on the first moving guide surface 83g via a hollow intermediate frame part 84m, and a support member 85 slidable in the nozzle advance / retract direction on a substantially horizontal second moving guide surface 84g provided on the upper surface of the upper plate part 84a. The fixed support frame 83 and the lower plate part 84b of the movable support 84 are arranged so as to always fit within the side part 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1.

[0269] A first chain transmission mechanism 81 having an endless chain 81c extending in the nozzle advance / retract direction is housed and arranged within the fixed support frame 83, and a motor 82 as an actuator capable of rotating a drive sprocket of the first chain transmission mechanism 81 is interlocked with the first chain transmission mechanism 81. An upper half of the chain 81c extends along the lower surface of the upper wall 83a of the fixed support frame 83, and a lower end of a first locking piece 84bt that protrudes from the lower surface of a lower plate portion 84b of the movable support 84 and slidably passes through a slit s1 of the upper wall 83a is interlocked with the upper half of the chain 81c. Thus, when the first chain transmission mechanism 81 receives a rotational driving force from the motor 82, it can reciprocate the lower plate portion 84b (and therefore the movable support 84) in the nozzle advance / retract direction via the first locking piece 84bt.

[0270] In addition to the combined structure of the first locking piece 84bt and slit s1 described above, a guide means (e.g., a concave-convex engagement portion, etc.) not shown is provided between the lower plate portion 84b and the first moving guide surface 83g, which slides and guides the moving support 84 in the nozzle advance / retract direction while preventing the moving support 84 (specifically, the lower plate portion 84b) from being pulled out or lifted up from the first moving guide surface 83g.

[0271] 39, in the movable support 84, the intermediate frame portion 84m is offset from the lower plate portion 84b in the front-rear direction of the portal frame 1 (particularly in the direction toward the side nozzle Ns), and further the upper plate portion 84a is offset from the intermediate frame portion 84m in the same direction. Moreover, the lower plate portion 84b is connected to the lower end of the intermediate frame portion 84m at approximately the same height, and the upper plate portion 84a is connected to the upper end of the intermediate frame portion 84m at approximately the same height.

[0272] In addition, the upper plate portion 84a extends further inward to the left and right of the gate frame 1 than the lower plate portion 84b and the intermediate frame portion 84m. Therefore, as is clear from Figure 39, at the forward limit of the side nozzle Ns, the upper plate portion 84a and the support member 85 protrude inward further than the inner wall 1si of the gate frame side portion 1s.

[0273] The lower surface of the support member 85 is slidably placed and supported on the second movement guide surface 84g on the upper plate portion 84a. A second chain transmission mechanism 86 having an endless chain 86c extending in the nozzle advance / retract direction is housed and disposed within the intermediate frame portion 84m, and an upper half of the chain 86c extends along an upper wall 84ma of the intermediate frame portion 84m. The lower end of a second locking piece 85t that protrudes from the lower portion of the support member 85 and slidably passes through a slit s2 in the upper wall 84ma is interlocked with the upper half of the chain 86c.

[0274] In addition to the combined structure of the second locking pieces 85t and slits s2 described above, a guide means (e.g., a concave-convex engagement portion) (not shown) is provided between the support member 85 and the second movement guide surface 84g, which slides and guides the support member 85 in the nozzle advance / retract direction while preventing the support member 85 from being pulled out or lifted up from the second movement guide surface 84g. The combined structure of the second locking pieces 85t and slits s2 described above and the second movement guide surface 84g cooperate with each other to form a movement guide mechanism 89 that moves and guides the support member 85 in the nozzle advance / retract direction relative to the moving support 84.

[0275] Also, the lower half of the chain 86c of the second chain transmission mechanism 86 is interlocked and connected to a third locking piece 83t protruding from the upper part of the fixed support frame 83, and the middle part of this third locking piece 83t slidably passes through a slit s3 provided in the lower wall 84mb of the middle frame portion 84m. Thus, the second chain transmission mechanism 86, in conjunction with the movement and displacement of the movable support 84 relative to the fixed support frame 83, can displace the support member 85 relative to the fixed support frame 83 with a displacement stroke longer than the movement and displacement of the support member 85 on the movable support 84.

[0276] Thus, the fixed support frame 83, the lower plate portion 84b of the movable support 84, the first locking piece 84bt, and the first chain transmission mechanism 81 cooperate with each other to form the first mechanism L1' of the speed doubling mechanism L', and in particular the lower plate portion 84b functions as the first output portion of the first mechanism L1'.

