Floor cleaning head

Abstract

A floor cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner includes: a housing having an elongated cavity on its underside; and an elongated floor cleaning roller axially mounted within the cavity, the floor cleaning roller being adapted to rotate solely through frictional contact with the floor surface during movement of the floor cleaning head over the floor surface being cleaned. Once the floor cleaning head has moved a specific distance in a forward direction during cleaning, a control mechanism inhibits the rotation of the floor cleaning roller. Similarly, once the floor cleaning head has moved a small distance in a backward direction during cleaning, the control mechanism also inhibits the rotation of the floor cleaning roller. The static floor cleaning roller performs abrasive wiping and abrasion of the floor, and the limited rotational movement helps ensure that the different rotating portions of the floor cleaning roller engage frictionally during the continuous stroke of the floor cleaning head, thereby preventing wear.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a floor cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner, and to a vacuum cleaner including said floor cleaning head. Background Technology

[0002] To date, vacuum cleaners have generally been designed with carpet cleaning in mind. However, many people now prefer hard floors, such as wood floors, laminate floors, and tile, to carpet. Furthermore, the nature of hard floors means that vacuuming alone is often insufficient to properly clean them and provide a satisfactory appearance. Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner that is better suited for cleaning hard floor surfaces than conventional vacuum cleaners, but is not mechanically so complex that it is unaffordable for home users. Summary of the Invention

[0003] With the aforementioned objectives in mind, we have now designed an improved floor cleaning head for vacuum cleaners.

[0004] According to the present invention, a floor cleaning head for a vacuum cleaner is provided, the floor cleaning head comprising:

[0005] A housing having a front, a rear, a top, a bottom, and opposing side portions;

[0006] A slender cavity extends through the bottom of the housing between opposite sides; and

[0007] An elongated floor cleaning roller is axially mounted in the cavity to clean the floor surface. The floor cleaning roller is adapted to rotate only by frictional contact with the floor surface as the floor cleaning head moves across the floor surface being cleaned. The floor cleaning head includes a control mechanism for intermittently suppressing the rotation of the floor cleaning roller as the floor cleaning head moves across the floor surface being cleaned in a first direction and a second direction.

[0008] During use, the control mechanism inhibits the rotation of the floor cleaning roller, thereby causing the static floor cleaning roller to exert friction to wipe and abrade the floor. The rotational motion helps prevent the same rotating portion of the floor cleaning roller from always being statically engaged with the floor, thus avoiding wear.

[0009] The control mechanism can be arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is suppressed when the distance the floor cleaning head moves in the first direction is shorter than the distance it moves in the second direction. This arrangement further helps to avoid the possibility that the same accidental portion of the floor cleaning roller will statically engage the floor during continuous movement of the vacuum cleaner.

[0010] The control mechanism can be arranged such that the rotation of the floor cleaning roller is not inhibited when the floor cleaning head moves along the first direction.

[0011] The control mechanism can be arranged such that after the floor cleaning head has moved a distance along the first direction, the rotation of the floor cleaning roller is suppressed.

[0012] The control mechanism can be arranged such that the rotation of the floor cleaning roller is completely suppressed when the floor cleaning head moves along the second direction.

[0013] The control mechanism can be arranged such that after the floor cleaning head has moved a distance along the second direction, the rotation of the floor cleaning roller is suppressed.

[0014] The control mechanism can be arranged such that after the floor cleaning head has moved a distance along the first direction, the rotation of the floor cleaning roller is suppressed.

[0015] The control mechanism can be arranged such that the floor cleaning head moves a greater distance in the first direction than it moves in the second direction.

[0016] The control mechanism can be arranged such that the first direction is a forward direction and the second direction is a backward direction.

[0017] The control mechanism may include a ratchet with a pawl that engages with a gear to partially inhibit the rotation of the floor cleaning roller in the second direction.

