US20060236494A1 - Hard and soft floor surface cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A floor cleaner configured to perform both hard and soft floor cleaning operations includes a mobile body, a motorized cleaning head, a cleaning liquid dispenser, a vacuum, a first vacuum extractor tool and a vacuum squeegee connected to the mobile body. The mobile body is configured to travel over a surface. The motorized cleaning head is connected to the mobile body and includes a cleaning tool. The cleaning liquid dispenser is configured to apply a cleaning liquid to the surface or the cleaning tool. The first vacuum extractor tool is configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through a first vacuum path.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/669,054, filed Apr. 7, 2005, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention generally relates to a floor cleaning machine and, more particularly, to a floor cleaning machine that is configurable to perform both hard and soft floor cleaning operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Mobile floor cleaners, such as those produced by Tennant Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota, are generally designated as either a soft floor cleaner configured to perform a cleaning operation on a soft floor (e.g., carpet, rugs, etc.), or a hard floor cleaner configured to perform a cleaning operation on a hard floor surface (e.g., tile, linoleum, cement, etc.).
• Soft floor cleaning operations include soil transfer and deep extraction cleaning operations. U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,812, which is assigned to Tennant Company, describes a dual mode cleaner that is configurable to perform both soil transfer and deep cleaning extraction operations on a carpeted surface.
• Soil transfer cleaning operations utilize special cylindrical rollers to which a cleaning solution is applied with pumps and spray heads. When the rollers are rotated against a surface, soil is transferred to the rollers and the soil cleaning liquid is subsequently suctioned from the rollers with vacuum extractor tools. This technology can be used to clean various fabric surfaces. The roller design, rotational speed, pressure, vacuum parameters and cleaning liquid flows can be altered in the same machine to optimize cleaning for the particular carpet or fabric. The cleaning liquid can be minimized to reduce drying time while still providing effective interim cleaning of carpet, thereby allowing a space to be ready for use in less than one hour.
• Deep cleaning extraction cleaning operations are typically performed less frequently than the soil transfer cleaning operation. The deep cleaning extraction operation generally performs a more thorough cleaning of a carpeted surface. During such a cleaning operation, a relatively large amount of cleaning solution is sprayed directly onto the carpeted or soft floor surface. The carpet is scrubbed with brushes designed for the surface and soiled liquid is extracted from the carpet with one or more vacuum extractor tools located behind the brushes. Carpets cleaned with the deep cleaning extraction operation require considerably longer drying times before use than carpets cleaned with the soil transfer method.
• Hard floor surface cleaning operations are performed by hard floor surface cleaners that generally employ scrubbing brushes and a vacuumized fluid recovery system positioned behind the scrubbing brushes. A cleaning liquid is typically sprayed directly to the floor and/or on the brushes and the hard floor surface is scrubbed with the brushes. The vacuumized fluid recovery system typically includes a vacuum squeegee that collects the soiled cleaning liquid and delivers the soiled cleaning liquid to a recovery tank. The vacuum squeegee removes substantially all of the liquid waste left by the scrubbing brushes from the hard floor surface, leaving the surface ready for use almost immediately.
• Cleaning operations on spaces having a mixture of soft floor surfaces and hard floor surfaces have generally required separate soft and hard floor cleaning machines. Such a requirement is costly in terms of the time required to complete the multi-surface cleaning operations and the maintenance and storage of multiple machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention generally relates to a floor cleaner configured to perform both hard and soft floor cleaning operations. The cleaner generally includes a mobile body, a motorized cleaning head, a cleaning liquid dispenser, a vacuum, a first vacuum extractor tool and a vacuum squeegee connected to the mobile body. The mobile body is configured to travel over a surface. The motorized cleaning head is connected to the mobile body and includes a cleaning tool. The cleaning liquid dispenser is configured to apply a cleaning liquid to the surface or the cleaning tool. The first vacuum extractor tool is configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through a first vacuum path.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of afloor cleaner100 in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a side view of afloor cleaner100 in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a floor cleaner in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner in soil transfer mode of operation with the mobile body and other components removed.
• FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner in deep extraction cleaning mode of operation with the mobile body and other components removed.
• FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner in hard floor scrubbing mode of operation with the mobile body and other components removed.
• FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner in hard floor scrubbing mode of operation with the mobile body and other components removed.
• FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a cleaning liquid dispenser in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a soft and hard floor cleaning liquid dispensers in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
• The present invention relates to afloor cleaner100 that is configurable for performing both hard floor cleaning operations and soft floor cleaning operations.FIGS. 1-3 respectively show a perspective view of the floor cleaner, a side view of the cleaner and a block diagram of the floor cleaner, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
• As will be discussed below in greater detail, embodiments of thecleaner100 include a soil transfer cleaning mode in which thecleaner100 is configured to perform a soil transfer cleaning operation on a floor surface102 (i.e., a soft floor surface) and/or an deep extraction mode, in which thecleaner100 is configured to perform a deep extraction cleaning operation on thesurface102. Additionally, one embodiment of thecleaner100 includes a hard floor scrubbing mode, in which thecleaner100 is configured to scrub the floor surface102 (i.e., a hard floor surface102) and remove liquid waste and debris with a fluid recovery system.
• Thefloor cleaner100 shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 is configured for use by an operator that walks behind thecleaner100. Acontrol panel104 provides various settings for controlling the operation of thecleaner100. Alternatively, thecleaner100 may be designed as a ride-on cleaner, or towed-behind cleaner. Thecleaner100 may be powered through an on-board power source, such as batteries or an internal combustion engine, or powered though an electrical cord.
• Embodiments of thefloor cleaner100 generally include amobile body106, a motorizedcleaning head108, a cleaningliquid dispenser110, one ormore vacuums112, at least onevacuum extractor tool114 and avacuum squeegee116.
• One embodiment of themobile body106 comprises framework for supporting the various components of thecleaner100. Themobile body106 supported ondrive wheels118 andcastor wheels120 for travel over thesurface102. In one embodiment, the drive wheels are driven by amotor122. Ahousing124 encloses many of the components of thecleaner100 that are supported on themobile body106. Some of the components (e.g., batteries, tanks, etc.) can be accessed by opening acover126.
• The motorizedcleaning head108 is connected to themobile body106. In one embodiment the motorized head is positioned at a forward location of thecleaner100, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. However, thecleaning head108 can also be positioned at other locations relative to themobile body106, such as central and rearward locations of thecleaner100.
• Thecleaning head108 includes acleaning tool128 and one ormore motors130 for driving rotation of thecleaning tool128 about an axis that is either parallel or perpendicular to thesurface102. The rotatingcleaning tool128 engages thesurface102 to perform a hard or soft floor cleaning operation, as indicated byarrow131 inFIG. 3.
• In accordance with one embodiment of thecleaner100 includes acleaning head lift132 configured to lower thecleaning head108 for floor cleaning operations and raise thecleaning head108 when not in use, such as during transport of thecleaner100. One embodiment of thehead lift132, shown inFIG. 2, includes a motorizedscrew drive133 coupled to the head through asuitable linkage135, which pivots thehead108 about aconnection137 to raise or lower thehead108 as desired.
• One embodiment of thecleaning head108 is configured for use with multiple types ofcleaning tools128 in order to accommodate different cleaning operations while using thesame motors130, for example. Thus, the cleaninghead108 can be equipped with a softfloor cleaning tool128 to allow the cleaner to perform a soft floor cleaning operation. The softfloor cleaning tool128 can then be replaced with a hardfloor cleaning tool128 to allow the cleaner100 to perform a hard floor cleaning operation. Alternatively, the cleaner100 is configurable with separate soft and hardfloor cleaning heads108 respectively including soft and hardfloor cleaning tools128.
