Method and system for maintaining hard floor surfaces

Abstract

 A method for maintaining a hard floor surface comprises applying a cleaning liquid onto the floor surface, treating the floor surface, in the presence of the cleaning liquid, with a flexible pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers with abrasive particles comprising diamond particles bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the floor surface, collecting the cleaning liquid having been used for treating the floor surface, purifying the collected cleaning liquid, and reapplying the purified cleaning liquid onto the floor surface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for maintaining floor surfaces, in particular hard floor surfaces, which may be of stone or stone-like materials, wood, laminate, polymer, linoleum, ceramic or similar materials providing a hard and generally smooth surface.

Background

[0002] Hard floors in large, generally public, areas, such as supermarkets, offices, airports, shopping centers and other buildings, are often cleaned and/or maintained using a floor maintenance machine. Such floor maintenance machines may be ridable or of a walk-behind type.

[0003] A conventional floor maintenance machine, also known as scrubber/dryer or combination machine, comprises a treatment device, which may include some sort of brush or pad that contacts the floor surface to provide a scrubbing action. The floor maintenance machine further comprises a liquid applicator for providing liquid, which may be mixed with detergents and/or crystallization, polishing or other surface-improving agents, onto the floor surface in the area, which is to be treated by the treatment device. Furthermore, the floor maintenance machine comprises a scraper for collecting liquid left on the floor surface, and a suction device for collecting the water from the floor. Hence, conventional floor maintenance machines generally comprise two liquid containers: one for clean, unused liquid, and one for dirty, used liquid. The liquid used for cleaning is generally water.

[0004] Thus, a disadvantage of prior art floor maintenance machines is that they require fairly large liquid tanks, which in turn render them bulky. Yet another disadvantage is the water consumption, which, as water is becoming a scarse resource, is becoming increasingly problematic.

[0005] Hence, there is a general need for a smaller and more convenient floor maintenance machine. There is also a need for a cleaning method, which reduces the consumption of water.

[0006] WO2006097141A1 disposes methods and a tool for maintaining hard floor surfaces, which help eliminate the need for chemicals in connection with floor maintenance/cleaning. However, the disclosure of WO2006097141A1 does not provide any way of reducing water consumption.

Summary

[0007] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a method and a system, which reduce water consumption in connection with cleaning of hard floors.

[0008] It is also an object to provide a less bulky floor maintenance machine.

[0009] The invention is defined by the appended independent claims.
Embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings.

[0010] Hence, according to a first aspect, there is provided a method for maintaining a hard floor surface, which comprises applying a cleaning liquid onto the floor surface, treating the floor surface, in the presence of the cleaning liquid, with a flexible pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers with abrasive particles comprising diamond particles bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the floor surface, collecting the cleaning liquid having been used for treating the floor surface, purifying the collected cleaning liquid, and re-applying at least some of the purified cleaning liquid onto the floor surface.

[0011] The term "maintaining" is understood as treating the floor surface in a manner, which is non-destructive to such an extent as to render it suitable for use on a daily basis. The term "maintaining" is not to be understood as limited to use on a daily basis.

[0012] The invention is based on the understanding that while filtering the cleaning liquid reduces or eliminates the effect of cleaning agents, the use of the diamond fiber pad, in its turn, reduces or eliminates the need for cleaning agents in the first place, thus enabling the use of filtering and recirculation of the cleaning liquid without any major loss of effect.

[0013] With the claimed method, it is possible to reduce water consumption considerably in connection with floor maintenance/cleaning. With the reduction of water consumption, the need for clean water and waste water storage on the maintenance machine will be reduced, and the method can be practiced with a floor maintenance machine that dos not need to be as bulky as other floor maintenance machines having corresponding cleaning capacity. Applicant's calculations indicate that a saving in water consumption of up to 75% may be achievable for any given maintenance machine capacity.

[0014] Purification techniques which may be used include, but are not limited to, ultraviolet light, filtration, cyclonic separation, water softening, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, deionization, heating, electrodeionization and powdered activated carbon treatment.

[0015] The cleaning liquid may be contained in a cleaning liquid container, from which it may be drawn to be applied onto the floor surface.

[0016] The purified cleaning liquid may be returned to the cleaning liquid container.

[0017] The purifying may comprise mechanically separating debris and/or particles from the cleaning liquid.

[0018] In the alternative or as a complement, the purifying may comprise adding a purifying agent to the cleaning liquid.