[0018] The control mechanism may include a ball mounted in a channel of a circular track formed in a main body portion of the control mechanism. The channel includes a first portion terminating in the circumferential direction of the gear and a second portion disposed away from the gear. The first and second portions of the channel are connected end-to-end. The control mechanism is arranged such that when the floor cleaning head moves along the first direction, the ball is pushed by the gear along the first portion of the channel until the ball abuts against a structure, thus suppressing rotation of the gear and the floor cleaning roller when the pawl is radially outward on a tooth of the gear. The mechanism is arranged such that when the head moves along the second direction, the ball is released to travel along the second portion of the channel, thus suppressing rotation of the gear and the floor cleaning roller until the pawl engages radially inward on an adjacent tooth of the gear.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, a method for cleaning a floor surface using a floor cleaning head as defined above is provided.

[0020] The floor cleaning head may include a long, thin nozzle that extends through the bottom of the housing between opposite sides of the housing, and during use, dirt and dust are sucked into the vacuum cleaner through the nozzle.

[0021] A slender agitator roller is axially mounted in the suction nozzle;

[0022] An apparatus for rotating the agitator roller about its longitudinal axis during cleaning to sweep, pat, or abrade a floor surface; and

[0023] An elongated wing plate is disposed on the bottom of the housing and near the agitator roller, the wing plate extending parallel to the agitator roller and mounted to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the wing plate between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein a plurality of means are provided for raising the wing plate when the floor cleaning head moves on the floor surface in a first direction, and for lowering the wing plate when the floor cleaning head moves on the floor surface in a second opposite direction.

[0024] In use, when the floor cleaning head moves across the floor surface in the first direction, the wing plates rise, allowing the cleaning head to pass unimpeded over relatively large dirt and other debris accumulated on the floor. This debris is then collected by the agitator rollers and carried into the airflow for separation and collection. When the floor cleaning head moves across the floor surface in the opposite direction, the wing plates lower. Any debris not picked up during the first direction is trapped under the cleaning head near the nozzle, significantly increasing the number of times it is picked up. In this way, the cleaning ability of the floor cleaning head is significantly improved.

[0025] The wing plate may be located in front of the agitator roller, and the plurality of devices are arranged to raise the agitator roller when the floor cleaning head moves in a forward direction and to lower the agitator roller when the floor cleaning head moves in a backward direction.

[0026] The wing is located at one of the front edges of the housing.

[0027] The wing plate can pivot about the longitudinal axis of the wing plate between the raised position and the lowered position via a wheel arranged to frictionally engage with the floor surface being cleaned.

[0028] The wheel can be arranged to rotate about an axis that pivots around the wingplate.

[0029] The wing may include an axle extending between a pair of wheels.

[0030] The wing plate can be connected to the wheel via a clutch arranged to slide when the wheel pivots the wing plate fully in the direction of rotation of the wing plate. The floor cleaning head includes a pair of abutment surfaces for controlling the degree of rotation of the wing plate about the longitudinal axis of the wing plate between the raised position and the lowered position.

[0031] A hub can be provided for rotating the winglet, the hub having a hub surface perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the winglet, and the clutch including a friction pad confined between the wheel and the hub surface. The pad may be formed of felt or another fibrous material.

[0032] The hub and wheel can be flexibly engaged to restrict the degrees of freedom of movement of the wingplate.

[0033] The bottom of the housing has multiple downwardly protruding structures arranged at intervals along lines extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wing plate. The wing plate is positioned between the multiple linear structures and the agitator roller, such that these structures provide the wing plate with an abutment surface in its lowered position. When the wing plate is in its lowered position, it functions to close the space between the multiple structures, thereby limiting the amount of air that can flow below the vacuum cleaner.

[0034] The floor cleaning roller may include: a tubular core forming a dispensing container; and a surrounding sleeve configured to wipe the floor surface with an absorbent material during cleaning.

[0035] If needed, the detachable, elongated floor cleaning roller can be removed from the floor cleaning head before use so that its dispensing container can be filled with water or liquid to clean, disinfect, polish, or otherwise treat the floor surface.

