CAR WASH MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CAR WASH MACHINE

Abstract

To defrost a brush for cleaning a surface which is substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis.SOLUTION: A car washing machine includes: a car washing machine body (4) which relatively moves in a front-back direction with respect to a vehicle to wash the vehicle; and a control unit which controls the car washing machine body. The car washing machine body includes: a brush (50) which rotates around a rotation axis (50A) and washes a surface, including a surface whose normal line is parallel to the rotation axis, of a surface of the vehicle; and nozzles (56, 58, 82) which jet a liquid. The control unit controls the nozzles to jet a defrosting liquid to the brush.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a car wash machine that washes vehicles and a method for controlling the car wash machine. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses the de-icing and anti-freezing operations of brushes provided in a car wash machine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-109847 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] With conventional techniques, it is difficult to thaw a brush that cleans a surface that is nearly perpendicular to the axis of rotation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A car wash machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a brush that rotates around a rotation axis and cleans surfaces of the vehicle including surfaces whose normals are parallel to the rotation axis, and a nozzle that sprays liquid, and is configured to wash the vehicle by moving relative to the vehicle in a forward / backward direction, and a control unit that controls the car wash machine main body, and the control unit controls the nozzle to spray defrosting liquid onto the brush.

[0006] In addition, a control method for a car wash machine according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for a car wash machine having a car wash machine body that includes a brush that rotates around a rotation axis and cleans surfaces of the vehicle's outer surface including surfaces whose normals are parallel to the rotation axis, and a nozzle that sprays liquid, and washes the vehicle by moving relatively in the fore-and-aft direction with respect to the vehicle, and includes a thawing process of controlling the nozzle to spray thawing liquid toward the brush. Effect of the Invention

[0007] Defrosting of the brushes cleaning surfaces generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation can be performed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic side view of a portion of the car wash machine body, showing an enlarged view of the wheel brush and its vicinity according to the embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1A and 1B are a schematic side view and a schematic front view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the wheel brush according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a car washing method according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] 1 is a front view of a car wash process, showing an example of a car washing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 10 is a front view of another process of the car wash machine, showing an example of a car washing method according to an embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Embodiment] <Car wash machine overview> 2 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic side view 2S of the car wash machine main body 4 and the remote panel 6 of the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment, and a schematic front view 4F of the car wash machine main body 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment includes the car wash machine main body 4 that washes the vehicle X, which is a vehicle to be washed. The car wash machine 2 may include a remote panel 6 that acquires the car wash conditions of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. In the schematic side view 2S of the car wash machine 2 in FIG. 2, the outline of the vehicle X is shown by a dotted line to indicate that the vehicle X is located further back than the remote panel 6 toward the page.

[0010] As shown in a schematic front view 4F of the car wash machine main body 4 in Fig. 2, the car wash machine main body 4 includes, for example, two frames 8 and a ceiling portion 10 connecting upper ends of the two frames 8. The car wash machine main body 4 has a structure that allows the vehicle X to pass through a space 4S surrounded by the frames 8 and the ceiling portion 10 along an approach direction DA of the vehicle X, shown in a schematic side view 2S of the car wash machine 2 in Fig. 2. Note that in this specification, the approach direction DA is defined as a direction from the front to the back of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0011] The car wash machine body 4 has wheels 12 on the lower part of each of the frames 8, and moves relatively to the vehicle X in the front-rear direction along rails R arranged on the ground G by rotating the wheels 12 using a drive unit (not shown). The rails R are formed along the approach direction DA, for example. Here, the car wash machine body 4 washes the vehicle X in the space 4S while moving relatively to the vehicle X.

[0012] The car wash machine main body 4 is provided with a plurality of rotating brushes that slide over and brush the vehicle X as one of the cleaning parts. For example, the rotating brushes provided in the car wash machine main body 4 include a top brush 14, a side brush 16, and a rocker brush 18, each of which is rotated by a rotary motor (not shown). The top brush 14 moves along the top surface of the vehicle X and cleans the top surface of the vehicle X. The side brush 16 and the rocker brush 18 clean both side surfaces of the vehicle X. In particular, the rocker brush 18 cleans the lower part of the side surface of the vehicle X, including the part of the side surface of the vehicle X that is below the part that the side brush 16 can clean.

[0013] A tank storage section 20 is disposed on the side of the car wash machine main body 4, and stores a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquid agents including detergent or wax. A distribution piping section 22 that distributes water including city water or liquid agents from each liquid storage tank is provided above the tank storage section 20. A first water purification nozzle 24, a second water purification nozzle 26, a first detergent nozzle 28, a second detergent nozzle 30, a water-repellent coating nozzle 32, and a wax nozzle 34, which are included in the cleaning section, are each led out to the distribution piping section 22 via an electromagnetic valve (not shown).

[0014] The first water purification nozzle 24 and the second water purification nozzle 26 are arranged on the front and rear sides, respectively, of the car wash machine main body 4, and spray water including city water onto the vehicle X. The first detergent nozzle 28 and the second detergent nozzle 30 are arranged on the front and rear sides, respectively, of the car wash machine main body 4, and spray cleaning liquid including shampoo etc. onto the vehicle X. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 and the wax nozzle 34 are arranged on the rear surface of the car wash machine main body 4. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 sprays a liquid water-repellent coating agent onto the vehicle X. The wax nozzle 34 sprays wax onto the vehicle X.