[0277] Furthermore, the upper plate portion 84a of the movable support 84, the support member 85, and the second locking piece 85t cooperate with each other to form the second mechanism L2' of the speed-doubling mechanism L', and in particular the support member 85 functions as a second output portion of the second mechanism L2'.

[0278] Furthermore, the intermediate frame portion 84m of the movable support 84, the second chain transmission mechanism 86, and the second and third locking pieces 85t, 83t cooperate with each other to form an interlocking mechanism I' that interlocks the first and second mechanisms L1', L2' with each other (more specifically, an interlocking mechanism I' that moves and displaces the support member 85 as the second output part relative to the fixed support frame 83 with a displacement stroke longer than the displacement stroke on the movable support 84 in conjunction with the movement and displacement of the lower plate portion 84b as the first output part relative to the fixed support frame 83).

[0279] Therefore, by driving the first chain transmission mechanism 81 by the motor 82, the movable support 84 (lower plate portion 84b) can be forcibly moved in the forward direction on the first movable guide surface 83g via the chain 81c and the first locking piece 84bt, and further, in conjunction with this forced movement, the support member 85 can be forcibly moved in the forward direction on the movable guide surface 84g via the second chain transmission mechanism 86 and the second locking piece 85t within the movable support 84.

[0280] In this case, the support member 85 advances in the same direction relative to the movable support 84 (upper plate portion 84a) in conjunction with the movement and displacement of the movable support 84 (lower plate portion 84b) serving as the first output portion which moves following the first chain transmission mechanism 81, and the total displacement amount of the support member 85 at this time is the sum of the advancement amount of the support member 85 relative to the movable support 84 and the advancement amount of the movable support 84 on the fixed support frame 83 (and therefore relative to the portal frame side portion 1s). Therefore, the support member 85 can be displaced in the same direction relative to the portal frame side portion 1s by a displacement amount longer than the latter advancement amount.

[0281] Thus, in the speed-doubling mechanism L' of the first modified example, the movement stroke of the support member 85 serving as the second output part of the second mechanism L2' relative to the portal frame side part 1s can be made longer than the movement stroke of the lower plate part 84b serving as the first output part of the first mechanism L1'. Moreover, in the first modified example, since both the first and second output parts (i.e., the lower plate part 84b and the support member 85) are displaced substantially horizontally, the support member 85 serving as the second output part (and therefore the side nozzle Ns) can move substantially horizontally (i.e., with almost no height displacement).

[0282] Also, the speed-doubling mechanism L' of the forward / backward drive device Dns according to the second modified example shown in Fig. 40(B) is basically very similar to the first modified example, so the same reference numerals as those in the first modified example are used for the various parts. However, in the speed-doubling mechanism L' of the second modified example, the first chain transmission mechanism 81 as the drive device of the first mechanism L1' is disposed with an upward incline toward the nozzle forward direction (the inner left and right sides of the portal frame 1), and the support member 85 as the second output part of the second mechanism L2' is disposed with a downward incline toward the nozzle forward direction, and in accordance with this arrangement, the lower wall of the movable support 84 as the first output part is disposed with an upward incline and the upper wall is disposed with a downward incline.

[0283] Thus, in this second modified example, when the first chain transmission mechanism 81 is driven by a motor 82 serving as an actuator, the first output portion, i.e., the lower plate portion 84b of the movable support 84, is forcibly moved diagonally upward in the nozzle forward direction (thus accompanied by some upward displacement) on the upper surface of the fixed support frame 83 serving as a guide member, i.e., the first movable guide surface 83g, via the first locking piece 84bt, and further, in conjunction with this forced movement, the support member 85 is forcibly moved diagonally downward in the nozzle forward direction (thus accompanied by some downward displacement) on the upper surface of the movable support 84, i.e., the second movable guide surface 84g, via the second chain transmission mechanism 86 in the movable support 84 (middle frame portion 84m).

[0284] Therefore, in the second modified example, the interlocking mechanism I', which interlocks the second mechanism L2' with the first mechanism L1', displaces the support member 85 as the second output part relative to the fixed support frame 83 (and therefore the portal frame side part 1s) with a displacement stroke longer than the displacement stroke on the second moving guide surface 84g in conjunction with the movement and displacement of the movable support 84 (lower plate part 84b) as the first output part on the first moving guide surface 83g, and like the interlocking mechanism I' in the first modified example, is equipped with an intermediate frame part 84m of the movable support 84, a second chain transmission mechanism 86, and second and third locking pieces 85t, 83t.

