Floor And Wall Cleaner Patents (Class 15/49.1)
  • Patent number: 9649003
    Abstract: A random orbit scrubber comprises a main body having a front end and a rear end, a squeegee assembly coupled to the rear end of the main body, and a cleaning head assembly coupled to the front end of the main body. The cleaning head assembly can include a cleaning element structured for contact with a floor surface. The cleaning head assembly can further include a motor that is operable to impart rotational and orbital movement on the cleaning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Nilfisk, Inc.
    Inventors: William Randall Stuchlik, Donald Joseph Legatt
  • Patent number: 9623534
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting one or two handheld type orbital thereto is described to permit a user to sand a floor surface from a standing position while moving the mounted sander(s) to and fro by way of a broom handle extending from the apparatus. Typically, the apparatus includes one fixed mount and one moveable mount. Each mount is configured to facilitate attachment to an orbital sander. The moveable mount can be placed and secured in one of two positions: A first position that centers a single sander in line with the handle and a second position wherein the fixed mount is located to one side of the handle and the moveable mount is secured essentially an equal distance on the other side of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Kenneth Johnson
  • Patent number: 9615712
    Abstract: A pad particularly adapted for surface cleaning. The pad includes an absorbent core having the ability to absorb and retain liquid material, and a liner layer in contact with and covering at least one side of the absorbent core. The liner layer has the ability to retain and wick liquid material through the liner layer. Cleaning apparatus containing such pads and methods of using such pads are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov, Marcus Williams, Joseph M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9538893
    Abstract: A liquid extraction cleaning device comprises a vacuum pump, a liquid pump, a cleaning solution tank, a recovery tank, first and second spray nozzles, a spray selection switch, a vacuum inlet port, an agitator assembly, and a handle. The spray selection switch controls whether liquid is expelled from the second spray nozzle when liquid is expelled from the first spray nozzle. The agitator assembly comprises first and second agitators. The first agitator is configured to rotate. The second agitator is configured to reciprocate. The handle is pivotally connected to the rest of the liquid extraction cleaning device and is lockable in several pivotal orientations. The handle can also be pivoted forward from a rearwardly extending direction to an extent that it extends forward horizontally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Rug Doctor, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Wall, Ann Marie Morrow, Walter Haug, Phuong Le, Charles Michael Ostendorf, Schubert Pereira, Ernest Matthew Chavana, Jr., Vincent Lau, Jason Edward Hill, Jason Tilk, Evan Spirk, Lindsey Tufts, Craig Saunders, Paul Stephens
  • Patent number: 9504367
    Abstract: A cleaning robot including a main body, a pad mounted below the main body to implement cleaning, and a drive assembly to apply drive power to the pad. The drive assembly moves the main body to a target position by adjusting the drive power. The cleaning robot may move at a high speed owing to omni-directional movement thereof without rotation of the main body. Further, the cleaning robot may imitate a human wiping pattern, thus achieving enhanced cleaning efficiency. Furthermore, various cleaning patterns including a straight pattern and a curvilinear pattern may be applied to the cleaning robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Joo Kim, Jeong Ki Yoo, Dong Hyun Lee, Dong Hun Lee, Jin Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 9474426
    Abstract: To provide a cleaning device coupling instrument that can easily attach or detach a main body to or from a cleaning part in a cleaning device, and the cleaning device including the cleaning device coupling instrument. A cleaning device coupling instrument 1 which can couple a main body in a cleaning device to a cleaning part to be fixed to the main body has: a first coupling member 10 including a bulging part 100 having a slant part the side peripheral part of which is tapered toward a tip thereof; and a second coupling member 20 including a fitted part 200 in which the bulging part 100 can be loosely fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: AKUSESU CORPORATION, TSUBAKIMOTO KOGYO CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuzo Kamada
  • Patent number: 9475175
    Abstract: A skate blade sharpening system includes a blade retention mechanism that holds a skate blade to be sharpened, and a rotating shaft configured to have a grinding wheel mounted on it, where the grinding wheel contacts the skate blade during sharpening. An arbor on the rotating shaft is of a heat-conducting material and has a heat-conducting mating with the grinding wheel when the grinding wheel is mounted on the rotating shaft. The arbor includes a set of vanes contributing to fan-like air flow about the arbor and grinding wheel for convective heat dissipation during the sharpening operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: VELASA SPORTS, INC.