• As mentioned above, embodiments of the cleaner100 include several different modes of operation including a soil transfer soft floor cleaning mode, a deep extraction soft floor cleaning mode, and at least two hard floor scrubbing modes.FIG. 4 is a block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner100 in soil transfer mode of operation with themobile body106 and other components removed to simplify the illustration. In this embodiment, thecleaning tool128 includes one or more soil transfer rolls134, shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and4, that are driven by one ormore motors130 to respectively rotate therolls134 about their horizontal axes in the directions indicated byarrows136 and138, shown inFIG. 4, during soil transfer cleaning operations on thesoft floor surface102.
• FIG. 5 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner100 in a deep extraction soft floor cleaning mode of operation with themobile body106 and other components removed. In this embodiment, thecleaning tool128 includes one or more deep extraction brushes140 that are dedicated for use in a deep extraction soft floor cleaning operation. Exemplary deep extraction brushes140 are shown inFIG. 5, which and are respectively driven by one ormore motors130 for rotation about their horizontal axes in the directions indicated byarrows142 and144 during deep extraction cleaning operations on thesoft floor surface102.
• FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner100 in hard floor scrubbing mode of operation with themobile body106 and other components removed. In accordance with this embodiment, thecleaning tool128 includes one ore more hard floor scrub brushes146 dedicated to performing a hard floor cleaning operation. An exemplary hardfloor scrub brush146 is shown inFIG. 6, that is configured to rotate about avertical axis148 as indicated byarrow150, during a scrubbing operation onhard floor surface102. In one embodiment, at least one other scrub brush is positioned adjacent the depictedscrub brush146 to expand the width of the scrubbing swath covered by the cleaninghead108.
• FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of embodiments of the cleaner100 in a second hard floor scrubbing mode of operation, in which thecleaning tool128 includes “hybrid” rolls152 configured to perform soil transfer soft floor cleaning operations and hard floor scrubbing operations respectively on soft and hard floor surfaces102. In one embodiment, the hybrid rolls152 are driven by one ormore motors130 for rotation about their horizontal axes in the directions indicated byarrows154 and156, during the cleaning operations.
• The one ormore vacuums112 each generally include amotor158 and vacuum fan160 (FIG. 2). The vacuum fan(s)112 is used in combination with the at least onevacuum extractor tool114 to remove liquid and solid waste162 (i.e., soiled cleaning liquid) from thecleaning tool128 of thecleaning head108 and/or thesurface102, as respectively indicated byarrows164 and166. Onevacuum112 also operates with thevacuum squeegee116 to removewaste162 from thesurface102, as indicated byarrow168. Thewaste162 is then deposited in one or morewaste recovery tanks170 or other location, as will be described in greater detail below.
• In accordance with one embodiment, thevacuum112 is selectively placed in vacuum communication with thevacuum squeegee116 and thevacuum extractor tool114 using avacuum path selector172. Vacuum communication is intended to mean that a vacuum path is opened between the component (i.e., squeegee or extractor tool) and the low pressure vacuum generated by thevacuum112. Once established, the vacuum communication allows for liquid and/orsolid waste162 to be sucked up through an opening of thevacuum squeegee116 and/or theextractor tool114 and deposited in thewaste recovery tank170, as indicated inFIG. 3. Embodiments of thevacuum path selector172 include one or more valves (e.g., multi-way valve, Y-valves) and other conventional vacuum path controlling components. Thevacuum paths173, such asvacuum path174 coupled to thevacuum squeegee116 orvacuum path176 coupled to theextractor tool114, are formed by vacuum conduit or tubing. In accordance with one embodiment, multiple components or paths can be placed in vacuum communication with thevacuum112 using thevacuum path selector172.
• In accordance with another embodiment, the cleaner100 includesseparate vacuums112 for thevacuum squeegee116 and the extractor tool. With such a configuration, the vacuum path selector may be discarded or disconnected from the vacuum path of thevacuum squeegee116.
• In another embodiment, vacuum ports corresponding to thevarious vacuum paths173 are made accessible by the operator of the cleaner100. The coupling of one of the vacuum ports to the vacuum port that is in vacuum communication with thevacuum112 can be made by manually connecting a tubing section to the appropriate ports.
• Thevacuum extractor tool114 can take on various conventional forms depending on its purpose. The extractor tool generally extends widthwise across thesurface178 of thecleaning tool128 or thesurface112, from which waste162 is to be extracted.Multiple extractor tools114 can be used to cover large widths. It is understood by those skilled in the art that extractortools114 are used for removing liquid and solid debris fromsoft surfaces102, such as soft floor surfaces and soft soil transfer roll surfaces, and they do not include a squeegee that would render them operable on hard floor surfaces.
