U.S. patent application number 11/633244 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for remote configuration of mobile surface maintenance machine settings.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tennant Company. Invention is credited to Robert J. Erko, Paul L. JR. Groschen.
Application Number | 20070124890 11/633244 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37762305 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070124890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Erko; Robert J. ; et
al. |
June 7, 2007 |
Remote configuration of mobile surface maintenance machine
settings
Abstract
A mobile surface maintenance machine includes a mobile body
configured to travel over a surface, a motorized tool, a
communicator, a memory, and a controller. The motorized tool is
supported by the mobile body and configured to engage the surface.
The communicator is configured to communicate over a network. The
memory contains settings for the machine. The controller is
configured to modify the settings of the machine in response to
setting information received by the communicator over the network
and to control operations of the machine based on the settings.
Inventors: |
Erko; Robert J.; (Apple
Valley, MN) ; Groschen; Paul L. JR.; (White Bear
Lake, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTMAN CHAMPLIN & KELLY, P.A.
SUITE 1400
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-3319
US
|
Assignee: |
Tennant Company
Minneapolis
MN
|
Family ID: |
37762305 |
Appl. No.: |
11/633244 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60741659 |
Dec 2, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/319 ;
318/568.12; 700/90; 701/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 11/30 20130101;
A47L 11/4011 20130101; A47L 11/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
015/319 ;
318/568.12; 701/001; 700/090 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/00 20060101
A47L005/00 |
Claims
1. A mobile surface maintenance machine comprising: a mobile body
configured to travel over a surface; a motorized tool supported by
the mobile body and configured to engage the surface; a
communicator configured to communicate over a network; a memory
containing settings for the machine; and a controller configured to
modify the settings of the machine in response to setting
information received by the communicator over the network and
control operations of the machine based on the settings.
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein: the motorized tool is
configured to apply a pressure to the surface based on a pressure
setting stored in the memory; and the controller is configured to
adjust the pressure setting in response to the setting
information.
3. The machine of claim 2, wherein: the motorized tool comprises a
scrub brush; and the machine further comprises a vacuum
squeegee.
4. The machine of claim 2, wherein the motorized tool comprises a
sweeper brush.
5. The machine of claim 2, wherein the motorized tool is selected
from the group consisting of a combination sweep and scrub brush, a
burnishing pad and a polishing pad.
6. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning liquid
dispenser configured to discharge a cleaning liquid to one of the
surface and the motorized tool at a flow rate that is based on a
cleaning liquid flow rate setting stored in the memory, wherein the
controller is configured to adjust the cleaning liquid flow rate
setting based on the setting information.
7. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning agent
dispenser configured to discharge a cleaning agent at a flow rate
that is based on cleaning agent flow rate setting stored in the
memory, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the cleaning
agent flow rate setting based on the setting information.
8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to
disable operation of a feature of the machine based on the setting
information.
9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the communicator comprises a
wireless communications device.
10. The machine of claim 9, wherein the communicator comprises a
cellular communications device.
11. The machine of claim 9, wherein the communicator comprises a
radio frequency communications device.
12. A method of configuring a mobile surface maintenance machine
having a mobile body configured to travel over a surface, a
motorized tool supported by the mobile body and configured to
engage the surface, a communicator and a controller, the method
comprising steps of: receiving setting information over a network
using the communicator; modifying settings for the machine using
the controller based on the setting information; and operating the
machine based on the settings.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein: the method further comprises
storing the settings for the machine in a memory; and the modifying
step comprises modifying the settings in the memory based on the
setting information.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein: the motorized tool is
configured to apply a pressure to the surface in accordance with a
pressure setting stored in the memory; the modifying step comprises
modifying the pressure setting based on the setting information;
and the operating step comprises applying a pressure to the surface
using the motorized tool in accordance with the pressure setting
stored in the memory.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein: the motorized tool comprises a
scrub brush; and the operating step comprises scrubbing the surface
with the scrub brush.
16. The method of claim 15, where: the machine includes a vacuum
squeegee; and the operating step comprises removing liquid waste
from the surface using the vacuum squeegee.