    Inventors: Russell K. Layton, Jr., Daniel A. Beaudet, Ivan D. Goryachev
  • Patent number: 9420931
    Abstract: A machine for treating a surface lying in an XY-plane comprising a body, a body plate attached to the body, a drive assembly attached to the body and a cleaning plate assembly. The drive assembly includes a motor having a motor drive shaft and a transmission having offset drivers driven by the motor drive shaft. The cleaning plate assembly has an eccentric drive member engaging the offset drivers to drive the cleaning plate assembly in an oscillating pattern parallel to the XY-plane and relative to the body plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Yale Smith
  • Patent number: 9375124
    Abstract: A scrub deck assembly (59) comprises a scrub deck frame (76) and a pivot arm (70) having a first end (72) and a second end (74). The pivot arm is rotatably coupled to the scrub deck frame at the first end, and a scrub brush (56A) is operably coupled to the pivot arm at the second end. The scrub deck assembly further comprises a retraction mechanism (80) configured to allow movement of the pivot arm, relative to the scrub deck frame, about the first end. A release mechanism (92) is operably coupled to the retraction mechanism, and is configured to disengage the operation of the retraction mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Nilfisk, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron T. Hall, Kale R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9333615
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting one or two handheld type orbital thereto is described to permit a user to sand a floor surface from a standing position while moving the mounted sander(s) to and fro by way of a broom handle extending from the apparatus. Typically, the apparatus includes one fixed mount and one moveable mount. Each mount is configured to facilitate attachment to an orbital sander. The moveable mount can be placed and secured in one of two positions: A first position that centers a single sander in line with the handle and a second position wherein the fixed mount is located to one side of the handle and the moveable mount is secured essentially an equal distance on the other side of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth Johnson
  • Patent number: 9265397
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the attachment of brushes to the drive system of rotary floor scrubbing machines. In one embodiment, the apparatus provides for a scrubbing plate assembly suitable for attachment to the drive system of a rotary floor scrubbing machine. The scrubbing plate assembly has a scrubbing plate and an adapter plate. When the adapter plate is aligned and in contact with a scrubbing plate, the adapter plate locks to the scrubbing plate by axial movement of said adapter plate relative to said scrubbing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Carlisle Food Service Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Larson
  • Patent number: 9216440
    Abstract: A device and method for disinfecting a needleless connector, the device including a housing comprising a hub rotationally coupled to a motor, the motor being operably connected to a power source, the hub further comprising a receptacle configured to receive a cleaning head, wherein the device is configured to detect achievement of one or more minimum thresholds which are recommended to achieve proper disinfection of the needleless connector. Various devices and methods are further provided to permit tracking and reporting of disinfection events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Yiping Ma, S. Ray Isaacson
  • Patent number: 9192275
    Abstract: A surface treating apparatus (10) includes a tank (100) containing a cleaning solution (102) supplied to a supply point (SP) via a fluid flow line (106) under control of a flow control module (108). A chemical pump (144) controls flow of a chemical supplied to the fluid flow line (106). A controller (130) controls the flow control module (108) to operate at an operating flow rate based on a level of the cleaning solution (102) sensed by a solution sensor (120). The controller (130) controls the chemical pump (144) to operate at a flow rate based on the operating flow rate so that the chemical is supplied to the supply point (SP) at a selected chemical dilution ratio. An agitating element (105) agitates the surface with scrubbing pressure which is adjusted by the controller (130). A spike button (168) is coupled to controller (130) and operable to momentarily increase the flow rate, chemical dilution ratio, and/or scrubbing pressure to remove unusually dirty spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald J. Legatt, Nicholas J. Graupe
  • Patent number: 9161612
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a surface, such as a barbeque grill, has a substantially hollow enclosure that has at least a lower side, an upper side, and a peripheral edge, and contains a plurality of motors that each has a rotational shaft selectively fixable with a rotatable brush. At least a portion of bristles of each brush projects below a plane of the lower side of the enclosure. The enclosure further contains a power source and a circuit adapted for connecting power to each of the motors for a preset period of time upon actuation of an electrical switch connected thereto. The circuit is adapted to run each motor in a first direction and then an opposing direction, such that if the device becomes stuck at an obstruction, it will eventually turns around due to the alternating directions of the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Grillbot, LLC