[0036] The vacuum cleaner according to the invention is simple and inexpensive in structure, but it can achieve significantly improved cleaning of hard floor surfaces by combining the conventional sweeping action of the agitator roller with the washing, wiping or drying action provided by the floor cleaning roller (depending on whether it is wet or dry use).

[0037] The floor cleaning roller may include: a first end for engaging a support at a first end of the cavity; and a second end defining a neck of the dispensing container, wherein a clip is rotatably mounted to the neck of the dispensing container for detachably engaging the housing of the vacuum cleaner at a second end of the cavity. The clip may be detached from the neck of the dispensing container.

[0038] The clip includes a body with a hole for receiving the neck of the dispensing container; and a wing plate having a closed position in which the hole is closed, the wing plate having a configuration suitable for engaging the housing of the vacuum cleaner when the wing plate is in its closed position. The body of the clip may have a peripheral channel for receiving a structure on the housing.

[0039] A rotatable collar may be mounted on the neck of the dispensing container, and the clamp is adapted to engage the rotatable collar.

[0040] The agitator roller can be detachably mounted in the nozzle, and a clip is rotatably mounted to one end of the agitator roller for detachably engaging the housing of the vacuum cleaner and one end of the nozzle.

[0041] The core of the floor cleaning roller includes a perforated sidewall, through which any liquid contained in the container can wet the surrounding absorbent material.

[0042] An elongated wiper extends axially along the cavity, its outer end contacting a surrounding sleeve of absorbent material around the floor cleaning roller. The wiper is used to clean the floor cleaning roller to remove any material it may have picked up from the floor.

[0043] The floor cleaning roller can be mounted on the bottom of the floor cleaning head, located behind the agitator roller. During the forward stroke, after cleaning the floor surface with the agitator roller, the floor cleaning roller immediately applies any water or other liquid contained therein to the floor surface. During the backward stroke, any stubborn dirt or other substances that have been removed by the action of the floor cleaning roller will be picked up by the agitator roller.

[0044] The floor cleaning roller can rotate during cleaning solely through frictional contact with the floor surface, thus eliminating the need for any complex motors or other drive mechanisms.

[0045] During the cleaning process, the rotation of the floor cleaning roller can be intermittently suppressed so that the floor cleaning roller can wipe or abrade the floor surface being cleaned as the floor cleaning head is moved on the floor by the user.

[0046] Additionally, according to the present invention, a vacuum cleaner is provided, which includes a floor cleaning head as defined above. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0048] Figure 1This is a front perspective view of a vacuum cleaner with a cleaning head according to the present invention;

[0049] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A top view of the cleaning head;

[0050] Figure 3 It is when the cleaning head is pushed forward along direction F along Figure 2 A sectional view of line iii-iii;

[0051] Figure 4 It is when the cleaning head is pushed backward along direction R. Figure 2 A sectional view of line iii-iii;

[0052] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the cleaning head, showing the removal of the wiper assembly of the cleaning head;

[0053] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A three-dimensional view of the wiping device assembly;

[0054] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 View of the left side and bottom of the cleaning head;

[0055] Figure 8 One end of the wiper assembly is along Figure 6 A partial sectional view of line viii-viii;

[0056] Figure 9 It is along Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the ix-ix line;

[0057] Figure 10 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the cleaning head, showing the removal of the cleaning roller assembly of the cleaning head;

[0058] Figure 11 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the xi-xi line;

[0059] Figure 12 yes Figure 10 A perspective side view of the cleaning roller assembly;

[0060] Figure 13 Through Figure 10 A longitudinal sectional view of the cleaning roller assembly;

[0061] Figure 14 It is along Figure 13 A cross-sectional view of the xiv-xiv line;

[0062] Figure 15 yes Figure 1 A bottom view of the cleaning head, showing the removal of the agitator roller assembly of the cleaning head;

