Exercise mat cleaning apparatus, system, and method for use thereof

A system for cleaning an exercise mat, comprising:

• a cleaning subsystem, comprising:
• a cleaning solution contained within a cleaning solution reservoir;
• a plurality of cleaning spray nozzles configured to spray the cleaning solution onto both sides of the exercise mat;
• and
• a cleaning solution pump fluidly coupled between the cleaning solution reservoir and the plurality of cleaning spray nozzles, the cleaning solution pump configured to pump the cleaning solution from the cleaning solution reservoir to the cleaning spray nozzles;
• a rinsing subsystem, comprising:
• a rinsing solution contained within a rinsing solution reservoir;
• a plurality of rinsing spray nozzles configured to spray the rinsing solution onto both sides of the exercise mat so as to remove the cleaning solution from the exercise mat;
• and
• a rinsing solution pump fluidly coupled between the rinsing solution reservoir and the plurality of rinsing spray nozzles, the rinsing solution pump configured to pump the rinsing solution from the rinsing solution reservoir to the rinsing spray nozzles;
• a drying subsystem, comprising:
• a pair of air knife nozzles directed toward both sides of the exercise mat;
• an air pump fluidly coupled with the pair of air knife nozzles, the air pump configured to generate an air jet from each air knife nozzle to remove the rinsing solution from both sides of the exercise mat;
• a disinfecting subsystem, comprising:
• a pair of ultraviolet (UV) light sources configured to project UV onto both sides of the exercise mat to disinfect both sides of the exercise mat:
• a transporting subsystem, comprising:
• a plurality of roller pairs configured to sandwich the exercise mat between the two rollers of each roller pair;
• a drive motor operatively coupled with a drive roller of each roller pair, the drive motor configured to rotate each drive roller to transport the exercise mat through the cleaning, rinsing, drying, and disinfecting subsystems;
• and
• a console coupled with the cleaning solution pump, the rinsing solution pump, the air pump, the UV light sources, and the drive motor, the console including a number of processors and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon logic that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes operations of the system that include:
• activating the drive motor to transport the exercise mat through the cleaning, rinsing, drying, and disinfecting subsystems;
• activating the cleaning solution pump to apply the cleaning solution to the exercise mat;
• activating the rinsing solution pump to remove the cleaning solution from the exercise mat;
• activating the air pump to remove the rinsing solution from the exercise mat;
• and
• activating the UV light sources to disinfect the exercise mat,
• wherein a pair of cleaning gutters are disposed beneath the cleaning spray nozzles and above the plurality of rinsing spray nozzles and configured to collect cleaning solution, and
• wherein a pair of rinsing gutters are disposed beneath the plurality of rinsing spray nozzles and configured to collect rinsing solution,
• wherein a first drying gutter is disposed beneath the first air knife and a second drying gutter is disposed beneath the second air knife, wherein each of the first drying gutter and the second drying gutter is configured to collect cleaning solution or rinsing solution that is blown off of the exercise mat by either of the first air knife or the second air knife, and wherein the first drying gutter and the second drying gutter are positioned above the ultraviolet (UV) light sources.

A method for cleaning an exercise mat, comprising:

• receiving the exercise mat within a cleaning apparatus;
• applying a cleaning solution simultaneously to each of both sides of the exercise mat within the apparatus;
• rinsing the cleaning solution simultaneously from each of both sides of the exercise mat within the apparatus;
• and
• drying the exercise mat within the apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises:
• a number of roller pairs configured to transport the exercise mat through the apparatus from a top of the apparatus to a bottom of the apparatus, each roller pair comprising:
• a first roller configured to frictionally engage a first side of the exercise mat so that rotation of the first roller displaces the exercise mat;
• a second roller configured to passively engage an opposite second side of the exercise mat so that the second roller rotates in response to displacement of the exercise mat;
• a first plurality of spray nozzles configured to apply a cleaning solution to the exercise mat as the exercise mat is transported through the apparatus, the first plurality of spray nozzles comprising:
• a first subset of the first plurality of spray nozzles directed toward the first side;
• a second subset of the first plurality of spray nozzles directed toward the second side;
• a second plurality of spray nozzles configured to apply a rinsing solution to the exercise mat as the exercise mat is transported through the apparatus, the second plurality of spray nozzles comprising:
• a first subset of the second plurality of spray nozzles directed toward the first side;
• a second subset of the second plurality of spray nozzles directed toward the second side;
• a first air knife configured to dry the first side;
• and
• a second air knife configured to dry the second side,
• wherein:
• a first pair of rollers are configured to receive the exercise mat from a user at the top of the apparatus,
• a second pair of rollers are configured to receive the exercise mat from the first pair of rollers, the second pair of rollers positioned below the first pair of rollers,
• the first and second pluralities of spray nozzles are positioned between the first and second pairs of rollers, and
• the second plurality of spray nozzles are positioned below the first plurality of spray nozzles,
• wherein a pair of cleaning gutters is disposed beneath the first plurality of spray nozzles and above the second plurality of spray nozzles and configured to collect cleaning solution,
• wherein a pair of rinsing gutters is disposed beneath the second plurality of spray nozzles and configured to collect rinsing solution,
• wherein a first drying gutter is disposed beneath the first air knife and a second drying gutter is disposed beneath the second air knife, wherein each of the first drying gutter and the second drying gutter is configured to collect cleaning solution or rinsing solution that is blown off of the exercise mat by either of the first air knife or the second air knife, and wherein the first drying gutter and the second drying gutter are positioned above an ultraviolet (UV) light source.