Floor cleaning machine including a sanitize mode

Abstract

A floor cleaning machine for cleaning a surface. The cleaning machine includes a body, an actuator supported by the body, a distribution nozzle supported by the body, and a supply tank assembly coupled to the body in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle. The supply tank includes a first tank that stores a first cleaning solution, a second tank that stores a second cleaning solution that is different from the first cleaning solution, and a third tank that stores water. The floor cleaning machine is operable in a first mode to wash the surface, in a second mode to sanitize the surface, and a third mode to rinse the surface. The distribution nozzle delivers the first cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the first mode and delivers the second cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the second mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor cleaning machine for cleaning a surface, the floor cleaning machine comprising:
 a body;   a distribution nozzle supported by the body;   a supply tank assembly coupled to the body in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle, the supply tank assembly including a first tank, a second tank, and a third tank;   a suction nozzle supported by the body;   a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle; and   a recovery tank coupled to the body in fluid communication with the suction source to receive and store fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle;   wherein the floor cleaning machine is operable in a first mode to wash the surface and is operable in a second mode to sanitize the surface, and   wherein the distribution nozzle delivers a first cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the first mode, and wherein the distribution nozzle delivers a second cleaning solution that is different than the first cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the second mode.   
     
     
         2 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the floor cleaning machine kills at least 99% of microorganisms on the surface when operating in the second mode. 
     
     
         3 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the floor cleaning machine is further operable in a third mode to rinse the surface. 
     
     
         4 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first tank stores the first cleaning solution, the second tank stores the second cleaning solution, and the third tank stores water. 
     
     
         5 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first cleaning solution includes a detergent and the second cleaning solution includes a sanitizer. 
     
     
         6 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first tank, the second tank, and the third tank are integrally formed as a single unit. 
     
     
         7 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a port configured to alternately receive a first bottle containing the first cleaning solution and a second bottle containing the second cleaning solution, and wherein the port is in fluid communication with at least one of the distribution nozzle and the supply tank assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the floor cleaning machine has a first recovery rate while in the first mode and a second recovery rate while in the second mode, and wherein the second recovery rate is less than the first recovery rate. 
     
     
         9 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first recovery rate is at least 5% higher than the second recovery rate. 
     
     
         10 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operable to switch the floor cleaning machine between the first mode and the second mode. 
     
     
         11 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a foot that is movable along the surface and a handle that is pivotally coupled to the foot. 
     
     
         12 . A floor cleaning machine for cleaning a surface, the floor cleaning machine comprising:
 a body;   an actuator supported by the body;   a distribution nozzle supported by the body; and   a supply tank assembly coupled to the body in fluid communication with the distribution nozzle, the supply tank including a first tank that stores a first cleaning solution, a second tank that stores a second cleaning solution that is different from the first cleaning solution, and a third tank that stores water;   wherein the floor cleaning machine is operable in a first mode to wash the surface, is operable in a second mode to sanitize the surface, and is operable in a third mode to rinse the surface; and   wherein the distribution nozzle delivers the first cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the first mode, and wherein the distribution nozzle delivers the second cleaning solution onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the second mode.   
     
     
         13 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 12 , wherein the distribution nozzle delivers water onto the surface when the floor cleaning machine is in the third mode. 
     
     
         14 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator is manually operable to switch between the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode. 
     
     
         15 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a rotatable dial that rotates to switch between the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode. 
     
     
         16 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first cleaning solution includes a detergent and the second cleaning solution includes a sanitizer. 
     
     
         17 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first tank, the second tank, and the third tank are integrally formed as a single unit. 
     
     
         18 . The floor cleaning machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a suction nozzle supported by the body;   a suction source in fluid communication with the suction nozzle, the suction source operable to draw fluid and dirt from the surface through the suction nozzle; and   a recovery tank coupled to the body in fluid communication with the suction source to receive and store fluid and dirt drawn through the suction nozzle.