    Inventor: Ethan Woods
  • Patent number: 9119516
    Abstract: A device and method for regulating the pressure between a floor cleaning implement (22) and a floor, wherein the floor cleaning implement (22) is coupled to a floor cleaning machine (10). The device of one embodiment comprises a cantilevered arm (28) coupled to the floor cleaning machine (10) and a sensor (30) coupled to the cantilevered arm (28) and positioned to sense deflection or other deformation of the cantilevered arm (28). An actuator (26) is coupled between the cantilevered arm (28) and cleaning implements (22). The actuator (26) is also coupled to the sensor (30) and adapted to receive signals from the sensor (30) to cause actuation of the actuator (26). When pressure other than a predetermined amount causes the cantilevered arm (28) to deform, the sensor (30) senses this deformation and cause the actuator (26) to actuate in a direction that allows the cantilevered arm (28) to return to a position in which the pressure is within the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Diversey, Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich-Tito Mayer, Franz Oberhaensli
  • Publication number: 20150135450
    Abstract: A cleaning robot that includes a drive motor; a housing that encloses the drive motor; a brushing element; and a transmission coupled between the brushing element and the drive motor, the transmission is arranged to convert a rotary movement induced by the drive motor to a combination of (a) a rotary movement of the brushing element about a brushing element axis, and (b) a reciprocal movement of the brushing element in parallel to the brushing element axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Boaz Ben Dov, Yohanan Maggeni
  • Patent number: 9015887
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating a floored surface that includes a platform adapted to support the weight of an operator. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is capable of generally performing 360° turns to facilitate the treatment of difficult to access portions of the floored surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kärcher North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Pedlar, Daniel Pearson, Eric L. Shark, Daniel C. Venard, Brian J. Doll, Rusty Simmon, Nevin Green, Loi X. Tran, Robert S. Gorsky
  • Patent number: 9011033
    Abstract: A powered, spray cleaning device that can be operated in an inverted orientation is provided. The cleaning device includes a cleaning head and an elongated handle configured to be grasped by a user. A container of cleaning solution is removably received by the handle, and when received by the handle, fluid from the container fills a fluid accumulator. Fluid in the fluid accumulator is prevented from flowing back into the container when the device is inverted, thus allowing the device to spray fluid when inverted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Lawrence Orubor
  • Patent number: 8984696
    Abstract: A random orbit scrubber comprises a main body having a front end and a rear end, a squeegee assembly coupled to the rear end of the main body, and a cleaning head assembly coupled to the front end of the main body. The cleaning head assembly can include a cleaning element structured for contact with a floor surface. The cleaning head assembly can further include a motor that is operable to impart rotational and orbital movement on the cleaning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance, Inc.
    Inventors: William Randall Stuchlik, Donald Joseph Legatt
  • Patent number: 8978190
    Abstract: A floor care machine is provided that includes a replaceable floor care element that is quickly and easily attached and detached. To attach the floor care element, an operator positions the floor care element under a motor and lifts the element up to a motor interface. The motor interface aligns with a complementary interface of the floor care element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Karcher North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Leifheit, Steven Tucker
  • Patent number: 8966699
    Abstract: A floor washing-drying machine including a scraping device that is capable of automatic orientation. The scraping device follows changes of direction of the machine by a simple and effective orienting mechanism so as to wipe all the surface washed by a washing mechanism, without leaving any wet portions on the surface. An idle mode mechanism is achieved by a bushing to which the scraping device is connected. The bushing is mounted in an idle and axially slidable mode on the brush rotation shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nilfisk-Advance A/S
    Inventor: Leonardo Contardi
  • Publication number: 20150033496
    Abstract: A floor treatment apparatus is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor treatment apparatus, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Roger PEDLAR, Daniel PEARSON, Eric L. SHARK, Daniel C. VENARD, Brian J. DOLL, Rusty SIMMONS, Nevin GREEN, Loi X. TRAN, Robert S. GORSKY, Steven W. TUCKER, Todd LEIFHEIT
  • Patent number: 8918941
    Abstract: A floor cleaning machine provided with three spaced-apart floor-facing rotationally drivable cleaning heads, each having a working axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the floor surface, the machine being provided with wheel means permitting translational movement of the machine along a cleaning path over a floor surface and an adjustable mounting means configured to permit selective adjustment of relative spatial locations of the cleaning heads so that a cleaning path swept by the heads may be selectively adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Numatic International Limited
