Car washer and method for controlling the same

Abstract

To reduce possibility of re-interruption after temporally interrupting car washing by a car washing machine and restarting the car washing.SOLUTION: A car washing machine (2) washes a car by sequentially executing a plurality of treatment processes for washing a car (X). The car washing machine comprises: a car washing machine body (4) which washes the car while moving relatively to the car; and a control part (44) for controlling each part of the car washing machine. With respect to each of the plurality of treatment processes, a treatment content when restarting after interruption is predetermined for each abnormality when interrupting. When abnormality is detected during execution of the treatment process, the control part interrupts the treatment process, and after interruption, restarts the treatment process according to the treatment content corresponding to the abnormality that has been determined for the treatment process.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a car wash machine for washing a vehicle and a control method for the car wash machine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a car wash machine including a car wash machine main body that washes a vehicle while moving relative to the vehicle.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When washing a vehicle using the car wash machine described in Patent Document 1, the washing of the vehicle may stop due to a special shape of the vehicle or a failure of a specific part of the car wash machine. In this case, if the vehicle washing is restarted from the beginning, when trying to wash the part that was being washed at the time when the vehicle washing stopped, there is a high possibility that the vehicle washing will stop again for the same reason. Therefore, no matter how many times the vehicle washing is repeated, the vehicle washing cannot be completed until the end, and there are cases where the vehicle cannot be washed appropriately, and there are also cases where time and cost are wasted due to the repeated vehicle washing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A car washer according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a car washer that washes a vehicle by sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle, and includes a car washer body that washes the vehicle while moving relative to the vehicle, and a control unit that controls each part of the car washer. For each of the plurality of processing steps, the processing content when restarted after interruption is predetermined for each abnormality at the time of interruption. When an abnormality is detected during the execution of the processing step, the control unit interrupts the processing step, and after the interruption, restarts the processing step according to the processing content corresponding to the abnormality determined for the processing step.

[0006] Also, a control method for a car washer according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a control method for a car washer including a car washer body that washes a vehicle while moving relative to the vehicle, and has a washing step of washing the vehicle by sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle. For each of the plurality of processing steps, the processing content when restarted after interruption is predetermined for each abnormality at the time of interruption. The washing step includes an interruption step of interrupting the processing step when an abnormality is detected during the execution of the processing step, and a restart step of restarting the processing step according to the processing content corresponding to the abnormality determined for the processing step after the interruption.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] The possibility of re-interruption after the resumption of vehicle washing can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both the reduction of washing cost and washing time and the reliable execution of the processing steps that require re-execution.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] <Overview of the Car Washer> In the present embodiment, in a washing step of sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps for washing a vehicle, a car washer for washing the vehicle will be described with examples. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic side view 2S of a car washer main body 4 and a remote panel 6, and a schematic front view 4F of the car washer main body 4 provided in the car washer 2 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the car washer 2 according to the present embodiment includes a car washer main body 4 for washing a vehicle X which is a vehicle to be washed. The car washer 2 further includes a remote panel 6 for acquiring the washing conditions of the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4. In the schematic side view 2S, the outer shape of the remote panel 6 is shown by a dotted line in order to indicate that the remote panel 6 is located deeper toward the paper surface than the vehicle X.

[0010] As shown in the schematic front view 4F, the car washer 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 washer main body 4 has a structure in which the vehicle X can pass through a space 4S surrounded by the frame 8 and the ceiling portion 10 along the entry direction DA of the vehicle X shown in the schematic side view 2S. In the present specification, the entry direction DA is defined as the direction from the front surface 4A to the rear surface 4B of the car washer main body 4. In the present embodiment, the front surface 4A is, for example, the surface provided with an operation panel 42 described later.

[0011] <Car Washer Main Body> The car washer main body 4 has wheels 12 at the lower parts of respective frames 8, and by rotationally driving the wheels 12 by a driving part (not shown), it relatively moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle X along the rail R arranged on the ground G. The rail R is formed, for example, along the entry direction DA. Here, while the car washer main body 4 relatively moves with respect to the vehicle X, it performs cleaning on the vehicle X in the space 4S.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, among the moving directions of the car washer main body 4, the direction toward the front surface 4A side is defined as the forward direction D1, and the direction toward the rear surface 4B side is defined as the backward direction D2. Hereinafter, the movement of the car washer main body 4 in the forward direction D1 may be simply referred to as the forward movement of the car washer main body 4, and the movement of the car washer main body 4 in the backward direction D2 may be simply referred to as the backward movement of the car washer main body 4.

[0013] On the car washer main body 4, as one of the cleaning parts, a plurality of brushes that slide on the vehicle X and perform brushing are provided. For example, the brushes included in the car washer main body 4 include a top brush 14, a side brush 16, and a rocker brush 18, each of which is rotated by a rotation motor (not shown). The top brush 14 slides along the upper surface of the vehicle X and cleans the upper surface of the vehicle X. The side brush 16 and the rocker brush 18 clean both side surfaces of the vehicle X.

[0014] On the side part of the car washer main body 4, a tank storage part 20 for storing a plurality of liquid storage tanks (not shown) storing various liquid agents including a detergent or a wax is arranged. Above the tank storage part 20, a distribution pipe part 22 for distributing water containing city water or a liquid agent from each liquid storage tank is provided. From the distribution pipe part 22, a first clean water nozzle 24, a second clean water nozzle 26, a first detergent nozzle 28, a second detergent nozzle 30, a water repellent coating nozzle 32, and a wax nozzle 34 included in the cleaning part are respectively led out via solenoid valves (not shown).

[0015] The first water purification nozzle 24 and the second water purification nozzle 26 are respectively arranged on the front surface 4A side and the rear surface 4B side of each frame 8 of the car washer main body 4, and inject water including city water onto the vehicle X. The first detergent nozzle 28 and the second detergent nozzle 30 are respectively arranged on the front surface 4A side and the rear surface 4B side of each frame 8, and inject a cleaning liquid including shampoo or the like onto the vehicle X. The water repellent coating nozzle 32 and the wax nozzle 34 are arranged on the rear surface 4B of the car washer main body 4. The water repellent coating nozzle 32 injects a liquid agent of a water repellent coating agent onto the vehicle X. The wax nozzle 34 injects wax onto the vehicle X.

[0016] Further, a blower 36 for generating an air flow to dry the vehicle X is provided in the car washer main body 4. 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 washer 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 washer main body 4 and blows air toward the side surface of the vehicle X. The car washer main body 4 dries the washed vehicle X by the air blowing of the top air blowing nozzle 38 and the side air blowing nozzle 40.

[0017] In addition, in FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity of illustration, the illustration of each device for washing the vehicle X provided in the car washer main body 4 described above may be omitted. Further, each device provided in the car washer main body 4 shown in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and the car washer main body 4 may be provided with devices for washing the vehicle X including conventionally known configurations in addition to the above-described devices, and devices for assisting the washing on the frame 8 or the ceiling portion 10.

