The present invention generally relates to a floor cleaning machine and, more particularly, to a floor cleaning machine that is configurable to perform both hard and soft floor cleaning operations.
Mobile floor cleaners, such as those produced by Tennant Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are generally designated as either a soft floor cleaner configured to perform a cleaning operation on a soft floor (e.g., carpet, rugs, etc.), or a hard floor cleaner configured to perform a cleaning operation on a hard floor surface (e.g., tile, linoleum, cement, etc.).
Soft floor cleaning operations include soil transfer and deep extraction cleaning operations. U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,812, which is assigned to Tennant Company, describes a dual mode cleaner that is configurable to perform both soil transfer and deep cleaning extraction operations on a carpeted surface.
Soil transfer cleaning operations utilize special cylindrical rollers to which a cleaning solution is applied with pumps and spray heads. When the rollers are rotated against a surface, soil is transferred to the rollers and the soil cleaning liquid is subsequently suctioned from the rollers with vacuum extractor tools. This technology can be used to clean various fabric surfaces. The roller design, rotational speed, pressure, vacuum parameters and cleaning liquid flows can be altered in the same machine to optimize cleaning for the particular carpet or fabric. The cleaning liquid can be minimized to reduce drying time while still providing effective interim cleaning of carpet, thereby allowing a space to be ready for use in less than one hour.
Deep cleaning extraction cleaning operations are typically performed less frequently than the soil transfer cleaning operation. The deep cleaning extraction operation generally performs a more thorough cleaning of a carpeted surface. During such a cleaning operation, a relatively large amount of cleaning solution is sprayed directly onto the carpeted or soft floor surface. The carpet is scrubbed with brushes designed for the surface and soiled liquid is extracted from the carpet with one or more vacuum extractor tools located behind the brushes. Carpets cleaned with the deep cleaning extraction operation require considerably longer drying times before use than carpets cleaned with the soil transfer method.
Hard floor surface cleaning operations are performed by hard floor surface cleaners that generally employ scrubbing brushes and a vacuumized fluid recovery system positioned behind the scrubbing brushes. A cleaning liquid is typically sprayed directly to the floor and/or on the brushes and the hard floor surface is scrubbed with the brushes. The vacuumized fluid recovery system typically includes a vacuum squeegee that collects the soiled cleaning liquid and delivers the soiled cleaning liquid to a recovery tank. The vacuum squeegee removes substantially all of the liquid waste left by the scrubbing brushes from the hard floor surface, leaving the surface ready for use almost immediately.
Cleaning operations on spaces having a mixture of soft floor surfaces and hard floor surfaces have generally required separate soft and hard floor cleaning machines. Such a requirement is costly in terms of the time required to complete the multi-surface cleaning operations and the maintenance and storage of multiple machines.
The present invention generally relates to a floor cleaner configured to perform both hard and soft floor cleaning operations. The cleaner generally includes a mobile body, a motorized cleaning head, a cleaning liquid dispenser, a vacuum, a first vacuum extractor tool and a vacuum squeegee connected to the mobile body. The mobile body is configured to travel over a surface. The motorized cleaning head is connected to the mobile body and includes a cleaning tool. The cleaning liquid dispenser is configured to apply a cleaning liquid to the surface or the cleaning tool. The first vacuum extractor tool is configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through a first vacuum path.
The present invention relates to a floor cleaner 100 that is configurable for performing both hard floor cleaning operations and soft floor cleaning operations.
As will be discussed below in greater detail, embodiments of the cleaner 100 include a soil transfer cleaning mode in which the cleaner 100 is configured to perform a soil transfer cleaning operation on a floor surface 102 (i.e., a soft floor surface) and/or an deep extraction mode, in which the cleaner 100 is configured to perform a deep extraction cleaning operation on the surface 102. Additionally, one embodiment of the cleaner 100 includes a hard floor scrubbing mode, in which the cleaner 100 is configured to scrub the floor surface 102 (i.e., a hard floor surface 102) and remove liquid waste and debris with a fluid recovery system.
The floor cleaner 100 shown in
Embodiments of the floor cleaner 100 generally include a mobile body 106, a motorized cleaning head 108, a cleaning liquid dispenser 110, one or more vacuums 112, at least one vacuum extractor tool 114 and a vacuum squeegee 116.
One embodiment of the mobile body 106 comprises framework for supporting the various components of the cleaner 100. The mobile body 106 supported on drive wheels 118 and castor wheels 120 for travel over the surface 102. In one embodiment, the drive wheels are driven by a motor 122. A housing 124 encloses many of the components of the cleaner 100 that are supported on the mobile body 106. Some of the components (e.g., batteries, tanks, etc.) can be accessed by opening a cover 126.