[0015] The car wash machine main body 4 is also provided with a blower 36 that generates an air current to dry the vehicle X. A top air blowing nozzle 38 and a side air blowing nozzle 40 are connected to the blower 36. The top air blowing nozzle 38 is provided at the 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 nozzle 40 is provided on both sides of the car wash machine main body 4 and blows air toward the sides of the vehicle X. The car wash machine main body 4 dries the vehicle X after washing by blowing air from the top air blowing nozzle 38 and the side air blowing nozzle 40.

[0016] In addition, in Fig. 2, for simplicity of illustration, the illustration of each device for washing the vehicle X provided in the car wash machine main body 4 may be omitted. Also, each device provided in the car wash machine main body 4 shown in Fig. 2 is merely an example, and the car wash machine main body 4 may include, in addition to the above-mentioned devices, a device for washing the vehicle X and a device for assisting the washing, including a conventionally known configuration, on the frame 8 or the ceiling part 10.

[0017] An operation panel 42 is disposed on the front of one of the frames 8 of the car wash machine main body 4. The operation panel 42 includes operation buttons (not shown) for setting the car wash conditions, and is operated by a user who has exited the vehicle X to accept a car wash or to set the car wash conditions.

[0018] Furthermore, the car wash machine 2 includes a control unit 44 that controls the car wash machine main body 4. In particular, the control unit 44 controls the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 along the rail R and the operation of each part of the washing unit, thereby controlling the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may be provided in the car wash machine main body 4 as shown in FIG. 2, or may be located outside the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may control the car wash machine main body 4 by transmitting and receiving information between the car wash machine main body 4 or a remote panel 6 described later by a communication device (not shown) or the like. The control unit 44 is composed of a processor such as a CPU, for example, and each control is realized by executing a control program stored in a memory on the processor.

[0019] The remote panel 6 is, for example, located on the front side of the car wash machine main body 4, and is disposed approximately along the moving direction of the car wash machine main body 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the remote panel 6 is disposed so that its front face faces the vehicle X before it is washed by the car wash machine main body 4, in other words, before it enters the inside of the car wash machine main body 4. For this reason, the rear face of the remote panel 6 is illustrated in Fig. 2.

[0020] 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 a portion of the car wash conditions for the vehicle X to be washed by the car wash machine main body 4 through the operation of a touch panel or buttons (not shown) provided on the housing 46. The control unit 44 may control the car wash machine main body 4 based on at least a portion of the car wash conditions acquired by the remote panel 6 to wash the vehicle X.

[0021] <Foil brush> 2, the car wash machine body 4 according to this embodiment includes a pair of left and right wheel brushes 50 located on each frame 8 as one of the rotating brushes of the cleaning unit. Each wheel brush 50 is located on the rear side and lower side of the car wash machine body 4 than the side brushes 16, for example, as shown in the schematic side surface 2S of the car wash machine 2 in FIG.

[0022] The wheel brush 50 is a rotating brush that, in particular, cleans the side surface of the tire wheel XT by sliding over and brushing the tire wheel XT equipped on the vehicle X. The wheel brush 50 may clean the side surfaces of both the metal wheel portion including spokes or ribs, etc., of the tire wheel XT of the vehicle X, and the tire portion including rubber, tubes, etc., formed around the metal wheel portion.

[0023] Details of the wheel brush 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a part of the car wash machine main body 4, enlarging the wheel brush 50 according to this embodiment and its vicinity, and in particular, is an enlarged view of an area A shown in the schematic front 4F of the car wash machine main body 4 in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows the wheel brush 50 in each of a standby state WS and an extended state ES of the wheel brush 50, which will be described in detail later.

[0024] 1, in order to more clearly illustrate the wheel brush 50 and the components located in its vicinity, each component is shown through the frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4. Also, in order to simplify the illustration, each component of the car wash machine main body 4, including other rotating brushes including the side brush 16 and rocker brush 18 that are not directly related to the wheel brush 50, is omitted from the illustration in FIG.

[0025] The foil brush 50 will be described in detail with further reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the foil brush 50 showing an enlarged view of the foil brush 50 and its vicinity, and in particular, is a schematic view of the foil brush 50 as seen from the direction B shown in the standby state WS in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows only the foil brush 50, the members supporting the foil brush 50, and the nozzle and other members associated with the foil brush 50.

[0026] The foil brush 50 includes a plurality of bristles 52 and an attachment portion 54. Each of the bristles 52 is attached, for example, by being planted in the attachment portion 54. For example, the attachment portion 54 may have a plurality of recesses formed therein, and a bundle of a plurality of bristles 52 may be planted in each of the recesses. The bristles 52 include a material that is flexible and has a certain degree of elasticity, and may include, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene.

[0027] Each of the bristles 52 extends in a direction approximately normal to the surface to which the bristles 52 of the attachment portion 54 are attached. As a result, each of the tips of the bristles 52 forms the cleaning surface 50F of the foil brush 50 shown in Fig. 1. The cleaning surface 50F may be, for example, a surface approximately horizontal to the surface to which the bristles 52 of the attachment portion 54 are attached.

