Car washing machine

Abstract

To suppress an increase in manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: The car washing machine (2) is a car washing machine for washing a vehicle with clean water and pure water. The car washing machine (2) includes a pump (21) for pressurizing and supplying the cleaning liquid to the injection nozzle (2426), and the pure water is generated using the pump and filtration elements including a prefilter unit (70P) and a reverse-osmosis membrane unit (70R).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to car washes. [Background technology]

[0002] The water used in car washes is either tap water (water sourced from surface water or groundwater) or industrial water. For example, tap water contains residual chlorine used for disinfection and minerals such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Therefore, if water droplets remaining on the vehicle surface after washing dry, these impurities remain on the vehicle surface as ion deposits (water spots).

[0003] In recent years, in order to reduce these ion deposits, car wash machines that use pure water for washing have been developed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-60329 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above-described conventional technology requires a pure water generator for producing pure water, and therefore the manufacturing costs are higher than those of a car wash machine that does not use pure water for washing.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure aims to suppress an increase in manufacturing costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, a car wash machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a car wash machine that washes a vehicle using tap water and pure water, and the car wash machine is equipped with a pump in the car wash machine body that washes the vehicle and pressurizes and supplies the cleaning liquid used to wash the vehicle to a spray nozzle, and the pure water is generated using the pump and a filtration element that includes a pre-filter unit and a reverse osmosis membrane unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, increases in manufacturing costs can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic side view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a characteristic piping configuration of a car wash machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a characteristic piping configuration of a car wash machine according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a characteristic piping configuration of a car wash machine according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] [Embodiment 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing a car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a characteristic piping configuration of the car wash machine 2 according to embodiment 1.

[0011] (Car Wash Machine 2 Configuration) The car wash machine 2 is a pure water finishing car wash machine. More specifically, the car wash machine 2 is capable of performing a car wash process including a washing process involving brushing and a finish washing process using pure water. The liquid used in the washing process performed by the car wash machine 2 is referred to as the washing liquid, and the water used in the finish washing process is referred to as pure water.

[0012] In the present disclosure, cleaning liquids include, for example, tap water, detergent, and wax. Tap water includes tap water, well water, and industrial water derived from surface water, groundwater, and other sources. Tap water varies depending on the region from which it is taken and the type of raw water, but typically has an electrical conductivity of approximately 70 to 300 μS / cm. Pure water has a lower electrical conductivity than tap water. For example, the electrical conductivity of pure water according to the present disclosure may be 0 μS / cm or more and 20 μS / cm or less.

[0013] 1 to 3, the car wash machine 2 includes a car wash machine main body 4, a first tank 62 for storing clean water, a second tank 72 for storing pure water, a first path 61, and a second path 71. The first path 61 is a path for supplying clean water from the first tank 62 to the car wash machine main body 4, and the second path 71 is a path for supplying pure water from the second tank 72 to the car wash machine main body 4.

[0014] The car wash machine 2 further includes a third passage 85 that connects the car wash machine main body 4 and the first tank 62, and a filtering element 70. Each of the components will be described in detail below.

[0015] (Configuration of car wash machine body 4) First, the configuration of the car wash machine main body 4 provided in the car wash machine 2 will be described.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the car wash machine main body 4 includes, for example, two frames 8 and a ceiling portion 10 connecting the upper ends of the two frames 8. The car wash machine main body 4 has a structure that allows a vehicle X to pass through a space 4S surrounded by the frames 8 and the ceiling portion 10 along an approach direction DA of the vehicle X, as shown in Fig. 2. Note that in this specification, the approach direction DA is defined as the direction from the front surface 4A toward the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4. Note that in this embodiment, the front surface 4A is the surface on which, for example, an operation panel 42, which will be described later, is provided.

[0017] The car wash machine main body 4 has wheels 12 provided at the bottom of each of the frames 8. As the wheels 12 rotate, the car wash machine main body 4 moves relatively to the vehicle X in the front-to-rear direction along rails R arranged on the ground G. The rails R are formed, for example, along the approach direction DA. Here, the car wash machine main body 4 performs washing (car washing) of the vehicle X in the space 4S while moving relatively to the vehicle X.