[0018] An operation panel 42 is arranged on the front surface of one frame 8 of the car washer main body 4. The operation panel 42 is provided with operation buttons (not shown) for setting washing conditions. For example, a user who has got out of the vehicle X or other technicians or the like may operate the operation buttons to set the washing conditions or the like.

[0019] <Control Unit and Remote Panel> 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 cleaning of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4 by controlling the movement along the rail R of the car wash machine main body 4 and the operations of the respective parts of the cleaning unit. As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 44 may be provided in the car wash machine main body 4 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 to and from the car wash machine main body 4 or a remote panel 6 described later through a communication device (not shown). The control unit 44 is constituted by 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.

[0020] The remote panel 6 is located, for example, on the front side of the car wash machine main body 4 and is arranged approximately along the moving direction of the car wash machine main body 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the front surface of the remote panel 6 is arranged to face the side surface of the vehicle X before being cleaned by the car wash machine main body 4, in other words, before entering the interior of the car wash machine main body 4. Therefore, in FIG. 1, the back surface of the remote panel 6 is shown.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the remote panel 6 includes a housing 46 and a support column 48 that stands on the ground G and supports the housing 46. The remote panel 6 may acquire at least a part of the car wash conditions of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4 through operations 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 part of the car wash conditions acquired by the remote panel 6 to clean the vehicle X.

[0022] <Sensor> The car wash machine main body 4 may further include an exit sensor 50 and a vehicle shape sensor 52 as sensors. The exit sensor 50 is located on the side of the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4 rather than the side brush 16 described above, and the vehicle shape sensor 52 is located on the side of the front surface 4A of the car wash machine main body 4 rather than the side brush 16.

[0023] The exit sensor 50 is a sensor that detects whether the vehicle X has exited the car wash after the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash main body 4 is completed. The exit sensor 50 may be, for example, a light axis sensor. In other words, the exit sensor 50 may be a sensor that determines whether an electromagnetic wave such as infrared rays emitted from a certain optical element is detected by an optical sensor corresponding to the optical element, thereby determining whether an object exists between the optical element and the optical sensor.

[0024] For example, after the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash main body 4 is completed, the control unit 44 moves the car wash main body 4 to a position where the exit sensor 50 detects the vehicle X. Next, the control unit 44 guides the user in the vehicle X to exit by means of voice from the speaker of the car wash main body 4 or video on the monitor of the car wash main body 4. After this, since the exit sensor 50 no longer detects the vehicle X after the washing of the vehicle X is completed, the exit sensor 50 detects the exit of the vehicle X from the car wash. After the exit sensor 50 detects the exit of the vehicle X from the car wash, the control unit 44 may perform control of each part including the movement of the car wash main body 4 in order to accept the washing of the next vehicle X.

[0025] The vehicle shape sensor 52 is a sensor for measuring the outer shape of the vehicle X to be washed. In particular, the vehicle shape sensor 52 detects the height of the vehicle X crossing a predetermined point. For example, the vehicle shape sensor 52 may include a plurality of light axis sensors arranged in the vertical direction such that a light emitting part and a light receiving part form a pair on each of the two frames 8 on the front side of the frame 8 of the car wash main body 4 and on the space 4S side. Thereby, the car wash main body 4 can estimate the height of the vehicle X for each position in plan view from the change in the number of light axis sensors that detect the vehicle X among the light axis sensors included in the vehicle shape sensor 52. The control unit 44 may also extract at least a part of the information on the outer shape of the vehicle X from the detection result of the vehicle X by the vehicle shape sensor 52, and control each part of the cleaning unit based on the information to wash the vehicle X.

[0026] <Overview of the vehicle washing method> A method for cleaning a vehicle X using a car washer 2 will be described by referring to FIG. 2 and explaining a control method of the car washer 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the control method of the car washer 2.

[0027] In the control method of the car washer 2 according to the present embodiment, first, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car washer main body 4 or the remote panel 6 to accept car washing from a user or the like of the vehicle X (step S2). In the reception step, for example, the control unit 44 controls the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 to accept operations from the user, such as those on the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42. Thereby, the car washer 2 acquires information such as setting of car washing conditions for the vehicle X and payment of car washing fees from the user.

[0028] Next, the control unit 44 controls the speaker of the car washer main body 4 or the monitor of the car washer main body 4 to guide the user in the vehicle X to move the vehicle X to a predetermined position and stop. In the present embodiment, the control unit 44 guides the user to move the vehicle X so that the vehicle X stops on the front side of the car washer main body 4, for example.

[0029] In the reception step according to the present embodiment, it is assumed that the car washer main body 4 is at a first initial position, which is the position on the most backward direction D2 side within the moving range of the car washer main body 4. For example, the first initial position is the position of the car washer main body 4 when the wheels 12 are at the end on the backward direction D2 side of the rail R. Also, the first initial position is the position of the car washer main body 4 at the start time of the first washing step described later.

[0030] <First Washing Step: Basic Operation> Subsequent to the reception step, the control unit 44 executes a first washing step through control of each part of the car washer main body 4 (step S4). The first washing step will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the control method of the car washer main body 4 in the first washing step.

[0031] In the first washing step, the control unit 44 first determines whether there is a washing unit in which the number of malfunctions has been recorded as a predetermined number or more (step S4-2). Details of step S4-2 will be described in detail after the description of the interruption step and the like, which will be described later.

[0032] In step S4-2, when the control unit 44 determines that there is no washing unit in which the number of malfunctions has been recorded as a predetermined number or more, the control unit 44 starts the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 from the first initial position and starts washing the vehicle X through the control of each part of the car washer main body 4 (step S4-4). For example, the control unit 44 controls the rotational drive of the wheels 12 to move the car washer main body 4 in the forward direction D1 from the first initial position. As the car washer main body 4 continues to move forward, the vehicle X passes through the space 4S. Here, the control unit 44 controls each cleaning unit of the car washer main body 4 to wash the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S.

[0033] In particular, in the first washing step, the control unit 44 controls the injection of liquid from each nozzle provided in the car washer main body 4 and injects the liquid onto the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. Further, the control unit 44 controls the movement and rotation of each brush provided in the car washer main body 4, and slides the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S with the brush to wash the vehicle X. In other words, the first washing step is a brushing step of sliding the surface of the vehicle X with the brush provided in the car washer main body 4. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the car washer main body 4 continues to move forward and wash the vehicle X passing through the space 4S.

