Unattended spot cleaning with surface sanitization

Abstract

An extraction cleaning machine includes a housing with a fluid delivery system that includes a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned. A fluid extraction system includes a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface. A steam delivery system is operably coupled to the housing and supplies steam or heated liquid to the surface. A controller is operably coupled to the steam delivery system and at least one ultraviolet light emitting element to selectively control the steam delivery system in accordance with a first timed duty cycle to generate at least one of the steam and the heated liquid that is supplied to the surface and the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element to emit ultraviolet light to the surface in accordance with a second timed duty cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An 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 opening in an underside of the housing;   a fluid delivery system including a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned beneath the opening in the underside of the housing;   a fluid extraction system including a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned beneath the opening in the underside of the housing;   at least one ultraviolet light emitting element proximate the underside of the housing;   a steam delivery system operably coupled to the housing, the steam delivery system supplying steam or heated liquid to the surface to be cleaned; and   a controller operably coupled to the steam delivery system and the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element to selectively control:
 the steam delivery system in accordance with a first timed duty cycle to generate at least one of the steam and the heated liquid that is supplied to the surface to be cleaned; and 
 the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element to emit ultraviolet light to the surface to be cleaned in accordance with a second timed duty cycle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a carriage assembly that includes a lens and a body operably coupled to a lower portion of the housing.   
     
     
         3 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 2 , wherein the body defines a cavity that receives at least a portion of the carriage assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 2 , wherein a mounting channel is included within the body and the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element is provided therein. 
     
     
         5 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element is positioned adjacent the fluid distributor. 
     
     
         6 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element includes an at least partially arcuate tubular body. 
     
     
         7 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reflective elements configured to direct ultraviolet light from the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element onto the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         8 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element is mounted to a rotating bottom plate of an agitation assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element is powered inductively by a primary inductor coil. 
     
     
         10 . An 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 including a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned;   a fluid extraction system including a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned beneath an opening in an underside of the housing;   a cavity defined by the bottom portion of the housing, wherein a moveable agitator is disposed therein;   at least one ultraviolet light emitting element disposed at the bottom portion;   a steam boiler operably coupled to the housing and comprising a steam delivery system for supplying steam or heated liquid the surface to be cleaned; and   a controller programmed with a timed duty cycle and operatively coupled to the steam boiler to selectively control the steam boiler in accordance with the timed duty cycle to generate the steam or heated liquid that is supplied to the surface to be cleaned.   
     
     
         11 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element surrounds at least a portion of a perimeter of the cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element comprises a plurality of ultraviolet light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         13 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid distributor extends into the cavity and a second ultraviolet light emitting element is fixed adjacent the fluid distributor. 
     
     
         14 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 10 , wherein the steam delivery system includes a steam boiler with an outlet that delivers the steam or heated liquid to the surface to be cleaned. 
     
     
         15 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a swivel fitting that fluidly couples a working air plenum downstream of the suction nozzle to a motor and a fan assembly.   
     
     
         16 . An 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 including a fluid distributor for delivering a cleaning fluid to the surface to be cleaned;   a fluid extraction system including a suction nozzle for recovering soiled cleaning fluid from the surface to be cleaned beneath an opening in an underside of the housing;   a cavity defined by the bottom portion of the housing, wherein a moveable agitator is disposed therein; and   a controller programmed with a first timed duty cycle to selectively control a steam delivery system in accordance with the first timed duty cycle to generate steam or heated liquid that is supplied to the surface to be cleaned, the controller also being programmed with a second timed duty cycle to selectively control at least one ultraviolet light emitting element that emits ultraviolet light to the surface to be cleaned in accordance with the second timed duty cycle.   
     
     
         17 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one ultraviolet light emitting element is fixed adjacent the fluid distributor. 
     
     
         18 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a water supply tank disposed within the housing, wherein the water supply tank is fluidly connected to a solenoid valve that is in fluid connection with the steam delivery system.   
     
     
         19 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a plurality of control valves that are in communication with the controller and which open and close based on a user selected cleaning mode.   
     
     
         20 . The extraction cleaning machine of  claim 16 , wherein the housing supports a suction hose assembly that can be utilized during a manual operation mode.