Automated rotary mopping, waxing, and light sweeping systems

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a roller having an axis of rotation adapted to be normally disposed substantially parallel to a hard surface, wherein said roller comprises an outer sleeve defining an absorbent outer surface, an inner sleeve, and a coupling between said outer and inner sleeves that allows said outer sleeve to slide axially but not shift circumferentially on said inner sleeve;
• B. a shear member for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent surface;
• C. a mechanism for moving said absorbent surface in a direction and at a velocity sufficient to move said absorbent surface relative to the hard surface at said area of contact as said device is being used;
• and
• D. a pump for transporting away the fluid removed by said shear member.

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a roller having an axis of rotation adapted to be normally disposed substantially parallel to a hard surface, wherein said roller comprises an outer sleeve defining an absorbent outer surface, an inner sleeve, and a coupling between said outer and inner sleeves which allows said outer sleeve to slide axially but not shift circumferentially on said inner sleeve;
• B. a shear member for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent surface;
• C. a mechanism for moving said absorbent surface in a direction and at a velocity sufficient to move said absorbent surface relative to the hard surface at said area of contact as said device is being used;
• D. a handle having a distal portion adapted for use by an operator to control the device and a proximal portion operatively attached to said roller to allow rotation of said roller relative to said handle;
• E. a dispensing outlet for depositing a fluid on said hard surface, a fluid reservoir communicating with said dispensing outlet, a dispensing valve located between said fluid reservoir and said dispensing outlet and operable to dispense a fluid from said fluid reservoir when desired, and a valve control mounted on the distal portion of the handle for operating said dispensing valve;
• and
• F. a pump for transporting away the fluid removed by said shear member.

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a roller having an axis of rotation adapted to be normally disposed substantially parallel to a hard surface and an absorbent outer surface adapted to remove a waste fluid from the hard surface when said device is in use, wherein said absorbent outer surface normally contacts the hard surface at an area of contact while said device is in use;
• B. a shear member for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent surface;
• C. a drive mechanism for rotating said roller about its axis, moving said roller in a direction and at a velocity sufficient to move said absorbent surface relative to the hard surface at said area of contact as said device is being used;
• wherein said roller is a substantially hollow cylinder and said drive is located within said cylinder;
• and
• D. a pump for transporting away the fluid removed by said shear member.

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a moving absorbent surface having a first portion adapted to be normally disposed substantially in contact with a hard surface to define an area of contact and a second portion adapted to be normally disposed out of contact with the hard surface;
• B. a shear member for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent surface;
• C. a mechanism for moving said absorbent surface in a direction and at a velocity sufficient to move said absorbent surface relative to the hard surface at said area of contact as said device is being used;
• and
• D. a handle having a distal portion adapted for use by an operator to control the device and a proximal portion operatively attached to said moving absorbent surface to allow rotation of said moving absorbent surface relative to said handle;
• wherein said mechanism for moving said moving absorbent surface comprises a drive for rotating said moving absorbent surface about its axis and a drive operator mounted on the distal portion of said handle for controlling said drive.

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a moving absorbent surface having a first portion adapted to be normally disposed substantially in contact with a hard surface to define an area of contact and a second portion adapted to be normally disposed out of contact with the hard surface;
• B. a shear member for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent surface;
• C. a mechanism for moving said absorbent surface in a direction and at a velocity sufficient to move said absorbent surface relative to the hard surface at said area of contact as said device is being used;
• D. a handle having a distal portion adapted for use by an operator to control the device and a proximal portion operatively attached to said moving absorbent surface to allow rotation of said moving absorbent surface relative to said handle;
• wherein said mechanism for moving said moving absorbent surface comprises a drive for rotating said moving absorbent surface about its axis and a drive operator mounted on the distal portion of said handle for controlling said drive;
• and
• E. a dispensing outlet for depositing a fluid on said hard surface, a fluid reservoir communicating with said dispensing outlet, a dispensing valve located between said fluid reservoir and said dispensing outlet and operable to dispense a fluid from said fluid reservoir when desired, and a valve control mounted on the distal portion of the handle for operating said dispensing valve.

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a moving absorbent surface having a first portion adapted to be normally disposed substantially in contact with a hard surface to define an area of contact and a second portion adapted to be normally disposed out of contact with the hard surface;
• B. a shear member having a first position at least substantially contacting said absorbent outer surface for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent outer surface and a second position at least substantially clear of said absorbent outer surface for allowing absorbed fluid to remain in said absorbent outer surface;
• C. a mechanism for moving at least one of said shear member and said absorbent surface relative to the other, thus moving said movable shear member between its first and second positions;
• D. a mechanism for moving said absorbent surface in a direction and at a velocity sufficient to cause said absorbent outer surface to move relative to the hard surface at said area of contact as the implement is being used, creating a scrubbing action between said absorbent outer surface and the hard surface at said area of contact;
• and
• E. a pump for transporting away the fluid removed by said shear member.

A device for cleaning hard surfaces, the device comprising:

• A. a support;
• B. a moving absorbent surface which is driven with respect to said support and has a first portion adapted to be normally disposed substantially in contact with a hard surface to define an area of contact and a second portion adapted to be normally disposed out of contact with the hard surface;
• C. a shear member at least substantially contacting said second portion for removing fluid absorbed in said absorbent surface;
• and
• D. a peristaltic pump for transporting away the fluid removed by said shear member.