[0018] The car wash machine main body 4 is equipped with a plurality of rotating brushes that slide over and brush the vehicle X. For example, the car wash machine main body 4 includes a top brush 14, a side brush 16, and a rocker brush 18, each of which is rotated by a rotary motor (not shown). The top brush 14 slides along the top surface of the vehicle X and cleans the top surface of the vehicle X. The side brushes 16 and the rocker brush 18 clean both side surfaces of the vehicle X.

[0019] The car wash machine main body 4 also has a plurality of nozzles that spray liquid onto the vehicle X. The plurality of nozzles includes a first nozzle 24 and a second nozzle 26. The first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26 are nozzles that spray cleaning liquid or pure water onto the vehicle X and are examples of spray nozzles according to the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2 , the first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26 may be arranged, for example, on the front surface 4A side and the rear surface 4B side of each frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4, respectively. In addition to the first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26, a nozzle that sprays cleaning liquid or pure water may also be arranged on the ceiling portion 10.

[0020] The car wash machine main body 4 is equipped with a distribution pipe section 22 that distributes the supplied clean water, pure water, detergent, wax, etc. to the corresponding nozzles. A drainage path 23 may be connected to the distribution pipe section 22. The clean water or pure water supplied from the first tank 62 or the second tank 72 is sent from the distribution pipe section 22 to the first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26 via an electromagnetic valve (not shown).

[0021] The car wash machine main body 4 also includes a first detergent nozzle 28, a second detergent nozzle 30, a water-repellent coating nozzle 32, and a wax nozzle 34. These nozzles are examples of spray nozzles according to the present disclosure. The first detergent nozzle 28 and the second detergent nozzle 30 are disposed on the front surface 4A and rear surface 4B of each frame 8, respectively, and spray detergent containing shampoo or the like onto the vehicle X. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 and the wax nozzle 34 are disposed on the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 sprays a water-repellent coating liquid onto the vehicle X. The wax nozzle 34 sprays wax onto the vehicle X. A tank storage section 20 is disposed on the side of the car wash machine main body 4, and stores multiple liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquids including detergent or wax. The liquids from each liquid storage tank are supplied to the distribution pipe section 22 described above and distributed to the corresponding nozzles via solenoid valves (not shown).

[0022] The car wash machine main body 4 further includes a pump 21. The pump 21 may be a high-pressure pump that pressurizes and supplies the cleaning liquid or pure water used to wash the vehicle X to the spray nozzles in order to perform high-pressure spraying. Specifically, the pump 21 is connected to the distribution pipe section 22, and when spraying at a higher pressure than normal spray pressure, the pump 21 can pressurize the cleaning liquid or pure water supplied to the distribution pipe section 22 and supply it to the corresponding nozzles at a supply pressure of, for example, 0.7 MPa or more and 1.0 MPa or less.

[0023] The normal injection pressure in the present disclosure may be a pressure of approximately 0.5 MPa or less, for example, a pressure of about 0.3 MPa. The high pressure in the present disclosure may be a pressure of approximately 0.5 MPa or more and 2.0 MPa or less, for example, a pressure of about 0.7 MPa or about 1.0 MPa.

[0024] The car wash machine main body 4 also includes a blower 36 that generates an air current. A top air blowing nozzle 38 and a side air blowing nozzle 40 are connected to the blower 36. The top air blowing nozzle 38 is provided at the upper center of the car wash machine main body 4 and blows air toward the ceiling surface of the vehicle X. The side air blowing nozzles 40 are provided on both sides of the car wash machine main body 4 and blow air toward the sides of the vehicle X. The car wash machine main body 4 blows air toward the vehicle X from the top air blowing nozzle 38 and the side air blowing nozzles 40, thereby draining or drying the vehicle X after washing.

[0025] In the attached drawings, for simplicity of illustration, the devices for washing the vehicle X that are provided in the car wash machine main body 4 described above may be omitted. Furthermore, the devices provided in the car wash machine main body 4 shown in the drawings are merely examples, and the car wash machine main body 4 may be provided with, in addition to the devices described above, devices for washing the vehicle X and devices assisting in the washing, including conventionally known configurations, on the frame 8 or the ceiling portion 10.