[0285] Thus, in the speed-doubling mechanism L' of the second modified example, the displacement stroke of the support member 85 which is the second output part of the second mechanism L2' in the nozzle advance / retract direction relative to the portal frame side part 1s can be made longer than the displacement stroke of the movable support 84 (particularly the lower plate part 84b) which is the first output part of the first mechanism L1'. At that time, the above-mentioned upward displacement and downward displacement are offset, so that the support member 85 which is the second output part of the second mechanism L2', and therefore the side nozzle Ns, can advance / retract substantially horizontally (i.e. with almost no vertical displacement).

[0286] In the second modified example, the first moving guide surface 83g, which is the upper surface of the fixed support frame 83, is a slope that slopes downward in the backward direction, and as a result, the moving support 84 (lower plate portion 84b) as the first output portion receives a biasing force in the backward direction based on its own weight (and therefore the weight of the side nozzle Ns) when it slides on the first moving guide surface 83g, which allows the moving support 84 to move smoothly in the backward direction. Thus, the downwardly sloping moving guide surface 83g described above constitutes a backward biasing means that utilizes gravity to bias the side nozzle Ns in the backward direction.

[0287] Furthermore, since the speed-dominating mechanism L″ of the forward / backward drive device Dns according to the third modified example shown in FIG. 40(C) is partially similar to the speed-dominating mechanism L′ of the second modified example, the reference symbols for the similar components are the same as those for the corresponding components of the second modified example. Next, the speed-dominating mechanism L″ of the third modified example will be described only in terms of the parts that differ from the speed-dominating mechanism L′ of the second modified example.

[0288] That is, in the speed-doubling mechanism L" of the third modified example, the upper wall of the fixed support frame 83 as a guide member (hence the upwardly inclined first movable guide surface 83g of its upper surface) is arranged above the first chain transmission mechanism 81 in the first mechanism L1" housed in the left and right side portions 1s of the gate-shaped frame 1, similarly to the second modified example, so as to be substantially aligned with the nozzle advancing / retreating direction. The lower surface of a lower plate portion 84b' of a movable support 84' is supported on this first movable guide surface 83g so as to be slidable in the nozzle advancing / retreating direction, and an upward protruding wall portion 84a' of the movable support 84' is integrally connected to one side portion of the lower plate portion 84b'. This upward protruding wall portion 84a' is arranged offset toward the side nozzle Ns side (i.e., toward the back of the paper in FIG. 40) with respect to the lower plate portion 84b' in the front-rear direction of the gate-shaped frame 1.

[0289] Furthermore, the upper portion of the upwardly projecting wall portion 84a' and the support member 85 supporting the base 22 of the side nozzle Ns cooperate with a pair of links 87 that interlock and connect them to be able to swing relatively in the nozzle advancing / retracting direction to form a parallel link mechanism. The pair of links 87 then form a movement guide mechanism 89' that guides the movement of the support member 85 in the nozzle advancing / retracting direction relative to the moving support 84'. The pair of links 87 do not necessarily need to be the same length (i.e., part of a parallel link mechanism) and may have slightly different lengths.

[0290] Incidentally, a base, i.e., a pivot, of a sector-shaped interlocking member 88 adjacent to the side nozzle Ns side (i.e., the back side of the paper in Fig. 40) of upward protruding wall portion 84a' in the front-rear direction of the portal frame 1 is integrally connected to the base of one of the links 87. Meanwhile, a band-shaped stopper plate 83s is fixed to the upper surface of the fixed support frame 83, similarly offset toward the side nozzle Ns side (i.e., the back side of the paper in Fig. 40) from the upward protruding wall portion 84a' in the front-rear direction of the portal frame 1, close to and facing the arc-shaped outer circumferential surface of the sector-shaped interlocking member 88.

[0291] This stopper plate 83s extends in the tangent direction of the outer circumferential arc relative to the outer circumferential surface of the sector-shaped interlocking member 88, and mutually meshing tooth surfaces 83st, 88t are formed on the opposing surfaces of the stopper plate 83s and the interlocking member 88. It is not essential to provide the tooth surfaces 83st, 88t, and for example, the tooth surfaces 83st, 88t may be omitted and the outer circumferential surface of the interlocking member 88 may be brought into frictional contact with the stopper plate 83s.

