The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for cleaning or otherwise treating a floor or ground surface. Devices provided herein include various features to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of cleaning operations. Such devices includes, but are not limited to, bearing protector devices, cord and cable management devices, and ergonomic features useful with ride-on floor treating machines.

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.

An autonomous cleaner includes a side brush that is provided to a bottom face of a body and sweeps up dust on a floor surface and a napped cleaning fabric that is provided in a rotating region of the side brush and wipes off the dust attached to the side brush. The side brush includes a brush shaft disposed at a position that is a predetermined distance above the floor surface and a pair of bristle bundles having different lengths. A shorter bristle bundle in the pair has a length that is sufficient to bring at least a tip end portion of the shorter bristle bundle into contact with the napped cleaning fabric. In this way, the dust attached to the side brush is wiped off by the napped cleaning fabric, which prevents the dust from being swept outside the body due to a centrifugal force. In addition, by disposing the brush shaft at a predetermined distance from the floor surface, it is possible to suppress entanglement with a carpet and the like and avoid a collision with a step. As a result, it is possible to provide the autonomous cleaner having a longer life and requiring infrequent maintenance.

An autonomous cleaner includes a side brush that is provided to a bottom face of a body and sweeps up dust on a floor surface and a napped cleaning fabric that is provided in a rotating region of the side brush and wipes off the dust attached to the side brush. The side brush includes a brush shaft disposed at a position that is a predetermined distance above the floor surface and a pair of bristle bundles having different lengths. A shorter bristle bundle in the pair has a length that is sufficient to bring at least a tip end portion of the shorter bristle bundle into contact with the napped cleaning fabric. In this way, the dust attached to the side brush is wiped off by the napped cleaning fabric, which prevents the dust from being swept outside the body due to a centrifugal force. In addition, by disposing the brush shaft at a predetermined distance from the floor surface, it is possible to suppress entanglement with a carpet and the like and avoid a collision with a step. As a result, it is possible to provide the autonomous cleaner having a longer life and requiring infrequent maintenance.

A vacuum cleaner includes a base and a brushroll positioned within the base. The base has a suction opening and is configured to move along a surface to be cleaned. The brushroll is rotatable relative to the base about an axis, and the brushroll includes a first end, a second end, an inflection point located between the ends, and a material that protrudes radially away from the brushroll. The material extends between the first end and the second end and wraps around the brushroll with a pitch. The material wraps in a first direction between the first end and the inflection point and wraps in a second direction between the inflection point and the second end.

A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner includes a single agitator rotatably mounted within a housing, the agitator being arranged transversely within the housing such that it is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the cleaner head during use, the agitator being conical in shape, such that a first end has a larger diameter than a second end.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a buffer brush. When rotating, the buffer brush acts as a centrifugal pump. The buffer brush contains a core having a first side and a second side and the brush extends racially from the surface of the core. The first and second sides have at least one opening configured to allow air to flow laterally through the core. Vents on the surface of the cure are configured to allow air flowing laterally through the core to also flow radially through the vents into the brush.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a buffer brush. When rotating, the buffer brush acts as a centrifugal pump. The buffer brush contains a core having a first side and a second side and the brush extends racially from the surface of the core. The first and second sides have at least one opening configured to allow air to flow laterally through the core. Vents on the surface of the cure are configured to allow air flowing laterally through the core to also flow radially through the vents into the brush.

A robot cleaner enables a wet cleaning, has a replaceable cleaning unit, and ensures a sufficient friction force for doing a wet cleaning of a floor. The robot cleaner includes a frame including a wheel for driving, a replaceable cleaning unit formed at a lower part of the frame to clean a bottom surface and disposed in front of the wheel, a tank disposed at an upper part of the wheel and configured to supply fluid to the cleaning unit, a pump configured to pump the fluid contained in the tank such that the fluid contained in the tank is supplied to the cleaning unit, a hose configured to extend to the pump and the upper part of the cleaning unit and through which the fluid pumped by the pump flows, and a bumper formed on a side of the frame.

A robot cleaner enables a wet cleaning, has a replaceable cleaning unit, and ensures a sufficient friction force for doing a wet cleaning of a floor. The robot cleaner includes a frame including a wheel for driving, a replaceable cleaning unit formed at a lower part of the frame to clean a bottom surface and disposed in front of the wheel, a tank disposed at an upper part of the wheel and configured to supply fluid to the cleaning unit, a pump configured to pump the fluid contained in the tank such that the fluid contained in the tank is supplied to the cleaning unit, a hose configured to extend to the pump and the upper part of the cleaning unit and through which the fluid pumped by the pump flows, and a bumper formed on a side of the frame.