US2729536A

US2729536A - Machine for and method of cleaning rugs

Info

Publication number: US2729536A
Application number: US132436A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burnard T Pull; Glenn A Fahlberg; Lloyd E Hayne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-12-12
Filing date: 1949-12-12
Publication date: 1956-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1973-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1956 B. T. PULL ET AL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF CLEANING RUGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

Q WWVJZAM J ATTORNEYS O O O i n? O in m m F 3 E K? 67 Jan. 3, 1956 B. T. PULL ET AL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF CLEANING RUGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS Burnord T. Pull Glenn A. Fohlberg 81 y Lloyd E. Hoyne W ATTORNEYS wwhw Jan. 3, 1956 a. T. PULL ET AL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF CLEANING RUGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12. 1949 Burnurd T. Pull,

I ullullnllnun n1 Glenn A. Fchlberg a Lloyd E. Hoyne ATTORNEYS Jan. 3, 1956 B. T. PULL ET AL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF CLEANING RUGS Filed Dec. 12. 1949 INVENTORS 0rd T Burn .Pulll, Glenn A. Fuhlberg 8 BY Lloyd E. Hoyne ga ATTORNEYS sfaw Jan. 3, 1956 B. T. PULL ET AL MACHINE FOR AND METHOD OF CLEANING RUGS Filed Dec. 12, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l o W FIG.--- 8 !NVENTORS Burnord T. Pull,

Glenn A.Fahlberg & BY Ll yd E. Hdyne W ww z ATTORNEYS United m Patent if? 2,729,536 MACHINE FOR AND MICEgI-IOD OF CLEANING Barnard T. Pull, Glenn A. Fahlberg, and Lloyd E. Hayne, Denver, Colo.

Application December 12, 1949, Serial No. 132,436

9 Claims. (Cl. 8-1493) This invention relates to cleaning machines, and more particularly to machines for cleaning fabric articles having large areas, such as rugs, carpets, drapes, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce an improved cleaning machine which will clean fabric or like articles in an efiicient and thorough manner by merely attaching the articles to a conveyor means and allowing such articles to pass through the machine.

Another object is to produce an improved cleaning machine which will brush, vacuum and fluid clean a rug or like article as it is caused to be passed through the machine.

Yet another object is to produce an improved means and method of cleaning a fabric having a nap or pile such as a rug or carpet.

A further object is to produce a machine for cleaning a rug or like fabric which will so condition the pile or nap thereof that it can be cleaned by a cleaning fluid acting under pressure and passing through the pile or nap without passing through the rug from one side to the other thereof.

A still further object is to produce an improved method of cleaning which comprises conditioning the rug in a manner to cause sections of the pile thereof to so stand out from the rug and from adjacent sections of pile that cleaning substance can be passed under pressure through the conditioned pile in a direction substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pile fiber.

Yet a further object is to produce an improved rug cleaning machine that will so act in a rug as to cause successive sections of pile to be presented to jets of cleaning fluid in a manner that the cleaning fluid will pass through the pile laterally with respect to the fibers thereof and without passage through the body of the rug from.

one side to the other.

A further object is to produce an improved rug cleaning machine which will so act on the rug as it moves through the machine that the rug will be brushed, vacuumed and then have its pile only cleaned by a clean ing fluid acting under pressure on the pile.

A further object is to produce an improved conveyor means for carrying a rug or like article through a machine for cleaning purposes.

A further object is to produce a conveyor means of the endless type for a rug cleaning machine which will permit a rug to be easily attached thereto in order that it can be moved through a machine and be subjected to brushing and cleaning operations and thereafter be automatically removed from the conveyor means. e i

A further object is to produce improved means for attaching a rug to a conveyor. means and permit its automatic disconnection after cleaning is accomplished.

Other objects of our invention will become apparent from the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a cleaningmachine embody ingour invention, parts being broken away to disclose certain details of construction;

aligned shafts 18.

