Car washing methods

Abstract

To further reduce ion deposit remaining on a surface of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle washing method using a vehicle washing machine includes: a washing step; a vehicle shape information acquisition step; and a finish washing step. In the washing step, a washing liquid is jetted to a surface of a vehicle from a washing-liquid nozzle. In the finish washing step, a high-pressure nozzle is moved upward and downward above the vehicle so as to follow a shape of the vehicle, based on the vehicle shape information of the vehicle, and at least some of the washing liquid sticking to the surface of the vehicle is removed by jetting high-pressure pure water from the high-pressure nozzle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a car washing method for washing a vehicle using a car wash machine. [Background technology]

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

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

[0004] Known car washes capable of washing using pure water include fully pure water car washes that use pure water in all car wash processes, and pure water finishing car washes that use pure water only in the final rinsing process. Compared to regular washing water, the use of pure water is costly. Pure water finishing car washes offer cost advantages by reducing the amount of pure water used. An example of a pure water finishing car wash is the car wash device described in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-60329 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle washing system that includes a pure water generator that generates pure water and a finish washing unit that performs finish washing by spraying the pure water generated by the pure water generator onto a vehicle that has been washed by a brush washing unit. In the vehicle washing system described in Patent Document 1, after washing by the brush washing device, finish washing is performed by the finish washing unit.

[0007] In such a pure water finishing car wash, further reduction of ion deposits is desired. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, a car washing method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a car washing method performed by a car wash machine that includes a car wash machine main body that includes a washing liquid nozzle that sprays washing liquid and a high-pressure nozzle that sprays high-pressure pure water and that moves relatively in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle, and a vehicle shape information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle shape information, which is information related to at least a part of the vehicle's outer shape, and includes a vehicle shape information acquisition process in which the vehicle shape information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle shape information, a vehicle washing process that includes spraying the washing liquid from the washing liquid nozzle onto the surface of the vehicle, and a finish washing process that is performed after the vehicle shape information acquisition process and the washing process, and removes at least a part of the washing liquid that has adhered to the surface of the vehicle, and in the finish washing process, while moving the car wash machine main body relatively in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the high-pressure nozzle is raised and lowered above the vehicle to follow the shape of the vehicle based on at least the vehicle shape information, and the pure water is sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, ion deposits remaining on the surface of a vehicle are further reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic front view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2]1 is a schematic side view showing a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a car wash machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating a car washing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 is a front view showing a car wash machine body and a vehicle in a finish washing process according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] [Embodiment] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view showing a car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment, Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing the car wash machine according to this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the car wash machine according to this embodiment.

[0013] In this specification, a sedan-type vehicle will be described as an example of the vehicle X to be washed. For example, the vehicle X has, on its upper surface, a hood, a windshield, a roof, a rear window, and a trunk, in that order from the front. However, in this specification, the type and shape of the vehicle X are not particularly limited as long as it can be washed by the car wash machine main body 4, which will be described later.

[0014] (Car wash configuration) The car wash machine 2 is a pure water finishing car wash machine. More specifically, the car wash machine 2 is capable of performing a car wash process including a washing process involving brushing and a finish washing process using pure water. The liquid used in the washing process performed by the car wash machine 2 is referred to as the washing liquid, and the water used in the finish washing process is referred to as pure water.

[0015] In the present disclosure, the cleaning liquid includes, for example, clean water (tap water) derived from surface water, groundwater, or other sources, or industrial water. Clean water and industrial water vary depending on the region from which they are taken and the type of raw water, but typically have an electrical conductivity of approximately 70 to 300 μS / cm. Pure water is water with a lower electrical conductivity than the cleaning liquid. For example, the electrical conductivity of pure water according to the present disclosure may be 0 μS / cm or more and 20 μS / cm or less.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the car wash machine 2 includes a car wash machine main body 4, a remote panel 6, a clean water tank 62, a pure water tank 72, and a pure water generator 73.

[0017] The car wash machine 2 includes a clean water tank 62, a first path 61 that supplies clean water to the car wash machine main body 4, and a clean water nozzle 24 that sprays clean water onto the vehicle X as a cleaning liquid spraying mechanism. The clean water nozzle 24 is a nozzle included in the car wash machine main body 4 and will be described in detail later. The clean water tank 62 is a tank that stores clean water and includes a low-pressure pump P1. The low-pressure pump P1 is a pump that pumps clean water from the clean water tank 62 to the clean water nozzle 24 via the first path 61, etc., and can be controlled by a control unit 44, which will be described later. In the mechanism for spraying clean water onto the vehicle X, the clean water tank 62 is not essential, and the first path 61 may be connected to a water pipe or the like via a valve that can be controlled to open and close. In this case, the valve can be controlled by the control unit 44, which will be described later.

[0018] In this embodiment, an example will be described in which the car wash machine 2 sprays clean water as part of the cleaning liquid onto the vehicle X, but this is not limited to this. For example, the car wash machine 2 may be provided with a mechanism for spraying a cleaning liquid different from clean water, including industrial water, as a cleaning liquid spraying mechanism. In this case, the mechanism may have the same configuration as the cleaning liquid spraying mechanism described above, except that it includes a tank for storing industrial water or the like instead of the clean water tank 62.