[0063] Figure 16A , Figure 17A and Figure 18A It is along Figure 11 The cross-sectional view of the xvi-xvi lines sequentially shows the controls. Figure 10 The operation of the ratchet of the cleaning roller assembly; and

[0064] Figure 16B , Figure 17B and Figure 18B They are along Figure 16A , Figure 17A and Figure 18A A sectional view of line xvii-xvii. Detailed Implementation

[0065] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 1 A handheld cordless vacuum cleaner 10 is shown, comprising an upper body portion 11 detachably connected to a floor cleaning head 13 according to the invention via an elongated rigid tube 12. The body portion 11 of the vacuum cleaner 10 includes a motor and a fan unit (not shown), which draws air into the vacuum cleaner 10 via the floor cleaning head 13. The rear of the floor cleaning head 13 includes an outlet 14 detachably connected to the lower end of the rigid tube 12.

[0066] Refer to the attached diagram. Figures 2 to 4 The floor cleaning head 13 includes a generally rectangular outer housing 22 with a downward-facing nozzle 15 extending laterally across the width of the floor cleaning head 13 near its front end. The nozzle 15 at the front of the floor cleaning head 13 is fluidly connected to an outlet 14 at the rear of the floor cleaning head 13 via a conduit 54 extending rearward into the housing 22. A detachable, motor-driven agitator brush 16 extends from the nozzle 15 to sweep, tap, or abrade the floor surface during cleaning.

[0067] A detachable cleaning roller assembly 17 is disposed in a downward-facing cavity 56 adjacent to the rear of the floor cleaning head 13, extending laterally across the width of the floor cleaning head 13 at its bottom. The floor cleaning head 13 is supported on the floor surface by a pair of rear wheel assemblies 18 and a pair of front wheel assemblies 20, each having its own axis of rotation and extending laterally to the floor cleaning head 13.

[0068] Refer to the attached diagram. Figures 5 to 9The front edge of the bottom of the floor cleaning head 13 includes a series of castellations 55. The front wheel assembly 20 forms part of an elongated wing assembly 19, which is detachably mounted in an elongated recess extending through the front of the floor cleaning head 13, located at the bottom of the floor cleaning head behind the castellations 55. The wing assembly 19 includes an elongated wing 21 made of an elastomeric material, mounted on an elongated axle 23 extending between the wheel assemblies 20. Each end of the axle 23 is connected to a hub 24 having a pair of circumferentially extending arms made of a flexible, elastic material. Each wheel assembly 20 includes a tire 27 mounted on a wheel 26, with the hub 24 mounted inside the wheel 26 such that a structure 28 on the arm of each hub 24 abuts a radially inward ridged surface 29 of the corresponding wheel 26. The axial outer surface of each hub 24 abuts against a friction pad 25 mounted on the center of the corresponding wheel 26.

[0069] Refer to the attached diagram. Figures 10 to 14 The cleaning roller assembly 17 includes a roller portion 30 having a tubular outer portion 33 formed of an absorbent material such as sponge or cotton. The tubular outer portion 33 of the roller 30 extends around a tubular core 34 forming a dispensing container. One end of the container is closed, and the other end includes a tubular neck 43. A roller spigot 31 extends axially from one side of the housing 22 into the roller cavity 56. The closed end of the tubular core 34 of the roller 30 includes a socket 52 adapted to receive the roller spigot 31. The other end of the roller 30 is detachably connected to the housing 22 at the other end of the roller cavity 56 via a mounting portion 32 of the cleaning roller assembly 17.

[0070] A rotatable annular collar 36 is constrainedly mounted around the neck 43 of the roller 30. A closure 35, in the form of a plug, seals against the neck 43 of the roller 30. The mounting portion 32 of the cleaning roller assembly 17 includes a body 37 defining an aperture for receiving the neck 43 of the roller 30. A C-shaped clip 42 is provided on the body 37 for resiliently engaging the rotatable annular collar 36 when the neck 43 of the roller 30 is inserted into the aperture of the body. An outwardly facing U-shaped channel 38 extends around three sides of the body 37 of the mounting portion 32. A wing plate 39 is pivotally mounted to the body 37 of the mounting portion 32 via a wheel axle 41 and is arranged to close the aperture of the body when in its closed position. A pair of fingers 40 protrude outwardly from the inner surface of the wing plate 39.

