Surface cleaning apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a surface cleaning apparatus that includes a housing including a base adapted for movement across a surface to be cleaned, a fluid delivery system, and a recovery system. The surface cleaning apparatus can be configured to clean multiple surfaces, including hard and soft surfaces, and for different cleaning modes, including wet cleaning, dry vacuum cleaning, and self-cleaning. Methods for self-cleaning a surface cleaning apparatus are also provided.

1 . A method for self-cleaning a surface cleaning apparatus docked at a cleaning tray, the surface cleaning apparatus comprising a battery, a fluid delivery system, and a recovery system having a recovery pathway, and the cleaning tray configured to recharge the battery of the surface cleaning apparatus, the method comprising:
 initiating, by a controller of the surface cleaning apparatus, a self-cleaning mode of operation for the surface cleaning apparatus upon actuation of a self-cleaning mode input control on the surface cleaning apparatus; and   running an unattended automatic cleanout cycle to self-clean at least a portion of the recovery pathway of the surface cleaning apparatus, wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises powering at least one of a brush motor, a pump, and a vacuum motor;   wherein the controller is configured to lock-out the unattended automatic cleanout cycle when the surface cleaning apparatus is not docked with the cleaning tray and prevent the unattended automatic cleanout cycle from running.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises powering at least one of the brush motor and the pump first, and thereafter powering the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises:
 rotating a brushroll of the surface cleaning apparatus; and   spraying cleaning fluid onto the brushroll of the surface cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises:
 extracting cleaning fluid from the brushroll and depositing cleaning fluid in a recovery tank of the surface cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises powering the vacuum motor after powering the brush motor and the pump. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising engaging a charging contact on the surface cleaning apparatus with a charging contact on the cleaning tray, wherein the charging contacts are engaged and remain engaged during self-cleaning cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising automatically moving a contact cover on at least one of the surface cleaning apparatus and the cleaning tray to an uncovered position to enable engagement of the charging contacts. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 automatically disabling a battery charging circuit of the surface cleaning apparatus that controls recharging of the battery during the unattended automatic cleanout cycle; and   automatically enabling the battery charging circuit after the end of the unattended automatic cleanout cycle to recharge the battery of the surface cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises:
 powering the brush motor and the pump by the battery, whereby cleaning liquid is sprayed on a brushroll while the brushroll rotates, without the vacuum motor being powered; and   powering the vacuum motor by the battery after the brush motor and the pump are powered, whereby cleaning liquid is extracted and deposited into a recovery tank of the surface cleaning apparatus and a portion of the recovery pathway is flushed out.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising displaying a self-cleaning status and a battery charge status on a display of the surface cleaning apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . A method for self-cleaning a surface cleaning apparatus docked at a cleaning tray, the surface cleaning apparatus comprising a battery, a fluid delivery system, and a recovery system having a recovery pathway, and the cleaning tray configured to recharge the battery of the surface cleaning apparatus, the method comprising:
 enabling an unattended automatic cleanout cycle upon docking the surface cleaning apparatus with the cleaning tray;   initiating, by a controller of the surface cleaning apparatus, a self-cleaning mode of operation for the surface cleaning apparatus upon actuation of a self-cleaning mode input control on the surface cleaning apparatus;   running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle to self-clean at least a portion of the recovery pathway of the surface cleaning apparatus, wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises powering at least one of a brush motor, a pump, and a vacuum motor; and   locking out the unattended automatic cleanout cycle upon removal of the surface cleaning apparatus from the cleaning tray to prevent the unattended automatic cleanout cycle from running when the surface cleaning apparatus is not docked with the cleaning tray.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises powering at least one of the brush motor and the pump first, and thereafter powering the vacuum motor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises:
 rotating a brushroll of the surface cleaning apparatus; and   spraying cleaning fluid onto the brushroll of the surface cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises:
 extracting cleaning fluid from the brushroll and depositing cleaning fluid in a recovery tank of the surface cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises powering the vacuum motor after powering the brush motor and the pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising engaging a charging contact on the surface cleaning apparatus with a charging contact on the cleaning tray, wherein the charging contacts are engaged and remain engaged during self-cleaning cycle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising automatically moving a contact cover on at least one of the surface cleaning apparatus and the cleaning tray to an uncovered position to enable engagement of the charging contacts. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising:
 automatically disabling a battery charging circuit of the surface cleaning apparatus that controls recharging of the battery during the unattended automatic cleanout cycle; and   automatically enabling the battery charging circuit after the end of the unattended automatic cleanout cycle to recharge the battery of the surface cleaning apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein running the unattended automatic cleanout cycle comprises:
 powering the brush motor and the pump by the battery, whereby cleaning liquid is sprayed on a brushroll while the brushroll rotates, without the vacuum motor being powered; and   powering the vacuum motor by the battery after the brush motor and the pump are powered, whereby cleaning liquid is extracted and deposited into a recovery tank of the surface cleaning apparatus and a portion of the recovery pathway is flushed out.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising displaying a self-cleaning status and a battery charge status on a display of the surface cleaning apparatus.