Figure 2 is a right hand and view of the machine;

Figure 3 is a top View of the machine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of suction cleaning of a rug as it passes through the machine;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the manner in which the machine conditions a rug for fluid cleaning and the structure employed to accomplish the fluid cleaning;

Figure 6 is a view showing the header and jet nozzles for the fluid cleaning;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the outlet end of a jet nozzle;

Figure 8 is a top view showing the conveyor chains, and the manner of connecting the end of a rug to said chains;

Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views taken on the lines 9-9 and 10-40 respectively of Figure 8 showing additional details; and

Figure 11 is a view of the structure employed at the rear end of the conveyor chains to automatically disconnect a rug after being cleaned, said figure being viewed on the line 113l1 of Figure 3 when a rug is attached to the conveyor chains.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, our improved rug cleaning machine disclosed as embodying the invention has a frame structure generally designated by the letter F suitably built up of posts, beams and braces. The front end of this machine (right end as viewed in Figure l) is provided with a corss shaft 15 suitably supported and journaled throughout its length, which will be approximately 18 or 20 feet in order to accommodate rugs and carpets of such width. At the ends of the shaft there will be mounted thereon two like sprockets 16. Between these sprockets are a plurality of rollers 17 mounted for rotation with the shaft. Extending towards the rear of the machine from the shaft 15 at the front end thereof is a level platform structure P which lies between the sides of the machine frame. This platform will extend to approximately the centra 1 part of the machine and at this point there are axially aligned short shafts in (only one being illustrated), one at each side of the machine sprocket 19. Below the shafts l8 and slightly towards the front of the frame of the machine is a cross shaft 2% having on its ends sprockets 21, one only being shown. Below the shaft 2t) is still another cross shaft 22, at the ends of which are like sprockets 23, one only being shown. At the extreme rear end of the machine is still another cross shaft 24 and on the ends of this shaft are like sprockets 25. The shaft 24 is arranged to be adjustable by suitable screws 26 which 25 and a sprocket 23 in the sequence enumerated. The

two endless chains will be driven by any suitable electric motor (not shown). drive any of the cross shafts as, for example, the shaft 20.

The conveyor means of the machine, when mounted as shown, will have a level path of movement from the forward end of the machine rearwardly to the axially It will then move downwardly after making a turn around the axis of the shafts 1%. The direction of movement of the chains of the conveyor downwardly-fromshafts 18 will be at an acute angle to the di rection of movement of the chains as they move between the front of the machine to the shafts: 18. The chains,

when they pass over the sprockets 21, will again move in This motor may be connected to a general horizontal direction towards the rear of the machine until they-pass over the sprockets 25 on theshaft 24 at the rear of the machine. After this the chains will have a return movement to the front end of the machine and during'this return movement they will pass over the sprockets 23 of the cross shaft 22 which is positioned forwardly and below the cross shaft 20.

Between the

cross shafts

20 and 2 2 and slightly above and forwardly of the lower cross shaft 22 is a cross shaft 27 on which is mounted a plurality of rollers 28. These rollers are arranged to cooperate with a like number of rollers 29 which are mounted on the previously mentioned cross shaft 24 at the extreme rear end of the machine and to the end of which the sprockets 25 are secured. The rollers '28 and29are arranged to have associated therewith a plurality of Wide endless belts or aprons 30 and as the shaft is rotated'these belts will be moved at the same rate of speed as the chains of the conveyor. The belts or aprons 30 cover substantially the entire space between the chains C and extend from shaft 20 to 24, which is the final horizontal run of the conveyor means as it passes through the machine from the front to the rear. The belts are slightly above the level of the chains so that the rug Links 31 of the chains C are provided with lateral pro- 7 jections 32 having upstanding pins 33. A thin narrow bar 34 extends between opposed like links of the two chains and has holes 35 in the ends thereof to receive the pins and rest on the eirtensions. The bar 35 has a lateral flange 36 on one edge to give rigidity to the bar and limit its tendency to sag in the middle, due to the great distance it must extend across the machine. Associated with the bar 34 are

other bars

37 and 38 substantially the same length as bar 34mm of similar width. These bars have

flanges

39 and 40, as shown, to give rigidity. All the bars are in parallel relation and, as can be seen from the drawing, bar 37 is hinged to bar 34 by hinges 41, and bar 38 is hinged to bar 37 by hinges 42. The rear bar 38, along its rear free edge, has a plurality of tines 43 projecting upwardly and forwardly. By means of these tines the edge of a rug or carpet can be pierced and attached to the bar 38 and by means of the

bars

37 and 34 to the chains C. Figures 8, and 11 show a rug R' so connected.