17. The method of claim 14, where: the motorized tool comprises a
sweeper brush; and the operating step comprises sweeping the
surface with the sweeper brush.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein: the machine further comprises
a cleaning liquid dispenser configured to discharge a cleaning
liquid to one of the surface and the motorized tool at a flow rate
that is based on a cleaning liquid flow rate setting stored in the
memory; the modifying step comprises modifying the cleaning liquid
flow rate setting based on the setting information; and the
operating step comprises operating the cleaning liquid dispenser
based on the cleaning liquid flow rate setting.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein: the machine further comprises
a cleaning agent dispenser configured to discharge a cleaning agent
into a flow of water at a flow rate that is based on a cleaning
agent flow rate setting stored in the memory; the modifying step
comprises modifying the cleaning agent flow rate setting based on
the setting information; and the operating step comprises operating
the cleaning agent dispenser based on the cleaning agent flow rate
setting stored in the memory.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising disabling operation
of the machine based on the setting information.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is based on and claims the benefit
of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/741,659, filed
Dec. 2, 2005, the content of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety. Reference is also made to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/272,510, filed Nov. 10, 2005, the content
of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to mobile surface
maintenance machines and, more particularly, to modifying settings
of the machine over a network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Mobile surface maintenance machines include motorized tools
that are used to perform a surface maintenance operation on a floor
surface. These machines include floor surface cleaners that are
used to perform cleaning operations on floors including scrubbing
and/or sweeping operations on hard floor and carpeted surfaces.
Other mobile floor surface maintenance machines include those that
include tools for performing polishing and burnishing floor surface
treatments.
[0004] Mobile surface maintenance machines include various
adjustable settings for the floor maintenance operation to be
performed. These settings are typically configurable by the
operator of the floor machine at a main operator interface of the
machine, such as a control panel. For floor cleaning operations,
the adjustable settings include, for example, a downward pressure
to be applied to the floor by the motorized cleaning tool (scrub
brush, sweeper brush, or combination scrub and sweeper brush), a
flow rate of cleaning liquid to be applied to the floor or the
cleaning tool, a flow rate of cleaning agent or detergent that is
mixed with water to form the cleaning liquid, and other settings.
Similar settings are used by polishing and burnishing machines
including a pressure setting that determines the downward pressure
to be applied by the cleaning tool during floor polishing or
burnishing operations.
[0005] The adjustable settings that relate to consumables of the
mobile surface maintenance machine generally affect the life span
of the consumable. For example, the lighter the downward pressure
setting is for the motorized cleaning tool (i.e., scrub brushes,
scrub pad, burnishing pad, polishing pad, etc.) the longer the
cleaning tool will last before it must be replaced. Similarly, the
slower the flow rate setting is for the cleaning agent or
detergent, the more cleaning operations that can be performed using
the available supply of cleaning agent. Thus, the setting can have
a direct impact on the life span of the consumable and the cost of
operating the mobile surface maintenance machine.
[0006] Unfortunately, conventional mobile surface maintenance
machine allow an operator of the machine to adjust the settings
described above through a control panel of the machine. While
experienced operators may configure the machine to operate in an
efficient manner, less experienced operators may not. For instance,
when an administrator of one or more mobile surface maintenance
machines would like to adjust a setting, not only must each machine
be manually adjusted, but each operator of the machines must be
consulted to ensure the adjusted setting is not changed.
[0007] The discussion above is merely provided for general
background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in
determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Embodiments of the invention are directed to a mobile
surface maintenance machine that is configurable over a network and
a method of configuring a surface maintenance machine over a
network. One embodiment of the mobile surface maintenance machine
includes a mobile body configured to travel over a surface, a
motorized tool, a communicator, a memory, and a controller. The
motorized tool is supported by the mobile body and configured to
engage the surface. The communicator is configured to communicate
over a network. The memory contains settings for the machine. The
controller is configured to modify the settings of the machine in
response to setting information received by the communicator over
the network and to control operations of the machine based on the
settings.
