WASHING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing device for vehicles, which can clean the surface of a vehicle with high precision and with care. The claimed washing device comprises a delta robot (8, 32, 36, 48, 50) which supports a treatment element (6) on the operating-sided end.

Claims

1. Washing device for vehicles with at least one delta robot, which carries a treatment element at its actuation-side end.

2. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein the treatment element is formed as a cleaning element for direct contact with a surface of the vehicle and/or as a spraying element for spraying-on a cleaning or care substance and/or as a drying element adapted to dry the vehicle.

3. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein the delta robot is controlled by a control device which processes contour data on the shape of the vehicle to be cleaned for positioning the treatment element and cleaning intensity data, which adapts at least one of the following parameters depending on a cleaning effort varying over the surface of the vehicle: acting pressure of the treatment element against the surface of the vehicle to be cleaned; acting speed of the treatment element against the surface of the vehicle to be cleaned; acting duration in a predetermined surface area of the vehicle; acting movement pattern of the treatment element in a predetermined surface area of the vehicle.

4. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein the delta robot is controlled by a control device in dependence on weather and/or seasonal data and/or in dependence on an individual pre-adjustment preset for a specific vehicle owner.

5. Washing device according to claim 1 further comprising a treatment element magazine, to which the delta robot has access for automatic exchange of the treatment element and in which differently contoured treatment elements are provided.

6. Washing device according to claim 1 further comprising a treatment element treatment station for regeneration of used treatment elements.

7. Washing device according to claim 6, wherein the treatment element treatment means comprises a circumferential treatment path on which the treatment elements are cleaned and/or checked and/or provided with cleaning and/or polishing agent and/or exchanged and/or dried.

8. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein the washing device is designed as a car wash with a moving means for moving the vehicle and a front recognition station in the direction of movement of the moving means and a rear washing station in the direction of movement of the moving means with at least one delta robot, the recognition station having a recognition means for recognizing the moving vehicle and a control device controlling the delta robot, using findings thereby obtained on the position, type and/or equipment of the vehicle to prescribe a cleaning program for the vehicle.

9. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein the washing device comprises a washing station with a plurality of delta robots arranged substantially vertically and opposite each other to receive the vehicle to be washed between them and/or arranged above a positioning area for the vehicle to clean a roof of the vehicle and/or arranged opposite each other above the positioning area to receive a front or rear of the vehicle between them.

10. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein the delta robot is connected to a linear guide.

11. Washing device according to claim 10, wherein between a support and an operating end there is arranged an intermediate element to which connecting rods and arm links are articulated, wherein the connecting rods extend between the support and the intermediate element and wherein the arm links extend between the support and a work plate to which the treatment element is connected.

12. Washing device according to claim 11, wherein at least three linear guides are provided for each said intermediate element.

13. Washing device according to claim 10 wherein two sets are provided, the sets being assigned to different longitudinal sides of a vehicle to be cleaned, each having at least three linear guides.

14. Washing device according to claim 1 wherein at least one arm link, and/or at least one connecting rod and/or an intermediate element is provided with LEDs.

15. Washing device according to claim 13 wherein the linear guides of a set are fixed to a frame which is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Description

[0046] The present invention is explained below by means of an embodiment in connection with the drawing:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of a vehicle to be washed with an embodiment of a delta robot

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a car wash of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a perspective, rear view of a vehicle to be washed when treated with a second embodiment of the washing device according to the invention;

[0051] FIG. 5 shows the representation according to FIG. 5 in a different perspective side view;

[0052] FIG. 6 shows the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 when treating a front surface of a vehicle to be washed;

[0053] FIG. 7 shows the representation shown in FIG. 7 for a different perspective view;

[0054] FIG. 8 shows a frontal view of an intermediate element with hexapod;

[0055] FIG. 9 shows a side view of an intermediate element with hexapod;

[0056] FIG. 10 shows a top view of an intermediate element with hexapod;

[0057] FIG. 11 shows a perspective side view of the intermediate element with hexapod and

[0058] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view similar to that shown in FIG. 6 for an alternative embodiment.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle to be washed in the form of a passenger car 2, to which a cleaning element in the form of a cleaning sponge 6 is operatively connected in the area of the bonnet 4. The cleaning sponge 6 is held and moved by a delta robot marked with reference numeral 8. For this purpose, the delta robot 8 has four arm links 10, each of which is designed as a double arm link and is connected at its ends on the actuation side to a work plate 12, which carries the cleaning sponge 6, and is articulated at its opposite end to one drive arm 14 each. This drive arm 14 can be pivoted by means of a motor not shown in detail, which is attached to a base 16. The delta robot 8 has four drive arms 14 with corresponding arm links 10. Thus 10 different parallelograms are formed by the arm links, which are marked with reference numeral 18.