With the attaching means shown, comprising the plurality of bars hinged together, it can follow the chains around the sprockets as the direction of movement of the conveyor means changes. The plurality of bars with flanges gives a sufficient rigid structure that the chains can pull the rug through the machine, yet the individual bars can be made light in weight. The rug can be attached to bar 38 before it is placed in the machine and then when permits easy automatic disconnection of the rug from the conveyor means after the cleaning has'been accomplished. As best shown in Figure 11, each sprocket 25 on the ends of shaft 24 at the rear of the machine has positiond at the inside'thereof curved runners 44 suitably attached by brackets 45 to the frame structure of the machine. These runners slope upwardly to a point above 7 the teeth of the sprockets and then curve downwardly outside the circumference of the sprockets. As the chains reach thesprockets 25 the front bar 34 of the attaching meanswillslide upward on the runners 44 and will theii have-its ends raised off thepins 33 on the links; The belts or aprons 3!) willthen continue to carry'the' rug forwardly and it will pass on beyond the sprockets where the rug can be rolled-up and disposed of.

The rug will be attached by the attaching arrangement to the conveyor means comprising the two chains C at the front end of the machine as these chains pass over the sprockets 16 and start their movement toward the rear end of the machine across the platform P. This platform will have a smooth CQYering, suchas stainless steel, so the rug will slide easily when pulled by the chains. Substantially centrally of the length of the platform of the machine there is provideda large rotary brush 46 which is mounted upon superstructure 47 of the machine framework. This brush extends completely across the machine and has its ends journaled in'suitable bearing structures 48. These bearing structures are arranged to be adjustable upwardly and downwardly in the superstructure 47 on suitable guideways 49. The adjustment can be made by means of screws 50 having turning wheels 51. A suitable driving mechanism as, for example, an electric motor (not shown) can be provided to drive the brush. The brush will be driven in the direction of the arrow and when properly adjusted will operate on the pile of the rug as it is moved along the platform by the conveyor means. The brushing operation will aid in cleaning the rug, and particularly the loosening of dirt and other'foreign matter carried in the pile.

At the rear end of the platform there is provided an open grate structure G over which the rug will pass. Above this grate G are a plurality of vacuum shoes ,52. These shoes are arranged in overlapping relationship across the entire width of the machine, as can best be seen inFigure 3. Each shoe is connected by ,a pipe 53 to a vacuum header 54 in the form of a large cylinder which extends across the machine and is mounted on the super- 7 structure 47. The pipes 53 are each provided with a valve 55 which can be controlled by a suitable hand operated shaft 56 extending up to the top of the superstructure of the machine. The vacuum header 54 is arranged to be connected with a suitable source of vacuum by'means of several pipes 57.

With" these vacuum shoes arranged in staggered relation it is seen that all the surfaces of the rug, as it passes over the grate G, will be subjected to the suction of the shoes. This suction will cause air to be pulled through the grate (3, up through the base material or backing of the -rug and then through the pile and into the vacuum header, as best seen in the enlarged view of Figure 4 showing a rug passing beneath a vacuum shoe. As a result the rug Will'be given a thorough vacuum cleaning and dirt and dust loosened by the brush 46, together with lint and other free matter. 7

' The rug, after being vacuumed, moves to the rear end of the platform P, which rear end will be at the two sprockets 19 mounted upon the axially aligned shafts 18 at the opposite sides of the machine. Between these two sprockets there extends a cylindrical member in the form of a pipe 58. This pipe is best shown in Figure 5 and the axis of the pipe will be slightly forward of the axes of the two aligned shafts 18 upon which the sprockets 19 rotate. The pipe is arranged to be stationary and is held by means of brackets 59 secured to a cross beam 60 of the machine. The diameter of the pipe 53 is relatively small, being approximately one and one-half inches in diameter, and since it is situated so that the rug will be pulled thereover by the chains of the conveyor means as the conveyor means has an abrupt change of direction which is greater than degrees, the rug pile fibers will be caused to stand out from the base portion of the rug in a radial direction, all as can be seen in Figure 5. The pipe 58, along its surface which is approximately at the center of the turning of the rug, is provided with a pluality at smal h le 1. ex e d n n' e h o sho 'th length of the p p The Pi e 581m t e d c os d. nd esa stsd the e it e a p u a t of o duit whis east, 1.2: means 9 emanating cond 63 t a st m manifold 64 at the side of the m tqhinfi (see Figure 3'),