[0009] In one embodiment of the method of the present invention,
setting information is received over a network using the
communicator of the mobile surface maintenance machine. Next, the
settings for the machine are modified using the controller based on
the setting information. Finally, the surface maintenance machine
in operated based on the settings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a mobile surface
maintenance machine in accordance with embodiments of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a cleaning liquid dispensing
system in accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a memory containing settings
for the mobile surface maintenance machine in accordance with
embodiments of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of setting information in
accordance with embodiments of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of configuring a
mobile surface maintenance machine in accordance with embodiments
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention facilitate configuring
settings of a mobile surface maintenance machine (hereinafter
"machine") over a network. Thus, the present invention can be used
by an administrator of one or more machines in a fleet of machines
to change one or more adjustable settings of the machines over a
network. Different machines can be configured differently from
other machines that are within the same fleet, if desired. As a
result, problems that arise from modifications to the settings by
an operator can be reduced or eliminated. For example, the
administrator can control the settings of the machines that affect
the life span of consumables of the machine and, thus, the cost of
operating the machine. Additionally, the administrator of the
machines can use embodiments of the present invention to enable or
disable certain features of the machines. This allows the
administrator to tailor the machines for particular uses or for
particular customers who may be leasing the machines, for
example.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a mobile surface
maintenance machine 100 in accordance with embodiments of the
invention. The machine 100 can be configured to perform a cleaning
or condition operation on a floor surface. The machine 100 can be
designed for use by an operator that walks behind, rides on, or
tows the machine 100. The machine 100 can be powered by batteries,
a combustible engine, line power or other suitable power
source.
[0017] Cleaning operations on floors include scrubbing and/or
sweeping operations on hard floor and carpeted surfaces. Examples
of machines designed to perform such cleaning operations are
described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,571,771, 5,016,310, 5,901,407,
5,943,724 and 6,735,811, all of which are assigned to Tennant
Company of Minneapolis, Minn. Exemplary floor conditioning
operations include polishing and burnishing operations. An example
of a machine for performing such floor conditioning operations is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,258, which is assigned to Tennant
Company of Minneapolis, Minn. The above-referenced patents are
hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
[0018] Embodiments of the machine 100 include a mobile body 102
comprising a frame that is supported on wheels 104 for travel over
a surface 106, on which a cleaning operations is to be performed.
In one embodiment, a motor 108 is configured to drive at least one
of the wheels 104.
[0019] Embodiments of the machine 100 also include components that
are supported on the mobile body 102 including, for example, a
motorized tool 110, a communicator 112, memory 114 and a controller
116. The motorized tool 110 is supported by the mobile body 102 and
is used to perform a cleaning or conditioning operation on the
surface 106, as indicated by arrow 117. Exemplary motorized tools
110 include a scrub brush 118 (e.g., disk scrub brush or pad, or a
cylindrical scrub brush), a sweeper brush 120 (e.g., disk or
cylindrical), a combination sweep and scrub brush 122, a burnishing
pad 124, a polishing pad 126, or other motorized tool 110 used to
perform hard floor and/or carpeted surface maintenance
operations.
[0020] In one embodiment, the machine 100 includes a tool lift 128.
The tool lift 128 is configured to raise and lower the tool 110
relative to the frame of the mobile body 102, as indicated by arrow
130. The tool lift 128 can be used to raise the motorized tool 110
off the surface 106 during transport as well as control of a
pressure that is applied to the surface 106 during surface
maintenance operations. Exemplary tool lifts 128 are described in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,618,888 and 7,038,416, which are assigned to
Tennant Company and are hereby incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety. In one embodiment, operation of the tool lift 128
is based on a control signal 132 from the controller 116. As
explained below, in one embodiment the control signal 132 is based
on a pressure setting. The tool lift 128 causes the motorized tool
110 to apply a pressure to surface 106 based on the pressure
setting.
[0021] One embodiment of the machine 100 includes a cleaning liquid
dispenser 134 that is configured to apply a cleaning liquid 136 to
one of the surface 102 and the tool 128 (i.e., the scrub brush
______, the sweeper brush, or the sweep/scrub brush), as
respectively indicated by arrows 136A and 136B of FIG. 1.
Embodiments of the dispenser 134 are illustrated in the block
diagram of FIG. 2.
[0022] One embodiment of the cleaning liquid dispenser 134 includes
a supply of the cleaning liquid and a pump 138 for driving a flow
of the cleaning liquid 136 through tubing to be discharged at the
desired location. The cleaning liquid 136 can comprise water or a
combination of water and a cleaning agent.
[0023] The flow rate of the cleaning liquid is substantially
determined by the pump 138. The pump 138 generally operates in
accordance with conventional methods. In one embodiment, the pump
138 is controlled by a control signal 140 from the controller 116.