[0019] Purification agents include, but are not limited to, disinfectant (e.g. chlorine, ozone, Hydrogen peroxide), pH regulators (e.g. lime, soda ash, acid (HCl) and carbon dioxide (CO2), flocculation or coagulation agents (e.g. Iron (III) hydroxide, Aluminium hydroxide, Aluminium Hydroxychloride), activated carbon and anthracite coal. Such purification agents may be added individually or two or more in combination.

[0020] Also, as a complement, a cleaning and/or surface-improving agent may be added to the cleaning liquid prior to its application to the floor surface.

[0021] The purification process may be a multi-step process, comprising two or more of the above described purification techniques, optionally in combination with addition of one or more of the above described purification agents.

[0022] According to a second aspect, there is provided a system for maintaining a hard floor surface, comprising a floor maintenance machine, having an applicator for applying a cleaning liquid to the hard floor surface, a treatment device for treating the hard floor surface in the presence of the cleaning liquid, and a collecting device for collecting used cleaning liquid, a flexible pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers with abrasive particles comprising diamond particles bonded to the pad, on in an area where the pad is to contact hard floor surface during the treatment, a purification device for purifying the collected cleaning liquid, and a recirculation device for recirculating the purified cleaning liquid towards the applicator.

[0023] The purification device and the recirculation device may be integrated in the floor maintenance machine, which in turn may be a mobile floor maintenance machine, arranged to move across a floor surface to be cleaned, with an operator controlling it by walking near it, by riding on it, or by wire or wireless remote. It is also conceivable to provide a floor maintenance machine, which moves autonomously, i.e. in the form of a so-called robot cleaner.

[0024] The recirculation device may comprise a cleaning liquid container, connected directly or indirectly to the applicator and to the collecting device.

[0025] The floor maintenance machine may comprise a first cleaning liquid container connected to the applicator, and a second cleaning liquid container connected to the collecting device, and the purification device may be arranged purify the cleaning liquid as it is transferred from the first cleaning liquid container to the second cleaning liquid container.

[0026] As an alternative, the floor maintenance machine may comprise a single cleaning liquid container, which may be connected to the applicator and to the collecting device, and the purification device may be arranged to purify the cleaning liquid between its entry into the cleaning liquid container and its exit from the cleaning liquid container.

[0027] As another alternative, the floor maintenance machine may comprise a single cleaning liquid container, which may be connected to the applicator and to the collecting device, and the purification device may be arranged between the applicator and the cleaning liquid container.

[0028] As yet another alternative, the floor maintenance machine may comprise a single cleaning liquid container, which may be connected to the applicator and to the collecting device, and the purification device may be arranged between the collecting device and the cleaning liquid container.

[0029] The purification device may comprise a mechanical purification device, i.e. a device for mechanically separating debris and/or particles from the cleaning liquid.

[0030] The system may also comprise a dispensing device for adding a purification agent to the cleaning liquid.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] 

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a floor maintenance machine according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view of a floor maintenance machine according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of a floor maintenance machine according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view of a floor maintenance machine according to a fourth embodiment.

Figs 5a-5b are schematic cross sectional views of a pad, which may be used according in the method and system described herein.

Description of Embodiments

[0032] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a mobile floor maintenance machine 1. The machine 1 comprises a first container 16 for clean cleaning liquid, an applicator 11 for applying cleaning liquid to a floor surface 2, a treatment device 12 for treating the floor surface 2 in the presence of the cleaning liquid, and a collecting device 13 for collecting the cleaning fluid after it has been used in the treatment of the floor surface 2.

[0033] The applicator 11, the treatment device 12 and the collecting device 13 may be per se known and conventional arrangements. Such arrangements are known from e.g. US 5,829,095, US 5,907,887, US 6,397,429, 7,337,490, . The applicator may be arranged to spray or sprinkle cleaning liquid onto the floor surface in front of the treatment device 12, or even through the treatment device 12. For example, cleaning liquid may be applied through a central hole in a cleaning pad 20 arranged on the treatment device 12.

[0034] The treatment device 12 may, in particular be designed for use with a fiber pad 20, such as the one disclosed in WO2006097141A1. Hence, it may be formed as a disk, arranged to rotate in a plane parallel with the floor surface 2, and having an attachment arrangement (e.g. a hook-and-loop arrangement) for receiving and releasably retaining the fiber pad 20. Such arrangements are per se known.

[0035] The collecting device 13 may be in fluid communication with a second container 14 for unpurified or dirty cleaning liquid. Such communication may be complemented by a pump (not shown).