• One embodiment of theextractor tool114 is in the form of aroll extractor tool180, two of which are shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. Each of theroll extractor tools180 removes liquid andsolid waste162 from one of the soil transfer rolls134. The extracted waste travels throughvacuum path182 havingbranches184 and186 and is deposited in the waste recovery tank, as illustrated inFIGS. 1, 3 and4.
• Another embodiment of theextractor tool114 is in the form of asurface extractor tool188 that is configured to remove liquid andsolid waste162 from thesurface102. The extractedwaste162 travels throughvacuum path190 and is deposited in thewaste recovery tank170, as illustrated inFIG. 5.
• In accordance with one embodiment, the cleaner100 includes anextractor tool lift192 that allows thesurface extractor tool188 to be raised above the surface102 (as shown inFIGS. 4, 6 and7) when not in use and lowered into an operating position (shown inFIGS. 2 and 5) for use in a deep extraction cleaning operation, in which thesurface extractor tool188 engages thesurface102. One exemplaryextractor tool lift192, shown inFIG. 2, includes amain support194 connected to either thecleaning head108 or themobile body106. The surfaceextractor tool lift192 also includesguide members196 attached to thesurface extractor tool188 that slide within slots in aside plate198 of themain support194. A second side set of guide members and side plate are provided on the opposing side of the extractor tool lift and surface extractor tool. Aspring200, compressed between a top surface of thesurface extractor tool188 and the bottom surface of across plate202 of themain support194, biases thesurface extractor tool188 in the lowered or operating position. Thesurface extractor tool188 can be held in the raised position manually using a locking mechanism204 (e.g., a pin) or a suitable actuator mechanism. Alternatively, theextractor tool lift192 can include a motor to raise and lower thesurface extractor tool188.
• Thevacuum squeegee116 is a component of a fluid recovery device that is conventionally used only in dedicated hard floor surface cleaners. Thevacuum squeegee116 generally comprises asqueegee210 connected to frame212. Thesqueegee210 extends across the width of the cleaner100 or the cleaning swath of thecleaning head108. Avacuum port214 is positioned to receive waste collected by thesqueegee210, such as, for example, adjacent thesurface102 at the widthwise center of thesqueegee210. During operation, thesqueegee210 engages thesurface102 and collects soiled cleaningliquid waste162 as the cleaner100 moves along thesurface102 in a forward direction, as indicated byarrow216 inFIG. 6. One embodiment of thesqueegee210 includes a concave shape that directs the collected soiled cleaningliquid waste162 toward thevacuum port214. When vacuum communication is established between thevacuum port214 and thevacuum112, thewaste162 is sucked through thevacuum port214 and the connectedvacuum path174 and deposited into therecovery tank170, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 6.
• Asqueegee lift217, shown inFIG. 2 and schematically inFIG. 3, is used to move thevacuum squeegee116 from a raised position off the surface102 (shown inFIGS. 2, 4 and5) to a lowered operating position (shown inFIGS. 6 and 7), in which the squeegee engages thesurface102. One exemplary embodiment of thesqueegee lift217 includes acable218 having one end connected to theframe212 and another end connected to anactuating lever220. Theframe212 is coupled to themobile body106 through a suitable pivotal connection (not shown). The operator of the cleaner100 can raise and lower thevacuum squeegee116 as desired using theactuating lever220 which causes theframe212 and the attachedsqueegee210 to move about the pivotal connection to the raised or operating positions. Acastor wheel222 can be coupled to theframe212 to limit the height at which thesqueegee210 can be lowered.
• The cleaningliquid dispenser110 is configured to apply acleaning liquid230 to one of thesurface102 and thecleaning tool128 and respectively indicated byarrows230A and230B ofFIG. 3.FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the cleaningliquid dispenser110 in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
• One embodiment of the cleaningliquid dispenser110 includes a supply of the cleaningliquid230 and apump232 for driving a flow of the cleaning liquid230 (arrows) cleaning liquid through tubing to be discharged at a desired location. The cleaning liquid230 can comprise water or a combination of water and a cleaning agent. In one embodiment, separate supplies ofwater234 and cleaningagent236 are provided. Thewater234 can be stored in a tank supported on themobile body106, while the cleaning agent is provided in a separate container, such as a fixed tank or removable container or cartridge. A mixingmember238 combines a flow ofwater240 with a flow of thecleaning agent242 at a desired dosage to form the flow of cleaningliquid230.