[0026] An operation panel 42 is disposed on the front of one frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4. The operation panel 42 has operation buttons (not shown) for setting the car wash conditions. For example, a user who has gotten out of the vehicle X, or another technician, etc. may operate the operation buttons to set the car wash conditions, etc.

[0027] (Plane configuration for clean water and pure water) The first tank 62 is a tank that stores clean water, and the first path 61 is a path for supplying cleaning liquid from the first tank 62 to the car wash machine main body 4. The first tank 62 is equipped with a first pump P1. The first pump P1 can be controlled by the control unit 44, which will be described later. Note that the first tank 62 is not essential, and the first path 61 may be connected to a water pipe or the like via a valve that can be controlled to open and close. In this case, the valve can be controlled by the control unit 44.

[0028] The second tank 72 is a tank that stores pure water, and the second path 71 is a path for supplying pure water from the second tank 72 to the car wash machine main body 4. The second tank 72 is equipped with a second pump P2. The second pump P2 can be controlled by the control unit 44, which will be described later.

[0029] In the car wash machine 2, the second path 71 merges with the first path 61 upstream of the car wash machine main body 4. The path 80 connects the point where the first path 61 and the second path 71 merge with the car wash machine main body 4 (specifically, the distribution piping section 22, which will be described later), and is a path through which both clean water and pure water pass.

[0030] The filtration element 70 is a component for reducing the electrical conductivity of clean water to produce pure water, and includes a pre-filter unit 70P and a reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R. The pre-filter unit 70P is a filtration unit that pre-treats the clean water before it passes through the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R, removing impurities and / or free substances such as free chlorine compounds. The pre-filter unit 70P may be, for example, an activated carbon filter. The reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R includes at least one reverse osmosis membrane module equipped with a cylindrically wound reverse osmosis membrane. A reverse osmosis membrane (RO membrane) is a cross-linked, mesh-like polymer membrane that basically allows only water molecules to pass through, separating impurities from water molecules and producing pure water with low electrical conductivity.

[0031] In order to efficiently produce pure water using the filtration element 70, particularly the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R, it is preferable to pressurize clean water and pass it through the RO membrane.

[0032] The car wash machine 2 is equipped with piping that connects the pump 21 provided in the car wash machine main body 4 to the filtration element 70. In the car wash machine 2, pure water used for washing cars is generated using the pump 21 provided in the car wash machine main body 4 and the filtration element 70 including a reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R and a pre-filter unit 70P. In the car wash machine 2, the pre-filter unit 70P is disposed between the pump 21 and the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R. By disposing the pre-filter unit 70P between the pump 21 and the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R, impurities in the liquid supplied to the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R can be further reduced, and deterioration of the RO membrane can be reduced.

[0033] In the car wash machine 2, pure water used in the finish washing process can be produced as follows. Specifically, clean water supplied from the first tank 62 to the car wash machine main body 4 via the first path 61 and path 80 is supplied to the pump 21 via the distribution piping section 22. The clean water pressurized by the pump 21 is supplied to the filtration element 70 and passes through the pre-filter unit 70P and the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R. This produces pure water with lower electrical conductivity than the clean water, and the produced pure water is stored in the second tank 72.

[0034] The pre-filter unit 70P used in the car wash machine 2 according to the first embodiment is disposed downstream of the pump 21, and therefore may use a filter having a pressure resistance of about 1.0 MPa.

[0035] In addition, pure water can be generated during periods when the pump 21 is not being used to spray from each nozzle, such as when the car is not being washed by the car wash machine 2, when the car is being washed by the car wash machine 2 but is not being pressurized by the pump 21, or when the car wash machine 2 is drying using the blower 36.

[0036] By using the pump 21 provided in the car wash machine main body 4 as the pump for supplying pressurized water to the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R, it is possible to reduce the number of pumps provided in the car wash machine 2. This can reduce manufacturing costs and also reduce the effort required for maintaining the pump 21.