[0071] The roller assembly 17 is fitted into the chamber 56 of the floor cleaning head 13 by inserting the end with the socket 52 into the cavity 56 and then moving the roller assembly 17 axially until the socket 52 engages with the roller support bolt 31. The end of the roller assembly 17 with the mounting portion 32 is then pivoted toward the housing 22 such that the U-shaped channel 38 thereon engages with a complementary U-shaped groove 57 at one end of the cavity 56 in the housing 22. The cleaning roller assembly 17 is then secured in place by closing the wing plate 39, such that the fingers 40 thereon engage with corresponding holes (not shown) in the housing 22.

[0072] An elongated wiper 51 of elastic material is disposed in the cavity 56 of the roller and positioned such that its outer end engages with the surface of the roller 30.

[0073] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 15 The agitator roller 16 includes a first end adapted to engage with a motor drive bolt mounted on one end of the suction nozzle 15. The other end of the agitator roller 16 is detachably connected to the housing 22 at the other end of the suction nozzle 15 via a mounting portion 44, the mounting portion 44 being similar in structure to the mounting portion 32 of the cleaning roller assembly 17.

[0074] Refer to the attached diagram. Figures 16B to 18B A control mechanism 58 for controlling the rotation of the roller 30 of the cleaning roller assembly 17 is shown. The control mechanism 58 is mounted within the housing 22 of the floor cleaning head 13 at one end of the cavity 56. The control mechanism 58 includes a wheel axle 53 on which roller support bolts 31 are mounted. The wheel axle 53 is connected to a toothed ratchet gear 45 of the control mechanism 58. A pawl 46 is spring-biased on the toothed gear 45, such that the gear 45 can only rotate freely in a counterclockwise direction as shown.

[0075] A ball 47 is mounted in a channel of an annular track formed within the body of the control mechanism 58. The channel includes a first portion 49 that extends upward from its lowest point in a direction extending approximately 90 degrees circumferentially and radially along the gear 45. The upper end of the first portion 49 rotates axially along the gear 45. A second portion 50 of the channel extends downward to its lower end, where it rotates outward axially along the gear 45 to connect with the lower end of the first portion 49. A magnet 48 is provided at the lower end of the first portion 49 to ensure that the ball 47 returns to the correct position.

[0076] The operation of the floor cleaning head 13 of the vacuum cleaner as described above will now be explained with reference to all the accompanying drawings. In use, the vacuum cleaner 10 is powered on, and the floor cleaning head 13 of the vacuum cleaner is guided by the user to clean the floor surface through repeated forward and backward strokes, such as... Figure 3 and Figure 4As indicated by arrows F and R. Powering on the vacuum cleaner activates the motor and a fan unit (not shown) in the main body 11 of the vacuum cleaner 11 to draw air into the vacuum cleaner 10 through the inlet 15 of the floor cleaning head 13. Powering on the vacuum cleaner also activates a motor (not shown) located in the floor cleaning head 13, which drives an agitator roller 16 to rotate about its axis of rotation. The rotation of the agitator roller 16 and the induced vacuum below the floor cleaning head 13 collect dirt, dust, and other substances from the floor, which are then transported upwards to the main body 11 by airflow. In the main body 11, these substances are separated and collected by a cyclone separator or other separation device (not shown) for evacuation.

[0077] like Figure 3 As shown, when the floor cleaning head 13 is pushed forward in direction F, the rotation of the front wheel assembly 20 causes the wheel 26 to engage frictionally with the hub 24 via friction pads 25 disposed therebetween. This causes the axle 23 of the wing assembly 19 to rotate about its axis to a raised position, in which the wing 21 extends rearward substantially parallel to the floor surface. This creates a large opening at the front of the floor cleaning head 13, allowing the floor cleaning head to freely pass through dirt, dust, and other debris to be cleaned from the floor.

