Dual mode carpet cleaning apparatus utilizing an extraction device and a soil transfer cleaning medium

• US 6,735,812 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Wydra, Larry D., Hekman, Frederick A., Fystrom, Jeffrey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snider, Theresa T.
• Application Number:
  US10/371,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/402, 153/403, 153/404, 153/83, 153/84, 134/21
• US Class Current: 15/320
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/302 having rotary tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/34 Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
• 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 11/4041 Roll shaped surface treating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4061 Steering means; Means for avoiding obstacles; Details related to the place where the driver is accommodated
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning 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 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used

Abstract

An apparatus performing multiple different cleaning operations for cleaning fabrics, floor coverings, and bare floor surfaces is disclosed. A device according to the present invention selectively utilizes soil transfer and solution extraction technology. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed having a cleaning implement in selective wiping contact with a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively wets with a cleaning solution a portion of the cleaning implement or a portion of the surface or both, a first selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from the cleaning implement, and a second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool which when operating removes soil and some of the cleaning solution directly from the surface intended to be cleaned. A method of use of such an apparatus is also disclosed. Portable and vehicle-based devices may be utilized to practice the different methods of cleaning.

Claims

1. A surface maintenance device for performing a plurality of surface cleaning processes, comprising:

a revolving cleaning implement which wipingly engages a surface intended to be cleaned;

a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively wets with a cleaning solution a portion of the cleaning implement or the surface intended to be cleaned or both; and

at least a pair of vacuum extractor tools, a first one of the pair being in engagement with the cleaning implement during a first mode of operation, and a second one of the pair being in engagement with the surface to be cleaned during a second mode of operation, wherein during the first mode of operation said first vacuum extractor tool removes some of a dispensed cleaning solution from the previously wetted portion of the revolving cleaning implement prior to the portion being wiped against the surface intended to be cleaned, wherein soil from the surface intended to be cleaned is transferred to said portion of the cleaning implement as said portion is wiped against the surface intended to be cleaned, said portion being subsequently rewetted and extracted so as to remove soil previously transferred to the cleaning implement, and wherein during the second mode of operation said second vacuum extractor tool removes a soiled cleaning solution directly from the surface intended to be cleaned.

2. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning solution dispenser includes at least one nozzle which sprays cleaning solution onto the cleaning implement or the surface intended to be cleaned or both.

3. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning solution dispenser includes a plurality of nozzles, at least one of said plurality of nozzles spraying cleaning solution onto the surface intended to be cleaned and at least one of said plurality of nozzles spraying cleaning solution on the cleaning implement.

4. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 wherein a substantially higher flow rate of cleaning solution is dispensed onto the surface intended to be cleaned as compared to a flow rate of cleaning solution dispensed onto the cleaning implement.

5. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 further comprising a soiled solution recovery tank in fluid communication with at least one of the pair of vacuum extractor tools.

6. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the pair of vacuum extractor tools are selectively controlled during the plurality of surface cleaning processes.

7. The surface maintenance device of claim 6 wherein a common vacuum conduit is in selective communication with one of the pair of vacuum extractor tools.

8. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the cleaning implement includes at least one generally cylindrical shaped element.

9. The surface maintenance device of claim 8 wherein the cleaning implement is a cylindrical brush including one or more of:

bristles, fibers, fabric material and scouring pads.

10. The surface maintenance device of claim 8 wherein the cleaning implement includes a pair of cylindrical brushes.

11. The surface maintenance device of claim 10 wherein each of the pair of cylindrical brushes includes pile fabric and relatively large monofilament fibers for enhancing agitation of a carpet surface.

12. The surface maintenance device of claim 10 wherein the pair of cylindrical brushes are counter-rotated relative to each other.

13. The surface maintenance device of claim 10 further comprising a third vacuum extractor tool, the first vacuum extractor tool engaging one of the pair of cylindrical brushes and the third vacuum extractor tool engaging the other one of the pair of cylindrical brushes.

14. The surface maintenance device of claim 1 wherein the surface is a carpet surface, and wherein the cleaning implement transfers soil from fibers of the carpet surface and the vacuum extractor tools remove soiled cleaning solution from the cleaning implement or the carpet or both.

15. A surface maintenance machine comprising:

a cleaning implement in selective wiping contact with a surface intended to be cleaned;

a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively wets with a cleaning solution a portion of the cleaning implement or a portion of the surface or both;

a first selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool, when operating said tool removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from the cleaning implement; and

a second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tool, when operating said tool removes soil and some of the cleaning solution directly from the surface intended to be cleaned.

