Abstract:
A surface cleaning apparatus includes a housing including an upright handle assembly and a base mounted to the upright handle assembly and adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned. The surface cleaning apparatus is further provided with a fluid delivery system comprising a fluid dispenser configured to dispense fluid to a brushroll and at least one fluid delivery channel forming a portion of a fluid delivery pathway. The fluid delivery channel can extend adjacent to a portion of the suction nozzle assembly. An interference wiper interfaces with a portion of the brushroll to remove excess liquid from the brushroll.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for cleaning floor surfaces are provided. In various embodiments, floor cleaning devices comprise enhanced cleaning and disinfecting capabilities. A clean fluid storage tank and a spent fluid storage tank are provided on-board the device. Means for creating cavitation bubbles to enhance cleaning are contemplated. Additionally, chemical agents and systems are contemplated for sanitizing surfaces as well as fluid that is captured or recaptured by the device.
Abstract:
A cleaning pad for an autonomous cleaning robot evenly wets and collects debris for cleaning operations. The pad includes a core of absorbent layers for absorbing liquid through capillary action and for distributing the liquid within the cleaning pad. The pad includes a wrap layer around the core, the wrap layer comprising a fibrous layer that is flexible and absorbent, the fibrous layer configured to absorb liquid through capillary action and transfer the liquid to the core. The pad includes one or more transition regions spanning a cleaning width of the cleaning pad, the one or more transition regions dividing the cleaning pad into at least two segments. The forward positioned segment of the pad, of the at least two segments of the pad, has a lesser thickness compared to a thickness of an aft positioned segment of the at least two segments.
Abstract:
A floor cleaning machine for cleaning a surface. The cleaning machine includes a body, an actuator supported by the body, a distribution nozzle supported by the body, and a supply tank assembly coupled to the body in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle. The supply tank includes a first tank that stores a first cleaning solution, a second tank that stores a second cleaning solution that is different from the first cleaning solution, and a third tank that stores water. The floor cleaning machine is operable in a first mode to wash the surface, in a second mode to sanitize the surface, and a third mode to rinse the surface. The distribution nozzle delivers the first cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the first mode and delivers the second cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the second mode.
Abstract:
A steam generator for a surface cleaning apparatus is described. The steam generator includes: a first chamber for generating steam and collecting scale; a water inlet disposed proximate a first end of the first chamber; a heater in thermal contact with the first chamber; a second chamber housed within the first chamber and in fluid communication with the first chamber; and a steam outlet for releasing steam and in fluid communication with the second chamber, wherein the steam outlet is disposed distal to the first end of the first chamber.
Abstract:
A carpet extractor (10) operable in either a restorative cleaning mode or a maintenance cleaning mode includes a constant rate pump (96) which dispenses clean solution through a manually operated valve (98) to one of two lines (100, 102) having nozzles which restrict dispensing to high and low solution flow rates. In the preferred form, clean solution is dispensed at the high flow rate directly upon the carpeted surface and at the low rate upon the agitating brush (88). When restorative cleaning is desired, the valve (98) is manually moved to dispense at the high flow rate and a switch (110) is also manually moved resulting in the chassis (18) being propelled at a slow working speed. When maintenance cleaning is desired, the valve (98) is manually moved to dispense at the low flow rate and the switch (110) is also manually moved resulting in the chassis (18) being propelled at a fast working speed.
Abstract:
A drying apparatus has a support frame mounted on a handle. A drying spool is rotatably mounted on the support frame and has a web of liquid absorbent material which is incrementally scrolled from the drying spool onto a take-up roller during use of the apparatus. A user grips the handle on the support frame to move the apparatus back and forth over a wet floor surface with the web in contact with the floor surface to dry the floor surface. Indexing means is provided for incrementally advancing the drying web from the drying spool to the take-up roller to advance the wet web onto the take-up roller. On the forward stroke the web is held immobile to dry the wet floor surface as it is pushed over the wet floor surface. On the reverse stroke the indexing means releases the take-up roller to wind the wet web portion onto the take-up roller and pull a dry portion of web from the drying spool at the start of the next forward drying stroke. After rotation of the take-up roller through a desired angle at the start of the forward stroke the indexing means locks the take-up roller for the remainder of the forward stroke.
Abstract:
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface in which cleaning solution is distributed to the surface and substantially simultaneously extracted along with the dirt on the surface in a continuous operation as it moves along the surface is provided. The cleaning apparatus includes a housing and a liquid distribution system operatively associated with the housing. The liquid distribution system includes a fluid source providing a supply of the cleaning solution and a distributor fluidly connected to the fluid source for distributing the cleaning solution to the surface. A liquid recovery system is operatively associated with the housing and includes a suction nozzle and a recovery tank removably mounted to the housing and in fluid communication with the suction nozzle. A suction source is in fluid communication with the suction nozzle for applying suction to draw the cleaning solution and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle and into the recovery tank. A filter system is provided on the housing and in fluid communication with the recovery tank for filtering the recovered cleaning solution to be reused. The filter system includes a first filter provided on a filter support mounted to the recovery tank for filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt, and a second filter fluidly connected between the recovery tank and the distributor for filtering particles from the cleaning solution and dirt of a smaller size than the particles filtered from the first filter.
Abstract:
A floor cleaner is provided for cleaning a floor, where the floor cleaner has a front and a rear and includes: a sweeper for sweeping the floor; a scrubber, connected to the sweeper and located in the rear of the sweeper, for wetting and cleaning the floor; and a burnisher, connected to the scrubber and located in the rear of the scrubber, for burnishing the floor.
Abstract:
The present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning floors. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes four wheels, two of which are steerable wheels, and a steering mechanism that permits the two steerable wheels to turn to a degree that allows very tight turns to be made by the sweeper. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper with a cylindrical side broom. Yet a further embodiment of the sweeper includes flaps or seals that form a skirt about the broom and a mounting mechanism for slidably receiving the flap or seal. In a further embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper that employs flaps with wear indicators that tell an operator when to adjust or replace the flap. In another embodiment, the apparatus is a sweeper that utilizes a pre-filter to remove debris that remains in the vacuum airstream after having passed through the hopper and that is of a size that can require frequent cleaning of a subsequent filtering device. In yet a further embodiment, the apparatus is a scrubber with two counter rotating disk brushes, a primary squeegee, and a second or pre-squeegee for relieving the primary squeegee from processing the heavier concentration of wastewater produced in the area between the brushes. In yet another embodiment, the apparatus is a scrubber that includes a squeegee mounting systems that is relatively easy to use and permits the squeegee rubber to extend beyond the end of the mounting structure.