    Inventor: David Lintern
  • Patent number: 8898844
    Abstract: A robot cleaning system for mopping floors is disclosed. The mopping assembly includes a reservoir with a dispenser for outputting fluid to a cleaning cloth. The rate at which fluid is dispensed is regulated with an air inlet in contact with the cleaning cloth. When the cloth is dry, more fluid is dispensed. When the cloth is damp, less fluid is dispensed. The dispenser in the exemplary embodiment also includes a wick configured to conduct the cleaning fluid directly to the cleaning cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Dooley, Nikolai Romanov
  • Patent number: 8887340
    Abstract: A floor treatment apparatus is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor treatment apparatus, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Kärcher North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Pedlar, Daniel Pearson, Eric L. Shark, Daniel C. Venard, Brian J. Doll, Rusty Simmons, Nevin Green, Loi X. Tran, Robert S. Gorsky, Steven W. Tucker, Todd Leifheit
  • Patent number: 8869342
    Abstract: A robot cleaner that automatically removes dust accumulated on a floor while navigating a cleaning area, and a method of controlling the robot cleaner, includes a main body that navigates a floor; a first detector that detects an obstacle getting closer to the main body; an auxiliary cleaner that is mounted on the main body to protrude and retract; a second detector that detects a protrusion state or a retraction state of the auxiliary cleaner; and a controller that determines an abnormal operation of the auxiliary cleaner based on a result of the detection of the second detector and controls a protrusion operation or a retraction operation of the auxiliary cleaner according to a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Sik Yoon, Hee Won Jin, Byung Chan Kim, Yeon Kyu Jeong, Sang Hwa Choi
  • Patent number: 8856998
    Abstract: A mobile floor cleaning machine is provided, having a chassis on which running wheels are rotatably mounted, and having at least one cleaning unit which has at least one cleaning tool and is coupled to the chassis via a guide member. To improve the floor cleaning machine in such a way that the risk of damage to the floor cleaning machine or to an obstacle in the event of a frontal collision with the obstacle may be minimized, it is proposed that the guide member is elastically deformable in the longitudinal direction of the floor cleaning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Schäfer, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Patent number: 8855914
    Abstract: A robotic surface treatment apparatus treats corners of rooms more effectively through intricate guidance of the apparatus through inside and outside corners. In one aspect, contact and/or non-contact sensors provide information to one or more on-board processors on the apparatus to enable selective overriding of obstacle avoidance program code and allow the apparatus to get closer to walls to facilitate treatment. In another aspect, the sensors provide information to the on-board processors to control backup motion of the apparatus to cover previously-missed areas when turning corners. In yet another aspect, the apparatus is shaped to have its treatment mechanism positioned more closely to the front of the apparatus to enable treatment more closely to walls near corners. In one embodiment, the robotic surface treatment apparatus is a robotic vacuum. The vacuum may have its cleaning brush positioned near a flat front portion of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Neato Robotics, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mathew Alexander, Bruno Augusto Hexsel
  • Publication number: 20140283326
    Abstract: A robot cleaner includes a main body traveling along a floor surface and removing foreign substances in a cleaning travel mode, a sensor unit sensing obstacles around the main body, brush units sweeping foreign substances on a floor surface through rotation, and a controller reducing the traveling velocity of the main body and causing the main body to approach a front obstacle, if an area where a plurality of obstacles contacts each other is sensed by the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong Gon Song, Joo Sung Moon, Kyung Hwan Yoo, Yeon Woo Lim
  • Patent number: 8839479
    Abstract: Orbital surface cleaning apparatus (400) are presented. An orbital surface cleaning apparatus (400) can include a driver motor (410) coupled to a plate (130) having offset distributed weights (133). As the plate (130) rotates, the offset weights (133) cause oscillations of the apparatus (400) cleaning head. A driver motor (410) capable of 80 RPM can induce over 1700 RPM oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Hruby
  • Publication number: 20140250613
    Abstract: An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a housing infrastructure including a chassis, a power subsystem; for providing the energy to power the autonomous floor-cleaning robot, a motive subsystem operative to propel the autonomous floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations, a command and control subsystem operative to control the autonomous floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a deck mounted in pivotal combination with the chassis, a brush assembly mounted in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations, a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations, and a deck adjusting subassembly mounted in combination with the motive subsystem for the brush assembly, the deck, and the chassis that is automatically operative in response to an increase in brush torque in said brush