[0019] The car wash machine 2 includes a pure water spraying mechanism for spraying pure water onto the vehicle X, which includes a pure water generator 73, a pure water tank 72, a second path 71 for supplying pure water to the car wash machine body, and a high-pressure nozzle 26 for spraying pure water onto the vehicle X. The pure water generator 73 is a device for reducing the electrical conductivity of a liquid. The pure water generator 73 may be a device for generating pure water by, for example, a reverse osmosis membrane method. The car wash machine 2 may also include a third path 73A for supplying pure water from the pure water generator 73 to the pure water tank 72. The pure water tank 72 is a tank for storing pure water generated by the pure water generator 73, and includes a high-pressure pump P2. The high-pressure pump P2 is a pump that delivers pure water from the pure water tank 72 to the high-pressure nozzle 26 via the second path 71, etc., and can be controlled by the control unit 44, which will be described later. For example, the high-pressure pump P2 may deliver pure water to the high-pressure nozzle 26 at a pressure higher than the pressure at which the low-pressure pump P1 delivers clean water to the clean water nozzle 24. The pure water according to the present disclosure may be water produced by the pure water production device 73 and having an electrical conductivity of 0 μS / cm or more and 6 μS / cm or less.

[0020] The second path 71 merges with the first path 61 upstream of the car wash machine main body 4. The first path 61 for supplying clean water may be connected to the car wash machine main body 4, and the second path 71 for supplying pure water may be connected to the first path 61 upstream of the connection. In this case, clean water is supplied to the car wash machine main body 4 via the first path 61, and pure water is supplied to the car wash machine main body 4 via the second path 71 and a part of the first path 61. Alternatively, the first path 61 and the second path 71 may merge and be connected to one path 80, and the path 80 may be connected to the car wash machine main body 4. In this case, clean water is supplied to the car wash machine main body 4 via the first path 61 and the path 80, and pure water is supplied to the car wash machine main body 4 via the second path 71 and the path 80. For example, clean water supplied to the car wash machine main body 4 is sent to the clean water nozzle 24 by the distribution piping section 22 described later, and pure water supplied to the car wash machine main body 4 is sent to the high-pressure nozzle 26 by the distribution piping section 22 described later.

[0021] For this reason, in this embodiment, the clean water path from the clean water tank 62 to the clean water nozzle 24 and the pure water path from the pure water tank 72 to the high-pressure nozzle 26 share a portion in common. This allows the car wash machine 2 to simplify the mechanism for sending clean water and pure water to each nozzle. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the clean water path from the clean water tank 62 to the clean water nozzle 24 and the pure water path from the pure water tank 72 to the high-pressure nozzle 26 may be completely separate. In this case, the car wash machine 2 can reduce the contamination of clean water with the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle 26, and can improve the purity of the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle 26.

[0022] (Car wash machine configuration) As shown in Fig. 1, the car wash machine main body 4 includes, for example, two frames 8 and a ceiling portion 10 connecting the upper ends of the two frames 8. The car wash machine main body 4 has a structure that allows a vehicle X to pass through a space 4S surrounded by the frames 8 and the ceiling portion 10 along an approach direction DA of the vehicle X, as shown in Fig. 2. Note that in this specification, the approach direction DA is defined as the direction from the front surface 4A toward the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4. Note that in this embodiment, the front surface 4A is the surface on which, for example, an operation panel 42, which will be described later, is provided.

[0023] The car wash machine main body 4 includes a drive unit 4X and a cleaning unit 4Y. The drive unit 4X includes wheels 12 provided at the bottom of each frame 8, and a drive device 11 that drives and rotates the wheels 12. As the drive device 11 drives and rotates the wheels 12, the car wash machine main body 4 moves relative to the vehicle X in the front-to-rear direction along rails R arranged on the ground G. The rails R are formed, for example, along the approach direction DA. Here, the car wash machine main body 4 performs washing (car washing) of the vehicle X in the space 4S while moving relative to the vehicle X.

[0024] The cleaning unit 4Y includes a plurality of rotating brushes that slide on the vehicle X. For example, the cleaning unit 4Y includes a top brush 14, a side brush 16, and a rocker brush 18, each of which is rotated by a rotary motor (not shown). The top brush 14 slides along the top surface of the vehicle X and cleans the top surface of the vehicle X. The side brushes 16 and the rocker brush 18 clean both side surfaces of the vehicle X.

[0025] The cleaning unit 4Y also has a plurality of nozzles that spray liquid onto the vehicle X. The plurality of nozzles include a clean water nozzle 24, a high-pressure nozzle 26, and a side high-pressure nozzle 27.

[0026] The clean water nozzle 24 is a cleaning liquid nozzle that is connected to the above-mentioned clean water tank 62 and sprays clean water onto the vehicle X. As shown in FIG. 2, the clean water nozzle 24 may include, for example, a first nozzle 24A arranged on the front surface 4A side of each frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4, and a second nozzle 24B arranged on the rear surface 4B side. The clean water sprayed by the clean water nozzle 24 may have pressure applied from the low-pressure pump P1. On the other hand, the clean water sprayed by the clean water nozzle 24 does not have to have pressure, and may simply flow from the clean water nozzle 24 due to its own weight or the like.

[0027] The high-pressure nozzle 26 is a nozzle that is connected to the above-mentioned pure water tank 72 and injects high-pressure pure water toward the vehicle X. In particular, the high-pressure nozzle 26 injects pure water at an injection pressure higher than the injection pressure of clean water from the clean water nozzle 24. In particular, the pressure of the pure water injected by the high-pressure nozzle 26 may be 100 kPa or higher and 2 MPa or lower. For example, the high-pressure nozzle 26 may inject pure water at an injection pressure higher than the injection pressure of clean water from the clean water nozzle 24 by injecting pure water from an injection hole that is smaller than the injection hole of the clean water nozzle 24 that injects clean water. In this case, the pure water injection mechanism may include a pump that delivers pure water to the high-pressure nozzle 26 at approximately the same pressure as the low-pressure pump P1, instead of the high-pressure pump P2.