[0037] The car wash machine 2 may further include a third path 85. The third path 85 is a pipe that connects the distribution pipe unit 22 and the first tank 62, and can return clean water from the distribution pipe unit 22 to the first tank 62. The third path 85 may include a valve that can be opened and closed, and the operation of the valve can be controlled by the control unit 44.

[0038] (Control unit and remote panel) The car wash machine 2 includes a control unit 44 that controls the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 controls the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 along the rail R and the operation of each component, thereby controlling the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may also control the first pump P1 and the second pump P2. The control unit 44 may be provided in the car wash machine main body 4 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may be located outside the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may transmit and receive information between the car wash machine main body 4, the first pump P1, and the second pump P2 or a remote panel 6 (described later) via a communication device (not shown) or the like, and control each component of the car wash machine 2. The control unit 44 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and each control is realized by executing a control program stored in memory on the processor.

[0039] The remote panel 6 is located, for example, on the front side of the car wash machine main body 4, and is arranged along the direction of movement of the car wash machine main body 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the remote panel 6 is arranged so that its front surface faces the side surface of the vehicle X before it is washed by the car wash machine main body 4, in other words, before it enters the car wash machine main body 4. For this reason, the back surface of the remote panel 6 is shown in Fig. 2.

[0040] 2, the remote panel 6 includes a housing 46 and a support pole 48 that is erected on the ground G and supports the housing 46. The remote panel 6 may acquire at least some of the car wash conditions for the vehicle X to be washed by the car wash machine main body 4 by operating a touch panel or buttons (not shown) provided on the housing 46. The control unit 44 may control the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the vehicle X based on at least some of the car wash conditions acquired by the remote panel 6.

[0041] <Sensor> The car wash machine main body 4 may further include a sensor 52. The sensor 52 is located closer to the front surface 4A of the car wash machine main body 4 than the side brushes 16, for example.

[0042] The sensor 52 is a sensor for acquiring information about the external shape of the vehicle X to be washed. More specifically, the sensor 52 can detect the height of the vehicle X crossing a predetermined point. For example, the sensor 52 may be configured as a multi-axis optical axis sensor, in which a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit are arranged as a pair on each of the two frames 8 on the front side of the frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4 and on the side of the space 4S. Here, in the multi-axis optical axis sensor, each optical axis sensor is arranged so that multiple optical axes are aligned in the vertical direction and each optical axis is on a substantially horizontal plane. Therefore, each optical axis sensor in the multi-axis optical axis sensor is configured to be able to detect the presence or absence of a vehicle at different heights. In this case, the sensor 52 may detect the height of the vehicle X by, for example, checking the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X while the car wash machine main body 4 moves relatively from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle X.

[0043] As a result, the car wash machine main body 4 can estimate the height of the vehicle X for each position in a planar view from a change in the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X among the multi-axis optical axis sensors included in the sensor 52. In other words, the sensor 52 generates information for estimating at least a part of the shape of the vehicle X. As a result, the sensor 52 may determine at least a part of the outer shape of the vehicle X for each position in a planar view. The control unit 44 may control each part of the cleaning unit to wash the vehicle X based on the outer shape of the vehicle X determined by the sensor 52.

[0044] (Control of the car wash machine 2 by the control unit 44) An exemplary car wash process of the vehicle X using the car wash machine 2 by the control unit 44 will be described below.

[0045] <Reception process> In this embodiment, the car wash machine 2 first performs a receiving step of receiving a request for washing the vehicle X from the user of the vehicle X or the like. Specifically, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car wash machine main body 4 or the remote panel 6 to obtain the car wash conditions for the vehicle X from the user of the vehicle X or the like. For example, the control unit 44 controls the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 and receives operations of the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 or the like from the user. In this way, the car wash machine 2 obtains information such as the car wash conditions for the vehicle X and payment of the car wash fee from the user.