[0292] Thus, the fixed support frame 83 as a guide member, the lower plate portion 84b' of the movable support body 84', the first locking piece 84bt, and the first chain transmission mechanism 81 cooperate with each other to constitute the first mechanism L1'' of the speed doubling mechanism L'', and in particular the lower plate portion 84b' functions as the first output portion of the first mechanism L1''.

[0293] In addition, the upper part of the upward protruding wall portion 84a' of the movable support 84', the pair of links 87, and the support member 85 cooperate with each other to constitute the second mechanism L2'' of the speed doubling mechanism L'', and in particular the support member 85 functions as the second output part of the second mechanism L2''.

[0294] Furthermore, the upward protruding wall portion 84a' of the movable support 84', the interlocking member 88, and the stopper plate 83s cooperate with each other to form an interlocking mechanism I'' that interlocks the first and second mechanisms L1'', L2'' with each other (specifically, an interlocking mechanism that moves and displaces the support member 85 as the second output part relative to the fixed support frame 83 with a displacement stroke longer than the displacement stroke on the movable support 84' in response to the movement and displacement of the lower plate portion 84b' as the first output part relative to the fixed support frame 83).

[0295] In this third modified example, when the first chain transmission mechanism 81 is driven by the motor 82 as an actuator, the movable support 84' connected to the chain 81c via the first locking piece 84bt can be forcibly moved obliquely upward (thus accompanied by some upward displacement) on the fixed support frame 83 (first moving guide surface 83g) in the nozzle forward movement direction, as in the second modified example. As the movable support 84' is forcibly moved forward, the interlocking member 88 swings a predetermined angle counterclockwise in FIG. 40 around the pivot point of the interlocking member 88 to the movable support 84', since the outer circumferential surface of the interlocking member 88 is engaged with the stopper plate 83s fixed to the fixed support frame 83 via the tooth surfaces 83st, 88t.

[0296] Then, following the swinging of the interlocking member 88, the link 87 integrated with the interlocking member 88 is forcibly swung so as to tilt downward in the nozzle forward movement direction (thus, accompanied by some downward displacement), and this swinging allows the support member 85 supporting the side nozzle base 22 to be advanced forward in the nozzle forward / backward movement direction.

[0297] Thus, in the speed-doubling mechanism L" of the third modified example, the displacement stroke of the support member 85 serving as the second output part of the second mechanism L2" in the nozzle advance / retract direction relative to the portal frame side part 1s can be made longer than the displacement stroke of the lower plate part 84b' serving as the first output part of the first mechanism L1". At that time, the above-mentioned upward displacement and downward displacement are offset, so that the support member 85 serving as the second output part of the second mechanism L2" (and therefore the side nozzle Ns) can move approximately horizontally, i.e. with almost no vertical displacement.

[0298] In the third modified example, similarly to the second modified example, the first moving guide surface 83g, which is the upper surface of the fixed support frame 83, is a slope that slopes downward in the nozzle retraction direction. As a result, when the moving support 84' (particularly the lower plate portion 84b') as the first output portion slides on the first moving guide surface 83g, it receives a biasing force in the nozzle retraction direction based on its own weight (and therefore the weight of the side nozzle Ns), which allows the side nozzle Ns to retract more smoothly.

[0299] Thus, also in the third modified example, the above-mentioned downwardly inclined first movement guide surface 83g constitutes a retraction urging means that urges the side nozzle Ns in the retraction direction by utilizing gravity.

[0300] Furthermore, in the first to third modified examples of the speed-doping mechanisms L', L'', the second mechanisms L2', L2'' of the speed-doping mechanisms L', L'' are offset relative to the first mechanisms L1', L1'' toward the side nozzle Ns in the front-to-rear direction of the portal frame 1. This offset arrangement can be used to separate the first mechanisms L1', L1'' as far away as possible from the side nozzle Ns in the front-to-rear direction of the portal frame 1, making it possible to reasonably avoid interference between the side nozzle Ns and the first mechanisms L1', L1'' even when the side nozzle Ns is at its rearmost position.

[0301] Furthermore, in the first to third modified examples of the speed-doubling mechanisms L', L", the fixed support frame 83 of the first mechanism L1', L1" (and therefore the entire speed-doubling mechanism L', L") may be supported on the portal frame side portion 1s so as to be tiltable back and forth via a vertical tilting support shaft 310, similar to the support frame 70 (the entire forward / backward drive device Dns) of the above embodiment.

[0302] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and various embodiments can be implemented within the scope of the present invention.