[0028] For example, each of the bristles 52 may have substantially the same length, or at least one of the bristles may have a different length from any of the others. Therefore, the cleaning surface 50F may be substantially flush, or a certain portion may have a different height from any of the other portions from the mounting portion 54. Also, each of the bristles 52 is attached radially from the center of the mounting portion 54. Each of the bristles 52 located at the outermost end side of the mounting portion 54 forms a side surface 50S of the foil brush 50 shown in FIG. 1.

[0029] Furthermore, the foil brush 50 includes a center nozzle 56 and a peripheral nozzle 58 as first nozzles. The center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 are nozzles that spray liquid supplied thereto. The center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 are, for example, positioned on the surface of the mounting portion 54 to which the bristles 52 are attached, and are formed to spray liquid in a direction approximately normal to the surface. The center nozzle 56 is positioned near the center of the mounting portion 54, and the peripheral nozzle 58 is positioned closer to the periphery of the mounting portion 54 than the center nozzle 56. Note that in FIG. 1, the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 are shown through the bristles 52.

[0030] <Brush support part> In this embodiment, the car wash machine main body 4 further includes a pair of left and right brush support parts 60 on each frame 8. Each of the brush support parts 60 supports each of the wheel brushes 50 relative to the frame 8. The brush support part 60 includes a rotating part 62 and a brush shaft 64. For example, the rotating part 62 has an opening into which the brush shaft 64 is inserted. When the brush shaft 64 is inserted into the opening, the rotating part 62 rotates around the longitudinal direction of the brush shaft 64 as an axis. The brush shaft 64 has a longitudinal direction that is, for example, substantially horizontal to the ground surface G and substantially perpendicular to the approach direction DA. The rotating part 62 rotates around the brush shaft 64 by, for example, a power part such as a motor (not shown).

[0031] The brush support portion 60 further includes a plurality of bolts 66. The bolts 66 fasten the mounting portion 54 and the rotating portion 62 to each other. Therefore, as the rotating portion 62 rotates about the brush shaft 64, the mounting portion 54 also rotates about the brush shaft 64. Therefore, the foil brush 50 rotates about the rotation axis 50A that is aligned in substantially the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the brush shaft 64.

[0032] The central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 rotate as the foil brush 50 rotates. Here, the rotation axis 50A passes through, for example, the center of the attachment portion 54. Therefore, although the central nozzle 56 rotates as the foil brush 50 rotates, its position does not change significantly. On the other hand, the peripheral nozzle 58 rotates around the central nozzle 56 as the foil brush 50 rotates.

[0033] In this embodiment, the attachment portion 54 is fixed to the rotating portion 62 so that the longitudinal direction of the bristles 52 is substantially the same as the longitudinal axis of the brush shaft 64. Therefore, the cleaning surface 50F of the foil brush 50 is formed so that the rotation axis 50A is substantially normal to the cleaning surface 50F.

[0034] The brush support portion 60 further includes an arm 68. The arm 68 includes a beam portion 70, a first shaft 72 formed at one end of the beam portion 70, and a second shaft 74 formed at the other end of the beam portion 70. The first shaft 72 and the second shaft 74 have a longitudinal direction, for example, substantially the same direction as the approach direction DA, and each of them rotatably supports the beam portion 70 with the longitudinal direction as a rotation axis.

[0035] The first shaft 72, for example, passes through a brush shaft support portion 76 formed on the brush shaft 64, and rotatably supports the brush shaft 64. The second shaft 74 is fixed to the frame 8 of the car wash machine body 4. Therefore, when the beam portion 70 rotates around the second shaft 74, the wheel brush 50 rotates around the second shaft 74. In particular, as the beam portion 70 rotates around the second shaft 74, the distance of the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 from the frame 8 changes.

[0036] For example, in the standby state WS shown in Fig. 1, the beam portion 70 is rotated about the second shaft 74, and the first shaft 72 is moved from the frame 8 toward the space 4S. In this case, as shown in the extended state ES in Fig. 1, the wheel brush 50 moves closer to the space 4S than the frame 8, as compared to the standby state WS.

[0037] Here, the brush shaft 64 rotates about the first shaft 72 so that the longitudinal direction is approximately parallel to the ground surface G, regardless of the rotation of the beam portion 70 about the second shaft 74. Therefore, the rotation axis 50A of the foil brush 50 is approximately parallel to the ground surface G, regardless of the position of the foil brush 50.

[0038] Each brush support portion 60 supports the foil brushes 50 such that the cleaning surface 50F of one foil brush 50 faces the cleaning surface 50F of the other foil brush 50. Therefore, the liquid spray direction of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 included in one foil brush 50 is directed toward the cleaning surface 50F of the other foil brush 50.

[0039] The control unit 44 controls the rotation of the foil brush 50 around the rotation axis 50A and the position of the foil brush 50 from the frame 8 of the cleaning surface 50F through control of the operation of each part of the brush support part 60. The operation of each part of the brush support part 60 located on one frame 8 may be linked to the operation of each part of the brush support part 60 located on the other frame 8, or may operate individually. The control unit 44 also controls the positions of the two foil brushes 50 by controlling each arm 68. In other words, the control unit 44 controls the distance between the pair of left and right foil brushes 50.

