Solid detergent dispenser for floor scrubber machine

• US 5,411,716 A
• Filed: 12/17/1993
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab, Inc.
• Inventors: Copeland, James L., Thomas, John E., Decker, James D., Boche, Daniel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dawson, E. Leigh
• Application Number:
  US08/169,325
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 422/263, 422/264, 422/264 B, 222/189, 137/268, 239/222.11, 239/310, 134/7, 134/172, 134/198, 15/320
• US Class Current: 422/264
• 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 11/30 by suction
• 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 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4038 Disk shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/00 Dissolving separating by dissolving B01D; dissolving to effect cooling F25D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 21/221 comprising constructions for blocking or redispersing undissolved solids
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/45 using flow mixing
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 23/49 Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7173 using gravity, e.g. from a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/7179 using sprayers, nozzles or jets
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays

Abstract

Disclosed is a dispenser (10) for use with an automatic floor scrubbing machine (75), and a method for cleaning a floor. The dispenser (10) has a solid chemical (13) which is dissolved by water spray from a spray nozzle (21). The detergent solution is then directed by a conduit (25) to a scrub brush (85). A water reservoir (83) provides water for the detergent solution, and a valve (38) directs water to a rinse conduit (37) for rinsing of the floor. After cleaning, the dirty water or detergent solution is carried through conduit (36) to a recovery tank (84).

Claims

1. A floor scrubber comprising:

(a) brush means for scrubbing a floor;

(b) a water tank;

(c) a rinse conduit in fluid communication with said water tank for directing water proximate a brush means;

(d) a cleaning chemical dispenser positioned on a floor scrubber, said cleaning chemical dispenser including a screen for supporting a solid block detergent, said detergent being located within a housing, and including a spray nozzle capable of directing water toward an eroding surface of said solid detergent so as to produce a diluted chemical solution, said spray nozzle being in fluid communication with said water tank, said solution being formed as said floor scrubber cleans the floor;

(e) a cleaning solution conduit positioned within said floor scrubber and in fluid communication with said cleaning chemical dispenser for directing cleaning solution proximate said brush means; and

(f) adjustment means for adjusting the concentration of said diluted cleaning solution dispensed, wherein said adjustment means comprises means for varying a distance between the solid detergent and said spray nozzle between a first, high concentration setting and a second low concentration setting.

2. The floor scrubber according to claim 1, wherein, said adjustment means raises or lowers the solid detergent with respect to a fixed spray nozzle.

3. The floor scrubber according to claim 2, wherein the solid detergent is cast within a cover of said dispenser.

4. The floor scrubber according to claim 1, further comprising a variable output pump for pumping water through said rinse conduit and said cleaning solution conduit.

5. The floor scrubber according to claim 4, wherein said variable output pump increases the dispensing rate according to a linear velocity of said floor scrubber.

6. The floor scrubber machine according to claim 1, wherein said housing means for the chemical comprises a top container within which is positioned the solid chemical, and a bottom container sized and configured to correspond with the shape and size of said top container, wherein said top container nests within said bottom container, and said top container descends into said bottom container as a volume of the solid chemical decreases.

7. A floor cleaning machine, comprising:

(a) housing means for a solid chemical having an eroding surface, said housing means being mounted upon a floor cleaning machine;

(b) a spray nozzle mounted upon said floor cleaning machine for directing a solvent upon said eroding surface so as to produce a detergent solution;

(c) a solvent inlet conduit in fluid communication with said spray nozzle;

(d) a solution outlet conduit extending from said housing means to a floor being cleaned; and

(e) adjustment means for adjusting a position of said spray nozzle with respect to a fixed eroding surface so as to vary a distance between said spray nozzle and said eroding surface and thereby vary a concentration of the detergent solution.

8. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 7, further comprising a variable output pump for directing the solvent through said solvent inlet conduit and spray nozzle.

9. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 8, further comprising a valve through which the solvent flows, said valve directing the solvent either through the solvent inlet conduit or directing the solvent to a floor surface.

10. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 9, wherein the solvent is water.

11. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 10, further comprising dispensing rate adjustment means, wherein a rate of detergent solution dispensed varies according to a linear velocity of said floor cleaning machine.

12. A floor cleaning machine according to claim 7, wherein said spray nozzle is mounted upon a threaded support means.

13. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 7, wherein said spray nozzle is mounted upon rack and pinion gear support means.

14. A method for cleaning a floor with a portable floor cleaning machine having a scrubbing brush, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a solid detergent dispenser, which is mounted upon a floor cleaning machine, said dispenser including a screen;

(b) inserting a solid detergent block within said solid detergent dispenser and onto said screen;

(c) spraying water from a water tank in said floor cleaning machine upon an eroding face of the solid detergent block, thereby dissolving a portion of said solid block so as to form a detergent solution, said detergent solution being formed while said floor cleaning machine is in operation;

(d) adjusting the concentration of the detergent solution; and

(e) dispensing said detergent solution proximate a scrubbing brush.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein varying a distance between a spray nozzle and the eroding face adjusts the concentration.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a position of said eroding face is varied with respect a fixed nozzle.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of ejecting rinse water from said floor cleaning machine.

18. A floor cleaning machine, comprising:

(a) housing means for a solid chemical having an eroding surface, said housing means being mounted upon a floor cleaning machine;

(b) a spray nozzle mounted upon said floor cleaning machine for directing a solvent upon said eroding surface so as to produce a detergent solution;

(c) a solvent inlet conduit in fluid communication with said spray nozzle;

(d) a solution outlet conduit extending from said housing means to a floor being cleaned; and

(e) adjustment means for adjusting a position of said eroding surface with respect to a fixed spray nozzle so as to vary a distance between said spray nozzle and said eroding surface and thereby vary a concentration of the detergent solution.

19. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 18, further comprising a variable output pump for pumping water through said rinse conduit and said cleaning solution conduit.

20. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 19, wherein said variable output pump increases the dispensing rate according to a linear velocity of said floor cleaning machine.

21. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 18, further comprising a valve through which the solvent flows, said valve directing the solvent either through the solvent inlet conduit or directing the solvent to a floor surface.

22. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 21, wherein the solvent is water.

23. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 18, wherein said adjustment means comprises an upper and lower cam member, said upper cam member supporting the chemical, wherein rotation of said upper cam member results in vertical adjustment of the eroding surface of the chemical.

24. The floor cleaning machine according to claim 18, wherein said housing means for the chemical comprises a top container within which is positioned the solid chemical, and a bottom container sized and configured to correspond with the shape and size of said top container, wherein said top container nests within said bottom container, and said top container descends into said bottom container as a volume of the solid chemical decreases.