JP4245760B2 - Car wash machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a car wash machine that includes a car wash processing device that performs a car wash operation on an automobile in a car wash body formed in a portal shape, and performs car washing along with relative movement between the car wash machine body and the automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In such a car wash machine, when brushing is performed by bringing the cleaning brush into contact with the vehicle body, the protrusions protruding from the surface of the vehicle body, such as carriers and door mirrors, do not break due to the protrusions coming into contact with the cleaning brush. In this way, the cleaning brush is controlled away from the vehicle body so as to avoid contact.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the avoiding cleaning brush is moved back into contact with the vehicle body, when the rotating cleaning brush comes into contact with the vehicle body, a repulsive force is generated between the cleaning brush and the vehicle body, and the cleaning brush repels and remains unwashed in this part. Will occur.
[0004]
In particular, the configuration of the upper surface cleaning brush is balanced with a pair of brush arms that are swingably provided in the car wash machine body, a brush that is rotatably held at one end of the brush arm, and the brush. In the case where the other end of the brush arm has a weight, the balance with the weight is adjusted so that the brush has an appropriate contact pressure so that the upper surface cleaning brush moves up and down smoothly along the upper surface of the car body. Therefore, when a sudden contact pressure is generated on the brush, such as when the upper surface cleaning brush contacts the vehicle body, the brush is easily repelled.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a car wash machine for washing a car in association with a relative movement between a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape and an automobile, and is rotatably provided to be in contact with a car body and brushed. A cleaning brush, a movement control means for moving the cleaning brush so as to act on a vehicle body, a motor for rotating the cleaning brush, a rotational speed control means for variably controlling the rotational speed of the motor, and the cleaning brush. When moving from a position away from the vehicle body to a position in contact with the vehicle body, the rotation speed of the motor is set to a lower speed than that used during normal car washing, and the rotation speed used during normal car washing after the cleaning brush contacts the vehicle body. And a control means for increasing the speed.
[0006]
According to the present invention, in the car wash machine, the vehicle body detection means for detecting the surface of the automobile body, the position detection means for detecting the movement position of the washing brush, and the washing brush are prevented from coming into contact with the automobile body. When detecting the distance between the cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body and controlling the movement of the cleaning brush at the avoidance position so as to contact the vehicle body, the cleaning is performed according to the distance between the cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body. A car wash machine comprising control means for variably controlling a time during which the number of rotations of the brush is low.
[0007]
Further, the present invention provides a car wash machine that performs car wash with relative movement between a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape and an automobile, and a pair of brush arms provided swingably on the car wash machine body, An upper surface cleaning brush that is rotatably held by a brush arm and contacts and brushes the upper surface of the vehicle body; movement control means for moving the upper surface cleaning brush to act on the vehicle body; and a motor that rotates the upper surface cleaning brush. Rotation speed control means for variably controlling the rotation speed of the motor, and when the upper surface cleaning brush is moved from a position away from the vehicle body to a position in contact with the vehicle body, the rotation speed of the motor is the rotation speed used during normal car washing. And a control means for increasing the rotational speed to be used for normal car washing after the upper surface cleaning brush contacts the vehicle body.
[0008]
According to the present invention, in this car wash machine, the vehicle body detection means for detecting the upper surface position of the automobile body, the position detection means for detecting the movement position of the upper surface cleaning brush, and the upper surface cleaning brush so as not to contact the vehicle body. When the distance between the upper surface cleaning brush in the avoidance position and the vehicle body is detected, and the upper surface cleaning brush in the avoidance position is controlled to contact the vehicle body, the distance between the upper surface cleaning brush in the avoidance position and the vehicle body is Control means is provided for variably controlling the time during which the rotation speed of the upper surface cleaning brush is reduced according to the distance.
[0009]
[Action]
When the cleaning brush moves from the avoidance position toward the vehicle body and the cleaning brush contacts the vehicle body, the repulsive force between the rotating cleaning brush and the vehicle body can be reduced by setting the rotation speed of the cleaning brush to a low speed. It is possible to prevent the washing brush from splashing and leaving unwashed.