[0034] After the car washer main body 4 moves forward and the cleaning of the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4 starts, the control unit 44 determines whether the car washer main body 4 has moved to the second initial position (step S4-6). Here, the second initial position is on the forward direction D1 side relative to the first initial position, and for example, among the moving range of the car washer main body 4, it is the position on the most forward direction D1 side. For example, the second initial position is the position of the car washer main body 4 when the wheel 12 is at the end on the forward direction D1 side of the rail R. Alternatively, the second initial position may be the position of the car washer main body 4 when the cleaning of the rear surface of the vehicle X by the side brush 16 is completed, or a position where the car washer main body 4 has moved forward a certain distance from that position.

[0035] In the first cleaning step, when the car washer main body 4 moves from the first initial position to the second initial position and executes the cleaning of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S, it can be regarded that the cleaning of the vehicle X from the front end to the rear end by the car washer main body 4 is completed. Step S4-6 may be executed, for example, by detecting that the wheel 12 is located at the end on the forward direction D1 side of the rail R, or may be executed by measuring the moving distance of the car washer main body 4 using a rotary encoder or the like. Alternatively, step S4-4 may be executed by detecting that the cleaning of the rear surface of the vehicle X by the side brush 16 is completed, or may be executed by measuring the forward distance of the car washer main body 4 from that time point.

[0036] Assume that in step S4-6, the control unit 44 determines that the car washer main body 4 has not yet moved to the second initial position. In this case, the control unit 44 determines whether a new abnormality has been detected during the execution of the first cleaning step (step S4-8). In the present embodiment, an abnormality in the cleaning process of the vehicle X refers to an event that once interrupts the operation of the car washer main body 4 and requires a restart operation of the operation. Specific events included in the abnormality will be described in detail in conjunction with the description of the abnormality determination step described later.

[0037] In step S4-8, when the control unit 44 determines that no new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 continues the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the washing of the vehicle X through the control of the car washer main body 4 (step S4-10). On the other hand, in step S4-8, when the control unit 44 determines that a new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 interrupts the operation of the car washer main body 4 (step S4-12) and executes an interruption process. In the interruption process, for example, the control unit 44 interrupts the washing of the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4 by stopping the movement of the car washer main body 4 and the operation of the washing unit.

[0038] Subsequent to the interruption process, the control unit 44 performs the identification of the abnormality detected in step S4-8 and the change of the control content of the washing unit based on the identified abnormality (step S4-14), and executes a control change process. The control change process will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

[0039] <First washing process: Control change process: Regarding operation failure> After the operation of the car washer main body 4 is interrupted in the interruption process, first, the control unit 44 determines whether the detected abnormality is a malfunction of the washing unit (step S10-2). For example, each washing unit provided in the car washer main body 4 may generate an abnormality signal indicating a malfunction and transmit it to the control unit 44 when a malfunction occurs. The control unit 44 may detect the malfunction of the washing unit by receiving the abnormality signal from each part of the washing unit.

[0040] For example, the control unit 44 may detect a malfunction of the brush, including the inability to move or rotate the brush due to a failure of each brush. In addition, the control unit 44 may detect a malfunction of the nozzle, including the inability to eject liquid from the nozzle due to a failure of each nozzle.

[0041] In step S10-2, when the control unit 44 determines that the detected abnormality is a malfunction of any of the cleaning units, the control unit 44 increments by 1 the record of the number of malfunctions for the cleaning unit in which the malfunction occurred (step S10-4). For example, in step S10-4, the control unit 44 may record the number of malfunctions for each of the cleaning units individually in a memory (not shown) or the like. The number of malfunctions for each of the cleaning units may be, for example, the cumulative number of malfunctions confirmed from the first day of operation of the car washer 2 to the current time.

[0042] Next to step S10-4, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so as to stop the operation of the cleaning unit in which the malfunction occurred (step S10-6). For example, when the cleaning unit in which the malfunction occurred is a brush, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the brush so as to stop the movement and rotation of the brush. When the cleaning unit in which the malfunction occurred is a nozzle, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the nozzle so as to stop the injection of the liquid from the nozzle.

[0043] <First cleaning process: Control change process: Regarding brush abnormality> In step S10-2, when the control unit 44 determines that the detected abnormality is not a malfunction of any of the cleaning units, the control unit 44 determines whether the detected abnormality is a brush abnormality (step S10-8). In the present embodiment, the brush abnormality is an abnormality presumed to have occurred due to interference between the brush and the vehicle in the brushing process in which the surface of the vehicle X is slid by the brush provided in the car washer main body 4.

[0044] For example, brush abnormality includes torque abnormality of the brush that occurs due to the brush being caught by vehicle X. Generally, when the rotation of a rotating brush is inhibited, such as being caught by vehicle X due to the shape of vehicle X, or when the brush rotates in a posture different from the normal posture, a higher torque than normal is applied to the brush. Therefore, the control unit 44 may detect that a torque abnormality has occurred in the brush by detecting that a torque higher than a certain specified value is applied to a specific brush.

[0045] Also, for example, brush abnormality includes overload of the rotation motor of the brush that occurs due to the brush being caught by vehicle X. For example, the control unit 44 may detect that an overload has occurred in the rotation motor of the brush by detecting that a current higher than a certain specified value is flowing through the rotation motor of a specific brush.

[0046] In addition, for example, brush abnormality includes abnormal inclination of the brush that occurs when the brush moves to an inappropriate position with respect to the shape of vehicle X. The control unit 44 may detect that the inclination of a specific brush is abnormal by detecting that the inclination of the brush exceeds a specified range.

[0047] Each of the brushes provided in the car washer main body 4 may generate a signal having information including the torque of the brush, the current value flowing through the rotation motor, or the inclination at the time when an abnormality occurs, and transmit it to the control unit 44. The control unit 44 may determine the occurrence of a brush abnormality by receiving the signal from each brush.

[0048] <First cleaning step: Control change process: Control method for side brushes> In step S10-8, when the control unit 44 detects a brush abnormality, the control unit 44 executes a process of identifying the cause of the brush abnormality. Here, in order to explain the process by which the control unit 44 identifies the cause of the above-described brush abnormality, the brush control method, examples of the reasons for the occurrence of the brush abnormality of the brush, and the brush control method after the change will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a process plan view of the side brush 16 and the vehicle showing the locus of the side brush 16 when the vehicle X is washed by the side brush 16 in the first washing step.

[0049] In each of the process plan views of FIG. 5, the shape of the vehicle is shown by extracting only the outer shape that contacts the side brush 16. Further, in each of the process plan views of FIG. 5, among the respective parts of the car wash machine body 4, only the side brush 16 is extracted and described. Further, in each of the process plan views of FIG. 5, for example, the positional relationship between the side brush 16 and the vehicle X immediately after the front surface of the vehicle X is washed by the side brush 16 is shown. Further, in each of the process plan views of FIG. 5, as will be described later, the subsequent locus of the side brush 16 is shown.