The conduits 63 can each be provided with valves 65 to control the amount of steam which passes to the cross pipe 53. As the rug turns over the pipe 58 during its movement it will be seen that with steam being supplied to the pipe 58, this steam will pass out the small holes 61 throughout its length and be forced through the rug from the base or back side of the rug to the pile side. This steam, which will preferably be a dry stem, will thus give the rug additional cleaning and the steam with its pressure action will carry with it the dirt and dust outwardly from the rug. Although steam is preferred to be supplied to pipe 58, other fluid can be used. Air alone, under pressure, can be used. Also, steam having mixed therein. a suitable detergent. Also, a powdered detergent can be mixed with a carrier such as air.

Above the pipe 53 where the rug is given an abrupt turn by the conveyor means and is pulled around the pipe 58, there is situated an upper header 66 in the form of a cylindrical pipe. This header is best disclosed in Figure and is carried on a cross beam 67 of the machine, being attached thereto by a suitable bracket 68. The header is arranged to be fed with a cleaning fluid through pipes 69 and this fluid is discharged through a plurality of nozzles 7d. These nozzles are all longitudinally aligned, as. can be seen in Figure 6, and the discharge openings 71 thereof are constructed to be narrow and flared. As best disclosed in Figure 7, the nozzles are similar in form to that which would be assumed by pinching the end of a rubber tube. Thus, any fluid coming out of the nozzles will be directed in a fan-like manner and since the nozzles will be fairly close togethenthe fluid spray from the nozzles willjoin each other and form a continuous sheet of fluid. All the nozzles are directed so the spray coming therefrom will be directed through the fibers of the pile of the rug as it is being turned over the pipe 58. Since the fibers of the pile during this turning are placed in a general radial condition, then the fluid spray from the nozzles will be substantially transverse to the axes of the fibers. The sprayed fluid from the nozzles will pass through the fibers of the pile and produce a cleaning of the fibers. Because of the direction of the sprayed fluid and the condition of the pile fibers when the sprayed fluid engages the fibers, the fibers only will be given a cleaning operation and not the base of the rug. In other words, the sprayed fluid will not be directed in any manner to go through the base of the rug. However, since the sprayed fluid will be passing in a direction transversely to the axes of the fibers and this sprayed fluid will be under considerable pressure, it will tend to bend the fibers downwardly and cause them to lay on the base of the rug.

To prevent this bending over of the fibers during the time that the spray is passing through the fibers, there is provided a roller brush 72. This brush is mounted on a shaft 73 which extends completely across the cleaning machine. The ends of the shaft are mounted in suitable bearing structures 74 which are slidably adjustable in guides 75 carried by the superstructure of themachine. To accomplish the adjusting of the shaft of the brush, screws 76 are provided which are controlled by hand wheels 77. Thus, the brush can be easily adjusted so the ends of the fibers of the brush can make proper contact with the fibers of the pile of the mg as the. rug turns over the pipe 558. With the brush rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 5, therug pile fibers will then be so acted upon as to be caused to maintain their general radial position with respect to the pipe 58. In other words, the rotation of the brush will tend to support the fibers of the pile and prevent'them from being bent over as they are acted upon by the cleaning fluid coming from the nozzles.

Steam will be provided in the header 66 from pipes 69 fed by a pipe 69 from the manifold M and the fed steam will be forced out throughthe nozzles as part of the cleaning fluid. There will also be provided in this steam a detergent material which can be a suitable liquid. It can be ejected into the steam manifold M by a pipe D (see Figure 3) and thus he mixedwith the steam and the cleaning fluid will then be a combination fluid of steam and detergent.

After the rug is acted upon by the cleaning fluid coming from the nozzle '10 and also acted upon by the dry steam coming through the openings in the pipe 58 and passing through the base of the rug and then through the pile fibers of the rug, the rug will be moved downwardly along with the conveyor means and around the shaft 20. As the chains of the conveyor move horizontally again towards the back end of the machine, the rug will be picked up by the conveyor belts 30, already referred to, and carried to the rear end of the machine. While the rug is being moved along with the conveyor means and also carried by the belts or aprons, it can, if desired, be subjected to heat to dry the rug. As shown in Figure l, a compartment is formed by a cover structrue 78 in which can be positioned a plurality of infra red lamps 79 or other suitable heat producing elements. If desired, circulating fans can be provided to assist in moving heated air to hasten the drying action. When the rug reaches the rear end of the machine it will be detached from the conveyor means by the runners 44, already described.