[0060] By driving the drive arms 14, the work plate 12 can be pivoted with regard to its horizontal alignment in order to place the cleaning sponge 6 as plane-parallel as possible on the surface of the passenger car 2. In addition, the cleaning sponge 6 can be moved relative to the bonnet 4 by driving the drive arms 14.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows different areas of the passenger car 2 that require cleaning of varying intensity. A front area is marked with I, which includes the radiator and the lamps of the driving light and which gets dirty during fast driving, especially in the form of insects and stone chips. The high speed at which the dirt flows against the front area I results in an intensive degree of soiling and stubborn dirt on the surface of the passenger car 2.

[0062] A section of the mudguards and a front area of the doors are marked II. This lateral front area II experiences less soiling compared to the front area I. The upper part of the bonnet following the front area I in the direction of travel is marked III. All window areas form an area IV.

[0063] The invention, with its specific embodiment, is guided by the consideration of cleaning the respective areas I-IV in accordance with the material composition of the surface or the degree of soiling. Thus the front area I is exposed to considerably more contact pressure and higher intensity in the form of high relative speed and high contact pressure between the cleaning sponge 6 and the surface of the passenger car 2 and/or high-frequency oscillating movement.

[0064] In contrast, the lateral front area II is cleaned more moderately. These two areas I and II as well as the bonnet area III can be cleaned with the same cleaning sponge 6, whereby the bonnet area III is treated with even less cleaning intensity.

[0065] The window area IV is cleaned with a cleaning element optimally adapted to glass cleaning. The same applies to the wheel area marked with reference numeral V, which includes the rims and also partly the tires.

[0066] It goes without saying that the cleaning of a passenger car 2 can be done with only one delta robot 8. This can then be moved relative to the passenger car 2, preferably in the height, width and length direction of the vehicle.

[0067] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of a car wash 20. The car wash 20 has a recognition station 22 with an upper camera 24 and side cameras 26 that can optically measure and recognize the vehicle 2 as it passes through the recognition station 22. This allows all areas to be broken down and analyzed. These cameras 24, 26 are each kept movable by delta robots 27 of the recognition station 22, in order to enable as many different projections as possible on the vehicle 2. The data thus obtained are processed in a control unit, not shown, in order to select or calculate a cleaning program adapted to the design of the passenger car 2. The cleaning program may include data representing the exterior design of the passenger car 2 which, after recognition of the model and generation of the model, is read out for the corresponding model and transmitted to a washing station marked with reference numeral 26 for the purpose of developing an individual cleaning program for the corresponding vehicle. This washing station has two lateral delta robots 32 on each side of the passenger car 2, each mounted on a frame 30, which can be moved in height. Lateral delta robots 32 opposing each other laterally accommodate the passenger car 2 to be washed between them. Accordingly, the lateral delta robots 32 see the mudguards, wheels, doors and lateral rear surfaces as well as the lateral window front of passenger car 2. The frame 30 has horizontally extending cross struts 34, which support two upper delta robots 36, which are located above a positioning area 38 for the vehicle 2 to clean the roof of the vehicle 2. The cross struts 34 each carry longitudinal guides 40, which in turn are displaceably guided on the cross struts 34 in order to move the upper delta robots with their base 16 in a horizontal plane relative to the vehicle roof. As can be seen, the lateral delta robots 32 are not only height-adjustable, but can also be moved vertically and horizontally via cross beams 42, which are mounted on the frame 30.

[0068] Front and rear frames 44, 46 are provided to accommodate the positioning area 38 between them. The frame 46 at the rear in the direction of movement of vehicle 2 carries a front delta robot 48. The frame 44 at the front in the direction of movement of vehicle 2 carries a rear delta robot 50. The delta robots 48, 50 are mounted on the frames 44, 46 so that they can be moved transversely and vertically in order to clean the front and rear sections of the passenger car 2.

[0069] Reference numeral 52 identifies a conventionally designed movement device for moving the vehicle through car wash 20.

[0070] The vehicle 2 to be washed is first guided through the recognition station 22. The cameras 24, 26 are moved by the assigned delta robots in order to record as many details of the passenger car 2 as possible. The optical data thus obtained is processed by a processor of the control device. This processor also controls the movement of the various delta robots 32, 36, 48, 50 of the washing station 28, whereby the cleaning elements 6 provided on the corresponding robots 32, 36, 48, 50 are not only guided parallel to the surface to be cleaned with a predetermined movement pattern. Rather, the cleaning intensity is also adapted to the degree of soiling.

[0071] FIGS. 4 to 7 show side views of a second embodiment of a washing device according to the invention. Compared to the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, identical elements are marked with identical reference numerals.

[0072] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 has two identically designed sub-groups 54, each of which has a delta robot designed as a hexapod 56 which, like the first embodiment, carries a cleaning sponge at its actuation-side end, the hexapod 56 with its six length-adjustable arm links 10 being supported via a support arm structure 58 formed by a plurality of connecting rods forming an intermediate element. The support arm structure 58 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

[0073] The support arm structure 58 is articulated via connecting rods 60 to a support 62. The support 62 is mounted on a frame 66 via a linear guide 64. The connecting rods 60 are each provided in pairs. The connecting rods, which are combined to form a pair, extend parallel to each other and are articulated at equal distances on the support 62 on the one hand and on the intermediate element 58 on the other. The connection to the support 62 and the intermediate element 58 is made by ball joints. The frame 66 has a contact surface 68 adapted to abut against a building wall of a car wash, which is not shown. The frame 66 consists of welded beams 70.