[0028] The high-pressure nozzles 26 are formed on a beam 26B that extends in the left-right direction of the car wash machine main body 4 and through which pure water can flow. The beam 26B is supported on the ceiling 10 by, for example, an arm (not shown) that is movable in the up-down direction of the car wash machine main body 4. Therefore, as the beam 26B moves in the up-down direction of the car wash machine main body 4, the high-pressure nozzles 26 also move in the up-down direction of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0029] For example, each high-pressure nozzle 26 sprays pure water downward by supplying pure water to the inside of the beam 26B by a method described below. In this embodiment, the high-pressure nozzle 26S arranged on the end side in the extension direction of the beam 26B sprays pure water toward the center in the left-right direction of the car wash machine main body 4 rather than vertically downward. For example, the angle and range at which each high-pressure nozzle 26 sprays pure water are determined so that the pure water sprayed from the multiple high-pressure nozzles is sprayed approximately evenly onto the vehicle X without any gaps. Note that the length in the extension direction of the beam 26B is longer than the width of the vehicle X that can be washed by the car wash machine 2.

[0030] The side high-pressure nozzle 27 is a nozzle that is connected to the above-mentioned pure water tank 72 and sprays pure water onto the vehicle X. In particular, the side high-pressure nozzle 27 sprays pure water at a spray pressure higher than the spray pressure of clean water from the clean water nozzle 24. The pressure of the pure water sprayed by the side high-pressure nozzle 27 may be 100 kPa or more and 2 MPa or less. Like the high-pressure nozzle 26, the side high-pressure nozzle 27 may also spray pure water from a spray hole that is smaller than the spray hole of the clean water nozzle 24 that sprays clean water.

[0031] The side high-pressure nozzles 27 are located lower than the high-pressure nozzles 26 and are formed on each of the frames 8. Therefore, the side high-pressure nozzles 27 are located on both the left and right sides of the car wash machine main body 4 relative to the high-pressure nozzles 26. However, the side high-pressure nozzles 27 may be located only on one of the left and right ends of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0032] For example, when pure water is supplied to each side high-pressure nozzle 27 by a method described below, the side high-pressure nozzles 27 spray pure water toward the center in the left-right direction of the car wash machine main body 4. In this embodiment, each side high-pressure nozzle 27 is configured to be able to spray pure water upward from the horizontal direction. For example, each side high-pressure nozzle 27 is configured to be able to change the direction in which pure water is sprayed from the horizontal direction to the up-down direction by, for example, a rotation mechanism (not shown) that rotates each side high-pressure nozzle 27 around an axis that is the front-rear direction of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0033] In addition to the clean water nozzle 24, the high-pressure nozzle 26, and the side high-pressure nozzle 27, nozzles for spraying clean water or pure water may be arranged at any position on the car wash machine main body 4.

[0034] The car wash machine main body 4 has a first connection pipe that connects a passage 80 located outside the car wash machine main body 4 with the clean water nozzle 24, the high-pressure nozzle 26, and the side high-pressure nozzle 27. The first connection pipe includes a distribution pipe section 22 that distributes the liquid that has flowed in via the passage 80 to each nozzle, and a drainage path 23 that communicates with the distribution pipe section 22. The clean water nozzle 24, the high-pressure nozzle 26, and the side high-pressure nozzle 27 are each led out from the distribution pipe section 22 via an electromagnetic valve (not shown).

[0035] The cleaning unit 4Y also includes a first detergent nozzle 28, a second detergent nozzle 30, a water-repellent coating nozzle 32, and a wax nozzle 34. The first detergent nozzle 28 and the second detergent nozzle 30 are disposed on the front surface 4A and rear surface 4B of each frame 8, respectively, and are cleaning liquid nozzles that spray a liquid containing a detergent such as shampoo onto the vehicle X as cleaning liquid. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 and the wax nozzle 34 are disposed on the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4. The water-repellent coating nozzle 32 sprays a water-repellent coating liquid onto the vehicle X. The wax nozzle 34 sprays wax onto the vehicle X. A tank storage unit 20 is disposed on the side of the car wash machine main body 4, and stores multiple liquid storage tanks (not shown) that store various liquid agents including detergent or wax. The liquid agents from each liquid storage tank are distributed to the corresponding nozzles via distribution piping similar to the distribution piping 22 described above.

[0036] The car wash machine main body 4 also includes a blower 36 that generates an air current as part of the cleaning section 4Y. A top air blowing nozzle 38 and a side air blowing nozzle 40 are connected to the blower 36. The top air blowing nozzle 38 is provided at the upper center of the car wash machine main body 4 and blows air toward the ceiling surface of the vehicle X. The side air blowing nozzles 40 are provided on both sides of the car wash machine main body 4 and blow air toward the sides of the vehicle X. The car wash machine main body 4 blows air toward the vehicle X from the top air blowing nozzle 38 and the side air blowing nozzles 40 to drain or dry the vehicle X after washing.