[0010]
In addition, since the time to reduce the rotation speed of the brush is controlled according to the distance between the cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body, the time to reduce the rotation speed of the brush is not taken more than necessary, and the cleaning effect High car wash.
[0011]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape, and the wheels 2 and 2 are rotationally driven by motors 4 and 4 that can be rotated forward and backward, and reciprocate along rails 3 and 3.
[0012]
Reference numeral 5 denotes a rotary encoder for detecting the car wash machine travel position, which is connected to the output shaft of the motor 4 and outputs a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotation direction of the motor 4, thereby driving the car wash machine main body 1 travel position. Is given.
[0013]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a position sensor for detecting the position of the car wash machine, which is provided at the lower part of the car wash machine body 1 and senses and switches the dog 7 which is a projection fixed to the rail 3 laying surface. Is given. The dog 7 gives the running start position of the car wash machine body.
[0014]
8 is an upper surface cleaning brush that moves up and down along the upper surface of the vehicle body, 9 and 9 are side surface cleaning brushes that open and close along the side surface of the vehicle body, 10, 11 and 11 are watering nozzles, 12 are upper surface drying nozzles, and 13 and 13 are side surface drying nozzles. Thus, a car wash processing device that performs processing such as washing and drying of the vehicle body as the car wash machine body 1 reciprocates is configured.
[0015]
The light projector group 14 and the light receiver group 15 are beam sensors which are vehicle body detection means, and are arranged on the inner surface of the car wash machine body 1 in a number of pairs in the vertical direction and used to detect the shape of the automobile. The projector group 14 is sequentially turned on and off one by one, and irradiates light toward the light receiver group 15 in the horizontal direction. As a result, when the light emitted from the projector of the projector group 14 is blocked by the vehicle body, the corresponding receiver of the light receiver group 15 does not receive light, and when it is not blocked by the vehicle body, it receives light. It becomes possible to detect the presence or absence of an automobile body.
[0016]
Reference numeral 16 denotes an operation panel provided on the front surface of the car wash machine body 1 for receiving a car wash fee, selecting a car wash course, specifying a car wash method such as the presence or absence of protrusions, and setting the car wash fee and car wash course. .
[0017]
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the configuration of the upper surface cleaning brush. The upper surface cleaning brush 8 is supported at both ends by one end of the brush arms 18 and 18 and moves up and down as the brush arms 18 and 18 rotate. The support shafts 19, 19 provided integrally with the brush arms 18, 18 are supported by bearings 20, 20 fixed on both inner sides of the portal frame 1. An air cylinder 21 is connected to one of the support shafts 19, and the upper surface cleaning brush 8 rises with the operation of the air cylinder 21. When the operation of the air cylinder 21 is released, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 descends due to the gravity balance, and when contacting the automobile body in this state, the brush arms 18 and 18 rotate upward, and the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is moved to the automobile body. Move to trace the top surface. Reference numeral 17 denotes a rotary encoder that detects the rotational position of the upper surface cleaning brush 8 and is connected to the support shaft 19 to output a pulse signal for each unit angle rotation while detecting the rotational direction of the support shaft 19, 18 and 18, that is, the rotational position of the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is given.
[0018]
One brush arm 18 is provided with a motor 22 that can rotate forward and reverse to drive the upper surface cleaning brush 8 on the side opposite to the side supporting the upper surface cleaning brush 8 and the support shaft 19. Although not shown, the brush arm 18 is provided with a sprocket connected to each of the upper surface cleaning brush 8 and the motor 22 and a chain spanned between the two sprockets. A weight 23 is attached to the other brush arm 18 on the side opposite to the side supporting the upper surface cleaning brush 8, thereby reducing the rotational load of the upper surface cleaning brush 8.
[0019]
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing an air pressure system for raising and lowering the upper surface cleaning brush. An air pressure source 24 supplies air having a predetermined pressure from a compressor or the like. An electropneumatic regulator 25 changes the pressure of the air supplied from the air pressure source according to the input voltage. A regulator 26 keeps air from the air pressure source at a constant pressure. Reference numerals 27 and 28 denote 3-port directional control valves that control the supply of air to the ports A and B of the air cylinder 21. Reference numerals 29 and 29 denote speed controllers for controlling the speed of the air cylinder 21.
