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(11) | EP 1 044 645 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Liquid extraction machine and method for cleaning floor surfaces |
| (57) An extraction machine (101) for cleaning a floor surface, such as carpeting, has
a cleaning solution dispenser capable of dispensing a cleaning solution onto the surface
being cleaned and a diluting solution dispenser capable of dispensing a diluting solution
onto the floor surface. The diluting solution is substantially different from the
chemical cleaning solution. A recovery system is included for extracting a dirty solution
from the floor surface. The cleaning solution dispenser, diluting solution dispenser
and recovery system are arranged on the extraction machine (101) relative to each
other such that as the extraction machine is moved over a segment of the floor surface
in a forward direction of travel of the machine, the cleaning solution dispenser passes
over the segment prior to the diluting solution dispenser, dispensing cleaning solution
to promote the removal of dirt from the floor surface segment. The diluting solution
dispenser then passes over the segment of floor surface to promote suspension of the
chemical solution and dirt in the diluting solution thereby forming the dirty solution.
Finally, the recovery system passes over the segment of floor surface to extract the
dirty solution from the floor surface, thereby leaving a cleaned floor surface. |