[0037] In the attached drawings, for simplicity of illustration, the devices for washing the vehicle X that are provided in the car wash machine main body 4 described above may be omitted. Furthermore, the devices provided in the car wash machine main body 4 shown in the drawings are merely examples, and the car wash machine main body 4 may be provided with, in addition to the devices described above, devices for washing the vehicle X and devices assisting in the washing, including conventionally known configurations, on the frame 8 or the ceiling portion 10.

[0038] An operation panel 42 is disposed on the front of one frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4. The operation panel 42 has operation buttons (not shown) for setting the car wash conditions. For example, a user who has exited the vehicle X, or another technician, etc. may operate the operation buttons to set the car wash conditions, etc.

[0039] (Control unit and remote panel) The car wash machine 2 is equipped with a control unit 44 that controls the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 controls the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 along the rail R and the operation of each part of the cleaning unit 4Y, thereby controlling the washing of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 can also control the above-mentioned cleaning liquid spray mechanism and pure water spray mechanism. The control unit 44 may be provided in the car wash machine main body 4 as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may be located outside the car wash machine main body 4. The control unit 44 may send and receive information between the car wash machine main body 4, the cleaning liquid spray mechanism, the pure water spray mechanism, or a remote panel 6 (described later) via a communication device (not shown) or the like, and control each part of the car wash machine 2.

[0040] The control unit 44 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and various controls are realized by executing a control program stored in a memory on the processor.

[0041] The remote panel 6 is a panel that is operated to acquire the car wash conditions of the vehicle X by the car wash machine main body 4. 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 plane of the page. The remote panel 6 is, for example, located on the front side of the car wash machine main body 4 and arranged along the direction of movement of the car wash machine main body 4. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the remote panel 6 is arranged so that its front surface faces the side of the vehicle X before it is washed by the car wash machine main body 4, in other words, before it enters the interior of the car wash machine main body 4. For this reason, the back surface of the remote panel 6 is shown in FIG. 2.

[0042] 2, the remote panel 6 includes a housing 46 and a support column 48 that is erected on the ground G and supports the housing 46. The remote panel 6 may acquire at least some of the car wash conditions for the vehicle X to be washed by the car wash machine main body 4 by operating a touch panel or buttons (not shown) provided on the housing 46. The control unit 44 may control the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the vehicle X based on at least some of the car wash conditions acquired by the remote panel 6.

[0043] (sensor) The car wash machine main body 4 further includes a sensor 52 as a vehicle shape information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle shape information, which is information about at least a part of the external shape of the vehicle X. The sensor 52 is located, for example, closer to the front surface 4A of the car wash machine main body 4 than the side brushes 16. In particular, the car wash machine 2 may use the sensor 52 to acquire vehicle shape information including information about the vehicle height of the vehicle X and information about the external shape of the vehicle X when viewed from the side, by a method described below.

[0044] The sensor 52 is a sensor for acquiring information about the external shape of the vehicle X. More specifically, the sensor 52 can detect the height of the vehicle X crossing a predetermined point. For example, the sensor 52 may be configured as a multi-axis optical axis sensor, in which a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit are arranged as a pair on each of the two frames 8 on the front side of the frame 8 of the car wash machine main body 4 and on the side of the space 4S. Here, in the multi-axis optical axis sensor, each optical axis sensor is arranged so that multiple optical axes are aligned in the vertical direction and each optical axis is on a substantially horizontal plane. Therefore, each optical axis sensor in the multi-axis optical axis sensor is configured to be able to detect the presence or absence of a vehicle at different heights. In this case, the sensor 52 may detect the height of the vehicle X by, for example, checking the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X while the car wash machine main body 4 moves relatively from the front side to the rear side of the vehicle X.

[0045] As a result, the car wash machine main body 4 can estimate the height of the vehicle X for each position in a planar view, in other words, the vehicle height, from a change in the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X among the multi-axis optical axis sensors included in the sensor 52. In other words, the sensor 52 generates information for estimating at least a part of the shape of the vehicle X. As a result, the sensor 52 may determine at least a part of the outer shape of the vehicle X for each position in a planar view. The control unit 44 may control each part of the cleaning unit to wash the vehicle X based on the outer shape of the vehicle X determined by the sensor 52.

[0046] (Car washing method using car wash machine 2) An exemplary method for washing a vehicle X using the car wash machine 2 will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the method for washing a vehicle X using the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment.

[0047] (Reception process) In this embodiment, the car wash machine 2 first performs a receiving step of receiving a request for washing the vehicle X from the user of the vehicle X or the like (step S2). Specifically, the control unit 44 controls each part of the car wash machine main body 4 or the remote panel 6 to acquire the car wash conditions for the vehicle X from the user of the vehicle X or the like. For example, the control unit 44 controls the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 and accepts operations of the remote panel 6 or the operation panel 42 or the like from the user. In this way, the car wash machine 2 acquires information such as the car wash conditions for the vehicle X and payment of the car wash fee from the user.

[0048] Next, the control unit 44 controls the speaker or the monitor of the car wash machine main body 4 to guide the user in the vehicle X to move the vehicle X to a predetermined position and stop it. As a result, the user stops the vehicle X at a predetermined position, for example, in front of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0049] (Cleaning process) Following the reception step, the car wash machine 2 performs a washing step in which the vehicle X is washed using washing liquid (step S4). Specifically, the control unit 44 controls the washing liquid spray mechanism and each part of the car wash machine main body 4 to wash the surface of the vehicle X passing through the space 4S. Immediately before the execution of the washing step, the car wash machine main body 4 is positioned on the front side of the vehicle X. In the washing step, the control unit 44 controls the drive unit 4X of the car wash machine main body 4 to perform washing using washing liquid while moving the car wash machine main body 4 forward. Moving the car wash machine main body 4 forward means that the front surface 4A of the car wash machine main body 4 moves forward facing the direction of travel. Moving the car wash machine main body 4 backward means that the rear surface 4B of the car wash machine main body 4 moves forward facing the direction of travel.