[0046] Next, the control unit 44 controls the speaker or the monitor of the car wash machine main body 4 to guide the user in the vehicle X to move the vehicle X to a predetermined position and stop it. As a result, the user stops the vehicle X at a predetermined position, for example, in front of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0047] <Cleaning process> The car wash machine 2 performs a washing process to wash the vehicle X using washing liquid. Specifically, the control unit 44 controls each part of the first pump P1, the second pump P2, and the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. Immediately before the execution of the washing process, the car wash machine main body 4 is positioned on the front side of the vehicle X. In the washing process, the control unit 44 controls the drive unit of the car wash machine main body 4 to perform washing using washing liquid while moving the car wash machine main body 4 forward. Moving the car wash machine main body 4 forward means that the front surface 4A of the car wash machine main body 4 moves forward facing the direction of travel. Moving the car wash machine main body backward means that the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4 moves forward facing the direction of travel.

[0048] Specifically, in the washing process, the control unit 44 controls the first pump P1 to supply clean water to the car wash machine main body 4 via the first path 61. The control unit 44 controls the distribution piping unit 22 to spray the washing liquid onto the vehicle X via the first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26. Furthermore, the control unit 44 controls each unit such as various brushes to wash the vehicle X.

[0049] In the washing process, washing processes are performed based on the car wash conditions selected by the user via the remote panel 6, such as a brushing process in which the vehicle X is brushed while being sprayed with tap water, or a brushing shampoo process in which the vehicle X is brushed while being sprayed with detergent and tap water. Depending on the car wash conditions, the washing process may be performed during a first outbound pass in which the car wash machine 2 moves forward and the vehicle X passes through the car wash machine 2, a first return pass in which the car wash machine 2 moves backward and the vehicle X passes through the car wash machine 2, and a second outbound pass in which the car wash machine 2 moves forward again and the vehicle X passes through the car wash machine 2. Alternatively, the washing process may be performed during both the first outbound pass and the first return pass.

[0050] The control unit 44 may appropriately change the moving speed of the car wash machine main body 4 during the washing process depending on the car wash conditions, and may also temporarily stop the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 as necessary.

[0051] Furthermore, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 forward and causes the sensor 52 to detect the vehicle X, thereby acquiring information about the outer shape of the vehicle X.

[0052] The next step, the finish cleaning step, is a step in which finish cleaning is performed using pure water, so it is desirable that the liquid sprayed from the first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26 be quickly switched to pure water once the finish cleaning step is started.

[0053] At the end of the cleaning process, the control unit 44 may switch the supply of clean water via the first path 61 to the supply of pure water via the second path 71. By this switching process, it is possible to shorten the time until pure water is sprayed in the next process, the finish cleaning process.

[0054] The switch to the pure water supply may be performed during the washing process. Alternatively, the switch to the pure water supply may be performed after the washing process. In this case, in the switching process, the control unit 44 may replace the water in the path between the second tank 72 and the car wash machine main body 4 with pure water by returning the clean water to the first tank 62 via the third path 85 and supplying pure water via the second path 71. Specifically, the path between the second tank 72 and the car wash machine main body 4 may be the path connecting the second tank 72 and the distribution piping unit 22. By returning the mixture of clean water and pure water until the liquid in the path is replaced with pure water to the first tank 62 rather than discharging it as wastewater, it is possible to conserve the clean water used for washing the car.

[0055] <Finishing cleaning process> After the washing process, the car wash machine 2 executes a finish washing process in which pure water is used to finish washing the vehicle. Specifically, the control unit 44 controls the second pump P2 and each part of the car wash machine main body 4 to execute the finish washing process. In the finish washing process, the control unit 44 controls the drive unit of the car wash machine main body 4 to perform finish washing by spraying pure water onto the vehicle X while moving the car wash machine main body 4 forward. Specifically, in the finish washing process, the control unit 44 controls the second pump P2 to supply pure water to the car wash machine main body 4 via the second path 71 and spray the pure water onto the vehicle X via the first nozzle 24 and the second nozzle 26.

[0056] During the finish washing process, the control unit 44 may control the car wash machine main body 4 to temporarily stop or repeatedly move at a predetermined designated portion of the vehicle X based on information about the external shape of the vehicle X from the sensor 52. This control allows pure water to be sprayed intensively at the designated portion. The predetermined designated portion of the vehicle X may be a portion that has a complex structure and is prone to incomplete cleaning, such as a portion where the side mirrors are attached, a portion where the wipers are attached, the boundary between the roof and rear window, or the step between the back door and bumper. Alternatively, the designated portion may be a portion where it is desired to significantly reduce the generation of ion deposits, such as a door mirror or a window.