[0020]
When the 3-port directional control valve 27 is opened to the atmosphere and 28 is opened to the air pressure source, the rod of the air cylinder 21 protrudes. When the 3-port directional control valve 27 is opened to the air pressure source and 28 is opened to the atmosphere, the rod of the air cylinder 21 is retracted. The expansion and contraction of the rod of the air cylinder 21 rotates the brush arm 18 via the support shaft 19 and moves the upper surface cleaning brush 8 up and down. When the rod of the air cylinder 21 protrudes, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is raised to the upper limit position, and when the rod of the air cylinder 21 is drawn, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is lowered to the lower limit position. When both three-port directional control valves 27 and 28 are released to the pneumatic source, the rod of the air cylinder is held and the top cleaning brush 8 is held in that position.
[0021]
The electropneumatic regulator 25 controls the air pressure supplied to the port A of the air cylinder 21, thereby changing the strength of the air pressure for drawing the rod of the air cylinder 21 and controlling the pressure for lowering the upper surface cleaning brush 8. The electropneumatic regulator 25 is controlled by a microcomputer which will be described later.
[0022]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the operation panel 16. The operation panel 16 includes an LCD display 30 for displaying an operation guide of the car wash machine, a course key 31 for selecting a car wash course, and a protrusion key 32 for designating an avoidance operation such as a protrusion attached to the car body to be cleaned. Manual operation key 33 for manually performing brush and nozzle avoidance operation during car wash, start key 34 for instructing start of car wash, stop key 35 for stopping car wash, numeric keypad 36 for inputting various data, known as car wash fee A card reader / writer 37 for receiving a prepaid card, a coin mech 38 for inserting coins, and a key switch 39 for switching power on / off, management mode, and operation mode are provided.
[0023]
In the management mode, the operator inputs various data to the car wash machine, checks the operation of each part of the car wash machine, and displays the total number of car wash. In the operation mode, a customer who performs a car wash performs a car wash acceptance operation and a manual operation of a brush and a nozzle during the car wash. The numeric keypad 35 is accepted only in the management mode, and is normally operated in the operation mode.
[0024]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. A microcomputer 40 includes a CPU 41 that performs arithmetic processing, a memory 42 that stores programs and various data, and input / output interfaces 43 and 43. The input / output interfaces 43 and 43 include a rotary encoder 5 for detecting a traveling position, a position Sensor 6, side cleaning brushes 9, 9, watering nozzles 10, 11, 11, upper surface drying nozzle 12, side surface drying nozzles 13, 13, operation panel 16, rotary encoder 17 for detecting the upper surface cleaning brush rotation position, 3-port direction control Valves 27 and 28 are connected.
[0025]
Reference numeral 45 denotes an inverter for controlling the rotation speed of the car wash machine running motors 4 and 4, which is connected to the input / output interface 43 and changes the frequency of the power supplied to the car wash machine running motors 4 and 4 to Change the rotational speed and change the running speed of the car wash as appropriate. 47 is an inverter that controls the rotational speed of the motor 22 for rotating the upper surface cleaning brush. The inverter 47 is connected to the input / output interface 43 and changes the frequency of the power supplied to the motor 22 for rotating the upper surface cleaning brush to change the rotational speed of the motor 22. Then, the number of rotations of the upper surface cleaning brush is appropriately changed.
[0026]
A digital / analog converter 46 is connected to the input / output interface 43, converts a digital signal output from the microcomputer 40 into an analog signal, supplies it to the electropneumatic regulator 25, and supplies it to the three-port directional control valve 27. To adjust the pressure at which the upper surface cleaning brush 8 descends.
[0027]
Reference numeral 44 denotes an image processing unit, which detects whether or not light is detected by each of the light projectors constituting the projector group 14 received by the light receiver group 15 of the vehicle shape detection beam sensor. The image data is stored in association with the input of the rotary encoder 5 and image processing is performed.