[0050] Specifically, in the washing process, the control unit 44 controls the low-pressure pump P1 to supply clean water to the car wash machine main body 4 via the first path 61 and spray the clean water onto the vehicle X via the clean water nozzle 24. Furthermore, the control unit 44 controls each part of the cleaning unit 4Y, such as various brushes, to wash the vehicle X. In the washing process, the control unit 44 may spray a liquid containing a detergent such as shampoo via the first detergent nozzle 28 and the second detergent nozzle 30.

[0051] In the washing process, a washing process is performed based on the car wash conditions selected by the user via the remote panel 6, such as a brushing process in which the vehicle X is brushed while a washing liquid is sprayed, or a brushing shampoo process in which the vehicle X is brushed while a detergent and a washing liquid are sprayed. Depending on the car wash conditions, the washing process may be performed during a first outward journey in which the car wash machine 2 moves forward and the vehicle X passes through the car wash machine 2, a first return journey in which the car wash machine 2 moves backward and the vehicle X passes through the car wash machine 2, and a second outward journey in which the car wash machine 2 moves forward again and the vehicle X passes through the car wash machine 2.

[0052] The control unit 44 may appropriately vary the moving speed of the car wash machine main body 4 during the washing process depending on the car wash conditions, and may also temporarily stop the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 as necessary.

[0053] Furthermore, in the washing process, the control unit 44 moves the car wash machine main body 4 forward and causes the sensor 52 to detect the vehicle X, thereby acquiring information about the external shape of the vehicle X. In other words, in this embodiment, the car wash machine 2 may perform a vehicle shape information acquisition process in which the vehicle shape information acquisition unit including the sensor 52 acquires vehicle shape information in parallel with the washing process. In other words, at least a portion of the washing process and at least a portion of the vehicle shape information acquisition process may overlap. With the above configuration, the car wash machine 2 can further shorten the time it takes to wash the vehicle X.

[0054] The vehicle shape information acquisition process according to this embodiment may be performed prior to the finish washing process described below. For example, the vehicle shape information acquisition process may be performed independently of the washing process by causing the sensor 52 to detect the vehicle X while the car wash machine main body 4 moves relatively from the front end to the rear end of the vehicle X prior to the washing process.

[0055] The control unit 44 may switch the supply of the cleaning liquid via the first path 61 to the supply of pure water via the second path 71 in the latter half of the cleaning process.

[0056] (Draining process) After the washing process, the car wash machine 2 executes a draining process (step S6) to drain the cleaning liquid. Specifically, the control unit 44 executes the draining process by controlling each part of the car wash machine main body 4. In the draining process, the control unit 44 controls the drive unit 4X to move the car wash machine main body 4 forward (backward) in the direction opposite to the forward direction, and controls the blower 36 to blow air onto the vehicle X, thereby draining the cleaning liquid from the surface of the vehicle X.

[0057] In the water-draining process, the control unit 44 may adjust the distance between the blower 36 and the vehicle X based on information about the outer shape of the vehicle X from the sensor 52. The control unit 44 can estimate the height of the vehicle X for each position in a planar view from a change in the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X among the multi-axis optical axis sensors included in the sensor 52. The control unit 44 can adjust the distance between the blower 36 and the vehicle X based on the height of the vehicle X for each position in a planar view. For example, the control unit 44 may control the position of the blower 36 so that it is close to the vehicle X while maintaining a substantially constant distance. This makes it possible to maintain the strength of the air blown from the blower 36 toward the vehicle X, thereby more reliably draining the water. By improving the effect of draining the cleaning liquid, the generation of ion deposits can be significantly reduced.

[0058] Alternatively, when the blower 36 is fixed to the ceiling 10, the control unit 44 may adjust the air volume of the blower 36 in the water-draining process according to the distance between the blower 36 and the vehicle X, based on information about the outer shape of the vehicle X from the sensor 52. For example, the control unit 44 may increase the air volume of the blower 36 the greater the distance between the vehicle X and the blower 36, and decrease the air volume of the blower 36 the shorter the distance. This makes it possible to maintain the strength of the air blown from the blower 36 toward the vehicle X even when the blower 36 is fixed to the car wash machine main body 4, thereby more reliably draining the water. By improving the effect of draining the cleaning liquid, the generation of ion deposits can be significantly reduced.

[0059] Furthermore, during the water-draining process, the control unit 44 may control the blower 36 to temporarily stop moving or move repeatedly at a predetermined designated portion of the vehicle X based on information about the outer shape of the vehicle X from the sensor 52. The predetermined designated portion of the vehicle X may be a portion where the air blown by the blower 36 is difficult to reach, such as a portion where the side mirrors are attached, a portion where the wipers are attached, the boundary between the roof and the rear window, or a portion where there is a step between the back door and the bumper. The sensor 52 can determine the position of the designated portion in a planar view from a change in the number of optical axis sensors that detect the vehicle X among the multi-axis optical axis sensors included in the sensor 52. For example, the control unit 44 may control the drive unit 4X to slow down the movement speed of the car wash machine main body 4 or to move the car wash machine main body 4 repeatedly while the blower 36 is draining water from the designated portion. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may temporarily stop the movement of the car wash machine main body 4 as needed. By controlling the water-draining process to be focused on the designated portion, water can be more reliably drained. By improving the draining effect of the cleaning solution, the occurrence of ion deposits can be significantly reduced.