• The dosing of the flow of cleaningagent242 into the flow ofwater240 can be accomplished using a venturi injector or through use of adosing pump244. In accordance with one embodiment, the flow of cleaningagent242 is less than 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute.
• In order to accommodate different cleaning liquids and different cleaning liquid flow rates that may be desired for soft and hard floor cleaning operations, one embodiment of the cleaningliquid dispenser110 includes separate soft and hard floor cleaningliquid dispenser250 and252, respectively. The cleaningliquid dispensers250 and252 generally have the form of the embodiments of the cleaningliquid dispenser110 described above, but can share components, such as pumps and the water supply, for example. In one embodiment, the soft floor cleaningliquid dispenser250 utilizes a different cleaning agent and/or provides a lower volumetric flow rate of cleaning liquid230S than the flow of the cleaning liquid230H of the hard floor cleaningliquid dispenser252. The lower volumetric flow rate is essential in soft floor cleaning operations in order to prevent long drying times for thesoft floor surface102 and to prevent the development of mold. Additionally,hard floor surface102 cleaning operations generally desire a complete wetting of thehard floor surface102 in order to remove embedded or debris that has dried on thesurface102. If necessary, avalve254 can be used to switch between the flow of soft floor cleaning liquid230S and the flow of hard floor cleaning liquid230H.
• Another embodiment of the cleaningliquid dispenser110 includes one or more nozzles, or other fluid distributor, for discharging the flow of cleaning liquid230 to the desired location. In one embodiment, the cleaningliquid dispenser110 includes one ormore nozzles260 or tubing for directing the flow of cleaning liquid230 onto thecleaning tool128, such as the soil transfer rolls134 (FIG. 4) or the hard floor scrub brush (FIG. 6). In accordance with another embodiment, the cleaningliquid dispenser110 includes one ormore nozzles262 for directing the cleaning liquid230 onto thesurface102, preferably in front of thecleaning tool128. In yet another embodiment, the cleaningliquid dispenser110 includes one ormore nozzles264 for directing the cleaning liquid230 onto both thesurface102 and thecleaning tool128, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. One ormore valves266 can control the flow of cleaning liquid230 to the desired nozzle or location.
• In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, the cleaningliquid dispenser110 is configured to dispense the flow cleaning liquid230 to the desiredsurface102 as a foam. In general, soft floor cleaning operations utilize a dry foam to avoid overly wetting thesoft floor surface102 and long drying times, whereas hard floor surface cleaning operations may utilize a relatively wet foam that is suitable for completely wetting thehard floor surface102. In accordance with one embodiment, at least one of thenozzles260,262 or264 is an aerating nozzle that converts the flow of cleaning liquid230 into a foam, which is then discharged to either thesurface102 in front of thecleaning tool128, on thecleaning tool128, or both. Alternatively, an aerating device located upstream of the nozzles can be used to convert the cleaning liquid into a foam.
• Another aspect of the present invention is directed to methods of cleaning hard and soft floor surfaces102 using embodiments of the cleaner100 described above. As mentioned above,FIG. 4 illustrates embodiments of a soil transfer soft floor cleaning mode operation for the cleaner100. Initially, the soil transfer rolls134 are installed in thecleaning head108 and lowered to the operating position by thehead lift132, thevacuum squeegee116 is moved to the raised position using thesqueegee lift217, and thesurface extractor tool114 is moved to the raised position using thetool lift192, as shown inFIG. 4. Additionally, vacuum communication is established between thevacuum112 and theroll extractor tools180 through thepaths182,184 and186. Next, the soil transfer rolls134 are wetted with cleaning liquid230 discharged throughnozzle260, then extracted by operation ofroll extractor tools180 to remove soiled cleaning liquid162 from therolls134.Nozzle264 can also be activated if desired to spray thesurface102 and/or theleading roll134. The rolls are rotated by operation of the motor(s)130 and wipe thesurface102, which transfers soil from thesurface102 onto soil transfer rolls134. The rotation of therolls134 in the directions indicated byarrows136 and138 results in different portions of the soil transfer rolls134 being wetted with the cleaningliquid230, extracted byroll extractors180, or wiped against thesurface102.
• The roll extractors180 engage thesurfaces178 of therolls134 and are placed in vacuum communication with thevacuum112, which removes some of the just deposited cleaningliquid230 and soil previously transferred from thesurface102. As a result, the wetness of therolls134 is reduced from the initially sprayed condition by the extraction of some of the cleaningliquid230 by theroll extractors180.