[0303] For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a mobile car wash machine in which the automobile V to be washed is kept stationary and the gantry frame 1 is moved back and forth relative to the automobile V to wash the automobile, but the present invention may also be applied to a fixed car wash machine in which the automobile V to be washed is moved back and forth relative to a fixed gantry frame 1 to wash the automobile.

[0304] In the above embodiment, a non-contact type (for example, a photoelectric type) wheel sensor is used as the wheel sensor SEw, but a contact type wheel sensor may be used.

[0305] In addition, in the above embodiment, a drive-through type car wash machine in which the car exits by driving forward after washing is completed (i.e., passing through the gate-shaped frame 1) is exemplified, however, the present invention may also be implemented in a non-drive-through type car wash machine in which the car exits by driving backward after washing is completed.

[0306] In addition, in the above embodiment, an air cylinder (i.e., the first air cylinder AC1) is used as the actuator of the posture control mechanism SC that changes the position of the rotation axis Js of the side brush S between the first position S1 forming a V-shape and the second position S2 forming an inverted V-shape. However, instead of an air cylinder, an electric actuator (e.g., an electric motor) may be used as the actuator of the posture control mechanism SC.

[0307] In the above embodiment, a car wash example is shown in which detergent and / or foam detergent is sprayed toward the vehicle body surface during the first forward and first return movements of the portal frame 1 while the top brush T and side brush S are operated to perform a brushing cleaning process (i.e., a shampooing process). However, instead of this car wash example, a brushing process (i.e., a coating treatment process) may be performed by operating the top brush T and side brush S while spraying a coating agent from the upper and side coating agent spray pipes 104, 204 toward the vehicle body surface during the first forward and first return movements of the portal frame 1.

[0308] In the above embodiment, only a general car wash example is illustrated, and in that case, the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 are in an inoperative state. In contrast, a water washing course in which the vehicle body is washed by the jetting effect of high-pressure washing water from the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 can also be selected at the reception machine Au. When this course is selected, the first and second high-pressure pump units U1 and U2 are operated, and high-pressure washing water is jetted from the upper high-pressure washing water jetting pipe 105 toward the vehicle body top surface Bt in accordance with the relative movement between the portal frame 1 and the vehicle V in the front-rear direction, and high-pressure washing water is jetted from the left and right side high-pressure washing water jetting pipes 205 toward the vehicle body side surface Bs, so that the vehicle body surface may be washed with water. In this case, in addition to the water washing process by jetting high-pressure washing water, a drying process may be combined as necessary, or a normal car washing process may be combined.

[0309] In the above embodiment, the door mirror DM is exemplified as a lateral protrusion for ensuring rear visibility on the side of the vehicle, but the lateral protrusion for ensuring rear visibility of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. For example, an outer camera that is disposed so as to protrude outward from the front side door of the vehicle or the side of the vehicle body in the vicinity thereof, and that photographs the rear visibility and displays the rear visibility on an in-vehicle monitor based on the photographed data, is also included in the lateral protrusion for ensuring rear visibility.

[0310] In the above embodiment, the side brush S is exemplified as a cylindrical brush having a substantially uniform diameter from the top to the bottom. However, the side brush S may also be configured so that the lower brush portion is smaller in diameter than the upper brush portion.

[0311] In addition, in control example 2 of the above embodiment, a weak reverse tilt pressure is basically applied to the rotation axis Js (first air cylinder AC1) of the left and right side brushes S during the side cleaning process during the first forward movement of the portal frame 1 (i.e., except for the avoidance or surface pressure reduction section for the door mirror DM), and a strong reverse tilt pressure is applied during the side cleaning process during the first return movement to place the side brushes in the second position S2. However, a control example in which a weak reverse tilt pressure and a strong reverse tilt pressure are combined at an appropriate timing is not limited to control example 2, and various variations can be implemented.

[0312] For example, in the first variation, during the side cleaning process during the first forward movement, a weak reverse inclination pressure is basically applied to the rotation axis Js of the right side brush S, while a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotation axis Js of the left side brush S to place it in the second position S2. Also, during the side cleaning process during the return movement, the left and right control modes are swapped from those during the forward movement, so that a weak reverse inclination pressure is basically applied to the rotation axis Js of the left side brush S, while a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotation axis Js of the right side brush S to place it in the second position S2.

[0313] For example, in a second variation, during the side cleaning process of the first forward pass of the portal frame 1, a weak reverse inclination pressure is applied to the rotation axis Js of the left and right side brushes S in the main section (i.e., a traveling section that is more than half of the one-way stroke), but a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the remaining relatively short traveling section to place them in the second position S2, while during the side cleaning process of the first return pass, a strong reverse inclination pressure is applied to the main section to place them in the second position S2, but a weak reverse inclination pressure is applied to the remaining relatively short traveling section.