[0060] During the draining process, the control unit 44 may replace the water in the path between the pure water tank 72 and the drainage path 23 with pure water by supplying pure water from the pure water tank 72 while discharging the cleaning liquid through the drainage path 23.

[0061] (Finishing cleaning process) After the water draining process, the car wash machine 2 executes a finish washing process in which the vehicle is finished washed using pure water (step S8). Specifically, the control unit 44 controls the pure water spray mechanism and each part of the car wash machine main body 4 to execute the finish washing process.

[0062] The finish washing step according to this embodiment will be described in detail with further reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a process front view showing the car wash machine 2 and the vehicle X in the finish washing step as seen from the front of the car wash machine main body 4.

[0063] In the finish washing process, the control unit 44 controls the drive unit 4X of the car wash machine main body 4 to move the car wash machine main body 4 forward while spraying pure water onto the vehicle X, thereby removing at least a portion of the cleaning liquid containing tap water and detergent, etc., adhering to the surface of the vehicle X. Specifically, the control unit 44 controls the high-pressure pump P2 to supply pure water to the car wash machine main body 4 via the second path 71, and spray the pure water onto the vehicle X via the high-pressure nozzle 26 and the side high-pressure nozzle 27.

[0064] (High pressure nozzle) In the finish washing step, the control unit 44 raises and lowers the high-pressure nozzle 26 above the vehicle X to follow the shape of the vehicle X, based on the vehicle shape information obtained in the vehicle shape information acquisition step. For example, the control unit 44 raises and lowers the beam 26B in the vertical direction via the above-mentioned arm, thereby raising and lowering the high-pressure nozzle 26 formed on the beam 26B. Furthermore, while raising and lowering the high-pressure nozzle 26, the control unit 44 supplies high-pressure pure water to the high-pressure nozzle 26 via the beam 26B, thereby spraying pure water from the high-pressure nozzle 26 toward the surface of the vehicle X. The control unit 44 may control the position of the high-pressure nozzle 26 so that it is close to the vehicle X while maintaining a substantially constant distance.

[0065] In the finish washing process, the high-pressure nozzle 26 is positioned above the vehicle X and the spray direction is directed downward, in other words, toward the vehicle X. Therefore, in the finish washing process, the high-pressure nozzle 26 sprays pure water toward the vehicle X from above the vehicle X.

[0066] By raising and lowering the high-pressure nozzle 26 in accordance with the shape of the vehicle X, the car wash machine 2 further increases the force of the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle 26 onto the vehicle X. This allows the car wash machine 2 to more efficiently remove the washing liquid adhering to the vehicle X, and significantly reduces the occurrence of ion deposits on the surface of the vehicle X.

[0067] Furthermore, by raising and lowering the high-pressure nozzle 26 to follow the shape of the vehicle X, the car wash machine 2 can spray pure water from the high-pressure nozzle 26 onto the vehicle X with more uniform force. This allows the car wash machine 2 to reduce unevenness in the removal of cleaning liquid adhering to the vehicle X. Furthermore, by raising and lowering the high-pressure nozzle 26 to follow the shape of the vehicle X, the car wash machine 2 can spray pure water from the high-pressure nozzle 26 onto the vehicle X with less waste. Furthermore, because the car wash machine 2 sprays pure water at high pressure from the high-pressure nozzle 26 onto the vehicle X, it efficiently removes cleaning liquid remaining on the surface of the vehicle X. This allows the car wash machine 2 to reduce the amount of pure water used and reduce the cost of washing a car.

[0068] In the finish washing process, the high-pressure nozzle 26 sprays pure water onto the vehicle X at a spray pressure higher than the spray pressure of clean water from the clean water nozzle 24. This allows the car wash machine 2 to more efficiently remove the washing liquid adhering to the vehicle X, and significantly reduces the generation of ion deposits on the surface of the vehicle X.

[0069] In the finish washing step, the pressure of the pure water sprayed by the high-pressure nozzle 26 is higher than the pressure of the clean water sprayed by the clean water nozzle 24, and is 2 MPa or less. This allows the car wash machine 2 to more efficiently remove the clean water adhering to the vehicle X while reducing the amount of pure water that splashes onto areas other than the vehicle X, such as the car wash machine main body 4. In particular, from the perspective of more efficiently removing the clean water adhering to the vehicle X, the pressure of the pure water sprayed by the high-pressure nozzle 26 may be 100 kPa or more, and more preferably 1 MPa or more.

[0070] As described above, the length of the beam 26B in the extension direction is longer than the width of the vehicle X that can be washed by the car wash machine 2. Therefore, in the finish washing process, the two high-pressure nozzles 26S are located on the left and right outer sides of the vehicle X in a plan view of the vehicle X. In FIG. 5, the positions of the right end RE and the left end LE of the vehicle X in the left-right direction of the vehicle X are indicated by dotted lines. As is clear from FIG. 5, one of the high-pressure nozzles 26S is located further to the right of the right end RE of the vehicle X, and the other high-pressure nozzle 26S is located further to the left of the left end LE of the vehicle X in the left-right direction of the vehicle X.