• As therolls134 are revolved, they engage the soft floor (e.g., carpet fibers)102 and cause soil to be transferred from the carpet fibers to therolls134. After engaging and wiping thesurface102, therolls134 are further rotated and sprayed again with cleaning liquid230 bynozzle260. Subsequently, thesurfaces178 of therolls134 are vacuum extracted to remove the soiled cleaning liquid162 from therolls134, which is conveyed into therecovery tank170.
• FIG. 5 illustrates embodiments of a deep extraction cleaning mode of operation, in which the cleaner100 functions similarly to known carpet extractors. If necessary, the soil transfer rolls134 are replaced with the extractor brushes140, the cleaninghead108 and thesurface extractor188 are moved to their operating positions, and thevacuum squeegee116 is moved to the raised position, as shown inFIG. 5. Additionally, vacuum communication is established between thevacuum112 and thesurface extractor tool188 through thevacuum path190. The cleaner100 operates while moving in the forward direction indicated byarrow216. The cleaningliquid dispenser110 discharges cleaning liquid230 to thesurface102 through nozzle(s)264 or uses nozzle(s)262 to direct cleaning liquid230 onto both thesurface102 and the leadingextractor brush140. The extractor brushes140 are driven via the motor(s)130 to engage thefloor surface102 and transfer soil into asoiled cleaning solution162. The extractor brushes140 may include bristles to facilitate soil transfer. In one embodiment, the direction of rotation of the extractor brushes140 is indicated byarrows142 and144. As the cleaner100 progresses across thefloor surface102, thesurface extractor188 engages the wetted portion of thesurface102 to remove the soiled cleaning liquid162 from thesurface102. The soiledcleaning liquid162 is moved through thevacuum path190 and into thewaste recovery tank170 by operation of thevacuum112.
• The deep extraction soft floor cleaning operation utilizes a larger volume of cleaning liquid230 per unit area than the soil transfer cleaning operation performed by the cleaner100. As a result, thesurface102 requires a longer drying time following a deep extraction cleaning operation than that required following a soil transfer cleaning operation. However, the drying times for both the deep extraction cleaning operation and the soil transfer cleaning operation can be reduced by utilizing the cleaning liquid in an aerated or foam state.
• FIG. 6 illustrates embodiments of the hard floor scrubbing mode of operation for the cleaner100. Initially, the hardfloor scrub brush146 is installed in thereconfigurable cleaning head108, or a hardfloor cleaning head108 having thescrub brush146 is attached to themobile body106. Also, the cleaninghead108 and thevacuum squeegee116 are moved to their operating positions and thesurface extractor tool188 is moved to the raised position, as shown inFIG. 6. Vacuum communication is also established between thevacuum112 and thevacuum port214 of thevacuum squeegee116 through thevacuum path174. Next the cleaningliquid dispenser110 wets thesurface102 with cleaning liquid230 by discharging the cleaning liquid230 through thenozzle262 and/or wets thesurface102 and thescrub brush146 by discharging cleaning liquid230 throughtubing260 that is internal to thescrub brush146. Themotor130 rotates thescrub brush146 as it engages the wettedsurface102 and forms soiled cleaningliquid162. As the cleaner100 moves in theforward direction216 the soiledcleaning liquid162 is collected by thesqueegee210 and directed toward thevacuum port214. The soiledcleaning liquid162 is then sucked through thevacuum port214, through thevacuum path174 and discharged into thewaste recovery tank170.
• When thecleaning tool128 comprises hybrid rolls152 configured for both soil transfer soft floor cleaning operations and hard floor cleaning operations, the cleaner100 operates in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the soil transfer cleaning mode of operation. The benefit of the hybrid rolls152 is that they can be used to perform a hard floor cleaning operation. The conversion to the hard floor cleaning mode involves lowering thevacuum squeegee116 to the operating position, establishing vacuum communication between thevacuum squeegee116 and thevacuum112 through thepath174 and dischargingcleaning liquid230 onto thesurface102, as shown inFIG. 7. Thesurface102 is scrubbed by the rotating rolls152. The soiled cleaning liquid left behind by the rolls is collected by thevacuum squeegee116 and transferred to thewaste recovery tank170 through thepath174.
• Additional embodiments of this hybrid hard floor cleaning mode include applying cleaning liquid230 to the hybrid rolls152 through, for example, nozzle(s)260 or262, and establishing vacuum communication between thevacuum112 and theroll extractor tools180 through thepaths182,184 and186. As a result, one embodiment includes extracting the soiled cleaning liquid162 from therolls152 and transferring the soiledcleaning liquid162 to thewaste recovery tank170 through thepath182.
• Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (23)