The motorized cleaning head 108 is connected to the mobile body 106. In one embodiment the motorized head is positioned at a forward location of the cleaner 100, as shown in
The cleaning head 108 includes a cleaning tool 128 and one or more motors 130 for driving rotation of the cleaning tool 128 about an axis that is either parallel or perpendicular to the surface 102. The rotating cleaning tool 128 engages the surface 102 to perform a hard or soft floor cleaning operation, as indicated by arrow 131 in
In accordance with one embodiment of the cleaner 100 includes a cleaning head lift 132 configured to lower the cleaning head 108 for floor cleaning operations and raise the cleaning head 108 when not in use, such as during transport of the cleaner 100. One embodiment of the head lift 132, shown in
One embodiment of the cleaning head 108 is configured for use with multiple types of cleaning tools 128 in order to accommodate different cleaning operations while using the same motors 130, for example. Thus, the cleaning head 108 can be equipped with a soft floor cleaning tool 128 to allow the cleaner to perform a soft floor cleaning operation. The soft floor cleaning tool 128 can then be replaced with a hard floor cleaning tool 128 to allow the cleaner 100 to perform a hard floor cleaning operation. Alternatively, the cleaner 100 is configurable with separate soft and hard floor cleaning heads 108 respectively including soft and hard floor cleaning tools 128.
As mentioned above, embodiments of the cleaner 100 include several different modes of operation including a soil transfer soft floor cleaning mode, a deep extraction soft floor cleaning mode, and at least two hard floor scrubbing modes.
The one or more vacuums 112 each generally include a motor 158 and vacuum fan 160 (
In accordance with one embodiment, the vacuum 112 is selectively placed in vacuum communication with the vacuum squeegee 116 and the vacuum extractor tool 114 using a vacuum path selector 172. Vacuum communication is intended to mean that a vacuum path is opened between the component (i.e., squeegee or extractor tool) and the low pressure vacuum generated by the vacuum 112. Once established, the vacuum communication allows for liquid and/or solid waste 162 to be sucked up through an opening of the vacuum squeegee 116 and/or the extractor tool 114 and deposited in the waste recovery tank 170, as indicated in
In accordance with another embodiment, the cleaner 100 includes separate vacuums 112 for the vacuum squeegee 116 and the extractor tool. With such a configuration, the vacuum path selector may be discarded or disconnected from the vacuum path of the vacuum squeegee 116.
In another embodiment, vacuum ports corresponding to the various vacuum paths 173 are made accessible by the operator of the cleaner 100. The coupling of one of the vacuum ports to the vacuum port that is in vacuum communication with the vacuum 112 can be made by manually connecting a tubing section to the appropriate ports.
The vacuum extractor tool 114 can take on various conventional forms depending on its purpose. The extractor tool generally extends widthwise across the surface 178 of the cleaning tool 128 or the surface 112, from which waste 162 is to be extracted. Multiple extractor tools 114 can be used to cover large widths. It is understood by those skilled in the art that extractor tools 114 are used for removing liquid and solid debris from soft surfaces 102, such as soft floor surfaces and soft soil transfer roll surfaces, and they do not include a squeegee that would render them operable on hard floor surfaces.
One embodiment of the extractor tool 114 is in the form of a roll extractor tool 180, two of which are shown in
Another embodiment of the extractor tool 114 is in the form of a surface extractor tool 188 that is configured to remove liquid and solid waste 162 from the surface 102. The extracted waste 162 travels through vacuum path 190 and is deposited in the waste recovery tank 170, as illustrated in
In accordance with one embodiment, the cleaner 100 includes an extractor tool lift 192 that allows the surface extractor tool 188 to be raised above the surface 102 (as shown in
The vacuum squeegee 116 is a component of a fluid recovery device that is conventionally used only in dedicated hard floor surface cleaners. The vacuum squeegee 116 generally comprises a squeegee 210 connected to frame 212. The squeegee 210 extends across the width of the cleaner 100 or the cleaning swath of the cleaning head 108. A vacuum port 214 is positioned to receive waste collected by the squeegee 210, such as, for example, adjacent the surface 102 at the widthwise center of the squeegee 210. During operation, the squeegee 210 engages the surface 102 and collects soiled cleaning liquid waste 162 as the cleaner 100 moves along the surface 102 in a forward direction, as indicated by arrow 216 in
A squeegee lift 217, shown in
The cleaning liquid dispenser 110 is configured to apply a cleaning liquid 230 to one of the surface 102 and the cleaning tool 128 and respectively indicated by arrows 230A and 230B of
One embodiment of the cleaning liquid dispenser 110 includes a supply of the cleaning liquid 230 and a pump 232 for driving a flow of the cleaning liquid 230 (arrows) cleaning liquid through tubing to be discharged at a desired location. The cleaning liquid 230 can comprise water or a combination of water and a cleaning agent. In one embodiment, separate supplies of water 234 and cleaning agent 236 are provided. The water 234 can be stored in a tank supported on the mobile body 106, while the cleaning agent is provided in a separate container, such as a fixed tank or removable container or cartridge. A mixing member 238 combines a flow of water 240 with a flow of the cleaning agent 242 at a desired dosage to form the flow of cleaning liquid 230.