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph L. Jones, Newton E. Mack, David M. Nugent, Paul E. Sandin
  • Patent number: 8826482
    Abstract: Provided are a window cleaning apparatus including first and second cleaning units which are respectively attached on both surfaces of a window using a magnetic force to move together with each other, and a method for controlling a movement of the window cleaning apparatus. The window cleaning apparatus includes a direction detecting sensor, a control part, a collision sensing part, and an offset setting part. The direction detecting sensor is provided to at least one of the first and second cleaning units to detect a moving direction of the window cleaning apparatus. The control part controls a movement of the window cleaning apparatus, based on the moving direction detected by the direction detecting sensor. The collision sensing part senses a shock to the window cleaning apparatus. The offset setting part sets a direction offset of the direction detecting sensor when the window cleaning apparatus collides with a frame of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignees: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd., Korea Institute of Robot & Convergence
    Inventors: Man Hyun Ryu, Kwang Mok Jung, Young Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 8823487
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cleaning apparatus, comprising an operating unit for operating the cleaning apparatus, at least one functional unit for carrying out an operating instruction, and a control unit for receiving operating instructions performed on the operating unit and controlling the at least one functional unit based on said operating instructions, wherein an access authorization stored on an authorization carrier is required in order to operate the cleaning apparatus. In order to provide such a cleaning apparatus with a more user-friendly access control, it is proposed that the cleaning apparatus have a detection unit operatively connected to the control unit and configured for contactless detection of the access authorization and transmission thereof to the control unit, and that the access authorization be verifiable for its validity by the control unit. The invention further relates to a method for controlling access to a cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Markus Duenne, Christian Hofner, Juergen Walz
  • Patent number: 8819882
    Abstract: In a cleaning device, a head of the device in which a brush is arranged, can get contaminated by particles and/or droplets picked up by the brush during one or more cleaning actions. In order to clean the head, the cleaning device is placed on a tray filled with an amount of cleaning liquid, and the cleaning device is operated for a period of time. During that time, the head is flushed with the cleaning liquid, where the brush serves for picking up the liquid from the tray and releasing the liquid in the direction of components of the head. The tray has an elevated portion, and the brush is positioned on that elevated portion to allow for gradual wetting of the brush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Bastiaan Johannes De Wit, Michael Van Den Bosch, Johannes Tseard Van Der Kooi
  • Publication number: 20140230183
    Abstract: A manually guided floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis with a front end and a rear end in relation to a straight ahead forward travel direction, a wheel arrangement, which is arranged on the chassis in the region of the rear end, and a cleaning head, which is pivotably arranged on the chassis in the region of the front end, wherein there is provided a steering rod device, which is articulated on the cleaning head, which is supported on the chassis and which extends upwardly in a direction away from the chassis toward the rear end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Nonnenmann, Melanie Ritscher
  • Publication number: 20140230182
    Abstract: A manually guided floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis with a front end and a rear end in relation to a straight ahead forward travel direction, a wheel arrangement, which is arranged on the chassis in the region of the rear end, and a cleaning head, which is pivotably arranged on the chassis in the region of the front end, at least one brush being arranged on the cleaning head and a drive device being arranged for the driven rotation of the at least one brush, a rotational axis of the at least one brush being parallel to a wheel axis of the wheel arrangement in the straight ahead forward travel direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Melanie Ritscher, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Publication number: 20140223675
    Abstract: A floor-cleaning robot having a chassis for moving the floor-cleaning robot in a direction of travel over a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning implement, a control unit and first and second measuring devices for three-dimensional distance measurement. Each of the first and second measuring devices is configured to sense distance between the measuring device and a plurality of surface elements within a respective solid angle that is spanned from the measuring device. The first and second measuring devices are aligned in such a manner that the direction of travel runs through the first solid angle. The second solid angle is offset in relation to the first solid angle. The control unit is designed to generate and/or update a representation of the surface to be cleaned, on the basis of the distances from surface elements sensed by first and second measuring devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: HAKO GMBH