One embodiment of the control signal 140 is a pulsed signal that
provides power relative to ground (not shown) and controls the
duration over which the pump 138 drives the cleaning liquid 136
through the tubing. For example, the control signal 140 can turn
the pump 138 on for 0.1 seconds and off for 2.75 seconds to produce
the desired flow rate for the cleaning liquid 136. As will be
discussed below, one embodiment of the control signal 140 is based
on a cleaning liquid flow rate setting.
[0024] Another embodiment of the cleaning liquid dispensing system
134 includes separate supplies of water 142 and cleaning agent 144.
The water 142 can be stored in a tank supported on the mobile body
102, while the cleaning agent 144 is provided in a separate
container, such as a fixed tank or removable container or
cartridge. A mixing member 146 combines a flow of water 148 with a
flow of the cleaning agent 150 at a desired dosage to form the flow
of cleaning liquid 136. The dosing of the flow of cleaning agent
150 into the flow of water 148 can be provided by a cleaning agent
dispenser 151 that that utilizes a venturi injector (not shown) or
a dosing pump 152. In one embodiment the pump 152 is controlled by
a control signal 154 from the controller 116, as described above
with regard to pump 138. In one embodiment, the control signal 154
is based on a cleaning agent flow rate setting.
[0025] Another embodiment of the machine 100 includes a fluid
recovery device 156, shown in FIG. 1, that operates to remove
soiled liquid waste 158 from the surface 106 during scrubbing
operations. One embodiment of the fluid recovery device 156
includes a vacuum squeegee 160 that collects the liquid waste 158
on the surface 106. The vacuum squeegee 160 is raised and lowered
relative to the surface 106, as indicated by arrows 162 and 164,
using a conventional lift mechanism 166. A vacuum 168 is placed in
vacuum communication with the vacuum squeegee 160 and the liquid
waste 158 is removed from the surface 106 and deposited in a waste
recovery tank 170.
[0026] The controller 116 (e.g., microcontroller, microcomputer,
etc.) controls the communications (i.e., data receptions and
transmissions) of the machine 100 using the communicator 112 and
the operations of some of the components of the machine 100. It
should be understood that multiple independent controllers can be
used to perform the functions of the controller 116. For example,
the machine 100 can include a controller that is generally
responsible for the control of the communications (i.e., the
communicator 112) while one or more other controllers control
various machine operations. Exemplary machine operations include
the control of the electronics of the machine, control of the
motorized tool 110, and control of the motor 108 used to propel the
mobile body 102 across the surface 106. The machine operations and
communications can be controlled by the controller 116 in response
to an operator input 172 provided at a control panel of the machine
100, for example.
[0027] Embodiments of the communicator 112 include a data
transmitter and/or a data receiver. The transmissions and
receptions of data are generally controlled by the controller 116
and can be performed in accordance with conventional communication
techniques.
[0028] The communicator 112 is generally configured to communicate
with one or more computing devices 174 of an administrator of the
machine 100 through a network 176 or other communication link. In
one embodiment, the computing device 174 is remotely located from
the machine 100. Exemplary computing devices 174 include a mobile
phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal computer, and
other computing devices capable of transmitting messages over the
network 176. The communicator 112 and the computing device 174 can
be coupled either wirelessly or through a physical connection to
the network 176.
[0029] One embodiment of the communicator 112 includes a wireless
communications device. Exemplary wireless communications devices
include radio frequency (RF) communications devices that are
configured to perform wireless data transmissions and, in one
embodiment, data receptions. The RF communications device can
include an RF transmitter and an RF receiver. In one embodiment,
the communicator 112 includes a low power (1 milliwatt) serial RF
communications device configured for communicating 19.2 kilobits
per second (kbps) at a frequency of 915.5 mega-hertz (MHz). This
technology is mostly suitable for data communications over short
distances, such as to the local computing device 114. However, the
data communication can be extended over a greater distance through
a suitable relay device.
[0030] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the
communicator 112 includes a cellular communications device, such as
a mobile phone, a cell modem, or other cellular device that is
configured to receive data from and, in one embodiment, transmit
data to, the computing device 174 through the network 176. One
suitable cellular communications device is the Socket Modem (MTSMC)
produced by Multitech.