[0074] The frame 66 supports a lower linear guide marked with reference numeral 64.1, which is provided at the level of the wheels of the passenger car 2. In the vertical direction above it, the frame 68 supports an outer linear guide 64.2. An upper linear guide 64.3 is provided above the vehicle and supported by the frame 68, approximately at the same level with this outer linear guide 64.2. Each of the linear guides 64.1, 64.2, 64.3 displaceably guides one support 62 each. By relative positioning of the respective supports 62, the support arm structure 58 can be moved not only relative to the passenger car 2 in its longitudinal direction. Rather, relative movements of the supports 62 of a sub-group 54 in relation to each other can also cause a change in the angular orientation of the support arm structure 58 relative to the passenger car 2. This results in a certain positioning of the hexapod 56, which can also position and move the cleaning sponge 6 relative to the surface of the passenger car 2 to be cleaned.

[0075] As shown in particular in FIG. 4, the two sub-groups 54 are provided to be offset in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, i.e. in the direction of travel. They are designed so that the slightly rearward sub-group 54 can clean the rear area VI but not the front area I of the passenger car 2, while the front sub-group 54 with the work plate 12 and the cleaning foam 6 provided on it can reach the front surfaces of the vehicle but not the rear area VI and the rear bumper.

[0076] Each frame 66 may be individually movable on horizontal rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The support is preferably implemented through rollers or wheels. The frames 66 can also be driven in order to follow a movement of the vehicle 4 to be cleaned, for example. The previously described offset of the two-sided sub-groups 54 increases the effective cleaning with only two sub-groups 54.

[0077] FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate elements of the support arm structure 58. As already mentioned above, the support arm structure 58 serves to connect the connecting rods 60. For this purpose, the support arm structure 58 has three continuous axle beams 72, at the free ends 74 of which the connecting rods 60, which are provided in pairs, are articulated. These free ends 74 do not necessarily each have to be formed by a one-piece axle beam 72. However, the free ends 74 with their longitudinal axis are in one plane or parallel to this plane. As FIG. 8 illustrates, the axle beams 62 are arranged in a single plane. However, it is sufficient to arrange the axle beams 72 or the free ends 74 in each case in such a way that they extend parallel to the plane to be seen in FIG. 8. An arrangement in the same plane is not absolutely necessary. The support arm structure 58 forms a mounting base 76 for connecting the hexapod 56. The attachment points formed by this mounting base 76 for hexapod 56 lie in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the free ends 74 (see FIGS. 9, 10). The mounting base, which is usually designed as a hexagon, is engaged by the mounting ends of the arm links 10, which are designed as length-adjustable cylinders. At the other end of the latter, work plate 12 is shown.

[0078] The support arm structure 58 is usually designed as a lightweight component. In this way, the axle beams 72 can be formed from metal andas shown in particular in FIG. 10can be circumferentially enclosed by the carbon material to create a tight connection between the axle beam 72 and the carbon material. The angular, preferably right-angled orientation of the mounting base 76 relative to the plane formed by the free ends 74 for connecting the connecting rods 60, allows the work plate 12 to be better positioned relative to the surface of the vehicle to be cleaned.

[0079] FIG. 12 shows a modified embodiment in which the washing device is equipped with four assemblies 54.1 to 54.4, each of which is mounted on a separate support 62.1 or 62.2 and attached to a wall. The connection to the wall can also be done in a movable way as described above. The lower assemblies 54.2 and 54.4 are used to clean the lower parts of the vehicle, whereas the upper assemblies 54.1 and 54.3 clean the upper part of the vehicle. Two sub-groups 54.1, 54.2 or 54.3, 54.4 are provided on each longitudinal side of the vehicle.

[0080] Thus, four different work plates with associated cleaning elements are in use.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0081] 2 passenger car [0082] 4 bonnet [0083] 6 cleaning sponge [0084] 8 delta robot [0085] 10 arm links [0086] 12 work plate [0087] 14 drive arm [0088] 16 base [0089] 18 parallelogram [0090] 20 car wash [0091] 22 recognition station [0092] 24 upper camera [0093] 26 side camera [0094] 27 frame [0095] 28 washing station [0096] 30 frame [0097] 32 lateral delta robot [0098] 34 cross strut [0099] 36 upper delta robot [0100] 38 positioning area [0101] 40 longitudinal guide [0102] 42 cross beam [0103] 44 front frame [0104] 46 rear frame [0105] 48 front delta robot [0106] 50 rear delta robot [0107] 52 moving means [0108] 54 sub-group [0109] 56 hexapod [0110] 58 support arm structure/intermediate element [0111] 60 connecting rod [0112] 62 support [0113] 64 linear guide [0114] 66 frame [0115] 68 abutment surface [0116] 70 carrier [0117] 72 axle beam [0118] 76 mounting base [0119] I front area [0120] II lateral front area [0121] III bonnet area [0122] IV window surface area [0123] V wheel area [0124] VI rear area