1. A floor cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;

a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and comprising a cleaning tool;

a cleaning liquid dispenser configured to apply a cleaning liquid to one of the surface and the cleaning tool;

a vacuum supported on the mobile body;

a first vacuum extractor tool configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through a first vacuum path; and

a vacuum squeegee connected to the mobile body.

2. The cleaner ofclaim 1, wherein the vacuum squeegee is configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through a second vacuum path.

3. The cleaner ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaning tool comprises a hard floor surface cleaning tool.

4. The cleaner ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaning tool comprises a hard floor scrub brush.

5. The cleaner ofclaim 1, wherein the cleaning tool comprises a soft floor surface cleaning tool.

6. The cleaner ofclaim 5, wherein the cleaning tool comprises one of a soil transfer roller and a soft floor extraction brush.

7. The cleaner ofclaim 1, wherein the first vacuum extractor tool is configured to remove liquid from a surface of the cleaning tool.

8. The cleaner ofclaim 1, wherein the first vacuum extractor tool is configured to engage the surface.

9. The cleaner ofclaim 8, further comprising an extractor tool lift coupled to the first vacuum extractor tool, the lift mechanism configured to move the first vacuum extractor tool relative to the mobile body between a raised position, in which the first vacuum extractor tool is displaced from the surface, and an operating position, in which the first vacuum extractor tool engages the surface.

10. The cleaner ofclaim 2, further comprising a second vacuum extractor tool configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum.

11. The cleaner ofclaim 10, wherein the first and second vacuum extractor tools are each configured to engage the cleaning tool.

12. The cleaner ofclaim 10, wherein:

the first vacuum extractor tool is configured to engage the cleaning tool and the second vacuum extractor tool is configured to engage the surface; and

the second vacuum extractor tool is configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through a third vacuum path.

13. The cleaner ofclaim 12, further comprising a vacuum path selector means for controlling vacuum communication between the vacuum and the first vacuum path, the second vacuum path and the third vacuum path.

14. The cleaner ofclaim 2, further comprising a vacuum path selector means for selectively opening and closing vacuum communication between the vacuum and the first and second vacuum paths.

15. A floor cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;

a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and comprising a cleaning tool;

a cleaning liquid dispenser configured to apply a cleaning liquid to one of the surface and the cleaning tool;

a vacuum supported on the mobile body;

a first vacuum path configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum;

a second vacuum path configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum;

a first vacuum extractor tool configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through the first vacuum path; and

a vacuum squeegee connected to the mobile body and configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through the second vacuum path.

16. The cleaner ofclaim 15, further comprising a vacuum path selector means for selectively opening and closing vacuum communication between the vacuum and the first and second vacuum paths.

17. The cleaner ofclaim 15, wherein the first vacuum extractor tool is configured to remove liquid from a surface of the cleaning tool.

18. The cleaner ofclaim 15, wherein the first vacuum extractor tool is configured to engage the surface.

19. The cleaner ofclaim 18, further comprising an extractor tool lift coupled to the first vacuum extractor tool, the lift mechanism configured to move the first vacuum extractor tool relative to the mobile body between a raised position, in which the first vacuum extractor tool is displaced from the surface, and an operating position, in which the first vacuum extractor tool engages the surface.

20. The cleaner ofclaim 15, wherein the cleaning tool is selected from the group consisting of a soft floor cleaning tool and a hard floor cleaning tool.

21. A floor cleaner comprising:

a mobile body configured to travel over a surface;

a motorized cleaning head connected to the mobile body and comprising a cleaning tool;

a cleaning liquid dispenser configured to apply a cleaning liquid to one of the surface and the cleaning tool;

a vacuum supported on the mobile body;

a first vacuum path configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum;

a second vacuum path configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum;

a third vacuum path configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum;

a first vacuum extractor tool configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through the first vacuum path;

a second vacuum extractor tool configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through the second vacuum path; and

a vacuum squeegee connected to the mobile body and configured for vacuum communication with the vacuum through the third vacuum path.

22. The cleaner ofclaim 21, wherein the first and second vacuum extractor tools are each configured to remove liquid from a surface of the cleaning tool.

23. The cleaner ofclaim 21, wherein the first vacuum extractor tool is configured to remove liquid from a surface of the cleaning tool and the second vacuum extractor tool is configured to engage the surface.

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