[0040] <Hoses and auxiliary nozzles> In this embodiment, the car wash machine main body 4 further includes a pair of left and right first hoses 78 and a second hose 80, and an auxiliary nozzle 82 as a second nozzle. In addition, the car wash machine main body 4 includes an arch 84 formed in a gate shape between the two frames 8 and the ceiling portion 10, for example, for the first hose 78 and the second hose 80.

[0041] The first hose 78 and the second hose 80 are cylindrical members through which liquid can flow. The first hose 78 and the second hose 80 communicate with an arch 84. For example, the car wash machine main body 4 supplies liquid from a liquid tank to each of the first hose 78 and the second hose 80 via the arch 84. The amount of liquid supplied to each of the first hose 78 and the second hose 80 may be controlled by a valve (not shown) formed on the arch 84 or on either of the hoses.

[0042] The first hose 78 communicates with the brush shaft 64 and the inside of the mounting part 54, and communicates with each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 via a liquid flow path (not shown) formed inside the mounting part 54. In this way, the car wash machine main body 4 supplies liquid to each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 via the first hose 78, thereby spraying liquid to each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58.

[0043] The amount of liquid supplied to each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 may be approximately the same, or may be controlled by opening and closing a valve (not shown). In addition, the first hose 78 has sufficient length and flexibility to follow the change in the distance between the brush shaft 64 and the arch 84 accompanying the movement of the wheel brush 50.

[0044] The auxiliary nozzle 82 is a nozzle that communicates with the second hose 80 and sprays liquid supplied via the second hose 80. The auxiliary nozzle 82 is fixed to the frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4 above the wheel brush 50 in the standby state WS. In other words, the auxiliary nozzle 82 is located around the side of the wheel brush 50. Therefore, when the wheel brush 50 is in the standby state WS, the auxiliary nozzle 82 sprays liquid onto the side surface 50S of the wheel brush 50.

[0045] The supply of liquid to each nozzle via the first hose 78 and the second hose 80 is controlled by the control unit 44. In other words, the control unit 44 controls the ejection of liquid from each of the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58, which are the first nozzles, and the auxiliary nozzle 82, which is the second nozzle.

[0046] <Overview of car wash method and reception process> A method for washing a vehicle X using the car wash machine 2 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the method for washing a vehicle X using the car wash machine 2. Figs. 5 and 6 are front process views of the car wash machine main body 4 in each process of the method for washing a vehicle using the car wash machine 2. In Figs. 5 and 6, in order to more clearly show the operation of the wheel brush 50 in each process, the wheel brush 50 and some of the members around it are shown in a see-through manner, and some of the members included in the car wash machine main body 4 are not shown.

[0047] In the car wash method according to the present embodiment, first, as a reception process, the car wash machine 2 receives a request for washing from a user of the vehicle X (step S2). The reception of the request for washing may be performed, for example, by the user operating the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 to set the washing conditions for the vehicle X and pay the washing fee.

[0048] In the reception process, the vehicle X is positioned closer to the front side of the car wash machine main body 4 than the car wash machine main body 4. Here, in the reception process, the wheel brush 50 is, for example, in the standby state WS described above. For example, in the reception process, as shown in step S2 of FIG. 5, the distance W1 between the cleaning surfaces 50F of the two wheel brushes 50 is longer than the distance WX between the outer surfaces of the left and right tire wheels XT of the vehicle X. The standby state WS of the wheel brush 50 in the reception process is maintained by the control of the brush support unit 60 by the control unit 44.

[0049] <Pre-defrosting process> When the reception of the car wash is completed, the car wash machine 2 executes a pre-thawing process as one of the thawing processes, as shown in Fig. 4 (step S4). In the pre-thawing process, first, the control unit 44 controls each brush support unit 60 to transition each wheel brush 50 from the standby state WS to the extended state ES, and brings the cleaning surfaces 50F of the two wheel brushes 50 closer to each other, as shown in step S4 of Fig. 5. For example, in the pre-thawing process, each wheel brush 50 is moved to a position where the distance W2 between the cleaning surfaces 50F of the two wheel brushes 50 is shorter than the above-mentioned distance WX.

[0050] Next, the control unit 44 sprays the defrosting liquid from each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 of each wheel brush 50 through control of the corresponding nozzles, etc. The spraying range 56R of the central nozzle 56 and the spraying range 58R of the peripheral nozzle 58 of one of the wheel brushes 50 include at least a part of the cleaning surface 50F of the other wheel brush 50. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 defrosts the cleaning surface 50F of one of the wheel brushes 50 by spraying the defrosting liquid from the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 of one of the wheel brushes 50 onto the cleaning surface 50F of the other wheel brush 50.

[0051] In this embodiment, the thawing water sprayed from the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzles 58 may be, for example, city water stored in a liquid storage tank or the like of the car wash machine main body 4, or warm water obtained by heating the city water with a heating unit such as a heater (not shown). Thawing the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 includes, for example, melting or removing ice crystals that have grown on the cleaning surface 50F by spraying city water or warm water, etc., onto the cleaning surface 50F.