[0071] As described above, the high-pressure nozzle 26S sprays pure water toward the center in the left-right direction of the car wash machine main body 4 rather than vertically downward. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5, the spray range 26E of pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle 26S includes the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X. In addition, the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle 26S onto the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X is sprayed from outside the left and right sides of the vehicle X toward the center.

[0072] Therefore, the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle 26S onto the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X is scattered by the force of contact with the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X, and in particular, is scattered further outward and downward from each of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X. Therefore, by spraying pure water from the high-pressure nozzle 26S, the car wash machine 2 can spray the pure water scattering on the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X onto the inside of parts located outside the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X, such as the mirror surfaces of folded side mirrors.

[0073] (side high-pressure nozzle) In the finish washing process, the control unit 44 causes pure water to be sprayed toward the surface of the vehicle X not only from the high-pressure nozzle 26 but also from the side high-pressure nozzle 27. In particular, the pure water from the side high-pressure nozzle 27 is sprayed from the side of the vehicle X. This allows the car wash machine 2 to more efficiently remove the washing liquid from the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X.

[0074] In particular, in the finish washing step, the control unit 44 may control, based on the vehicle shape information, the spray direction of the pure water from the side high-pressure nozzle 27. For example, the control unit 44 may control the spray range 27E of the pure water from the side high-pressure nozzle 27 shown in Fig. 5 so that it includes from the top end of the vehicle X to the bottom of the body.

[0075] Furthermore, in the finish washing process, the control unit 44 may control the side high-pressure nozzles 27 to spray pure water above the vehicle X rather than horizontally. In this case, the pure water sprayed from the side high-pressure nozzles 27 onto the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X is scattered by the force of contact with the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X, and in particular, is scattered further outward and upward from each of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X. Therefore, with the above-described configuration, the car wash machine 2 can spray pure water scattered on the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle X onto the inside of the fin roof, overfenders, and other parts that form eaves when viewed from above the vehicle X, thereby removing the pure water adhering to the inside of these parts.

[0076] In the car washing method using the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment, the finish washing step is performed after the water draining step. Therefore, the finish washing step is performed in a state where the amount of washing liquid adhering to the surface of the vehicle X has been reduced by the water draining step. Therefore, the car wash machine 2 can further enhance the effect of removing the washing liquid adhering to the surface of the vehicle X in the finish washing step.

[0077] In the car washing method using the car wash machine 2 according to this embodiment, the electrical conductivity of pure water is lower than the electrical conductivity of the cleaning liquid. Furthermore, the electrical conductivity of pure water is 0 μS / cm or more and 6 μS / cm or less. Therefore, in the car washing method using the car wash machine 2, even if pure water remains on the surface of the vehicle X, the generation of ion deposits on the surface of the vehicle X is reduced. Therefore, this car washing method further reduces the generation of ion deposits on the surface of the vehicle X.

[0078] (drying process) After the finish washing step, the car wash machine 2 executes the drying step (step S10). Specifically, the drying step is executed by the control unit 44 controlling each part of the car wash machine main body 4. In the drying step, the control unit 44 may operate the blower 36 while moving the car wash machine main body 4 backward to blow air onto the vehicle X and dry the vehicle X.

[0079] 〔summary〕 (1) A car washing method according to aspect 1 of the present disclosure is a car washing method performed by a car wash machine including a car wash machine main body that includes a washing liquid nozzle that sprays washing liquid and a high-pressure nozzle that sprays high-pressure pure water and that moves relative to a vehicle in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and a vehicle shape information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle shape information, which is information related to at least a part of the vehicle's outer shape, and includes a vehicle shape information acquisition process in which the vehicle shape information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle shape information, a vehicle washing process that includes spraying the washing liquid from the washing liquid nozzle onto the surface of the vehicle, and a finish washing process that is performed after the vehicle shape information acquisition process and the washing process, in which at least a part of the washing liquid adhering to the surface of the vehicle is removed, and in the finish washing process, while the car wash machine main body is moved relative to the vehicle in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, the high-pressure nozzle is raised and lowered above the vehicle to follow the shape of the vehicle based on at least the vehicle shape information, and the pure water is sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle.

[0080] In the finish washing step, the high-pressure nozzle is raised and lowered above the vehicle to follow the shape of the vehicle, thereby removing the washing solution adhering to the vehicle surface, thereby increasing the force of the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle onto the vehicle. This allows the car washing method to more efficiently remove the washing solution adhering to the vehicle and significantly reduce the generation of ion deposits on the vehicle surface.

[0081] (2) In the car washing method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, in the first aspect, the high-pressure nozzle sprays pure water at a spray pressure higher than the spray pressure of the washer liquid from the washer liquid nozzle.

[0082] As a result, the car washing method described above more efficiently removes the cleaning liquid adhering to the vehicle, and further reduces the occurrence of ion deposits on the surface of the vehicle.

[0083] (3) In the car washing method according to aspect 3 of the present disclosure, in aspect 1 or 2 above, the pressure of the pure water sprayed by the high-pressure nozzle is higher than the spray pressure of the cleaning liquid by the cleaning liquid nozzle and is 2 MPa or less.

[0084] As a result, the car washing method can more efficiently remove the washing liquid adhering to the vehicle while reducing the amount of pure water that splashes onto the vehicle and onto other parts of the car washing machine body and the like.

[0085] (4) In the car washing method according to aspect 4 of the present disclosure, in the finishing wash process of any of aspects 1 to 3 above, at least one of the high-pressure nozzles is positioned on at least one of the left and right outer sides of the vehicle when viewed from above, and the pure water is sprayed toward the center of the vehicle in the left-right direction rather than vertically.