[0314] In the above embodiment, the control device C can determine the vehicle front end position and the vehicle rear end position, which are the points that determine the timing of the opening or closing operation of the side brush S, based on the detection result of the upper surface detection sensor 10. However, the vehicle front end position and the vehicle rear end position may be determined by adding or subtracting a predetermined correction value to the detection position of the upper surface detection sensor 10. In this case, the predetermined correction value is appropriately set so as to be suitable for the brush used in the car wash machine A and the set washing operation, and can be changed in various ways depending on, for example, the vehicle model, the vehicle accessories, the car wash speed, etc., or a combination of these.

[0315] In addition, in the above embodiment, the top brush T is offset to the front side of the gate frame 1 relative to the side brush S in the fore-and-aft direction of the gate frame 1, but the opposite arrangement may also be used, i.e., the top brush T is offset to the rear side of the gate frame 1 relative to the side brush S in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0316] In the above embodiment, the advance / retract drive device Dns of the side nozzle Ns includes a first mechanism (L1, L1', L1") that has a first output section (73, 84b, 84b') displaceable in a substantial advance / retract direction of the side nozzle S and is installed on the portal frame 1 so as to be entirely contained within the side section 1s of the portal frame 1, and a second mechanism (L2, L2', L2") that has a second output section (75, 85) displaceable in the substantial advance / retract direction and in which the base 22 of the side nozzle Ns is held, and the first and second mechanisms are linked to each other so as to increase the displacement stroke of the second output section relative to the side section 1s more than the displacement stroke of the first output section. The example shown has a speed doubling mechanism (L, L', L") including a connecting interlocking mechanism (I, I', I"), and an actuator (76, 82) capable of applying a forward driving force to the first mechanism, but as a variation of the advance / retract drive device Dns for the side nozzle Ns, it is also possible to implement an advance / retract drive device Dns' configured not to use the speed doubling mechanism (L, L', L") but to drive the first and second output parts with separate independent actuators, thereby increasing the displacement stroke of the second output part (75, 85) relative to the portal frame side part 1s more than the displacement stroke of the first output part (73, 84b, 84b').

[0317] To explain this variation in more detail using the components of each modified example shown in Figures 39 and 40, a first actuator (for example, a telescopic cylinder, or a motor 82 as in this modified example) capable of driving the movable support 84 forward relative to the fixed support frame 83 (and therefore the portal frame side part 1s) is interposed between the fixed support frame 83 in these modified examples and the movable support 84 (first output part) slidably supported by the fixed support frame 83, and a second actuator (for example, a telescopic cylinder) capable of driving the support member 85 forward relative to the movable support 84 is interposed between the movable support 84 and a support member 85 (second output part) supported by the movable support 84 via movement guide mechanisms 89, 89' so as to be slidable or swingable. As a result, even if the speed doubling mechanism (L, L', L") is omitted, it is possible to implement an advance / retreat drive device Dns' configured to increase the displacement stroke of the second output portion (75, 85) relative to the portal frame side portion 1s more than the displacement stroke of the first output portion (73, 84b, 84b') by separately driving the first and second output portions with the separate and independent actuators.

[0318] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 to 18 and the modified examples of the speed-doubling mechanism shown in Figs. 39 and 40, the support frames 70, 83 of the side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns (and therefore the entire advance / retract drive device Dns) are supported to be tiltable in either forward or backward directions relative to the side portion 1s of the portal frame 1 via the tilting support shaft 310, but tilting in the forward direction (i.e., the moving direction of the portal frame 1 during the drying process) is not essential depending on the car wash. For example, in a drive-through car wash that mainly performs the drying process when the portal frame 1 moves forward, it is sufficient that the side nozzle advance / retract drive device Dns can be tilted at least only to the rear side of the car wash from the normal position. In this case, the control device C controls the advance / retract drive device Dns so that the side nozzle Ns is driven to advance / retract according to the shape of the automobile side surface Bs when the portal frame 1 moves forward, and so that the side nozzle Ns is held at the backward limit when the drying process is performed during the return movement. Thus, even if the side nozzle Ns is capable of tilting only toward the rear as described above, the side nozzle Ns can be controlled sufficiently safely by arranging the buffer member G only on the front half of the side nozzle Ns, as in the modified example shown in Figures 14(A) to (E). [Explanation of symbols]