[0052] During the spraying of the thawing liquid from the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 in the pre-thawing step, the control unit 44 may rotate each foil brush 50 around the brush shaft 64. In this case, since the peripheral nozzle 58 rotates around the central nozzle 56, the thawing liquid from the peripheral nozzle 58 of one foil brush 50 is sprayed more efficiently and more uniformly onto the cleaning surface 50F of the other foil brush 50, and the cleaning surface 50F is thawed more efficiently.

[0053] In the pre-thawing step, the operations of the foil brushes 50 may be linked. In particular, in the pre-thawing step, the foil brushes 50 may rotate in the same direction and at the same speed. In this case, the control contents of the two foil brushes 50 by the control unit 44 can be the same, and the control of the foil brushes 50 by the control unit 44 can be further simplified.

[0054] On the other hand, in the pre-thawing step, the control unit 44 may rotate each foil brush 50 so that the rotation directions of the foil brushes 50 are opposite to each other. Alternatively, in the pre-thawing step, the control unit 44 may rotate each foil brush 50 in the same rotation direction so that the jetting direction of the peripheral nozzle 58 of one foil brush 50 and the jetting direction of the peripheral nozzle 58 of the other foil brush 50 are not on the same straight line.

[0055] As a result, the thawing liquid from the peripheral nozzle 58 of one foil brush 50 is less likely to collide with the thawing liquid from the peripheral nozzle 58 of the other foil brush 50. Therefore, the thawing liquid from the peripheral nozzle 58 of one foil brush 50 is more likely to reach the cleaning surface 50F of the other foil brush 50, so that the cleaning surface 50F can be thawed more efficiently.

[0056] Furthermore, in the pre-thawing step, the control unit 44 may stop the spraying of the thawing liquid from each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 of one foil brush 50 while the thawing liquid is sprayed from each of the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 of the other foil brush 50. As a result, the thawing liquid from each nozzle of one foil brush 50 is less likely to collide with the thawing liquid from each nozzle of the other foil brush 50. Therefore, the thawing liquid from each nozzle of one foil brush 50 is more likely to reach the cleaning surface 50F of the other foil brush 50, so that the cleaning surface 50F can be thawed more efficiently.

[0057] As described above, in the pre-thawing step, the control unit 44 executes thawing of the cleaning surface 50F of each foil brush 50 in a state in which the distance between each foil brush 50 is closer than that in the standby state WS. In other words, when the distance between each foil brush 50 is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the control unit 44 controls the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 to be controlled, and causes the thawing liquid to be sprayed.

[0058] With the above configuration, the thawing liquid from each nozzle of each foil brush 50 can be applied more strongly to the cleaning surface 50F of the other foil brush 50, and the cleaning surface 50F of the foil brush 50 can be thawed more efficiently. In addition, with the above configuration, the thawing liquid from each nozzle of each foil brush 50 can be reduced from scattering around the foil brush 50. This reduces the adhesion of the thawing liquid from each nozzle of each foil brush 50 to the periphery of the foil brush 50, and thus reduces the freezing of the thawing liquid around the foil brush 50.

[0059] Thus far, a method for thawing the cleaning surface 50F of each wheel brush 50 in the pre-thawing process has been described, but thawing of other cleaning parts may also be performed in the pre-thawing process. For example, in the pre-thawing process, the thawing operation of brushes other than the wheel brush 50, including the top brush 14, the side brush 16, or the rocker brush 18, may be performed by injecting a thawing liquid onto these brushes. With this configuration, thawing of other cleaning parts including brushes other than the wheel brush 50 can be performed in parallel with thawing of the wheel brush 50, so that the thawing time of the entire car wash machine 2 can be shortened.

[0060] The injection of the defrosting liquid onto the top brush 14, the side brush 16, or the rocker brush 18 may be achieved by injecting the defrosting liquid toward each brush from a nozzle that injects city water or a cleaning agent as a cleaning liquid during the cleaning process using these brushes. Alternatively, the defrosting operation of these brushes may be achieved by spraying the defrosting liquid from a nozzle provided on each foil brush 50 onto the top brush 14, the side brush 16, or the rocker brush 18.

[0061] <Cleaning process> In the pre-thawing step, for example, after spraying the thawing liquid from each brush of each wheel brush 50 for a certain period of time, the control unit 44 controls the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the vehicle X (step S6), as shown in Fig. 4, and proceeds to the washing step. In the washing step, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 in the front-rear direction relative to the vehicle X, while operating the washing unit of the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the vehicle X.

[0062] In this embodiment, since the washing process is performed following the pre-thawing process, at the start of the washing process, the vehicle X is located on the front side of the car wash machine main body 4. As shown in the schematic side view 2S of Fig. 2, the car wash machine main body 4 includes a top brush 14, a side brush 16, and a rocker brush 18 on the front side of the wheel brush 50, in other words, on the side closer to the vehicle X than the wheel brush 50.

[0063] For this reason, in the washing process, washing of the vehicle X by the top brush 14, the side brush 16, and the rocker brush 18 may be performed prior to washing of the vehicle X by the wheel brush 50. Washing of the vehicle X by the top brush 14, the side brush 16, and the rocker brush 18 may be performed by the control unit 44 operating each brush while moving the car wash machine main body 4 relative to the vehicle X according to conventionally known control content.