    Inventors: Jan Helge Klüssendorff, Dariush Forouher, Rainer Bavendiek, Axel Zimny
  • Patent number: 8800090
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular to a cleaning apparatus, for carrying out a working movement moving to and fro, in particular a periodic working movement, in particular a cleaning movement, having a holding rod defining a longitudinal direction and a work unit which is coupled to the holding rod and which is movable relative to the holding rod for carrying out a working movement running parallel to the longitudinal direction, wherein an external drive is provided for generating the working movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Anton Jaeger
  • Patent number: 8790163
    Abstract: A multi-purpose machine for wall processing includes a base, a working member and a sliding device that drives the working member slide up and down relative to the base. The base includes a bottom board with moving wheels therebelow, a top board, and several parallel upright posts therebetween. The working member includes a cover and a roller set inside the cover. A built-in motor is set inside the roller. Wall processing tools are releasably fixed on the outside of the roller. A feeding hole is provided on the upper part of the cover and connected with a supply system or an absorbing system. The multi-purpose machine may perform operations including putty scraping, grinding and polishing, painting, cleaning and wall paper removing on the wall to replace human labor, thus realizing multiple purposes, reducing the labor strength, and improving the working efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ganxing Ke
    Inventor: Ganxing Ke
  • Patent number: 8790468
    Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning a surface comprising: a frame for the cleaning system; a liquid supply source; a liquid applicator; and at least one thruster on the frame to provide force against the frame to maintain support with the surface to be cleaned. A surface is cleaned by providing the cleaning device, moving the cleaning device both horizontally and vertically along the surface, and stabilizing the cleaning device with at least one thruster emitting a fluid stream comprising gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sky Robotics, Inc.
    Inventor: Dallas W. Simonette
  • Patent number: 8771794
    Abstract: A method for treating flooring not designed for sanding and having a multi-layer wax finish reduces the frequency of stripping the wax layers down to the flooring and recoating the flooring in carrying out periodic maintenance on the flooring. A mobile floor treating machine includes at least one rotating brush which is driven at a first circular speed x for cleaning the flooring and is driven at a second circular speed y for removing the two uppermost layers of wax, where y?2x. The top remaining wax layer is then cleaned with the brush operating at the original circular speed x. Two layers of wax are then sequentially applied to the top remaining wax layer in replacing the two removed layers of wax on the floor and restoring the flooring to its original finish. The brush may be operated at 800-1500 RPM for burnishing and polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Minuteman International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Pollack, John M. Hill, III
  • Patent number: 8769755
    Abstract: A side brush assembly mechanism for a floor surface maintenance vehicle including a linkage assembly supporting a brush deck, a pivot assembly and a cable connected to the linkage assembly, and a cable tensioning device for retracting the cable. The cable tensioning device is capable of lifting and retracting the brush deck. The side brush assembly mechanism may include a biasing mechanism for lowering and extending the brush deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Tennant Company
    Inventor: Matthew R. Hetler
  • Publication number: 20140166047
    Abstract: The invention relates to a traveling cleaning appliance (1) or floor care appliance or floor treatment appliance such as, for example, an automatically traveling floor cleaning appliance or user-guided cleaning appliance (1), that is provided with a device (7) for creating photographic pictures of a surface to be traveled on. In order to further improve a floor cleaning appliance in particular with regard to an effective cleaning strategy, it is proposed that a picture (FA) can be evaluated with regard to the type of a floor covering, in any case for differentiating between a hard floor covering and a carpeted floor, and that an identified floor covering can be used with regard to a traveling strategy and/or with regard to a setting of cleaning parameters such as floor clearance and/or size of secondary air openings and/or brush speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: VORWERK & CO. INTERHOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Lorenz HILLEN, Martin MEGGLE, Benjamin STRANG
  • Publication number: 20140165328
