Unattended spot cleaning with surface sanitization

Abstract

An unattended extraction cleaning machine includes a housing with a bottom portion that is adapted to rest on a surface to be cleaned, a fluid delivery system including a fluid distributor, a fluid extraction system including a suction nozzle, at least one carriage assembly mounting the suction nozzle to the housing for movement with respect thereto and with respect to the surface to be cleaned, and an ultraviolet light mounted on at least one of the housing and the carriage assembly to emit ultraviolet light onto the surface to be cleaned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating an unattended extraction cleaning machine comprising a housing with a bottom portion that is adapted to rest on a surface to be cleaned, a fluid delivery system mounted to the housing and having a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, a fluid extraction system mounted to the housing and having a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned, an agitator element, a carriage assembly mounting the agitator element to the housing for movement with respect thereto and with respect to the surface to be cleaned, and an ultraviolet light element mounted on at least one of the housing and the carriage assembly, the method comprising:
 delivering cleaning fluid from the fluid distributor to the surface to be cleaned in multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid;   agitating the surface to be cleaned by rotating the carriage assembly continuously throughout the delivery of cleaning fluid;   applying suction to the surface to be cleaned after at least one of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid and drawing cleaning fluid through the suction nozzle; and   emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously throughout the delivery of cleaning fluid and the application of suction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously for a period of time after the completion of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid, wherein the suction motor is inactive during the period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the suction motor is further inactive during a final application of cleaning fluid of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising applying steam to the surface to be cleaned after the application of cleaning fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  and further comprising emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously throughout the application of steam. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  and further comprising applying suction to the surface to be cleaned continuously throughout the application of steam. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  and further comprising agitating the surface to be cleaned by rotating the carriage assembly continuously throughout the application of steam. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously throughout the rotation of the carriage assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  and further comprising agitating the surface to be cleaned by rotating the carriage assembly continuously throughout the application of suction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising applying suction to the surface to be cleaned during at least one of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid and drawing cleaning fluid through the suction nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first application of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid comprises dispersing half of an initial available volume of cleaning fluid in the fluid delivery system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a subsequent application of cleaning fluid of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid comprises dispersing less than half of the initial available volume of cleaning fluid in the fluid delivery system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element comprises emitting UVC light having a wavelength of about 200 to 280 nanometers to sanitize the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         14 . A duty cycle for an unattended extraction cleaning machine comprising a housing with a bottom portion that is adapted to rest on a surface to be cleaned, a fluid delivery system mounted to the housing and having a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned, a fluid extraction system mounted to the housing and having a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned, an agitator element, a carriage assembly mounting the agitator element to the housing for movement with respect thereto and with respect to the surface to be cleaned, and an ultraviolet light element mounted on at least one of the housing and the carriage assembly, the duty cycle comprising:
 delivering cleaning fluid from the fluid distributor to the surface to be cleaned in multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid;   agitating the surface to be cleaned by rotating the carriage assembly continuously throughout the delivery of cleaning fluid;   applying suction to the surface to be cleaned after at least one of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid and drawing cleaning fluid through the suction nozzle; and   emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously throughout the duty cycle.   
     
     
         15 . The duty cycle of  claim 14  and further comprising:
 emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously for a period of time after the completion of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid; and 
 wherein the suction motor is inactive during the period of time and during a final application of cleaning fluid of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid. 
 
     
     
         16 . The duty cycle of  claim 14  and further comprising:
 applying steam to the surface to be cleaned after the application of cleaning fluid; and 
 emitting ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously throughout the application of steam. 
 
     
     
         17 . An unattended extraction cleaning machine comprising:
 a housing with a bottom portion that is adapted to rest on a surface to be cleaned and that defines an underside of the housing;   a fluid delivery system mounted to the housing and having a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned;   a fluid extraction system mounted to the housing and having a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned,   an agitator element;   a carriage assembly mounting the agitator element to the housing for movement with respect thereto and with respect to the surface to be cleaned,   a motor/fan assembly in fluid communication with the suction nozzle inlet and the recovery tank assembly;   a pump assembly in fluid communication with the fluid distributor and a source of cleaning fluid;   an ultraviolet light element mounted on at least one of the housing and the carriage assembly to emit ultraviolet light onto the surface to be cleaned;   a controller operably coupled with the carriage assembly, the motor/fan assembly, the pump assembly, and the ultraviolet light element; and   a control panel provided on the housing and operably coupled with the controller, the control panel having at least one user-engageable switch for the selection of a duty cycle;   wherein the controller is configured to provide conditioned output to any combination of the motor/fan assembly, the pump assembly, and the ultraviolet light element in accordance with the duty cycle; and   wherein the controller is configured to control the carriage assembly, the motor/fan assembly, the pump assembly, and the ultraviolet light element during the timed duty cycle to deliver cleaning fluid from the fluid distributor to the surface to be cleaned in multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid, agitate the surface to be cleaned by rotating the carriage assembly continuously throughout the delivery of cleaning fluid, apply suction to the surface to be cleaned after at least one of the multiple, discrete applications of cleaning fluid and drawing cleaning fluid through the suction nozzle, and emit ultraviolet light from the ultraviolet light element continuously throughout the duty cycle.   
     
     
         18 . The unattended extraction cleaning machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the ultraviolet light element is mounted on the underside of the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The unattended extraction cleaning machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the ultraviolet light element is mounted on the carriage assembly for movement therewith. 
     
     
         20 . The unattended extraction cleaning machine according to  claim 17  and further comprising a carry handle provided on the housing to facilitate carrying of the apparatus by a user, wherein the control panel is provided on the housing below the carry handle.