[0064] During the period in which the wheel brushes 50 in the washing process are not washing the vehicle X, the control unit 44 maintains the wheel brushes 50 in the standby state WS. For example, when transitioning from the pre-thawing process to the washing process, the control unit 44 may control each brush support unit 60 to move each wheel brush 50 toward each frame 8. This causes the distance between the washing surfaces 50F of the two wheel brushes 50 to become the above-mentioned W1, which is longer than the above-mentioned distance WX, thereby reducing interference between the wheel brushes 50 and the vehicle X during the relative movement of the car wash machine main body 4 with respect to the vehicle X.

[0065] Here, while each foil brush 50 is in the standby state WS, each foil brush 50 is positioned below the auxiliary nozzle 82. In particular, as shown in step S6-2 of FIG. 6, the side surface 50S of each foil brush 50 is included in the spray range 82R of the auxiliary nozzle 82.

[0066] In the cleaning process, when the foil brush 50 is in the standby state WS, the control unit 44 causes the auxiliary nozzle 82 to spray the thawing liquid onto the side surface 50S of the foil brush 50. As a result, the control unit 44 executes thawing of the side surface 50S of the foil brush 50 during a part of the cleaning process as one of the thawing processes.

[0067] While the defrosting liquid from the auxiliary nozzle 82 is being sprayed onto the side surface 50S of the foil brush 50, the control unit 44 may rotate the foil brush 50 around the brush shaft 64. This allows the defrosting liquid from the auxiliary nozzle 82 to be sprayed onto the side surface 50S more uniformly, and the side surface 50S is defrosted more efficiently.

[0068] As the car wash machine body 4 moves toward the rear side of the vehicle X while washing the vehicle X, the car wash machine body 4 moves in the approach direction DA to a position where the wheel brush 50 overlaps with the tire wheel XT on the front side of the vehicle X. Here, as shown in step S6-4 in FIG. 6, the control unit 44 controls the brush support unit 60 to move the wheel brush 50 toward the vehicle X and bring it into contact with the vehicle X. As a result, the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 comes into contact with the outer surface of the tire wheel XT on the front side of the vehicle X.

[0069] The control unit 44 further rotates the wheel brush 50 around the brush shaft 64 in a state in which the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 and the outer surface of the tire wheel XT on the front side of the vehicle X are in contact with each other. In this way, the control unit 44 performs cleaning of the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50. The control unit 44 may keep the car wash machine main body 4 stationary with respect to the vehicle X while the wheel brush 50 is cleaning the tire wheel XT.

[0070] The control unit 44 may cause the wheel brush 50 to rotate around the brush shaft 64 while cleaning the tire wheel XT with the wheel brush 50, and may cause the cleaning liquid to be sprayed from each of the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 of the wheel brush 50. The cleaning liquid from each of the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 may be the same as the defrosting liquid sprayed from each of the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58, or may contain a detergent or the like.

[0071] After the cleaning of the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50 is completed, the control unit 44 controls the brush support unit 60 to move the wheel brush 50 toward the frame 8, and sets the wheel brush 50 to a standby state WS. Next, the control unit 44 resumes the cleaning of the vehicle X by controlling the cleaning unit while moving the car wash machine main body 4 toward the rear side of the vehicle X.

[0072] Furthermore, by washing the vehicle X while moving toward the rear side of the vehicle X, the car wash machine body 4 moves in the approach direction DA to a position where the wheel brush 50 overlaps with the tire wheel XT on the rear side of the vehicle X. Here, the control unit 44 controls the wheel brush 50 with the same control content as the control content of the wheel brush 50 when the wheel brush 50 washes the tire wheel XT on the front side of the vehicle X, and executes washing of the tire wheel XT on the rear side of the vehicle X by the wheel brush 50.

[0073] Thereafter, by using the same control as that described above, the control unit 44 puts the wheel brushes 50 into a standby state WS, and resumes washing of the vehicle X by controlling the washing unit while moving the car wash machine main body 4 toward the rear side of the vehicle X. After the car wash machine main body 4 has completed washing up to the rear side of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 may wash the vehicle X by controlling the washing unit while moving the car wash machine main body 4 toward the front side of the vehicle X.

[0074] Furthermore, the control unit 44 may execute cleaning of the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50 every time the wheel brush 50 and the tire wheel XT on the front side of the vehicle X overlap in the approach direction DA. Furthermore, the thawing operation of the side surface 50S of the wheel brush 50 by spraying the thawing liquid from the auxiliary nozzle 82 onto the side surface 50S of the wheel brush 50 may be executed as appropriate during the cleaning process when the wheel brush 50 is in the standby state WS.

[0075] Thereafter, after the car wash machine main body 4 has again completed washing up to the front side of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 may move the car wash machine main body 4 toward the rear side of the vehicle X while controlling each blower to control the air blowing to the vehicle X, thereby drying the vehicle X. Thereafter, the car wash machine main body 4 completes drying up to the rear side of the vehicle X, thereby completing the washing process.

[0076] <Summary> The car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment sprays the defrosting liquid from the central nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 or the auxiliary nozzle 82 onto the wheel brush 50. This allows the car wash machine 2 to perform the defrosting operation of the wheel brush 50. In particular, the control unit 44 of the car wash machine 2 controls the car wash machine 2 based on the above-mentioned control method, allowing the car wash machine 2 to perform the defrosting operation of the wheel brush 50.

