Floor cleaning machine using microfiber pad

• US 20060048331A1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc. (L. Possehl & Co. mit beschränkter Haftung)
• Original Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc. (L. Possehl & Co. mit beschränkter Haftung)
• Inventors: Pollack, Jeffrey W., Mondigo, Jesse V., Holly, David R., Rau, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,302,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/340.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/29 Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4027 Filtering or separating contaminants or debris
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4036 Parts or details of the surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4047 Wound-up or endless cleaning belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits

Abstract

A cleaning machine for floors and carpets includes a vacuum pick-up in front of the machine for suctioning loose material and debris off the floor. A microfiber cleaning assembly is mounted beneath the machine for cleaning the floor following the vacuum pick-up. The microfiber cleaning element may be motor driven. A source of solution delivers a controlled amount of solution or water to moisten the microfiber cloth. A vacuum motor provides suction to the forward vacuum pick-up, routes the suctioned air through a filter, and the filtered air is then delivered to an air diffuser to dry any residual moisture behind the microfiber cleaning assembly. The microfiber cleaning assembly may have two offset pads driven by a reciprocating or oscillating drive, or one or two cylindrical rollers for receiving and securing the microfiber fabric in the form of a sleeve.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning machine comprising:

a vacuum nozzle located at a front of said machine and extending transverse of the direction of travel of said machine for suctioning materials on a floor in front of said machine;

a tank coupled to said vacuum nozzle;

a vacuum motor for creating a vacuum in said tank to suction loose materials through said vacuum nozzle and convey said materials to said tank;

a filter for filtering particulate matter from air passing through said vacuum nozzle and into said tank;

a floor scrubbing assembly including at least one scrub member located behind said nozzle and including a contact section covered with microfiber cloth and adapted to contact the surface of a floor to be cleaned;

a motor powering said scrub member to move said scrub member such that said microfiber cloth is driven against said floor in scrubbing action; and

a source of liquid including a pump for providing a controlled amount of liquid for said scrub member to maintain moisture on the section of said scrub member in contact with the floor; and

an exhaust nozzle located to the rear of said machine and delivering filtered air from said vacuum motor onto the floor behind said scrub member.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said scrub member comprises two generally flat pads, arranged in staggered relation and overlapping one another in the direction of travel of said machine, each scrub pad having a generally flat bottom surface for contacting the floor, each scrub pad further including a layer of microfiber fabric adjacent the floor and a backing member for supporting said microfiber fabric.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a motor for driving said scrub pads in a vibratory motion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said motor for driving said scrub pad rotates said scrub pads in unison in a generally oscillatory motion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said drive motor for said scrub pads drives said scrub pads in unison in a reciprocating motion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scrubbing assembly comprises an elongated cylindrical member having a sleeve of microfiber fabric covering an outer contact surface of said cylindrical member, the axis of said cylindrical member extending transversely of the direction of travel of said machine, and said drive motor driving said scrub member in rotary motion about said axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scrubbing assembly includes first and second rollers, each having an axis, the axes of said rollers extending in parallel to one another and transverse of the direction of travel of said machine;

and wherein said microfiber cloth is in the form of a belt extending around said first and second rollers and contacting the floor at the base of each of said rollers when said machine is in operation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said source of liquid includes a spray nozzle arranged above said microfiber belt to spray or control the amount of liquid onto said microfiber belt as it passes over said scrub member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vacuum tank, said vacuum motor mounted to said vacuum tank to evacuate the same and to deliver the air evacuated from said vacuum tank to said exhaust nozzle;

said filter being in said vacuum tank and filtering air passing therethrough.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filter comprises a cloth bag.