The dosing of the flow of cleaning agent 242 into the flow of water 240 can be accomplished using a venturi injector or through use of a dosing pump 244. In accordance with one embodiment, the flow of cleaning agent 242 is less than 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute.
In order to accommodate different cleaning liquids and different cleaning liquid flow rates that may be desired for soft and hard floor cleaning operations, one embodiment of the cleaning liquid dispenser 110 includes separate soft and hard floor cleaning liquid dispenser 250 and 252, respectively. The cleaning liquid dispensers 250 and 252 generally have the form of the embodiments of the cleaning liquid dispenser 110 described above, but can share components, such as pumps and the water supply, for example. In one embodiment, the soft floor cleaning liquid dispenser 250 utilizes a different cleaning agent and/or provides a lower volumetric flow rate of cleaning liquid 230S than the flow of the cleaning liquid 230H of the hard floor cleaning liquid dispenser 252. The lower volumetric flow rate is essential in soft floor cleaning operations in order to prevent long drying times for the soft floor surface 102 and to prevent the development of mold. Additionally, hard floor surface 102 cleaning operations generally desire a complete wetting of the hard floor surface 102 in order to remove embedded or debris that has dried on the surface 102. If necessary, a valve 254 can be used to switch between the flow of soft floor cleaning liquid 230S and the flow of hard floor cleaning liquid 230H.
Another embodiment of the cleaning liquid dispenser 110 includes one or more nozzles, or other fluid distributor, for discharging the flow of cleaning liquid 230 to the desired location. In one embodiment, the cleaning liquid dispenser 110 includes one or more nozzles 260 or tubing for directing the flow of cleaning liquid 230 onto the cleaning tool 128, such as the soil transfer rolls 134 (
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the cleaning liquid dispenser 110 is configured to dispense the flow cleaning liquid 230 to the desired surface 102 as a foam. In general, soft floor cleaning operations utilize a dry foam to avoid overly wetting the soft floor surface 102 and long drying times, whereas hard floor surface cleaning operations may utilize a relatively wet foam that is suitable for completely wetting the hard floor surface 102. In accordance with one embodiment, at least one of the nozzles 260, 262 or 264 is an aerating nozzle that converts the flow of cleaning liquid 230 into a foam, which is then discharged to either the surface 102 in front of the cleaning tool 128, on the cleaning tool 128, or both. Alternatively, an aerating device located upstream of the nozzles can be used to convert the cleaning liquid into a foam.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to methods of cleaning hard and soft floor surfaces 102 using embodiments of the cleaner 100 described above. As mentioned above,
The roll extractors 180 engage the surfaces 178 of the rolls 134 and are placed in vacuum communication with the vacuum 112, which removes some of the just deposited cleaning liquid 230 and soil previously transferred from the surface 102. As a result, the wetness of the rolls 134 is reduced from the initially sprayed condition by the extraction of some of the cleaning liquid 230 by the roll extractors 180.
As the rolls 134 are revolved, they engage the soft floor (e.g., carpet fibers) 102 and cause soil to be transferred from the carpet fibers to the rolls 134. After engaging and wiping the surface 102, the rolls 134 are further rotated and sprayed again with cleaning liquid 230 by nozzle 260. Subsequently, the surfaces 178 of the rolls 134 are vacuum extracted to remove the soiled cleaning liquid 162 from the rolls 134, which is conveyed into the recovery tank 170.
The deep extraction soft floor cleaning operation utilizes a larger volume of cleaning liquid 230 per unit area than the soil transfer cleaning operation performed by the cleaner 100. As a result, the surface 102 requires a longer drying time following a deep extraction cleaning operation than that required following a soil transfer cleaning operation. However, the drying times for both the deep extraction cleaning operation and the soil transfer cleaning operation can be reduced by utilizing the cleaning liquid in an aerated or foam state.
When the cleaning tool 128 comprises hybrid rolls 152 configured for both soil transfer soft floor cleaning operations and hard floor cleaning operations, the cleaner 100 operates in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the soil transfer cleaning mode of operation. The benefit of the hybrid rolls 152 is that they can be used to perform a hard floor cleaning operation. The conversion to the hard floor cleaning mode involves lowering the vacuum squeegee 116 to the operating position, establishing vacuum communication between the vacuum squeegee 116 and the vacuum 112 through the path 174 and discharging cleaning liquid 230 onto the surface 102, as shown in
Additional embodiments of this hybrid hard floor cleaning mode include applying cleaning liquid 230 to the hybrid rolls 152 through, for example, nozzle(s) 260 or 262, and establishing vacuum communication between the vacuum 112 and the roll extractor tools 180 through the paths 182, 184 and 186. As a result, one embodiment includes extracting the soiled cleaning liquid 162 from the rolls 152 and transferring the soiled cleaning liquid 162 to the waste recovery tank 170 through the path 182.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/669,054, filed Apr. 7, 2005, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60669054 | Apr 2005 | US |