[0078] like Figure 4 As shown, when the floor cleaning head 13 is pulled backward along direction R, the rotation of the front wheel assembly 20 causes the wheel 26 to engage frictionally with the hub 24 via the friction pad 25 disposed therebetween. This causes the axle 23 of the wing assembly 19 to rotate about its axis to a lowered position, in which the wing 21 extends downward toward the floor surface and into its rear surface biased toward the crenellation 55 to close the opening therebetween. This has the effect of significantly reducing the size of the opening at the front of the floor cleaning head 13, so that dirt, dust, and other debris are confined by the wing 21 below the floor cleaning head 13 and directly below the nozzle 15. In this way, the ability of the floor cleaning head 13 to pick up material from the floor is significantly improved because any material not picked up during the forward stroke is confined and picked up during the backward stroke.

[0079] As will be explained below, the cleaning effect of the vacuum cleaner 10 is greatly enhanced by the operation of the cleaning roller assembly 17, which is located behind the agitation roller 15 on the underside of the floor cleaning head 13. The roller 30 of the assembly 17 is mounted to rest against the floor surface to be cleaned. Before use, the cleaning roller assembly 17 can be detached from the underside of the floor cleaning head 13 by releasing the wing 39 to allow the container formed by the core 34 of the tubular roller to fill with water or liquid for cleaning, disinfecting, polishing, or otherwise treating the floor surface. The core 34 of the roller is provided with holes (not shown) that allow liquid therein to wet the surrounding absorbent tubular exterior 33. If necessary, the roller 30 does not need to be filled with liquid and can be used, for example, dry.

[0080] In one embodiment, the ball 47 is omitted from the roller control mechanism 58. In this embodiment, when the cleaning head is pushed forward in direction F, the pawl 46 passes over the teeth of the ratchet gear 45, so that the roller 13 of the cleaning roller assembly 17 only rolls on the floor during the forward stroke, and immediately applies any water or other liquid contained therein to the floor surface after the floor surface has been cleaned by the agitating roller 16. During the backward stroke, the pawl 46 inhibits the rotation of the roller 30, keeping the roller 30 stationary and serving to abrade and scrub the floor.

[0081] During the forward stroke, any buildup on roller 30 is removed by the action of wiper 51.

[0082] In the preferred embodiment, as will be specifically referred to below Figures 16A to 18B As explained, the ball 47 of mechanism 58 is used to control the rotation of roller 30 so that the same area of ​​the roller does not rub or scrub the floor as the vacuum cleaner travels continuously backward, thereby avoiding uneven wear of roller 30.

[0083] In this embodiment, when the cleaning head is pushed forward in direction F, the pawl 46 passes over the teeth of the ratchet gear 45, so the roller 13 of the cleaning roller assembly 17 rolls on the floor. At the start of the forward stroke, the ball 4 is held by the magnet 48. Figure 16A and Figure 16B The position shown. However, when the cleaning head 13 is pushed forward in direction F, the ball 47 is first lifted, and the ball 47 passes through as shown. Figure 17A and Figure 17B One tooth of the ratchet gear 45 shown rises at an angle αF from the first portion 49 of the channel until it reaches... Figure 18A and Figure 18B As shown, the ball 47 is thus confined at the top of the first portion 49 of the channel, preventing the roller 30 from rotating further during the forward stroke. This keeps the roller 30 stationary, allowing it to rub and scrub the floor. In this position, the pawl 46 is pressed inward by one of its teeth so that the ratchet gear 45 can rotate by an angle αR during the backward stroke until the pawl 46 inhibits further rotation of the roller 30. This keeps the roller 30 stationary, and a different portion of the roller 30 is used again to rub and scrub the floor, instead of the portion used in the previous forward stroke. This avoids uneven wear on the roller.