[0050] First, the normal control method of the side brush 16 by the control unit 44 when no abnormality occurs will be described with reference to step S4-A of FIG. 5. For example, the vehicle X has a bumper BP1 on the front end side and a side mirror M on the rear side of the bumper BP1. In the first washing step, the control unit 44 washes the side surface of the vehicle X by moving and rotating the side brush 16 along the locus 16A shown in step S4-A of FIG. 5.

[0051] More specifically, after the front surface of the vehicle X is washed by the side brush 16, the control unit 44 retracts each of the two side brushes 16 into the frame 8 and sufficiently widens the distance between the two side brushes 16. Next, the control unit 44 advances the car wash machine body 4 until each side brush 16 reaches the pressing position PA. Here, the distance along the traveling direction of the vehicle X from the front end of the vehicle X to the pressing position PA is defined as the distance L1.

[0052] Next, the control unit 44 brings the two side brushes 16 closer to each other until they contact the vehicle X. Here, the control unit 44 may receive a signal including data on the inclination caused by the contact with the vehicle X, which is transmitted from each side brush 16. The control unit 44 determines the positions of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X from the distances by which each side brush 16 has been moved until the time when each side brush 16 contacts the vehicle X.

[0053] Next, the control unit 44 determines the appropriate positions of the side brushes 16 from the determined positions of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X, and controls the positions of the side brushes 16. For example, the control unit 44 controls the positions of the side brushes 16 so that the distances between the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X and the side brushes 16 become the distance L2.

[0054] Thereafter, while maintaining the distances between the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X and the side brushes 16 at the distance L2, the control unit 44 controls the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the rotation of the side brushes 16, thereby performing cleaning of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X by the side brushes 16. Note that the control unit 44 may receive a signal including data on the inclination of each side brush 16, which is sequentially transmitted from each side brush 16, and control the position of the side brush 16. Thereby, the control unit 44 may detect the contact between the side brush 16 and the side mirror M of the vehicle X, and control the side brush 16 to move away from the vehicle X with respect to the portion where the side mirror M is located. Note that the control unit 44 may estimate the position of the side mirror M in advance before the side brush 16 contacts the side mirror M, based on the shape of the vehicle X detected by the vehicle shape sensor 52.

[0055] <First cleaning step: Control change process: Brush abnormality caused by bumper> Next, the brush abnormality caused by the shape of the bumper of the vehicle X will be described with reference to step S4-B in FIG. 5. For example, like the vehicle XA shown in step S4-B of FIG. 5, depending on the type of vehicle or the like, there may be a bumper BP2 that has a larger curved surface portion than the bumper BP1 of the vehicle X and reaches the side surface. When attempting to wash the vehicle XA having such a bumper BP2 with the side brush 16 under normal control content, brush abnormalities of the side brush 16 may occur.

[0056] For example, as shown as the locus 16B, assume that the side brushes 16 are brought close to each other and the side brush 16 is brought into contact with the side surface of the vehicle XA. Here, since the bumper BP2 of the vehicle XA has a larger curved surface portion than the bumper BP1, the side brush 16 abuts against the curved surface portion of the bumper BP2 of the vehicle XA. In this case, the side brush 16 may slide on the curved surface of the bumper BP2 and incline greatly toward the front end of the vehicle XA, and the control unit 44 may detect a brush abnormality from the abnormal inclination of the side brush. Further, when the side brush 16 rotates in this state, a larger torque than normal may be generated in the side brush 16, or an overload may be applied to the rotation motor of the side brush 16, so the control unit 44 may detect a brush abnormality.

[0057] An example of a method for avoiding the occurrence of the brush abnormality caused by the shape of the above-described bumper BP2 will be described with reference to step S4-C shown in FIG. 5. For example, it is conceivable to control the position of the side brush 16 along the locus 16C shown in step S4-C of FIG. 5. Thereby, the car washer 2 can avoid the contact between the side brush 16 and the bumper BP2 and avoid the occurrence of the brush abnormality caused by the shape of the bumper BP2.

[0058] For example, when bringing the side brushes 16 closer to each other, the control unit 44 avoids contact between the side brush 16 and the bumper BP2 by setting the position of each side brush 16 on the rear end side of the vehicle XA rather than the pressing position PA. For example, the control unit 44 brings the side brushes 16 closer to each other at a pressing position PB where the distance from the front end of the vehicle X is a distance L3 longer than the distance L1.

[0059] As a result, each side brush 16 contacts the side surface of the vehicle XA without contacting the bumper BP2. After bringing the side brush 16 into contact with the side surface of the vehicle XA, the control unit 44 may control the side brush 16 with the same control content as the normal control content of the side brush 16.

[0060] <First cleaning step: Control change process: Brush abnormality caused by fender> Next, a brush abnormality caused by the shape of the fender of the vehicle X will be described with reference to step S4-D in FIG. 5. For example, like the vehicle XB shown in step S4-D in FIG. 5, depending on the type of vehicle, etc., there may be a case where there is a fender OF that covers the periphery of the front wheels.

[0061] When attempting to wash using the side brush 16 with the normal control content, the control unit 44 moves the side brush 16 along the locus 16D. More specifically, the control unit 44 brings the side brush 16 into contact with the side surface of the vehicle XB in front of the fender OF and then advances the car wash machine body 4. For this reason, the control unit 44 may perform position control of the side brush 16 based on the position of the side surface of the vehicle XB where the fender OF is not provided.

[0062] In this case, when the side brush 16 and the fender OF are too close to each other and the force pressing the side brush 16 against the fender OF is too strong, the control unit 44 executes the cleaning of the fender OF by the side brush 16. Therefore, since the side brush 16 may get caught on the fender OF, a large torque may be generated in the side brush 16, or an overload may be applied to the rotation motor of the side brush 16, the control unit 44 may detect a brush abnormality.

[0063] An example of a method for avoiding the occurrence of a brush abnormality due to the shape of the fender OF described above will be described with reference to step S4-E shown in FIG. 5. For example, it is conceivable to control the position of the side brush 16 along the locus 16E shown in step S4-E of FIG. 5. Thereby, the car washer 2 can reduce the force pressing the side brush 16 against the fender OF and avoid the occurrence of a brush abnormality due to the fender OF.

[0064] For example, after bringing the side brush 16 into contact with the vehicle XB at the pressing position PA, the control unit 44 controls the position of each side brush 16 so that the distance between the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle XB and each side brush 16 becomes a distance L4 that is longer than the distance L2. Thereby, the control unit 44 can reduce the force pressing each side brush 16 against the fender OF and can clean the side surface of the vehicle XB with the side brush 16.

[0065] After the car washer main body 4 has advanced sufficiently, the control unit 44 may control the side brush 16 with the same content as the normal control content of the side brush 16. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may control the side brush 16 in consideration of the fact that the fender OF is also formed around the rear wheels of the vehicle XB.