[0077] For example, the car wash machine 2 can perform washing of the tire wheel XT with the wheel brush 50 in a state in which ice formed on the wheel brush 50 has been removed by performing a thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 before performing washing of the tire wheel XT with the wheel brush 50. Alternatively, the car wash machine 2 can reduce freezing of liquid such as city water attached to the wheel brush 50 during the washing process of the vehicle X by performing a thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 during the washing process of the vehicle X. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can more appropriately perform washing of the tire wheel XT with the wheel brush 50.

[0078] In particular, since the tire wheel XT is generally located on the lower side of the vehicle X, dirt such as mud tends to adhere to the tire wheel XT. For this reason, even in a case where freezing of water on the wheel brush 50 is likely to occur, such as in the harsh winter, it is preferable from the viewpoint of maintaining the cleanliness of the vehicle X that the tire wheel XT can be properly washed. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can avoid stopping the washing of the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50 even in the harsh winter, and can wash the vehicle X more effectively.

[0079] Here, the normal direction of the cleaning surface 50F that comes into contact with the vehicle X when the wheel brush 50 cleans the vehicle X is substantially the same as the axial direction of the rotation shaft 50A of the wheel brush 50. In other words, the wheel brush 50 cleans the surfaces of the vehicle X, including the outer surface of the tire wheel XT, whose normals are parallel to the rotation shaft 50A. In this way, the cleaning surface of the brush that cleans the surfaces of the vehicle, including the surfaces whose normals are parallel to the rotation shaft, generally always faces the vehicle side regardless of the rotation of the brush.

[0080] For example, the top brush 14, side brush 16, and rocker brush 18 have a planar direction of the surface to be cleaned that is approximately parallel to the rotation axis, in other words, they clean the surface of the vehicle whose normal is approximately perpendicular to the rotation axis. By rotating the brush, such brushes can change the direction of the cleaning surface that contacts the vehicle from the vehicle side to the frame side. Therefore, by rotating each brush while spraying defrosting liquid from a nozzle provided on each frame onto the cleaning surface of each brush, it is relatively easy to defrost the cleaning surface of each brush.

[0081] On the other hand, it is difficult to thaw the cleaning surface of a brush that always faces the vehicle regardless of brush rotation, such as the wheel brush 50, by spraying a thawing liquid from a nozzle provided on the frame on which the brush is located. For example, in order to efficiently thaw the cleaning surface of the brush by spraying a thawing liquid, it is necessary to spray the thawing liquid on the cleaning surface from the frame side opposite to the frame on which the brush is located.

[0082] In this embodiment, each of the pair of left and right wheel brushes 50 formed on each frame 8 includes a first nozzle including a center nozzle 56 and a peripheral nozzle 58. This allows the thawing of the cleaning surface 50F of one wheel brush 50 by spraying the thawing liquid from each nozzle of the other wheel brush 50. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment can thaw the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 with a simpler configuration. By thawing the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50, the car wash machine 2 can more appropriately wash the surface of the vehicle X including the tire wheel XT with the wheel brush 50.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the wheel brush 50 is in the standby state WS, the side surface 50S of the wheel brush 50 can be thawed by the thawing liquid sprayed from the auxiliary nozzles 82 located on the side peripheral side of the wheel brush 50. With the above configuration, the car wash machine 2 can perform the thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 even when the vehicle X is located between the two frames 8, such as during the washing process.

[0084] <Addendum> In this embodiment, the first nozzles, the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58, are provided in the wheel brush 50. This makes the structure of the car wash machine 2 simpler than when the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58 are formed separately from the wheel brush 50. In addition, the above configuration brings the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 closer to the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58. Therefore, when cleaning the tire wheel XT with the wheel brush 50 while spraying cleaning liquid from the center nozzle 56 and the peripheral nozzle 58, the above configuration makes cleaning of the tire wheel XT more effective than cleaning with the wheel brush 50.

[0085] In this embodiment, both the cleaning of the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50 and the thawing of the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50 are achieved by rotating the wheel brush 50 around the brush shaft 64 while spraying liquid from the first nozzle. Therefore, some of the control contents of the wheel brush 50 may be common in the cleaning of the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50 and the thawing of the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50. This allows some of the control contents of the wheel brush 50 when cleaning the tire wheel XT by the wheel brush 50 to be diverted to the control contents of the wheel brush 50 when thawing the cleaning surface 50F of the wheel brush 50, making it possible to facilitate the design of the latter.

[0086] When the control unit 44 injects the defrosting liquid from the auxiliary nozzle 82 onto the side surface 50S of the wheel brush 50, the control unit 44 may rotate the wheel brush 50 at a rotation speed slower than the rotation speed of the wheel brush 50 when the wheel brush 50 is used to clean the tire wheel XT. This reduces the possibility of the defrosting liquid being shaken off by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the wheel brush 50 before sufficient defrosting is achieved by the defrosting liquid attached to the wheel brush 50, and prevents a decrease in the defrosting effect. Furthermore, the above configuration reduces the possibility of the defrosting liquid attached to the wheel brush 50 being scattered around due to the rotation of the wheel brush 50. Therefore, the above configuration allows the car wash machine 2 to reduce the possibility of the defrosting liquid scattered around from the wheel brush 50 freezing around the wheel brush 50.