16. The surface maintenance machine of claim 15 wherein the first and second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tools are selectively controlled so that one of the vacuum extractor tools is operational while the other vacuum extractor tool is nonoperational.

17. The surface maintenance machine of claim 16 wherein the first and second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tools are provided in fluid communication with a fluid recovery tank through a common vacuum conduit.

18. The surface maintenance machine of claim 15 wherein said portion of the cleaning implement is extracted to remove some of the dispensed cleaning solution prior to said portion being wiped against the surface intended to be cleaned, said portion being subsequently rewetted and extracted so as to remove soil from the cleaning implement.

19. The surface maintenance machine of claim 15 further comprising a second cleaning implement and a third vacuum extractor tool in operative engagement with the second cleaning implement.

20. The surface maintenance machine of claim 19 wherein the cleaning solution dispenser conveys cleaning solution to both of the cleaning implements and the first and third selectively controllable vacuum extractor tools remove some of the cleaning solution from portions of the cleaning implements prior to said portions being wiped against the surface intended to be cleaned.

21. The surface maintenance machine of claim 19 further comprising a soiled solution recovery tank, said first and third vacuum extractor tools being in fluid communication with the recovery tank.

22. The surface maintenance machine of claim 15 wherein each of the first and second selectively controllable vacuum extractor tools are configured differently relative to the other.

23. The surface maintenance machine of claim 15 wherein the cleaning solution dispenser includes a plurality of nozzles for spraying cleaning solution onto the cleaning implement or the surface intended to be cleaned or both.

24. The surface cleaning machine of claim 15 further comprising cleaning solution control means for controlling an amount of cleaning solution applied to the cleaning implement and the surface intended to be cleaned between different surface cleaning processes.

25. A multi-mode carpet cleaning machine comprising:

a pair of rotating cylindrical cleaning implements in wiping contact with a carpet;

a cleaning solution dispenser which selectively dispenses cleaning solution to a portion of the cleaning implements or a portion of the carpet or both;

a first vacuum extractor tool which removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from one of the cleaning implements during a first mode of operation;

a second vacuum extractor tool which removes some of the dispensed cleaning solution and soil from the other one of the cleaning implements during the first mode of operation; and

a third vacuum extractor tool in operative engagement with the carpet to remove some of the cleaning solution dispensed onto the carpet during a second mode of operation.

26. The carpet cleaning machine of claim 25 further comprising a fluid recovery tank in selective communication with at least one of the first, second or third vacuum extractor tools.

27. The carpet cleaning machine of claim 25 wherein the cleaning implements include a pile fabric and relatively stiff monofilament fibers to enhance agitation of the carpet.

28. The carpet cleaning machine of claim 25 wherein the cleaning solution dispenser dispenses cleaning solution to portions of the cleaning implements and the first and second vacuum extractors remove cleaning solution and soil from said portions prior to said portions being wiped against the carpet.

29. A method of cleaning a carpeted surface utilizing a dual mode cleaning machine comprising the steps of:

operating the cleaning machine in a first mode of operation by;

wetting a portion of a revolving cleaning medium of the machine with a cleaning liquid;

extracting some soil and at least some of the cleaning solution from the portion of the revolving cleaning medium; and

wiping a carpeted surface with said portion of the revolving cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the carpeted surface to the revolving cleaning medium, and

operating the cleaning machine in a second mode of operation by;

wetting a portion of the carpeted surface;

engaging the portion of the carpeted surface with the revolving cleaning medium of the machine; and

extracting at least some of the soiled cleaning solution directly from the carpeted surface.

30. The method of cleaning a carpeted surface of claim 29 further comprising the steps of repeating the first mode and second mode of operation during a cleaning process.

31. The method of cleaning a carpeted surface of claim 29 wherein the step of extracting occurs prior to the step of wiping.

32. The method of cleaning a carpeted surface of claim 29 wherein the step of extracting occurs after the step of wiping.

33. A method of cleaning a carpeted surface utilizing a dual mode cleaning machine comprising the steps of:

operating the cleaning machine in a first mode of operation by;

spraying an amount of cleaning liquid onto a revolving cleaning medium of the machine;

vacuuming at least some soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid from the revolving cleaning medium; and

wiping a carpeted surface with the revolving cleaning medium so as to transfer soil from the carpeted surface to the revolving cleaning medium, and subsequently

operating the cleaning machine in a second mode of operation by;

spraying another amount of cleaning liquid onto the carpeted surface; and

vacuuming at least some soil and at least some of the cleaning liquid directly from the carpeted surface.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:

engaging the carpeted surface with the revolving cleaning in the second mode of operation.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:

spraying another amount of cleaning liquid onto the cleaning medium in the second mode of operation.