[0066] <First cleaning step: Control change process: Change of control content corresponding to brush abnormality> Returning to the reference of FIG. 4, in step S10-8, when the control unit 44 determines that the detected abnormality is a brush abnormality, the control unit 44 determines whether the portion where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is the bumper of the vehicle X (step S10-10). For example, the control unit 44 may specify the portion of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality from the position of the brush during the brush abnormality. For example, when the position of the side brush 16 during the brush abnormality is the pressing position PA described above, the control unit 44 may specify that the portion of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is the bumper of the vehicle X.

[0067] In step S10-10, when the control unit 44 determines that the portion of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is the bumper of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 determines that the detected brush abnormality is caused by the bumper of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush so that the brush does not touch the surface of the bumper (step S10-12). For example, as described above, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the side brush 16 so that the position where the side brush 16 is pressed against the vehicle X is the pressing position PB on the rear end side of the vehicle X from the pressing position PA. By controlling the brush with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can avoid the brush being pressed against the bumper and reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the bumper.

[0068] Assume that in step S10-10, the control unit 44 determines that the portion of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is not the bumper of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 then determines whether the portion where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is the fender OF of the vehicle X (step S10-14). For example, when the position of the side brush 16 during the brush abnormality is on the rear end side of the vehicle X by a predetermined distance from the pressing position PA described above, the control unit 44 may specify that the portion of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is the fender OF of the vehicle X.

[0069] In step S10-14, when the control unit 44 determines that the part of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is the fender OF of the vehicle X, the control unit 44 determines that the detected brush abnormality is caused by the fender OF of the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush so as to reduce the force pressing the brush against the surface of the fender OF (step S10-16). For example, as described above, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the side brush 16 so that the distance between the side brush 16 and the left and right surfaces of the vehicle X becomes a distance L4 that is longer than the distance L2. By controlling the brush with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can reduce the force pressing the brush against the fender OF and reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities caused by the fender OF.

[0070] <First cleaning step: Control change process: Regarding abnormalities of unknown cause> Assume that in step S10-14, the control unit 44 determines that the part of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact during the brush abnormality is not the fender OF of the vehicle X. In this case, although the control unit 44 determines that the detected abnormality is a brush abnormality, it determines that the brush abnormality is caused by something other than the bumper and fender OF of the vehicle X.

[0071] For example, the control unit 44 then changes the control content of the brush so that the distance between the surface of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact when the brush abnormality occurred and the brush increases (step S10-18). For example, the control unit 44 specifies the position of the surface of the vehicle X where the brush was in contact at the time of the brush abnormality from the position of the brush at the time of the brush abnormality. Next, when the brush is at that position, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush so as to pull the brush away from the vehicle X more than usual. By controlling the brush with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can reduce the force pressing the brush against the surface of the vehicle X described above and reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities.

[0072] Here, the identification of the cause of the brush abnormality and the change of the control content for the brush abnormality, which were described with reference to FIG. 5, were both described by taking the side brush 16 as an example. However, steps S4-8 to S4-18 according to the present embodiment are not limited to the steps of identifying the cause of the brush abnormality in the side brush 16 and changing the control content.

[0073] For example, steps S4-8 to S4-18 according to the present embodiment may be steps of identifying the cause of the brush abnormality and changing the control content in any brush including the top brush 14 or the rocker brush 18 provided in the car washer main body 4. For any brush abnormality, in steps S4-8 to S4-18, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush in the brushing process so that the distance between the brush and the vehicle X becomes longer than when it is interrupted.

[0074] In step S10-8, when the control unit 44 determines that the detected abnormality is not a brush abnormality, the control unit 44 determines that the cause of the abnormality occurrence is unknown. In this case, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so as to stop the operation of the cleaning unit while the car washer main body 4 is located before and after the position where the abnormality occurred (step S10-20).

[0075] For example, the control unit 44 identifies the position of the car washer main body 4 at the time of the abnormality. Next, when the car washer main body 4 is present before and after the position, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so as to stop the operation of each part of the cleaning unit. By controlling each part of the cleaning unit with the changed control content, the control unit 44 can reduce the occurrence of abnormalities due to the same cause because the operation of the cleaning unit is not performed before and after the position where the abnormality occurred even when the cause of the abnormality occurrence is unknown.

[0076] From step S10-2 to step S10-20 described above, based on the occurred abnormality, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit of the car washer main body 4 by the control unit 44. With the completion of steps S10-2 to S10-20, the control unit 44 completes step S4-14, in other words, the control change process.

[0077] <First cleaning process: Re-execution> Referring back to FIG. 3, following step S4-14, the control unit 44 controls the rotational drive of the wheels 12 to move the car washer main body 4 to the first initial position (step S4-16). In step S4-16, the control unit 44 moves the car washer main body 4 backward, for example, until the wheels 12 reach the most backward direction D2 side of the rail R. Therefore, at the completion of step S4-16, the car washer main body 4 is at the first initial position, in other words, the car washer main body 4 is at the same position as at the start of the first cleaning process.

[0078] Next, the control unit 44 resumes the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 from the first initial position and the cleaning of the vehicle X according to the changed control content of the cleaning unit through the control of each part of the car washer main body 4 (step S4-18). In other words, in step S4-18, the control unit 44 controls each cleaning unit of the car washer main body 4 with the control content of the cleaning unit changed in step S4-14 and re-executes the first cleaning process.

[0079] In step S4-14, the control unit 44 changes the control content of each cleaning unit based on the previously occurred abnormality. In other words, in the first cleaning process, it is interrupted by the detection of an abnormality, and the processing content when restarting after the interruption is defined for each such abnormality. Also, in step S4-14, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so as to execute the processing content corresponding to the abnormality defined in the first cleaning process after restarting. Therefore, step S4-18 is a restart process for restarting the first cleaning process with the processing content corresponding to the abnormality. Therefore, after step S4-18, the car washer 2 can reduce the recurrence of the previously occurred abnormality.

[0080] Note that step S4-16 may be executed when the control unit 44 detects an operation on the operation panel 42 or the like by the user after the interruption process and the control change process are performed. Also, regarding step S4-18, after the car washer main body 4 has moved to the first initial position in step S4-16, step S4-18 may be executed when the control unit 44 detects an operation on the operation panel 42 or the like by the user.

[0081] In steps S4-16 and S4-18 according to this embodiment, the control unit 44 moves the car washer main body 4 to the first initial position and then executes the first washing process again. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as the car washer main body 4 can wash the vehicle X from the front again in the first washing process in step S4-18, the car washer main body 4 may be moved to a position slightly advanced from the first initial position in step S4-16. For example, in step S4-16, the car washer 2 may move the car washer main body 4 to a position where the front surface of the vehicle X can be washed by the side brush 16.