[0087] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the injection of the defrosting liquid onto the wheel brushes 50 is performed between the reception of the vehicle X for washing and the completion of washing of the vehicle X. However, the car wash machine 2 according to the present embodiment may inject the defrosting liquid onto the wheel brushes 50 and defrost the wheel brushes 50 between the completion of washing of the vehicle X and the reception of the next vehicle X for washing.

[0088] For example, the control unit 44 may execute thawing of the wheel brush 50 by controlling the car wash machine main body 4 with the same control content as the control content in the above-mentioned pre-thawing step during the period from the completion of washing of the vehicle X to the reception of the next vehicle X for washing. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may spray the thawing liquid from the auxiliary nozzle 82 onto the side surface 50S of the wheel brush 50 in the standby state WS during the period from the completion of washing of the vehicle X to the reception of the next vehicle X for washing. These thawing operations may be executed intermittently during the period from the completion of washing of the vehicle X to the reception of the next vehicle X for washing.

[0089] In addition, the control unit 44 may determine whether or not a pre-thawing step is required and whether or not a thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is required during the washing step after the acceptance of the vehicle X for washing is completed. For example, when the temperature around the car wash machine 2 is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the control unit 44 may determine that the thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is unnecessary. In addition, when the elapsed time from the completion of the previous thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is equal to or less than a predetermined time, or when the elapsed time from the completion of the previous car wash is equal to or less than a predetermined time, the control unit 44 may determine that the thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is unnecessary. Furthermore, the control unit 44 may determine whether or not a thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is required by combining a plurality of the above-mentioned conditions. The control unit 44 may determine whether or not a thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is required based on, for example, a setting made by operating the operation panel 42. When the control unit 44 determines that the thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 is unnecessary, the control unit 44 may omit the execution of the above-mentioned pre-thawing step or the thawing operation of the wheel brush 50 during the washing step.

[0090] 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 different technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 2 car wash machine 4 Car wash machine body 8 Frames 44 Control section 50 Foil Brush 50A Rotating Shaft 50F Cleaning surface 50S side surface 56 Center nozzle 58 Peripheral nozzle 82 Auxiliary nozzle

Claims

1. a car wash machine body that includes a brush that rotates around a rotation axis and cleans a surface of a vehicle, the surface including a surface whose normal is parallel to the rotation axis, and a nozzle that sprays liquid, and cleans the vehicle by moving relatively in a front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle; A control unit for controlling the car wash machine body, The control unit controls the nozzle to inject a thawing liquid onto the brush, The car wash machine body includes a pair of left and right brushes, The nozzles include a pair of first nozzles, one on each side, The control unit controls one of the first nozzles located on the same side as one of the brushes to spray thawing liquid onto the portion of the other brush that comes into contact with the vehicle during washing.

2. A car wash machine body including a brush that rotates around a rotation axis and cleans a surface of a vehicle including a surface whose normal is parallel to the rotation axis, and a nozzle that sprays liquid, and washes the vehicle by moving relative to the vehicle in the forward and backward directions; A control unit for controlling the car wash machine body, The control unit controls the nozzle to inject a thawing liquid onto the brush, the nozzles including a second nozzle located on a lateral periphery of the brush; The control unit controls the second nozzle to spray defrosting liquid onto a side surface of the brush.

3. A car wash machine body including a brush that rotates around a rotation axis and cleans a surface of a vehicle including a surface whose normal is parallel to the rotation axis, and a nozzle that sprays liquid, and washes the vehicle by moving relative to the vehicle in the forward and backward directions; A control unit for controlling the car wash machine body, The control unit controls the nozzle to spray defrosting liquid onto the brush while rotating the brush at a rotational speed slower than the rotational speed of the brush when the brush is used to wash the vehicle.

4. 4. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the brush is a wheel brush for cleaning a tire wheel of the vehicle.

5. The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the nozzle to inject a defrosting liquid onto a portion of the brush that comes into contact with the vehicle during washing.

6. The car wash machine of claim 1 , wherein the first nozzle is provided on the brush.

7. The control unit is Controlling the distance between the pair of left and right brushes; The car wash according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the first nozzle to be controlled is controlled to spray the defrosting liquid when the distance is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value.

8. A car wash machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a part of the control contents of the control unit for the nozzle when spraying defrosting liquid onto the brush is common to a part of the control contents of the control unit for the nozzle when causing the brush to wash the vehicle.

9. The car wash machine according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit rotates the brush during at least a portion of a period during which the control unit controls the nozzle to spray the defrosting liquid onto the brush.

10. A method for controlling a car wash machine including a brush that rotates around a rotation axis and cleans an outer surface of a vehicle, the surface including a surface whose normal is parallel to the rotation axis, and a nozzle that sprays liquid, the car wash machine body cleaning the vehicle by moving relatively in a front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle, comprising: A thawing step includes controlling the nozzle to inject a thawing liquid onto the brush, a receiving step of receiving a request for washing of the vehicle by the car wash machine; and a washing step of washing the vehicle by the car wash machine body, A method for controlling a car wash machine, the method comprising: executing the thawing process during at least a portion of the execution periods of the reception process and the washing process.

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