Cleaner cartridge

• US 7,051,399 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tennant Company
• Original Assignee: Tennant Company
• Inventors: Field, Bruce F., Joynt, Daniel L., Johnson, Jeffrey A., Krueger, Joseph K., Christensen, Bryan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Till, Terrence R.
• Application Number:
  US10/152,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20030019071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 153/20, 153/401, 153/402, 153/403, 153/404, 222/95, 222/105, 222/107, 222/136, 2221455-1457, 222/630
• US Class Current: 15/320
• 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 11/29 Floor-scrubbing machines characterised by means for taking-up dirty liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4011 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: B01F 23/291 for obtaining foams or aerosols
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 13/0095 Preparation of aerosols

Abstract

A cleaner cartridge includes a container having an interior cavity, in which cleaning agent can be stored. A first end of conduit is fluidically coupled to the interior cavity. A second end of the conduit is connectable to a chemical dispenser.

Claims

1. A cleaner cartridge for use in a hard floor surface cleaner having a chemical dispenser, the cleaner cartridge comprising:

a collapsible container having an interior cavity and configured for removable attachment to the hard floor surface cleaner;

a supply of cleaning agent contained in the interior cavity of the container; and

conduit having a first end coupled to the container and a second end connectable to a chemical dispenser of the hard floor surface cleaner, wherein the container is sealed except where coupled to the conduit, whereby the interior cavity is accessible through the conduit.

2. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1 including a flow control member mounted to the conduit and controlling a flow of fluid therethrough.

3. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1 including a connector attached to a second end of the conduit and configured to couple to a cooperating connector of the chemical dispenser.

4. The cleaner cartridge of claim 3, wherein the connector includes a flow control member for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough.

5. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1 including a seal between the first end of the conduit and the container.

6. The cleaner cartridge of claim 5, wherein the seal includes an annular neck adjoining the container and surrounding the first end of the conduit.

7. The cleaner cartridge of claim 6, wherein the seal includes a weld between the annular neck, the first end of the conduit, and the container.

8. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the container is formed of a clear, opaque, or translucent material.

9. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1 including a housing enclosing the container.

10. The cleaner cartridge of claim 9, wherein the housing includes an opening through which the second end of the conduit extends.

11. The cleaner cartridge of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a side wall having an opening through which the container can be viewed.

12. The cleaner cartridge of claim 9, wherein the housing includes at least one side having a removable portion.

13. The cleaner cartridge of claim 12, wherein the removable portion defines an opening through which the conduit can extend for coupling to the dispenser.

14. The cleaner cartridge of claim 12, wherein the removable portion is defined by perforations in the wall of the housing.

15. The cleaner cartridge of claim 12, wherein the removable portion is formed in a portion of the housing selected from a group consisting of a bottom of the housing a side of the housing, and both a bottom and a side of the housing.

16. The cleaner cartridge of claim 9, wherein the housing is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material.

17. The cleaner cartridge of claim 16, wherein the housing is formed of plastic, cardboard and/or metal.

18. The cleaner cartridge of claim 17, wherein the housing is formed of a corrugated material.

19. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent includes an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and/or a cationic surfactant.

20. The cleaner cartridge of claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent is in a concentrated form.

21. The cleaner cartridge of claim 20, wherein the cleaning agent is approximately 38% solids.

22. A hard floor surface cleaner comprising:

a motorized scrub head;

a fluid recovery device;

a cartridge receiver;

a cleaner cartridge removably received by the cartridge receiver, the cleaner cartridge including;

a container having an interior cavity for containing a supply of cleaning agent; and

conduit having a first end coupled to the container;

a primary cleaning liquid component dispenser configured to supply a flow of primary cleaning liquid component;

a chemical dispenser configured to supply a flow of the cleaning agent from the cleaner cartridge at a flow rate of less than 10 cubic centimeters per minute; and

a fluid mixing member configured to receive the flow of the cleaning agent and the flow of primary cleaning liquid component and to discharge a flow of cleaning liquid, which comprises a combination of the cleaning agent and the primary cleaning liquid component.

23. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22 including a flow control member mounted to the conduit and controlling a flow of cleaning agent therethrough.

24. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22 including a connector attached to a second end of the conduit and configured to couple to a cooperating connector of the chemical dispenser.

25. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 24, wherein the connector includes a flow control member for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough.

26. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22 including a seal between the first end of the conduit and the container.

27. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 26, wherein the seal includes an annular neck adjoining the container and surrounding the first end of the conduit.

28. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 27, wherein the seal includes a weld between the annular neck, the first end of the conduit, and the container.

29. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22, wherein the container is formed of a clear, opaque, or translucent material.

30. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22, wherein the container is collapsible and the hard floor surface cleaner includes a housing enclosing the container.

31. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 30, wherein the housing includes an opening through which the second end of the conduit extends.

32. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 30, wherein the housing includes a side wall having an opening through which the container can be viewed.

33. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 30, wherein the housing includes at least one side having a removable portion.

34. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 33, wherein the removable portion defines an opening through which the conduit can extend for coupling to the dispenser.

35. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 33, wherein the removable portion is defined by perforations in the wall of the housing.

36. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 33, wherein the removable portion is formed in a portion of the housing selected from a group consisting of a bottom of the housing, a side of the housing, and both a bottom and a side of the housing.

37. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 30, wherein the housing is formed of a rigid or semi-rigid material.

38. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 37, wherein the housing is formed of plastic or cardboard.

39. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 37, wherein the housing is formed of a corrugated material.

40. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22, wherein the primary cleaning liquid component dispenser includes

a pump configured to drive the flow of primary cleaning liquid component.

41. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22 including

an aerator configured to convert the flow of cleaning liquid to a foam-like aerated cleaning liquid.

42. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22 including a pump configured to drive the flow of the cleaning agent.

43. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 42 including a controller having a control signal, wherein the pump is configured to drive the flow of the cleaning agent in response to the control signal.

44. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 43, wherein the control signal includes a pulsed signal.

45. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 43, wherein the pump is powered by the control signal.

46. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 42, wherein the pump is a solenoid pump.

47. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22 including a flow restriction member in line with the flow of the cleaning agent.

48. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 47 including a pump in line with the flow restriction member.

49. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 47, wherein the flow restriction member includes a labyrinthine fluid flow path through which the flow of the cleaning agent travels.

50. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 47 including a vacuum generating component downstream of the flow restriction member relative to the flow of the cleaning agent.

51. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 50, wherein the vacuum generating component includes an orifice plate inline with the flow of primary cleaning liquid component.

52. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 22, wherein the container includes a vent.

53. The hard floor surface cleaner of claim 52, wherein the container is rigid.

54. A cleaner cartridge for use in a hard floor surface cleaner having a chemical dispenser, the cleaner cartridge comprising:

a collapsible container having an interior cavity and configured for removable attachment to the hard floor surface cleaner;

a housing enclosing the container and including a side wall having an opening through which the container can be viewed; and

conduit having a first end coupled to the container and a second end connectable to a chemical dispenser of the hard floor surface cleaner, wherein the collapsible container is sealed except where coupled to the conduit, and fluid contained in the interior chamber is accessible through the conduit.

55. The cleaner cartridge of claim 54, including a flow control member mounted to the conduit and controlling a flow of fluid therethrough.

56. The cleaner cartridge of claim 54 including a connector attached to a second end of the conduit and configured to couple to a cooperating connector of the chemical dispenser.

57. The cleaner cartridge of claim 56, wherein the connector includes a flow control member for controlling a flow of fluid therethrough.