[0082] Subsequent to step S4-18, the control unit 44 makes a determination in step S4-6 again. As described above, after the resumption of the first washing process, as long as no new abnormality is detected, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S4-6 to S4-10. Here, if a new abnormality is detected in step S4-8, the control unit 44 executes steps S4-12 to S4-18 again. If steps S4-12 to S4-18 are executed multiple times, the control unit 44 may further add a new change to the control content of the washing unit to the changes in the control content of the washing unit that have occurred so far, and execute the first washing process again.

[0083] As described above, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S4-4 to S4-18 until it is determined in step S4-4 that the car washer main body 4 has moved to the second initial position. When the control unit 44 determines in step S4-4 that the car washer main body 4 has moved to the second initial position, the control unit 44 stops the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the washing of the vehicle X (step S4-20).

[0084] In step S4-20, the control unit 44 stops the operation of the car washer main body 4, for example, in the same manner as in step S4-12, and stops the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the washing of the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4. With the completion of step S4-20, the car washer 2 completes the first washing process.

[0085] In the first washing process, when an abnormality caused by a malfunction of the washing unit is detected, in step S10-4 described above, the record of the number of malfunctions of the washing unit is incremented by 1, but this record may be maintained even when washing other vehicles X. Therefore, when washing another vehicle X with the car washer 2, in step S4-2, the record of the malfunction of the washing unit is recorded once.

[0086] Also, when washing a plurality of vehicles X with the car washer 2, the record of the malfunction of the washing unit may be recorded multiple times. In particular, the probability that an abnormality caused by a malfunction of the washing unit occurs is high even when washing other vehicles X with the car washer 2 until the malfunction is eliminated by maintenance of the washing unit or the like. Therefore, in step S4-2, the record of the malfunction of the washing unit may be recorded multiple times.

[0087] In step S4-2, when it is determined that there is a washing unit in which the number of malfunctions recorded is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the control unit 44 stops the operation of the washing unit in which the number of malfunctions recorded is equal to or more than the predetermined value (step S4-22). In other words, the control unit 44 applies the processing content of washing the vehicle X in a state where the operation of the washing unit corresponding to the malfunction of the washing unit is stopped, during the period in which the malfunction of the washing unit continues, when executing the first washing process.

[0088] In step S4-22, the car washer 2 can stop the operation of the malfunctioning cleaning unit before the vehicle X is actually cleaned by the car washer main body 4. Therefore, the car washer 2 can reduce the occurrence of abnormal detection due to the malfunction of the cleaning unit and the interruption of the operation of the car washer main body 4 each time the vehicle X is cleaned by the car washer 2.

[0089] Also, in the cleaning process of a certain vehicle X, if an abnormality occurs due to a sudden malfunction of the cleaning unit, the malfunction of the cleaning unit may not occur in the cleaning process of other vehicles X. For this reason, in step S4-22, unless a malfunction of the cleaning unit is confirmed a predetermined number of times or more, by not stopping the operation of the cleaning unit, it is possible to reduce unnecessarily stopping the operation of the cleaning unit.

[0090] In step S4-2, when it is determined that there is a cleaning unit in which the number of malfunctions within a certain predetermined period is recorded as being equal to or more than a predetermined value, the control unit 44 may stop the operation of the cleaning unit in which the number of malfunctions is recorded as being equal to or more than a predetermined number of times. For example, when it is determined that there is a cleaning unit in which the number of malfunctions in a day is recorded as being equal to or more than a predetermined value, the control unit 44 may stop the operation of the cleaning unit in which the number of malfunctions is recorded as being equal to or more than a predetermined number of times. Thereby, the control unit 44 reduces the unnecessary stopping of the operation of the cleaning unit even when, for example, the car washer 2 is used over a long period and the cumulative total of sudden malfunctions of the cleaning unit becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value.

[0091] In the present embodiment, the malfunction of the parts of the car washer main body 4 is described by taking the malfunction of the cleaning unit as an example, but it is not limited to this. For example, the control unit 44 may detect a malfunction of a part provided in the car washer main body 4 other than the cleaning unit, such as a sensor provided in the car washer main body 4. Further, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the part so as to stop the operation of the part after the resumption of the first cleaning process.

[0092] <Second cleaning process> Returning to the reference of FIG. 2, following the first cleaning step, the control unit 44 executes a second cleaning step as a cleaning step of cleaning the vehicle X by the car washer 2 through controlling each part of the car washer main body 4 (step S6). In the second cleaning step, similar to the first cleaning step, the car washer 2 cleans the vehicle X through the control of each part of the car washer main body 4 by the control unit 44. In other words, the second cleaning step is included in one of the plurality of processing steps for cleaning the vehicle X that the car washer 2 sequentially executes. The second cleaning step will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the control method of the car washer main body 4 in the second cleaning step.

[0093] In the second cleaning step, first, the control unit 44 determines whether there is a cleaning part in which the number of operation failures has been recorded more than a predetermined number in the same method as in step S4-2 (step S6-2). In step S6-2, for example, there may be cases where the number of operation failures recorded during the cleaning of other vehicles X by the car washer 2 or the number of operation failures recorded in the already executed first cleaning step is recorded.

[0094] If it is determined in step S6-2 that there is a cleaning part in which the number of operation failures has been recorded more than a predetermined number, the control unit 44 stops the operation of the cleaning part in which the operation failures have been recorded more than a predetermined number in the same method as in step S4-22 (step S6-4). As a result, the car washer 2 executes the second cleaning step in a state where the operation of the cleaning part in which an operation failure was detected in the already executed cleaning step such as the first cleaning step is stopped. Note that also in step S6-4, the operation of the cleaning part in which the number of operation failures has not been recorded more than a predetermined number is not stopped. Thereby, the car washer 2 can reduce the unnecessary stoppage of the operation of the cleaning part even when, for example, a sudden operation failure of the cleaning part occurs in the first cleaning step or the like and the cleaning part can be used normally in the second cleaning step.

[0095] Next to step S6-2 or step S6-4, the control unit 44 determines whether the control content of the brush has been changed in the first cleaning process (step S6-6). For example, if the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush in step S4-14, it may record the control content. Also, in step S6-6, the control unit 44 determines whether the control content of the cleaning unit has been changed in the first cleaning process by checking whether there is recorded control content.

[0096] In step S6-6, if it is determined that there is a cleaning unit whose control content has been changed in the first cleaning process, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush based on the control content of the brush changed in the first cleaning process (step S6-8). For example, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the brush according to the control content recorded in step S4-14, which is the control content of the brush changed in the first cleaning process.

[0097] As described above, brush abnormalities are often caused by the shape of vehicle X. Therefore, when the brush is controlled with the normal control content in the second cleaning process, there is a high probability that the brush abnormality will occur again when the part of vehicle X that caused the brush abnormality is cleaned by the brush. For this reason, in step S6-8, the car wash 2 can reduce the occurrence of brush abnormalities again when cleaning the part of vehicle X that caused the brush abnormality in the first cleaning process with the brush.

