FLOOR MAINTENANCE MACHINE

• US 20100018990A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: ALTO US Incorporated (ALTO U.S.)
• Inventors: Whitaker, Emert R., Eklund, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,551,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/03 characterised by having provisions for supplying cleaning or polishing agents A47L11/065, A47L11/085, A47L11/125, A47L11/145, A47L11/161, A47L11/1625, A47L11/185, A47L11/201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/305 the tools being disc brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 Regulation of the cleaning machine by electric means; Control systems and remote control systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices

Abstract

A method of maintaining a floor using a cleaning device is provided. The cleaning device includes a cleaning solution fluid dispensed adjacent to the cleaning device. The cleaning solution is comprised of at least two components, a bulk diluting fluid like water and one or more cleaning chemicals which are dispensed from separate reservoirs carried by a maintenance machine. The cleaning chemical is pumped to mix it with the bulk fluid in a controlled ratio. Operation of the pump and a discharge flow control device are controlled by a controller system which permits dispensing of a mixed cleaning solution of combined cleaning chemical(s) and bulk fluid at a desired ratio and at a desired flow rate of dispensing of cleaning solution components.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining floor by applying fluid thereto, said method including:

discharging a diluting fluid from a first reservoir to a mixing apparatus;

discharging a cleaner concentrate from a second reservoir to the mixing apparatus with a selectively on pump;

mixing the discharged diluting fluid and cleaner concentrate to form a cleaning solution;

providing a first signal indicative of level of diluting fluid in the first reservoir;

passing the cleaner concentrate and diluting fluid through a flow control device for discharge therefrom;

controlling operation of the flow control device to regulate discharge of the cleaner concentrate and diluting fluid therefrom;

providing a second signal indicative of flow control device operation;

processing the first and second signals to provide an output signal and controlling operation of the pump in response to the output signal; and

discharging the cleaner concentrate and diluting fluid onto a floor.

2. The method of claim 2 including combining the cleaner concentrate and diluting fluid prior to discharging onto a floor