From the above detailed description of a rug clean ing machine, it is believed to be apparent as to how it operates to clean a rug. Rugs of different sizes can be attached to the conveyor chains by the attaching means. Since the machine will be eighteen or twenty feet wide, two 9 x 12 rugs can be attached at one time or several smaller ones. As the rugs move through the machine, they will be fully cleaned without any hand operation. As the rug or rugs are moved through the machine by the conveyor chains they will be first brushed, then vacuumed and then fluid cleaned. The preferred fluid cleaning described is with dry steam passing through the rug from the base or back side to the pile side and a detergent driven through the pile fibers under pressure in a direction substantially at right angles to the axes of the fibers. During cleaning of the fibers they are simultaneously brushed, which assists in the cleaning operation, besides supporting the fibers while acted on by cleaning fluid under pressure. After cleaning, the rug is dried and then automatically disconnected from the conveyor means as it reaches the rear end of the machine.

In describing the machine and the method of cleaning of a rug, reference is made to cleaning fluid and preferred fluid is steam alone and steam carrying an injected liquid detergent. in place of steam being passed through the rug, air under pressure can be used or air carrying a detergent in a mist form or even in a fine powder. The cleaning fluid, under pressure, being directed through the pile fibers in a transverse direction may be a liquid, a vapor or a gas and it may or not carry a liquid detergent or a powdered detergent. Thus, when the term cleaning fluid is used, it is intended to have a broad meaning.

Therefore, being aware of possibilities of modifications and substitutions in the machine and method disclosed byway of example as embodying our invention, it is desired to have it understood that the scope of the invention it not to be limited except in accordance with I the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cleaning machine for articles such as rugs, carpets and the like comprising a conveyor means for causing the article to move along a curved path the direction of which is so changed that the pile of the article during the direction change will extend outwardly in a substantially radial condition, means for causing a stream of cleaning fluid to pass through the pile fibers in a direction substantially transversely to the axes thereof during the turning, and other means for causing a fluid to pass through the rug from the base side to the Pil s dednring turning and .aetsimultaneously {011 the simefrfibers as are heingaacteduon .by the first named 2. A cleaning machine for fiber articles havinga base nd :a pile thereon comprising eonveyor means movable al g a path :having va turn to cause a change in direction of not :less than "ninety degrees, means for attaching the article {to the conveyor means to move therewith and to have its pile. exposed outwardly whenthe change in ,direction takes place, means including nozzles zpositioned Close to the pile for directing cleaning fluid 1mder pressure through the 'pile fibers only while the article s turning and in a direction substantially transversely to the :aXes of the fibers, and :brush means so acting on the pile fibersbut not .on :the 'ba-seaduring the turning as I support the fibersxin .a position extending outward- 1y from the base .and against the force of the cleaning fluid under pressure.

- 3. A cleaning machine for fiber articles having a pile comprising conveyor means for causing the article to be moved along a path, a fixed tubular member having a curved wall over which therconveyor means slides the article, and'changes its direction of movement with the pile thereof exposed, said tubular member being provided with openings in the curved wall, means for forcing fluid under pressure through the openings as the article moves thereover, and means for forcing a cleaning fluid through the pile fibers in .a direction transversely to their axes as they move over the curved wall and are caused to project radially outwardly therefrom.

4. A cleaning machine for fiber articles having a pile comprising conveyor means for causing the article to be moved along a path, a fixed tubular member having a curved wall over which the conveyor means moves the article and changes its direction of movement with the pile thereof exposed, said tubular member being pro vided with openings in the curved wall, means for forcing fluid under pressure through the openings as the article moves thereover, and a rotary brush acting on the pile fibers in a direction opposite to their direction of movement as they move over the curved wall.

5. In a rug cleaning machine, conveyor means for moving a rug through the machine, means for brushing the rug as it is moved by the conveyor means, means for causing air to flow through the rug as it is moved by the conveyor means comprising a plurality of suction shoes positioned on the side of the pile of the rug and beneath which the rug can be movedby the conveyor means, said shoesbeing arranged in overlapping relationship, a source of suction connected to the shoes, means for causing the conveyor means to condition the rug so that the pile fibers are in outwardly radiating positions from a curved area, and means'for subjecting the fibers only when in the radiating positions to cleaning fluid acting under pressure and moving in a direction transversely to the axes of the fibers.