[0098] Next to step S6-2 or step S6-4, the control unit 44 starts the backward movement of the car wash main body 4 from the second initial position and starts cleaning the vehicle X through the control of each part of the car wash main body 4 (step S6-10). In step S6-10, the control unit 44, for example, moves the car wash main body 4 in the backward direction D2 from the second initial position and cleans the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S in the same manner as in the first cleaning process. If the control content of any cleaning unit has been changed from the execution of step S6-2 to the execution of step S6-10, the control unit 44 controls the cleaning unit according to the changed control content after step S6-10.

[0099] In addition, in the first cleaning step, if only an abnormality for which the cause could not be identified occurred and the control content of the cleaning unit was changed, the control content of the cleaning unit would not be changed from the execution of step S6-2 to the execution of step S6-10. Thus, in the first cleaning step, when only an abnormality for which the cause could not be identified has occurred, the control unit 44 may control the cleaning unit with the normal control content in the second cleaning step.

[0100] For example, in the first cleaning step, when an abnormality of unknown cause occurs, the abnormality may be specific to the first cleaning step in which the car washer main body 4 washes the vehicle X while moving forward. In this case, even when the control unit 44 controls the cleaning unit with the normal control content in the second cleaning step, an abnormality may not occur. Therefore, the car washer 2 can reduce the unnecessary change of the control content of the cleaning unit in the second cleaning step.

[0101] However, in the present embodiment, it is not limited to this. Even when the control content of the cleaning unit is changed due to an abnormality of unknown cause, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the cleaning unit in the second cleaning step based on the changed control content. Thus, in the first cleaning step, when the control content of the cleaning unit is changed due to some abnormality, the control unit 44 may change the control content of each part of the car washer main body 4 in the second cleaning step based on the changed control content.

[0102] Subsequent to the backward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the start of the cleaning of the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4, the control unit 44 determines whether the car washer main body 4 has moved to the first initial position (step S6-12). In the second cleaning step, when the car washer main body 4 moves from the second initial position to the first initial position and executes the cleaning of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S, it can be regarded that the cleaning of the vehicle X from the rear end to the front end by the car washer main body 4 is completed. Step S6-12 may be executed, for example, in the same manner as step S4-6.

[0103] In step S6-12, assume that the control unit 44 determines that the car washer main body 4 has not yet moved to the first initial position. In this case, the control unit 44 determines whether a new abnormality has been detected during the execution of the second cleaning process (step S6-14). In step S6-14, if the control unit 44 determines that no new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 continues to reverse the car washer main body 4 and clean the vehicle X through the control of the car washer main body 4 (step S6-16). On the other hand, in step S6-14, if the control unit 44 determines that a new abnormality has been detected, the control unit 44 interrupts the operation of the car washer main body 4 in the same manner as in step S4-12 (step S6-18) and executes an interruption process.

[0104] Subsequent to the interruption process, the control unit 44 identifies the abnormality detected in step S4-8 and changes the control content of the cleaning unit based on the identified abnormality (step S6-20), and executes a control change process. The control change process related to the second cleaning process may be executed in the same manner as the control change process related to the first cleaning process. In other words, the control change process related to the second cleaning process may be executed in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

[0105] Subsequent to step S6-20, the control unit 44 moves the car washer main body 4 to the first initial position through the control of each part of the car washer main body 4, and re-executes the first cleaning process in accordance with the changed control content of the cleaning unit (step S6-22). In step S6-22, for example, the control unit 44 reverses the car washer main body 4 until the wheels 12 reach the most backward direction D2 side of the rail R. Next, the control unit 44 re-executes the first cleaning process in the same manner as described above, except that the control content of the cleaning unit of the car washer main body 4 has been changed.

[0106] When the first cleaning process is re-executed in step S6-22, the control content of the cleaning unit of the car washer main body 4 by the control unit 44 has been changed according to the abnormality that has occurred so far. Therefore, even when the first cleaning process is re-executed in step S6-22, the car washer 2 can reduce the recurrence of the previously occurred abnormality.

[0107] However, if an abnormality occurs even during the re - execution of the first cleaning step, the control unit 44 may interrupt the operation of the car washer main body 4, identify the abnormality, and change the control content of the cleaning unit according to the abnormality. When the control content of the cleaning unit is changed during the re - execution of the first cleaning step, the control unit 44 may also change the control content of the cleaning unit in the subsequent second cleaning step accordingly.

[0108] Next, the control unit 44 resumes the backward movement of the car washer main body 4 from the second initial position and the cleaning of the vehicle X according to the changed control content of the cleaning unit through the control of each part of the car washer main body 4 (step S6 - 24). In other words, in step S6 - 24, the control unit 44 controls each cleaning unit of the car washer main body 4 with the control content of the cleaning unit changed in step S6 - 20 and the re - executed first cleaning step, and re - executes the second cleaning step.

[0109] In step S6 - 20, the control unit 44 changes the control content of each cleaning unit based on the previously occurred abnormality. In other words, in the second cleaning step, the processing content when resuming after interruption is determined for each abnormality. Also, in step S6 - 20, the control unit 44 changes the control content of the cleaning unit so as to execute the processing content corresponding to the abnormality defined in the second cleaning step after resuming. Therefore, step S6 - 24 is a resuming step for resuming the third cleaning step with the processing content corresponding to the abnormality. Therefore, after step S6 - 24, the car washer 2 can reduce the recurrence of the previously occurred abnormality.

[0110] Next to step S6-24, the control unit 44 makes the determination of step S6-12 again. As described above, even after the resumption of the second cleaning process, unless a new abnormality is detected, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S6-12 to S6-16. Here, if a new abnormality is detected in step S6-14, the control unit 44 executes steps S6-18 to S6-24 again. If steps S6-18 to S4-24 are executed multiple times, the control unit 44 may further add a new change to the control content of the cleaning unit to the changes in the control content of the cleaning unit that have occurred so far, and execute the first cleaning process and the second cleaning process again.

[0111] As described above, the control unit 44 repeatedly executes steps S6-12 to S6-24 until it is determined in step S6-12 that the car washer main body 4 has moved to the first initial position. When the control unit 44 determines in step S6-12 that the car washer main body 4 has moved to the first initial position, the control unit 44 stops the backward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the cleaning of the vehicle X (step S6-26). With the completion of step S6-26, the car washer 2 completes the second cleaning process.