[0031] The cellular communications device can operate with
conventional cellular communication networks, such as, for example,
Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), General Packet Radio Service
device (GPRS), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Global System
for Mobile (GSM), and other mobile communication networks.
[0032] Numerous conventional data communication techniques can be
used to communicate data over the network 176 between the computing
device 174 and the communicator 112 and controller 116. In one
embodiment, the data communicated between the communicator 112 and
the computing device 174 is packaged in a text message. For
example, the communicator 112 can be configured to send and/or
receive a short message service (SMS) text message, an email
message containing the data, an email message with an attached
document that contains the data, or other type of text message. The
text message is communicated in accordance with any suitable
communication method such as, for example, TCPIP, or other method.
In one embodiment, the text message includes a plurality of fields
and associated data. The fields operate as labels for the
associated data identifying what the data relates to.
[0033] In one embodiment, the data communications between the
communicator 112 and the computing device 174 are secure
communications. That is, a protocol is implemented that reduces the
likelihood of unauthorized communications between the communicator
112 and the computing device 174. Any suitable security enabling
communication method can be used.
[0034] One or more adjustable settings 180 for the machine 100 are
stored in the memory 114, as illustrated in the block diagram of
FIG. 3. The memory 114 can comprise conventional forms of memory.
In one embodiment, the memory 114 is on board the machine 100 as
illustrated in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the memory 114 can be
remotely located and accessed by the machine 100 using the
communicator 112.
[0035] Exemplary adjustable settings 180 of the machine 100 include
a cleaning liquid flow rate setting 182 corresponding to an
adjustable flow rate of cleaning liquid that is applied to the
cleaning tool 110 or the surface 106 during a cleaning operation,
as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As mentioned above, one embodiment of
the control signal 140 from the controller 116 to the pump 138 is
based on cleaning liquid flow rate setting. Thus, flow rate of the
cleaning liquid 136 is based on the cleaning liquid flow rate
setting 182.
[0036] In one embodiment, the cleaning liquid flow rate setting 182
is adjustable between maximum and minimum values corresponding to
the maximum and minimum (e.g., zero) cleaning liquid flow rates
that are desired. In another embodiment, the cleaning liquid flow
rate setting 182 includes a plurality of preset values that extend
across the range defined by the maximum and minimum flow rates.
[0037] Another embodiment of the adjustable settings of the machine
100 includes a cleaning agent flow rate setting 184 corresponding
to an adjustable flow rate of cleaning agent 150 (FIG. 2) that is
mixed with water to form the cleaning liquid 136 that is applied to
the cleaning tool 110 or the surface 106 during a cleaning
operation. As mentioned above, the control signal 154 from the
controller 116 to the pump 152 is based on the cleaning agent flow
rate setting 184. Thus, flow rate of the cleaning agent 150 is
based on the cleaning agent flow rate setting 184 stored in the
memory 114.
[0038] In one embodiment, the cleaning agent flow rate setting 184
is adjustable between maximum and minimum values corresponding to
the maximum and minimum (e.g., zero) cleaning agent flow rates that
are desired. In another embodiment, the cleaning agent flow rate
setting 184 includes a plurality of preset values that extend
across the range defined by the maximum and minimum flow rates. In
one embodiment, the cleaning agent flow rates for the machine 100
span a range of less than 10.0 cubic centimeters per minute to
greater than 0 cubic centimeters per minute.
[0039] Another embodiment of the adjustable settings of the machine
100 includes a pressure setting 186 corresponding to a pressure
(e.g., soft, normal, hard) that the tool 110 applies to the surface
106 during a surface maintenance operation (e.g., sweeping,
scrubbing, sweeping and scrubbing, burnishing, polishing, etc.). In
one embodiment, the control signal 132 from the controller is based
on the pressure setting 186.
[0040] In one embodiment, the pressure setting 186 is adjustable
between maximum and minimum values corresponding to the maximum and
minimum (e.g., zero) pressures that are desired to be applied to
the surface 106 by the motorized tool 110 using the tool lift 128.
In another embodiment, the pressure setting 186 includes a
plurality of preset values that extend across the range defined by
the maximum and minimum pressures.