[0057] <Drying process> After the finish washing step, the car wash machine 2 executes a drying step. Specifically, the drying step is executed by the control unit 44 controlling each part of the car wash machine main body 4. In the drying step, the control unit 44 may operate the blower 36 while moving the car wash machine main body 4 backward to blow air onto the vehicle X and dry the vehicle X.

[0058] <Another aspect of embodiment 1> The configuration of the car wash machine having the third path 85 described in the first embodiment can also be applied to a car wash machine having a pure water generator (not shown) instead of the filter element 70 described in the first embodiment. The pure water generator has a high-pressure pump therein, and in this case, the pump 21 is not used to generate pure water. The pure water generated by the pure water generator can be stored in the first tank 62.

[0059] That is, the car wash according to the present disclosure may be in the following form: A car wash capable of performing a finish washing step of performing a finish washing of a vehicle using pure water having lower electrical conductivity than tap water, the car wash comprising: a car wash main body 4 that washes the vehicle; a first path 61 that supplies the tap water used for washing the vehicle to the car wash main body 4; a second path 71 that supplies the pure water used for the finish washing of the vehicle; a third path 85 that returns the tap water from the car wash main body 4 to a first tank 62; and a control unit 44 that controls each component of the car wash main body 4, wherein the second path 71 merges with the first path 61 upstream of the car wash main body 4, and when the control unit performs the finish washing step after the washing step of washing the vehicle with the cleaning liquid, at the end of the washing step, the control unit returns the tap water to the first tank via the third path while supplying the pure water via the second path, thereby replacing the water in the path between the second tank and the car wash main body with the pure water.

[0060] A car wash machine having this configuration can save water by returning the mixture of clean water and pure water to the first tank 62 instead of discharging it as wastewater until the liquid in the path is replaced with pure water.

[0061] [Embodiment 2] Other aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. For ease of explanation, components having the same functions as those described in the above embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated. This also applies to the following embodiments.

[0062] Another embodiment of a car wash machine according to the present disclosure, that is, a second embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a characteristic piping configuration of a car wash machine 2B according to the second embodiment.

[0063] The car wash machine 2B differs from the car wash machine 2 of embodiment 1 in that the first path 61 and the second path 71 do not merge upstream of the car wash machine main body. The first path 61 that supplies clean water and the second path 71 that supplies pure water are each connected to the distribution piping section 22 of the car wash machine main body 4. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the car wash machine 2 of embodiment 1. The car wash machine according to the present disclosure may be configured as shown in embodiment 2.

[0064] The car wash machine 2B according to the second embodiment also uses the pump 21 to supply pressurized water to the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R, thereby reducing the number of pumps included in the car wash machine, which can reduce manufacturing costs and also makes pump maintenance easier.

[0065] [Embodiment 3] Another embodiment of a car wash machine according to the present disclosure, that is, a third embodiment, will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a characteristic piping configuration of a car wash machine 2C according to the third embodiment.

[0066] The car wash machine 2C differs from the car wash machine 2B of embodiment 2 in the position of the pre-filter unit 70P. As in the car wash machine 2C, the pre-filter unit 70P may be mounted on the car wash machine 2C and disposed upstream of the pump 21. More specifically, the pre-filter unit 70P may be provided inside the car wash machine main body 4, between the distribution pipe section 22 and the pump 21.

[0067] In the car wash machine 2C, pure water used in the finish wash process can be produced as follows. Specifically, clean water supplied from the first tank 62 to the car wash machine main body 4 via the first path 61 passes through the pre-filter unit 70P via the distribution piping 22. The clean water pre-treated by the pre-filter unit 70P is supplied to the pump 21. The clean water pressurized by the pump 21 passes through the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R. This produces pure water with lower electrical conductivity than the clean water, and the produced pure water is stored in the second tank 72.