[0112] <Drying process> Referring back to FIG. 2, next to the second cleaning process, the control unit 44 executes a drying process of drying the vehicle X by the car washer 2 through the control of each part of the car washer main body 4 (step S8). In the present embodiment, the drying process is a process of drying the vehicle X washed by the car washer main body 4 by the car washer main body 4, and may be included in the cleaning process of cleaning the vehicle X by the car washer 2 described above. In other words, the drying process may be included in one of a plurality of processing steps for cleaning the vehicle X sequentially executed by the car washer 2.

[0113] In the drying process, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car washer main body 4 to move the car washer main body 4 forward from the first initial position, while controlling the air blowing from the blower 36 provided in the car washer main body 4 to each air blowing nozzle and the position control of each air blowing nozzle. Thereby, the car washer main body 4 dries the vehicle X by blowing air onto the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. For example, the control unit 44 dries the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4 until the car washer main body 4 moves to the second initial position. Thereby, drying from the front end to the rear end of the vehicle X is executed, and the drying process is completed. Note that even before the car washer main body 4 moves to the second initial position, when the control unit 44 determines that the drying of the vehicle X by the car washer main body 4 has been completed, the control unit 44 may stop the forward movement of the car washer main body 4 and the drying of the vehicle X and complete the drying process.

[0114] Note that even during the execution of the drying process, if the control unit 44 detects an abnormality, the control unit 44 changes the control content of each part of the car washer main body 4 according to the abnormality. For example, in the drying process, assume that an abnormality occurs in which the position of each air blowing nozzle cannot be changed due to a malfunction of each air blowing nozzle. In this case, the control unit 44 may control the drying of the vehicle X by controlling the air blowing from the blower 36 to each air blowing nozzle without changing the position of each air blowing nozzle. Alternatively, in the drying process, assume that an abnormality occurs in which air blowing to each air blowing nozzle becomes impossible due to a malfunction of the blower 36. In this case, the control unit 44 may omit the drying process and guide the user in the vehicle X to contact regarding the omission of the drying process and exit the vehicle X by the method described later.

[0115] With the completion of the drying process, all the cleaning of the vehicle X using the car washer 2 is completed. After the completion of the drying process, the control unit 44 may guide the user in the vehicle X to exit by voice from the speaker of the car washer main body 4 or by a signal lamp or the like. For example, as described above, the control unit 44 may move the car washer main body 4 to the position where the exit sensor 50 detects the vehicle X and guide the user in the vehicle X to exit the vehicle X. In this case, the control unit 44 may detect the exit of the vehicle X from the car wash by confirming that the exit sensor 50 no longer detects the vehicle X.

[0116] After completion of the drying process, the control unit 44 may control each part including the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 to accept the washing of the next vehicle X. Here, if the malfunction of the cleaning unit of the car wash machine main body 4 has been recorded more than a predetermined number of times in the cleaning process of the previous vehicle X, the control unit 44 may change the control content of the car wash machine main body 4 so as to stop the operation of the cleaning unit in the cleaning process of the next vehicle X.

[0117] <Summary> The car wash machine 2 according to the present embodiment washes the vehicle X by sequentially executing a first washing process, a second washing process, and a drying process as a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle X. Here, for each of the processing steps including the first washing step, the second washing step, and the drying step, the processing content after interruption is predetermined for each abnormality. Further, in each of the first washing step, the second washing step, and the drying step, the control unit 44 resumes the processing step according to the processing content corresponding to the abnormality after interruption.

[0118] Thereby, the car wash machine 2 can improve the probability of completing the processing step without re-interrupting while appropriately executing the processing step as compared with the case where the car wash machine main body 4 is operated normally after resumption. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can achieve both reduction of the washing cost and the washing time and reliable execution of the processing steps that require re-execution.

[0119] In particular, each of the first washing step and the second washing step is a brushing step of sliding the surface of the vehicle X with a brush. In the brushing step, the processing content corresponding to the brush abnormality includes processing for controlling the brush so that the distance between the brush and the vehicle X becomes longer than at the time of interruption. Thereby, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the possibility of brush abnormality occurring during re-execution of the brushing step.

[0120] Note that brush abnormalities generally often result from the outer shape of the vehicle being washed by the car wash, and in particular, when the vehicle has a special outer shape, the frequency of brush abnormalities tends to increase. Therefore, in order to reduce the possibility of brush abnormalities occurring during re-execution, the car wash 2 can improve the possibility of completing the washing process of the vehicle X regardless of the shape of the vehicle X.

[0121] In particular, when a brush abnormality occurs in the brushing process of the car wash 2 due to the shape of the bumper or fender of the vehicle X, the car wash 2 resumes the brushing process according to the specific processing steps corresponding to each when resuming the brushing process. For this reason, the car wash 2 can reduce the possibility of brush abnormalities occurring during re-execution regardless of the shape of the bumper of the vehicle X or the presence or absence of fenders.

[0122] In the above-described processing steps, as processing content for dealing with abnormalities caused by malfunctioning of parts of the car wash main body 4, it includes a process of stopping the operation of the part and resuming the processing step. Here, when an abnormality caused by malfunctioning of a part of the car wash main body 4 occurs in the processing step, the car wash 2 applies the stop of the operation of the part at the time of execution of each processing step during the period in which the malfunction continues thereafter. Thereby, the car wash 2 can reduce the occurrence of abnormalities caused by malfunctioning of parts of the car wash main body 4 being detected multiple times, and can reduce the interruption of the washing process.

[0123] The car wash 2 according to the present embodiment can reduce the wasteful consumption of municipal water, cleaning agents, etc. by reducing the occurrence of multiple interruptions caused by the same abnormality in the washing process. Therefore, the car wash 2 can contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Goal 6, "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all," and Goal 12, "Responsible consumption and production."

[0124] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining different technical means disclosed in the embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Description of Symbols

[0125] 2 Car washer 4 Car washer body 14 Top brush (brush) 16 Side brush (brush) 18 Locker brush (brush) 44 Control unit

Claims

1. A car wash machine that washes the vehicle by sequentially executing a plurality of processing steps for washing the vehicle, a car wash machine body that washes the vehicle while moving relative to the vehicle, and a control unit that controls each part of the car wash machine, wherein one of the plurality of processing steps is a brushing step of sliding the surface of the vehicle with a rotating brush provided in the car wash machine body, the control unit, when a rotating brush abnormality estimated to be caused by interference between the rotating brush and the vehicle is detected during the execution of the brushing step, interrupts the brushing step, after the interruption, resumes the brushing step according to the processing content defined for the brushing step corresponding to the rotating brush abnormality, the processing content includes processing for controlling the rotating brush so that the distance between the center of the rotating brush and the vehicle becomes longer than during the execution of the brushing step before interruption, a car wash machine.

2. The brushing step includes a step of sliding the surface of the fender of the vehicle with the rotating brush, the car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotating brush abnormality includes a rotating brush abnormality estimated to be caused by interference between the rotating brush and the surface of the fender of the vehicle.

Images