[0041] One embodiment of the invention relates to the communication
of setting information 190 from the computing device 174 to the
controller 116 of the machine 100. Embodiments of the setting
information 190 are illustrated in the block diagram of FIG. 4,
which will be described in greater detail below.
[0042] The data that is communicated between the communicator 110
and the computing device, including the setting information 190,
can include many different types of information. In one embodiment,
the data communicated between the computing device 174 and the
communicator 112 is uniquely identified by identification
information 191. In one embodiment, the identification information
191 operates to uniquely identify the machine 100 to which the
communication pertains. Embodiments of the identification
information 191 include a machine identification (e.g., serial
number, model number, etc.), an operator identification (e.g.
employee number, name, etc.), an identification of the owner of the
machine 100, a location of the machine 100, an identification of
components of the machine 100, the date and time of the
communication, or other information that uniquely identifies the
communication and preferably the machine 100. The identification
information 191 can be stored in a memory 114 of the machine 100
that is accessible by the controller 116, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0043] In one embodiment, the setting information 190 communicated
from the computing device 174 to the communicator 112 relates to a
desired configuration of the settings 180 of the machine 100. The
setting information 190 can be processed by the controller 116 to
update the configuration of the machine 100 by modifying the
corresponding settings 180 stored in the memory 114. Thus, for
example, one or more of the adjustable settings 180 of the machine
100 can be modified, based on the setting information 190 after the
setting information 190 is received by the communicator 112 and
processed by the controller 116.
[0044] The setting information 190 generally corresponds to the
adjustable settings 180 of the machine 100 that an administrator of
the machines 100 desires control over. In one embodiment, the
setting information 190 corresponds to the settings 180 of the
machine that are not generally adjustable through an operator
interface of the machine, such as a control panel (i.e., input
172). In another embodiment, the setting information 190
corresponds to the settings 180 of the machine 100 that are
adjustable through the operator input 172. However, as will be
discussed below, the setting information 190 can be used to
selectively restrict the ability of the operator to adjust the
settings 180 through the input 172.
[0045] Embodiments of the setting information include a cleaning
liquid flow rate setting 192, a cleaning agent flow rate setting
194 and a pressure setting 196 that respectfully correspond to the
cleaning liquid flow rate setting 182, the cleaning agent flow rate
setting 184 and the pressure setting 186 stored in the memory 114.
In one embodiment, the setting information includes an
enable/disable setting 198 that corresponds to an enable/disable
setting 200 stored in the memory 114. After the controller 116
receives the setting information 190 from the computing device 174
using the communicator 112, the controller 116 modifies the
corresponding settings 180 stored in the memory 114. Once the
settings 180 are modified based on the setting information 190, the
controller 116 will operate the machine 100 in accordance with the
modified settings 180.
[0046] As mentioned above, one embodiment of the adjustable
settings 180 includes enable/disable settings 200 stored in the
memory 114. The enable/disable settings 200 correspond to features
of the machine 100 that can be enabled or disabled. One embodiment
of the features includes select machine settings, such as settings
182, 184 and 186 described above. Thus, one embodiment of the
enable/disable settings 200 includes a list of one or more
adjustable settings of the machine 100, which can be selectively
enabled to allow the operator of the machine 100 to directly adjust
them, or disabled to prevent their adjustment by the operator
through, for example, the operator input 172.
[0047] For example, it may be desirable to make the pressure
setting 186 adjustable by the operator so that the operator can
apply a greater pressure to the surface 106 using the tool 110 when
desired. In that case, the pressure setting 186 would be enabled in
the enable/disable settings 200 using the settings 198 to provide
the adjustment control to the operator. However, if it is desirable
to remove the power to adjust the pressure setting 186 from the
operator of the machine 100, the pressure setting would be disabled
in the enable/disable setting to prevent the adjustment of the
pressure setting 186 by the operator. The other settings of the
machine 100 could be enabled or disabled in the same manner by
configuring the enable/disable settings 200 accordingly.
[0048] In one embodiment, the features that can be enabled or
disabled based on the enable/disable settings 200 as configured by
the settings 198 include the ability of the machine 100 to perform
certain conditioning or cleaning operations on the surface 106. For
example, the enable/disable settings 200 may be configured to allow
the machine 100 to perform a surface cleaning operation using the
motorized tool 110 or disabled from being allowed to perform the
surface cleaning operation. This embodiment of the invention
provides control over how the machine 100 is to be used. For
example, this embodiment can be used to prevent the machine 100
from performing an operation that could damage the floor surface
106. Additionally, when the machine 100 is being leased, the owner
of the machine 100 can limit the uses of the machine 100 to only
those subscribed to by the lessee.