[0028]
Next, the operation of detecting the vehicle shape according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 7A, when the car wash machine main body 1 is at the car wash start position, the automobile A stops at a predetermined stop position. The car wash is started, and the car wash machine sequentially blinks the projectors in the projector group 14 and detects the presence or absence of light reception by the light receiver group 15 to detect the car A body. When the car wash machine body 1 reaches the position shown in FIG. 7B, the light of the projector below La among the projectors of the projector group 14 is shielded by the vehicle body of the automobile A and is not received by the receiver group 15. . The presence or absence of light reception from the projector in the light receiver group 15 is stored in the image processing unit 44 as the vehicle body detection state at this position. When the car wash is continued and the car wash machine body 1 reaches the position shown in FIG. 7C, the light of the projector below Lb among the projectors of the projector group 14 is blocked by the vehicle body of the automobile A. No light is received by the group 15. The presence or absence of light reception from the projector in the light receiver group 15 is also stored in the image processing unit 44 as the detection state of the vehicle body at this position. In this way, whether or not the light from the projector group 14 is blocked by the vehicle as the car wash machine 1 travels is sequentially stored in the image processing unit 44, and the vehicle body of the vehicle is detected as binary image data. .
[0029]
With such a method, vehicle body image data as shown in FIG. 8A is detected. As shown in FIG. 9 (a), the detected vehicle body image data is projected on a screen composed of pixels divided into LED units in which the horizontal axis is divided for each unit distance and the vertical axis is arranged in the vertical direction. The image data is represented as image data composed of binary data of 0 when the light emitted from the projector is projected and 1 when the light is shielded. By analyzing the image data by the image processing unit 44, the shape of the automobile body is detected.
[0030]
The outline of the automobile body is detected by applying a logical filter to the image data, thereby detecting reference points such as the front position and the boundary between the hood and the windshield. Applying a logical filter to the image data is performed by detecting a pattern of 9 pixels, which is a set of pixels to be detected and 8 pixels adjacent thereto, as shown in FIG. 9B. . That is, the detection is performed by an 8-neighbor process in which the pixel to be detected is set to D4 and whether the adjacent pixels D0, D1, D2, D3, D5, D6, D7, and D8 are 0 or 1 is detected. The car body contour image data is obtained by applying a logical filter to the car body image data to detect a boundary between a pixel having a pixel value of 1 and a pixel having a pixel value of 0. That is, the pixel D4 having a pixel value of 1 is detected in which direction the pixels D0, D1, D2, D3, D5, D6, and D7 are connected, and a contour line is detected. In this way, the contour line is followed to obtain a contour image as shown in FIG. Based on this contour image data, a change ΔH in the height direction between the distances in the vehicle length direction ΔL of the automobile body is calculated, and from the change in inclination, the front position a, the boundary b between the bonnet portion and the windshield b, Points such as the boundary c between the windshield and the roof, the boundary d between the roof and the rear glass, the boundary e between the rear glass and the trunk, and the rear position f are detected. In the case of a car without a bonnet such as a wagon car, the boundary between the bonnet part and the windshield cannot be detected, so if the boundary between the bonnet part and the windshield is not detected when the specified height is exceeded, the wagon car Therefore, the detection of the boundary between the bonnet part and the windshield is abandoned and the process moves to the detection of the boundary between the windshield and the roof part.
[0031]
FIG. 10 shows an example of controlling the upper surface cleaning brush based on the detected vehicle shape. As shown in FIG. 10 (a), the car wash machine starts car washing, sequentially flashes the projectors of the vehicle body detection projector group 14 and detects the presence or absence of light reception by the light receiver group 15 to detect the vehicle A vehicle body, The presence or absence of the vehicle body is stored in the image processing unit 44 as binarized vehicle body image data corresponding to the traveling position of the car wash machine detected by the rotary encoder. The image processing unit 44 analyzes the contour image data created by applying a logical filter at the same time, thereby obtaining reference points such as the front end face of the vehicle body, the boundary point between the bonnet and the windshield, and the boundary point between the windshield and the roof part. Extract sequentially.