[0319] A...gate-type car wash machine, Bs...side surface, Bt...top surface, C...control device; control device as a predetermined area estimation means, CL1, CL2...first and second centralized piping, Dt1, Dt2...first and second lifting drive devices, Dk...opening and closing control mechanism, Js...rotating shaft of side brush, M1, M2...first and second motors, Ns...side nozzle as cleaning equipment, P1, P2...first and second pumps, S...side brush, T...top brush as cleaning equipment, t1, t2...liquid detergent and foam detergent tank as first tank, t3 to t5...three types of coating agent tank as second tank, S...side brush, U1, U2...first and second high pressure pump units, V...automobile, 1...gate-type frame, 1s...side, 1t...upper portion, 101, 102, 103, 104...upper rinse water injection pipe, upper liquid detergent injection pipe, upper foam detergent injection pipe, upper coating agent injection pipe as upper cleaning water injection pipe group, 105...upper high pressure cleaning water injection pipe, 201, 202, 203, 204...side rinse water injection pipe, side liquid detergent injection pipe, side foam detergent injection pipe, side coating agent injection pipe as side cleaning water injection pipe group, 205...side high pressure cleaning water injection pipe, 500...high pressure cleaning water injection pipe group, 150, 250...first and second branch piping sections, 160, 260...first and second liquid feed pump groups P11 to P15...plurality of liquid feed pumps constituting the first liquid feed pump group, P11' to P15'...plurality of liquid feed pumps constituting the second liquid feed pump group

Claims

1. a portal-type car wash comprising a portal frame (1) formed in a portal shape so as to be able to straddle an automobile (V) and movable in a front-rear direction relative to the automobile (V); various cleaning devices for washing a car that are arranged on the portal frame (1) and operate in association with the relative movement of the automobile (V); and a high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipe group (500) including an upper high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipe (105) provided on an upper portion (1t) of the portal frame (1) and capable of jetting high-pressure cleaning water toward an upper surface (Bt) of the automobile (V) in association with the relative movement, and left and right side high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipes (205) provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1), respectively, and capable of jetting high-pressure cleaning water toward left and right side surfaces (Bs) of the automobile (V) in association with the relative movement, and wherein left and right first lifting drive devices (Dt1) capable of lifting and lowering some of the various cleaning devices (T) are provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1); a first high-pressure pump unit (U1) including a first pump (P1) capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to a portion of the high-pressure cleaning water jetting pipe group (500) and a first motor (M1) for driving the first pump is disposed within one of the left and right sides (1s) of the portal frame (1) so as to be positioned outside in the left-right direction of the first lifting drive device (Dt1) provided on the one side (1s); a second high-pressure pump unit (U2) including a second pump (P2) capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to some or all of the remaining high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group (500) and a second motor (M2) for driving the second pump, is arranged within the other of the left and right sides (1s) of the gate-type frame (1) so as to be positioned left-right outside the first lifting drive device (Dt1) provided on the other side (1s).

2. The various cleaning devices include left and right side brushes (S) capable of brushing the left and right sides (Bs) of the automobile (V), 2. The portal-type car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second high-pressure pump units (U1, U2) are offset in the front-rear direction from the side brushes (S) located on the same left and right sides as the first and second high-pressure pump units (U1, U2).

3. 3. The portal-type car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the first and second high-pressure pump units (U1, U2) supply high-pressure washing water to the side high-pressure washing water injection pipes (205) located on the same left and right sides as the first and second high-pressure pump units, respectively.

4. a portal-type car wash machine comprising: a portal frame (1) formed in a portal shape so as to be able to straddle an automobile (V) and movable in a front-rear direction relative to the automobile (V); various washing devices for washing a car that are arranged on the portal frame (1) and operate in association with the relative movement of the automobile (V); an upper washing water jetting pipe group (101-104) provided on an upper portion (1t) of the portal frame (1) and capable of jetting a plurality of types of washing water toward an upper surface (Bt) of the automobile (V) in association with the relative movement; and left and right side washing water jetting pipe groups (201-204) provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1), respectively, and capable of jetting the plurality of types of washing water toward the left and right side surfaces (Bs) of the automobile (V) in association with the relative movement; and left and right second lifting drive devices (Dt2) capable of lifting and lowering some of the various washing devices (Ns) provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1), respectively; the system comprises at least one first tank (t1, t2) provided on either the left or right side (1s) of the portal frame (1) for storing some of the multiple types of cleaning water; and a first centralized piping (CL1) having at least a plurality of systems of first branched piping sections (150) and first liquid supply pump groups (160) for distributing and pumping cleaning water from the at least one first tank (t1, t2) to the corresponding upper cleaning water jetting pipe groups (102, 103) and the left and right side cleaning water jetting pipe groups (202, 203), the first branched piping sections (150) and first liquid supply pump groups (160) being centrally arranged in a specific space within the one side (1s); A portal-type car wash machine, characterized in that the first centralized piping (CL1) is located on the left-right outer side of the second lifting drive device (Dt2) provided on the one side portion (1s).