[0036] Between the first and second containers 16, 14, a purification device 15 may be arranged, by which dirty cleaning liquid is purified and passed on to the first container 16 for clean cleaning liquid.

[0037] As mentioned above, the purification may be achieved in many different ways, e.g. by mechanical separation of debris and particles contained in the collected cleaning liquid, and/or by addition of chemical agents.

[0038] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a second embodiment, wherein a single cleaning liquid container 14', 16' is used, but where an input portion 14' is separated from an output portion 16' by a purification device, which may be in the form of a filter or membrane.

[0039] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a third embodiment, wherein a single cleaning liquid container 14 for holding dirty cleaning liquid is used, and wherein the cleaning liquid is purified as it is fed towards the applicator 11.

[0040] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a fourth embodiment, wherein a single cleaning liquid container 16 for holding clean cleaning liquid is used, and wherein the cleaning liquid is purified in connection with its collection, and then transferred to the container 16.

[0041] Figs 5a-5b schematically illustrate a fiber pad 20 made up from an open, lofty three-dimensional non-woven web of fibers 2. A first surface of the pad 20 has a portion P1 presenting abrasive particles bonded to the web by means of a secondary binder, i.e. a binder having as a main purpose to bond fibers to the web. The illustrated pad 20 is generally circular in shape, but may have any shape deemed suitable for the intended application, such as polygonal, square, elliptic etc.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 5b, a cross section along the line S1-S2 in Fig. 5a is shown. As is indicated in Fig. 5b, the portion P1 presenting the abrasive particles is present at the first surface A and to a depth D, which is less than the thickness T of the pad 20. Hence, at the second surface B there is a portion P2, which is substantially free from the abrasive particles and the secondary binder.

[0043] When referring to "portions", it is to be understood as portions of the macrostructure of the pad 20 and not portions of the individual fibers.

[0044] For a more detailed description of the fiber pad 20 and its use, reference is made to WO2006097141A1.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining a hard floor surface, comprising:

applying a cleaning liquid onto the floor surface,

treating the floor surface, in the presence of the cleaning liquid, with a flexible pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers with abrasive particles comprising diamond particles bonded to the pad, on a contact surface between the pad and the floor surface,

collecting the cleaning liquid having been used for treating the floor surface,

purifying the collected cleaning liquid, and

re-applying at least some of the purified cleaning liquid onto the floor surface.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is contained in a cleaning liquid container.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the purified cleaning liquid is returned to the cleaning liquid container.

4. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said purifying comprises mechanically separating debris and/or particles from the cleaning liquid.

5. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said purifying comprises adding a purifying agent to the cleaning liquid.

6. The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cleaning or surface-improving agent is added to the cleaning liquid prior to its application to the floor surface.

7. A system for maintaining a hard floor surface, comprising:

a floor maintenance machine, having an applicator for applying a cleaning liquid to the hard floor surface, a treatment device for treating the hard floor surface in the presence of the cleaning liquid, and a collecting device for collecting used cleaning liquid,

a flexible pad comprising an open, lofty, three dimensional non-woven web of fibers with abrasive particles comprising diamond particles bonded to the pad, on in an area where the pad is to contact hard floor surface during the treatment,

a purification device for purifying the collected cleaning liquid, and

a recirculation device for recirculating the purified cleaning liquid towards the applicator.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the recirculation device comprises a cleaning liquid container, connected directly or indirectly to the applicator and to the collecting device.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the floor maintenance machine comprises a first cleaning liquid container connected to the applicator, and a second cleaning liquid container connected to the collecting device, wherein the purification device is arranged purify the cleaning liquid as it is transferred from the second cleaning liquid container to the first cleaning liquid container.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the floor maintenance machine comprises a single cleaning liquid container, which is connected to the applicator and to the collecting device, and wherein the purification device is arranged to purify said cleaning liquid between its entry into the cleaning liquid container and its exit from the cleaning liquid container.

11. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the floor maintenance machine comprises a single cleaning liquid container, which is connected to the applicator and to the collecting device, and wherein the purification device is arranged between the applicator and the cleaning liquid container.

12. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the floor maintenance machine comprises a single cleaning liquid container, which is connected to the applicator and to the collecting device, and wherein the purification device is arranged between the collecting device and the cleaning liquid container.

13. The system as claimed in any one of claims 7-12, wherein the purification device comprises a mechanical purification device.

14. The system as claimed in any one of claims 7-13, wherein the system comprises a dispensing device for adding a purification agent to the cleaning liquid.

Drawing