[0084] At the start of the backward stroke, the roller moves by an angle αR to release the ball 47 from its confined position at the top of the first section 49 of the channel, causing the ball 47 to descend under gravity from the second section 50 of the channel back to its original position at the bottom of the first section 49. Magnet 48 ensures that the ball 47 returns to the correct position. The process of the control mechanism 58 is then repeated in successive strokes, with the roller 13 rotating forward by an angle αF in the forward stroke and backward by an angle αR in the backward stroke, where angle αF is greater than angle αR. Therefore, the net effect is that the roller rotates forward by an angle αF - αR between successive forward strokes.

[0085] The cleaner with the cleaning head according to the invention is simple and inexpensive in structure, yet it can achieve significantly improved cleaning of hard floor surfaces through the action of the static roller 30 on the floor surface being cleaned. The intermittent movement of the roller 30 in its continuous forward and backward strokes ensures that the same portion of the roller 30 does not rest against the floor, thereby avoiding uneven wear of the roller 30. The rotation of the roller 30 also ensures that the roller 30 is cleaned by the wiper 51.

Claims

1. A floor cleaning head characterized by, The floor cleaning head comprises: a housing having a front portion, a rear portion, a top portion, a bottom portion and opposite side portions; an elongated cavity extending through the bottom portion of the housing between the opposite side portions of the housing; and an elongated floor cleaning roller axially mounted in the cavity for cleaning a floor surface, the floor cleaning roller being adapted to rotate solely by frictional contact with the floor surface as the floor cleaning head is moved over the floor surface to be cleaned, the floor cleaning head including a control mechanism for intermittently inhibiting rotation of the floor cleaning roller as the floor cleaning head is moved over the floor surface to be cleaned in a first direction and a second direction; the control mechanism being arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is inhibited when the floor cleaning head is moved in the first direction for a distance shorter than the distance moved in the second direction; the control mechanism being arranged such that the first direction is a forward direction and the second direction is a rearward direction; the control mechanism including a ratchet having a pawl engaged with a gear to partially inhibit rotation of the floor cleaning roller in the second direction; the control mechanism including a ball mounted in a channel of an annular track formed in a body portion of the control mechanism, the channel including a first portion terminating in a circumferential direction of the gear and a second portion disposed away from the gear, the first and second portions of the channel being contiguous, the control mechanism being arranged such that as the floor cleaning head is moved in the first direction, the ball is urged by the gear along the first portion of the channel until the ball abuts a structure whereby rotation of the gear and the floor cleaning roller is inhibited while the pawl is located on a radially outward portion of a tooth of the gear, the mechanism being arranged such that as the head is moved in the second direction, the ball is released to travel along the second portion of the channel whereby rotation of the gear and the floor cleaning roller is inhibited until the pawl engages a radially inward portion of an adjacent tooth of the gear.

2. The floor cleaning head of claim 1 wherein: the control mechanism is arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is not inhibited as the floor cleaning head is moved in the first direction.

3. The floor cleaning head of claim 1 wherein: the control mechanism is arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is inhibited after the floor cleaning head is moved in the first direction for a distance.

4. The floor cleaning head of claim 1 wherein: the control mechanism is arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is completely inhibited as the floor cleaning head is moved in the second direction.

5. The floor cleaning head of claim 1 wherein: the control mechanism is arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is inhibited after the floor cleaning head is moved in the second direction for a distance. ​ ​ 6. The floor cleaning head of claim 5, wherein: the control mechanism is arranged such that rotation of the floor cleaning roller is inhibited after the floor cleaning head is moved a distance in the first direction.

7. The floor cleaning head of claim 5, wherein: the control mechanism is arranged such that the distance the floor cleaning head is moved in the first direction is greater than the distance the floor cleaning head is moved in the second direction.

8. A method of cleaning a floor surface, comprising: using the floor cleaning head of claim 1.

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