[0032]
The distance Z between the upper surface cleaning brush 8 and the vehicle body detection projector group 14 and the light receiver group 15 can be obtained by calculation based on the design value and the rotational position of the upper surface cleaning brush 8. 8 is moved up and down following the body surface, and avoidance control of the projections is performed in accordance with the vehicle shape of the automobile A body sequentially analyzed by the image processing unit 44. In this way, as shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the top surface cleaning brush 8 is controlled while sequentially analyzing the image data of the vehicle shape that is detected and stored as the vehicle is driven. .
[0033]
Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the embodiment, a case will be described in which the upper surface cleaning brush controls the sine pole provided at the front end portion of the automobile. When the sign pole is designated by the input from the operation panel 16 or when the sign pole is recognized as a result of detecting the vehicle shape, the car wash machine is provided with the sign pole SP at the front end portion of the car A The upper surface cleaning brush 8 is held at a position away from the vehicle body at the detected front end portion of the automobile A. At this time, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is held at a height α such that the tip of the rotating brush slightly touches the vehicle body, and the brush rotates at a low speed, without damaging the sign pole and brushing the vehicle body as much as possible. I can do it. When the upper surface cleaning brush 8 reaches the position P1 where the sign pole SP part is avoided, the car wash machine stops traveling, and the repulsive force between the rotating brush and the vehicle body surface is reduced while the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is kept rotating at a low speed. In a state where it becomes smaller, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is lowered. Thereafter, when a time t1 has passed so that the brush descending on the vehicle body surface can be prevented from moving up and down due to the reaction, the brush is rotated at a high speed, and the car wash machine is resumed for brushing.
[0034]
Another method for avoiding the sign pole portion is shown in FIG. The car wash machine stops the rotation of the upper surface cleaning brush 8 and holds the upper surface cleaning brush 8 at a height β at which the tip of the brush is completely separated from the vehicle body. When the upper surface cleaning brush 8 reaches the position P2 where the avoidance of the sign pole SP portion is completed, the car wash machine stops traveling, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is rotated at a low speed, and the repulsive force between the rotating brush and the vehicle body surface is reduced. In the state, the upper surface cleaning brush 8 is lowered. Thereafter, when a time t2 has passed so that the brush descending on the vehicle body surface can be prevented from moving up and down due to the reaction, the brush is rotated at a high speed, and the car wash machine is restarted to perform brushing.
[0035]
When the height α is such that the tip of the rotating brush slightly touches the vehicle body and the height β where the brush tip is completely separated from the vehicle body, β is higher, and when the upper surface cleaning brush is lowered from this position Also, it takes a longer time for the brush descending to the vehicle body surface to move up and down by reaction. Therefore, the time t2 is set longer than the time t1. Thus, when the movement control is performed so that the upper surface cleaning brush in the avoidance position comes into contact with the vehicle body, the time for which the rotation speed of the upper surface cleaning brush is reduced according to the distance between the upper surface cleaning brush in the avoidance position and the vehicle body. Variable control.
[0036]
In the above embodiment, the example in which avoidance control is performed on the upper surface cleaning brush at the sine pole portion has been described, but the portion to be avoided control is not limited to the sine pole portion but can be appropriately set such as a roof carrier portion and a rear spoiler portion. Further, in the embodiment, the traveling of the car wash machine is stopped when the upper surface cleaning brush is lowered. However, the traveling of the car wash machine may be continued, and the traveling is decelerated only when the upper surface cleaning brush is lowered. May be.
[0037]
Further, in the embodiment, an example in which the upper surface cleaning brush is avoided at the protrusion of the car body is shown, but the same control is performed when the upper surface cleaning brush is moved up and down by an input of a manual operation key provided on the operation panel. Is done.
[0038]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the upper surface cleaning brush is controlled to avoid the vehicle body is described. However, for example, when the side surface cleaning brush is controlled to avoid the door mirror portion, the same applies to other cleaning brushes as well as the upper surface cleaning brush. By controlling the above, it is possible to reduce the amount of unwashed residue due to the reaction at the time of contact between the rotating brush and the vehicle body.