5. a portal-type car wash machine comprising: a portal frame (1) formed in a portal shape so as to be able to straddle an automobile (V) and movable in a front-rear direction relative to the automobile (V); various washing devices for washing a car that are arranged on the portal frame (1) and operate in association with the relative movement of the automobile (V); an upper washing water jetting pipe group (102, 103) provided on an upper portion (1t) of the portal frame (1) and capable of jetting a plurality of types of washing water toward an upper surface (Bt) of the automobile (V) in association with the relative movement; and left and right side washing water jetting pipe groups (202, 203) provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1), respectively, and capable of jetting the plurality of types of washing water toward the left and right side surfaces (Bs) of the automobile (V) in association with the relative movement; and left and right second lifting drive devices (Dt2) capable of lifting and lowering some of the various washing devices (Ns) provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1), respectively; At least one first tank (t1, t2) provided on either the left or right side (1s) of the portal frame (1) for storing some of the plurality of types of cleaning water; at least one liquid delivery pump (P11 to P15) capable of drawing in and discharging cleaning water from the at least one first tank (t1, t2); the system includes at least a plurality of first branch pipe sections (150) for distributing and pumping the cleaning water sucked and discharged by the liquid supply pumps (P11 to P15) from the at least one first tank (t1, t2) to the corresponding upper cleaning water jetting pipe groups (102, 103) and the left and right side cleaning water jetting pipe groups (202, 203), and a first concentrated pipe (CL1) in which the middle portions of the first branch pipe sections (150) are concentratedly arranged in a specific space within one of the side sections (1s); A portal-type car wash machine, characterized in that the first centralized piping (CL1) is located on the left-right outer side of the second lifting drive device (Dt2) provided on the one side portion (1s).

6. The various cleaning devices include left and right side brushes (S) capable of brushing the left and right sides (Bs) of the automobile (V), 6. The portal type car wash machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the first concentrated pipe (CL1) is disposed offset in the front-rear direction with respect to the side brush (S) present on the same left and right side as the first concentrated pipe (CL1).

7. At least one second tank (t3-t5) provided on the other of the left and right sides (1s) of the portal frame (1) for storing a remaining part of the plurality of types of cleaning water; the second centralized piping (CL2) includes at least one system of second branch piping section (250) and second liquid feed pump group (260) for distributing and pumping cleaning water from the at least one second tank (t3-t5) or fresh water supply source to the corresponding upper cleaning water jet pipe group (104, 101) and the left and right side cleaning water jet pipe groups (204, 201), and the second branch piping section (250) and the second liquid feed pump group (260) are arranged in a concentrated manner in a specific space within the other side portion (1s); The portal-type car wash machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the second centralized piping (CL2) is located on the left-right outer side of the second lifting drive device (Dt2) provided on the other side portion (1s).

8. the high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group (500) including an upper high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe (105) provided on an upper portion (1t) of the portal frame (1) and capable of injecting high-pressure cleaning water toward the upper surface (Bt) of the vehicle (V) as the relative movement progresses, and left and right side high-pressure cleaning water injection pipes (205) provided on both left and right side portions (1s) of the portal frame (1) respectively and capable of injecting high-pressure cleaning water toward the left and right side portions (Bs) of the vehicle (V) as the relative movement progresses; and a first high-pressure pump unit (U1) disposed within one of the sides (1s) and including a first pump (P1) capable of supplying high-pressure cleaning water to a portion of the high-pressure cleaning water injection pipe group (500) and a first motor (M1) for driving the first pump, The various cleaning devices include left and right side brushes (S) capable of brushing the left and right sides (Bs) of the automobile (V), 6. The portal-type car wash machine according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, in a side view of the portal-type frame (1), the first centralized piping (CL1) is arranged on one side of the side brush (S) in the fore-and-aft direction, and the first high-pressure pump unit (U1) is arranged on the other side of the side brush (S).

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