[0068] This configuration eliminates the need to use a high pressure-resistant filter as the pre-filter unit 70P, thereby reducing costs. The other configurations are the same as those of the car wash machine 2B of the second embodiment.

[0069] The car wash machine according to the present disclosure may have a configuration as shown in embodiment 3. The car wash machine 2B according to embodiment 3 also uses a pump 21 to supply pressurized water to the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R, thereby reducing the number of pumps included in the car wash machine. This reduces manufacturing costs and also makes pump maintenance easier.

[0070] [Embodiment 4] If the car wash according to the present disclosure is a large car wash for washing large vehicles such as tourist buses, the car wash body has a large capacity, so the pre-filter unit 70P and the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R may be stored in the car wash body. This configuration can reduce deterioration of the pre-filter unit 70P and the reverse osmosis membrane unit 70R and can also reduce the installation area of ​​the car wash.

[0071] 〔summary〕 A first aspect of the car wash machine according to the present disclosure is a car wash machine that washes a vehicle using tap water and pure water, and the car wash machine is provided with a pump in the car wash machine body that washes the vehicle and pressurizes and supplies the cleaning liquid used to wash the vehicle to a spray nozzle, and the pure water is generated using the pump and a filtration element that includes a pre-filter unit and a reverse osmosis membrane unit.

[0072] Aspect 2 of the car wash machine of the present disclosure is, in aspect 1, provided with a first path that supplies the clean water from a first tank that stores the clean water to the car wash machine main body, and a second path that supplies the pure water from a second tank that stores the pure water to the car wash machine main body, and the second path merges with the first path upstream of the car wash machine main body.

[0073] Aspect 3 of the car wash machine of the present disclosure is, in aspect 2, further provided with a third path for returning the clean water from the car wash machine main body to the first tank, and by returning the clean water to the first tank via the third path while supplying the pure water via the second path, the water in the path between the second tank and the car wash machine main body is replaced with the pure water.

[0074] A fourth aspect of the car wash machine according to the present disclosure is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the pre-filter unit is disposed between the pump and the reverse osmosis membrane unit.

[0075] A fifth aspect of the car wash machine according to the present disclosure is any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the pre-filter unit is mounted on the car wash machine and is disposed upstream of the pump.

[0076] A sixth aspect of the car wash machine according to the present disclosure is any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the car wash using the pure water is performed in a finish washing step.

[0077] [Additional Notes] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 2, 2B, 2C, 2D car wash machine 4 Car wash machine body 21 Pump 22 Distribution piping section 24 No. 1 nozzle (injection nozzle) 26 Second nozzle (injection nozzle) 28 First detergent nozzle (spray nozzle) 30 Second detergent nozzle (spray nozzle) 32 Water-repellent coating nozzle (spray nozzle) 34 Wax nozzle (spray nozzle) 44 Control Unit 61 Route 1 62 First Tank 70P Pre-filter unit 70R reverse osmosis membrane unit 71 Route 2 72 Second Tank 80 routes 85 Route 3

Claims

1. A car wash machine that washes vehicles with tap water and pure water, The car wash machine includes a pump in a car wash machine body that washes the vehicle and that pressurizes and supplies the washing liquid used to wash the vehicle to a spray nozzle, The car wash machine, wherein the pure water is generated using the pump and a filtration element including a pre-filter unit and a reverse osmosis membrane unit.

2. a first passage for supplying the clean water from a first tank that stores the clean water to the car wash machine body; a second path for supplying the pure water from a second tank that stores the pure water to the car wash machine body; The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the second path merges with the first path upstream of the car wash machine main body.

3. a third passage for returning the clean water from the car wash machine body to the first tank; 3. The car wash machine according to claim 2, wherein the pure water is supplied through the second path while the clean water is returned to the first tank through the third path, thereby replacing the pure water in the path between the second tank and the car wash machine main body.

4. The car wash of claim 1 , wherein the pre-filter unit is disposed between the pump and the reverse osmosis membrane unit.

5. The car wash of claim 1 , wherein the pre-filter unit is mounted on the car wash and positioned upstream of the pump.

6. 2. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the car wash with pure water is performed in a finish washing step.

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