[0039]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which the cleaning brush is avoided at the protrusion portion of the vehicle body is shown. However, the front end portion of the automobile when the car wash machine goes forward, and the rear end portion of the automobile when the car wash machine goes backward As described above, the same control can be performed at the portion where the cleaning brush first contacts the vehicle body surface.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, when the cleaning brush at the avoidance position moves toward the vehicle body and the rotating brush contacts the vehicle body, the rotation speed of the cleaning brush is lower than the rotation speed used during normal car washing. Therefore, the repulsive force between the rotating cleaning brush and the vehicle body can be reduced, and it is possible to prevent the cleaning brush from repelling and leaving unwashed. In particular, when the configuration of the upper surface cleaning brush includes a pair of brush arms that are swingably provided in the car wash machine main body and a brush that is rotatably held at the tip of the brush arm, the upper surface cleaning brush is attached to the vehicle body. When a sudden contact pressure is generated on the brush as in the case of contact, the effect of the brush is easily repelled.
[0041]
In addition, since the time for reducing the rotation speed of the brush is controlled according to the distance between the cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body, the time for reducing the rotation speed of the brush is not excessive and necessary. In addition, a car wash with a high washing effect can be performed without extending the car washing time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a configuration of an upper surface cleaning brush according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system of the upper surface cleaning brush according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation panel according to the embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an operation explanatory diagram of the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Car wash machine main body 4 Car wash machine driving motor 5 Car wash machine travel position detection rotary encoder 8 Upper surface cleaning brush 9 Side cleaning brush 14 Vehicle shape detection light emitter group 15 Vehicle shape detection light receiver group 16 Operation panel 17 Upper surface cleaning brush ascending and descending Position detection rotary encoder 21 Upper surface cleaning brush lift air cylinder 22 Upper surface cleaning brush rotation motor 24 Air pressure source 25 Electro-pneumatic regulator 26 Regulator 27, 28 Three-port directional control valve 40 Microcomputer 47 Upper surface cleaning brush rotation speed control inverter

Claims (4)

In a car wash machine that performs car wash in association with a relative movement between a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape and a car, a wash brush that is rotatably provided and brushes in contact with the car body, and the wash brush acts on the car body Movement control means for moving the motor, a motor for rotating the cleaning brush, a rotation speed control means for variably controlling the rotation speed of the motor, and the cleaning brush moved from a position away from the vehicle body to a position in contact with the vehicle body And a control means for increasing the rotational speed of the motor to a lower speed than that used during normal car washing, and increasing the rotational speed used during normal car washing after the cleaning brush contacts the vehicle body. Car wash machine. The car wash machine according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body detection means for detecting the surface of the automobile body, the position detection means for detecting the movement position of the washing brush, and the washing brush for avoiding contact with the automobile body. When detecting the distance between the cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body and controlling the movement of the cleaning brush at the avoidance position so as to contact the vehicle body, the distance between the cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body depends on the distance between the cleaning brush and the vehicle body. A car wash machine comprising control means for variably controlling the time during which the rotational speed is low. In a car wash machine that performs car washing along with a relative movement between a car wash machine body formed in a gate shape and an automobile, a pair of brush arms that are swingably provided in the car wash machine body, and the brush arm is rotatable An upper surface cleaning brush that is held and brushed in contact with the upper surface of the automobile body, a movement control means that moves the upper surface cleaning brush to act on the vehicle body, a motor that rotates the upper surface cleaning brush, and the number of rotations of the motor When the upper surface cleaning brush is moved from a position away from the vehicle body to a position in contact with the vehicle body, the rotation speed of the motor is set to be lower than the rotation speed used during normal car washing, A car wash machine comprising control means for increasing the rotational speed used for normal car washing after the upper surface washing brush contacts the vehicle body. 4. The car wash machine according to claim 3, wherein the vehicle body detection means for detecting the upper surface position of the automobile body, the position detection means for detecting the movement position of the upper surface cleaning brush, and the upper surface cleaning brush are avoided from contacting the automobile body. The distance between the upper surface cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body is detected, and when the movement control is performed so that the upper surface cleaning brush at the avoidance position contacts the vehicle body, the distance between the upper surface cleaning brush at the avoidance position and the vehicle body is determined. Accordingly, there is provided a car wash machine comprising a control means for variably controlling the time during which the rotation speed of the upper surface cleaning brush is reduced.

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