[0049] In one embodiment, the operator input 172 provides limited
control to the operator over the adjustable settings 180 as
compared to machines of the prior art. In one embodiment, the
operator input 172 does not include an input that corresponds to an
adjustment to the pressure setting 186 for the motorized tool 110.
In another embodiment, the operator input 172 does not include an
input that corresponds to an adjustment to the cleaning agent flow
rate setting 184. In yet another embodiment, the operator input 172
does not include an input that corresponds to an adjustment to the
cleaning liquid flow rate setting 182.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of configuring
or operating embodiments of the mobile surface maintenance machine
100 described above. At step 210 setting information 190 is
transmitted over a network 176. The transmission of the setting
information 190 can be from the computing device 174 to the
communicator 112 of the machine 100 in accordance with the
embodiments described above. Next, at step 212, the setting
information 190 is received using a communicator 112 of the mobile
surface maintenance machine 100. The adjustable settings 180 for
the machine 100 are modified based on the setting information 190
at step 214. In one embodiment, the settings 180 are stored in the
memory 114 of the machine and the settings 180 are modified based
on the setting information 190, as described above. Finally, at
step 216, the machine 100 is operated based on the settings 190, as
modified.
[0051] In one embodiment, the machine 100 includes a motorized tool
110 that is configured to apply a pressure to the surface 106 in
accordance with a pressure setting 186 stored in the memory 114. In
accordance with this embodiment, the modifying step 214 comprises
modifying the pressure setting 186 based on the setting information
190 (i.e., pressure setting 196) and operating the machine 100
(step 216) by applying a pressure to the surface 106 using the
motorized tool 110 in accordance with the modified pressure setting
stored in the memory 114. In one embodiment, the pressure setting
186 determines the control signal 134 that is fed to the tool lift
128, which controls the pressure applied to the surface 106 by the
motorized tool 110. Embodiments of the motorized tool 110 include
the scrub brush 118, the sweeper brush 120, the sweep/scrub brush
122, the burnishing pad 124 and the polishing pad 126 described
above.
[0052] In accordance with another embodiment of the method, the
machine 100 includes the cleaning liquid dispenser 134 that is
configured to discharge a cleaning liquid 136 to either the surface
106 (136A) or the motorized tool 110 (1361B) at a flow rate that is
based on the cleaning liquid flow setting 182 stored in the memory
114. In accordance with this embodiment, the modifying step 214
comprises modifying the cleaning liquid flow setting 182 based on
the setting information 190 (i.e., cleaning liquid flow rate
setting 192), and the operating step 216 comprises operating the
cleaning liquid dispenser 134 based on the modified cleaning liquid
flow rate setting 182. In one embodiment, the cleaning liquid flow
rate setting 182 determines a control signal 140 from the
controller 116, which controls the flow of cleaning liquid 136.
[0053] In accordance with another embodiment of the method, the
machine 100 includes the cleaning agent dispenser 151 that is
configured to discharge a cleaning agent 150 into a flow of water
148 at a flow rate that is based on a cleaning agent flow rate
setting 184 stored in the memory 114. In accordance with this
embodiment, the modifying step 214 includes modifying the cleaning
agent flow rate setting 184 based on the setting information 190
(i.e., cleaning agent flow rate setting 194), and the operating
step 216 comprises operating the cleaning agent dispenser 151 based
on the modified cleaning agent flow rate setting 184 stored in the
memory 114. In one embodiment, the cleaning agent flow rate setting
184 determines a control signal 154 that is fed to the cleaning
agent dispenser 151, which controls the flow of cleaning agent
150.
[0054] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the method
comprises disabling operation of the machine 100 based on the
setting information 190. For example, the setting information 190
can include enable/disable settings 198 that control the enablement
and disablement of various features of the machine 100, as
described above. The disabling of features using the enable/disable
settings 198 in the setting information 190 allows for the
disablement of the operation of the machine 100.
[0055] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will
recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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