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an autonomous cleaning machine with a brush cleaning unit to clean a brush unit. The autonomous cleaning machine includes a main body, the brush unit rotatably provided on the main body, first brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to move foreign substances wound on the brush unit in a lengthwise direction of the brush unit, and second brush cleaning members contacting the brush unit to remove the foreign substances wound on the brush unit from the brush unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hwi Chan JANG, Dong Won KIM, Woo Ram CHUNG, Jae Man JOO, Jun Pyo HONG, Jae Young JUNG, Kyung Hwan YOO
  • Patent number: 8753571
    Abstract: In a method for sanitizing a touch screen of an electronic device, the electronic device includes a first motor roller and a second motor roller and a screen sanitization system. The first motor roller connects to the second motor roller through a flexible pipe that is filled with a sanitizer. The first motor roller is scrolled to clean and sanitize a first protective film using sanitizer when the first protective film is overlaid on the surface of the touch screen, and a second protective film is drawn to overlay on the surface of the touch screen. The second motor roller is scrolled to clean and sanitize the second protective film using the sanitizer when the second protective film is overlaid on the surface of the touch screen, and the first protective film is drawn to overlay on the surface of the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheng-Ta Hsu, Cho-Hao Wang
  • Publication number: 20140144467
    Abstract: A drivable floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis, at least one cleaning head, and a holding device capable of holding the cleaning head on the chassis and lifting it relative to the chassis, the holding device including a first rod device rotatably held by a first bearing device on the chassis, a second rod device rotatably held on the chassis by means of a second bearing device, a third bearing device rotatably holding the cleaning head on the first rod device, and including a fourth bearing device rotatably holding the cleaning head on the second rod device, wherein the cleaning head is supported on a stop when a specific lifting position of the cleaning head relative to the chassis is reached, and on which stop the cleaning head can be rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Afred Kärcher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Juergen Merz, Frank Nonnenmann
  • Patent number: 8732886
    Abstract: The present invention is a floor machine pivot joint. The pivot joint utilizes pivot pegs attached to the base of the floor machine which extend from the base into cavities formed in the sides of the yoke which, in preferred embodiments, have either partially spherical or cylindrical shape. The pivot pegs allow the yoke to pivot in substantially one plane with reduced unwanted movement of the yoke and base relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Imperial Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Engle, David Molnar
  • Publication number: 20140130292
    Abstract: A floor treatment apparatus is provided that includes a chassis that supports at least one cleaning element. The chassis is supported by a plurality of wheels, one which is steerable via a steering wheel interconnected to a housing also associated with the chassis. The chassis provided includes a plurality of movable housing members, one of which is associated with the steering wheel. To access the internal components of the floor treatment apparatus, the front housing is rotated or moved away from the other housings wherein the steering wheel does not require disconnection to allow this movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Kärcher North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger PEDLAR, Daniel PEARSON, Eric L. SHARK, Daniel C. VENARD, Brian J. DOLL, Rusty SIMMONS, Nevin GREEN, Loi X. TRAN, Robert S. GORSKY, Steven W. TUCKER, Todd LEIFHEIT
  • Patent number: 8713740
    Abstract: A system for cleaning windows in tall buildings, comprises a chassis (7) with means for its mounting on a suspended platform. (3) It also includes a rotating conveyor belt (61) mounted on the chassis and brushes (62) mounted on the conveyor belt. Each brush is mounted through extender means (63). Preferably, the conveyor belt includes means for its rotation in a generally horizontal direction. The means for rotating the conveyor belt include a first roller (71) and a second roller (72) mounted on the chassis. The conveyor belt is preferably mounted between the rollers and further includes motor means for rotating one of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Aviram Mann
  • Publication number: 20140101885
    Abstract: A movement operation system for autonomous moving cleaning apparatus comprises a charging dock and an autonomous moving cleaning apparatus. The charging dock includes a charging module and an infrared ray emitter. The autonomous moving cleaning apparatus includes a battery, at least one servomotor, an infrared ray receiver and a microcontroller unit. The infrared ray receiver receives an encrypted infrared signal emitted by the infrared ray emitter and sends the encrypted infrared signal to the microcontroller unit for decoding. The microcontroller unit detects whether the present voltage of the battery is higher than a charge voltage of the charging module, and generates a control signal to control the servomotor to move the autonomous moving cleaning apparatus away from the charging dock or to the charging dock for charging the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph Y. Ko