[0086] In the finish washing process, the pure water is further sprayed outward and downward from each of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle. Therefore, in the above method, the pure water sprayed on the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle can be sprayed toward the inside of the portions located outside the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle.

[0087] (5) In a car washing method according to aspect 5 of the present disclosure, in any of aspects 1 to 4 above, the car wash machine body further includes a side high-pressure nozzle located below the high-pressure nozzle and on at least one side of the vehicle relative to the high-pressure nozzle in a plan view of the vehicle, which sprays the pure water at a spray pressure higher than the spray pressure of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle, and in the finishing cleaning process, the pure water is sprayed from the side high-pressure nozzle onto at least a portion of the side of the vehicle.

[0088] In the finish washing step, pure water is sprayed onto the vehicle surface not only from the high-pressure nozzle but also from the side high-pressure nozzle, which allows the car washing method to more efficiently remove the washing liquid from the left and right sides of the vehicle.

[0089] (6) In the car washing method according to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the finish washing step of the fifth aspect, the side high-pressure nozzle sprays the pure water above the vehicle rather than horizontally.

[0090] In the finish washing process, pure water is further splashed outward and upward from each of the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle. Therefore, in the above-described car washing method, the pure water splashed on the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle can be sprayed onto the inside of the eaves when viewed from above the vehicle, and the clean water adhering to the inside of these parts can be removed.

[0091] (7) In the car washing method according to aspect 7 of the present disclosure, in any one of aspects 1 to 6 above, at least a portion of the washing process and at least a portion of the vehicle shape information acquisition process overlap.

[0092] The above method shortens the time required to actually carry out the cleaning process and the vehicle type information acquisition process, thereby further reducing the time required to clean the vehicle.

[0093] (8) In the car washing method according to aspect 8 of the present disclosure, in any of aspects 1 to 7 above, the car wash machine main body further includes a blower, and after the washing step, a water-draining step is included in which the car wash machine main body is moved relative to the vehicle in the fore-and-aft direction while the blower blows air toward the vehicle, thereby draining off the cleaning liquid adhering to the vehicle, and the finishing washing step is performed after the water-draining step.

[0094] The finish washing step is performed after the amount of washing liquid adhering to the vehicle surface has been reduced by the water draining step, and therefore the car washing method described above further enhances the effect of removing washing liquid adhering to the vehicle surface by the finish washing step.

[0095] (9) In a car washing method according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to eighth aspects, the electrical conductivity of the pure water is lower than the electrical conductivity of the cleaning liquid.

[0096] (10) In a car washing method according to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, in any one of the first to ninth aspects, the electrical conductivity of the pure water is 0 μS / cm or more and 6 μS / cm or less.

[0097] The above car washing method further reduces the occurrence of ion deposits on the surface of the vehicle.

[0098] [Additional Notes] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining different technical means disclosed in the respective embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 2...Car wash machine 4...Car wash machine body 4X... Drive unit 4Y...Cleaning Department 24. Clean water nozzle 26 High-pressure nozzle 27 High-pressure side nozzle 36···Blower 44 Control section

Claims

1. A car washing method performed by a car washing machine including a washing liquid nozzle that sprays washing liquid and a high-pressure nozzle that sprays high-pressure pure water, and a car washing machine main body that moves relative to a vehicle in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and a vehicle shape information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle shape information that is information related to at least a part of the outer shape of the vehicle, a vehicle shape information acquisition step in which the vehicle shape information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle shape information; a step of washing the vehicle, the step including spraying the washing liquid from the washing liquid nozzle onto a surface of the vehicle; a finish cleaning process that is performed after the vehicle shape information acquisition process and the cleaning process, and that removes at least a portion of the cleaning liquid that has adhered to the surface of the vehicle; In the finish washing step, the car wash machine body is moved relatively in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the high-pressure nozzle is raised and lowered above the vehicle in accordance with the shape of the vehicle based on at least the vehicle shape information, and the pure water is sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle. In the finish washing step, at least one of the high-pressure nozzles is positioned on at least one of the left and right outer sides of the vehicle in a plan view of the vehicle, and the pure water is sprayed toward a center in the left and right direction of the vehicle rather than a vertical direction, In the vehicle shape information acquisition step, the vehicle shape information acquisition unit acquires a side mirror portion of the vehicle as one piece of the vehicle shape information, In the finish washing step, at least one of the high-pressure nozzles sprays the pure water onto a portion of the side mirror of the vehicle based on the portion of the side mirror included in the vehicle model information.

2. The car washing method according to claim 1 , wherein the high-pressure nozzle sprays the pure water at a spray pressure higher than a spray pressure of the washer liquid sprayed by the washer liquid nozzle.

3. 3. The car washing method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the pure water sprayed from the high-pressure nozzle is higher than the spray pressure of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid nozzle and is 2 MPa or less.

4. the car wash machine body further includes a side high-pressure nozzle located below the high-pressure nozzle and at least on one side of the vehicle, in a plan view of the vehicle, of the high-pressure nozzle, and spraying the pure water at a spray pressure higher than the spray pressure of the cleaning liquid by the cleaning liquid nozzle, 3. The car washing method according to claim 1, wherein in the finish washing step, the pure water is sprayed from the side high-pressure nozzle onto at least a part of the side of the vehicle.

5. 5. The car washing method according to claim 4, wherein in the finish washing step, the side high-pressure nozzle sprays the pure water above the vehicle rather than horizontally.

Images