6. A cleaning machine for articles such as rugs, carpets and the like comprising a conveyor means for causing the article to move along a path the direction of which is so changed that the pile of the article during the direction change will move along a curved path and while so moving be in a substantially radial condition, means for causing a cleaning fluid to pass through the pile during turning in a direction substantially transversely to the axes :thereof, means vtor brushing the pile fibers but not the ibase in a direction opposite the direction of rug movement :during said cleaning, and means for passing a fluid under pressure through the rug from the base side thereof during cleaning and at the point of turning while the Ifibers are being subjected to the said cleaning fluid.

7. A cleaning machine for fiber articles having a pile comprising conveyor means movable along a path having a turn to cause a change in direction of not less than ninety degrees, means for attaching the article to the conveyor means to move therewith and to have its pile exposed outwardly when the change in direction takes place, means for directing a fluid under pressure through the article from the base side to the pile side at the point of turning, and rotary brush means for acting on the pile fibers in a direction opposite the direction of the rug movement during the turning of the rug. 7

8. The method of cleaning a rug having a base an pile, comprising continuously moving the rug along a curved path with the pile fibers outward and exposed, and spraying said pile fibers during their movement along the curved path with a stream of cleaning fluid directed to pass through the pile fibers from their base outwardly and only in a direction substantially transversely to the axes of the fibers, said spray having its origin close to the pile fibers and being of a force great enough tocause it to move through all the pile fibers standing in its path, simultaneously brushing the fibers as they are sprayed with the direction of brushing being toward the oncoming fluid, and spraying the rug by a second stream of fluid which stream passes through the rug in a direction from the base side to the pile side during the movement of the rug along the curved path;

9.. The method of claim 8 in which each of the two spraying streams include steam and at least one of the streams also includes a detergent carried by the stream.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 119,503 246,547 Patterson Aug. 30, 1881 407,309 Warsop July 16, 1889 746,618 White Dec. 8, 1903 815,987 Thomas Mar. 27, 1906 1,196,527 Dehon Aug. 29, 1916 1,412,503 Black Apr. 11, 1922 1,545,114 Alvey July 7, 1925 1,587,444 Thomas June 1, 1926 1,700,300 Greene ..'Jan. 29, 1929 1,738,946 Chapin Dec. 10, 1929 1,765,610 Palm June 24, 1930 1,820,048 Chase Aug. 25, 1931 1,926,306 Pettersen Sept. 12, 1933 2,067,752 Chase Jan. 12, 1937 2,304,592 Pauly Dec. 8, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,491 Great Britain of 1897 319,415 Great Britain Sept. 26, 1929 653,369 Germany Nov. 22, 1937 Brooks Oct. 3, 1871

Claims

8. THE METHOD OF CLEANING A RUG HAVING A BASE AND PILE, COMPRISING CONTINUOUSLY MOVING THE RUG ALONG A CURVED PATH WITH THE PILE FIBERS OUTWARD AND EXPOSED, AND SPRAYING SAID PILE FIBERS DURING THEIR MOVEMENT ALONG THE CURVED PATH WITH A STREAM OF CLEANING FLUID DIRECTED TO PASS THROUGH THE PILE FIBERS FROM THEIR BASE OUTWARDLY AND ONLY IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY TRANSVERSELY TO THE AXES OF THE FIBERS, SAID SPRAY HAVING ITS ORIGIN CLOSE TO THE PILE FIBERS AND BEING OF A FORCE GREAT ENOUGH TO CAUSE IT TO MOVE THROUGH ALL THE PILE FIBERS STANDING IN ITS PATH, SIMULTANEOUSLY BRUSHING THE FIBERS AS THEY ARE SPRAYED WITH THE DIRECTION OF BRUSHING BEING TOWARD THE ONCOMING FLUID, AND SPRAYING THE RUG BY A SECOND STREAM OF FLUID WHICH STREAM PASSES THROUGH THE RUG IN A DIRECTION FROM THE BASE SIDE TO THE PILE SIDE DURING THE MOVEMENT OF THE RUG ALONG THE CURVED PATH.