APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND TREATING A BOOT OR SHOE

Abstract: The apparatus (10) for cleaning and treating a boot or shoe (12) comprises a housing (14), a boot or shoe holding mandrel (16) located inside the housing (14), brush means (18) for cleaning an exterior surface of the boot or shoe (12) held by the mandrel (16), positioning means (20) for moving and positioning the brush means (18) with respect to the mandrel (16), treating solution jet means (22) for spraying a jet (24) of treating solution over at least a part of the exterior surface of the boot or shoe (12) held by the mandrel (16), and separation means (30) for isolating the jet (24) of treating solution from the brush means (18). A complete and automated treatment of the boot or shoe (12) is made possible using the apparatus (10) which can include a full electronic control system.

Description: APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND TREATING A BOOT OR SHOE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and treating a boot or shoe. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Shoe shining or cleaning machinery which is used to carry out an automatic shining, cleaning or treating of a shoe or boot is well known in the art. It is also known, such as in German patent publication 2,829,074, to construct automatic machinery which carries out a full cycle of cleaning and treating a boot or shoe. The shoe or boot is either held fixed in the apparatus, such as in U.S. patent 4,441,225, while a cleaning or polishing brush is rotated over an exterior surface of the shoe or boot in such a manner that the brush moves over the surface, or as in the above-mentioned German patent publication, the rotating brush remains stationary while a mandrel holding a shoe rotates the shoe such that the exterior surface of the shoe is exposed to the rotating brush. Generally, means are provided for applying shoe polish to the brushes, or for spraying a polish or dye onto the shoe as it is being buffed or polished by the brushes. It has been found that the prior art shoe or boot polishing apparatus do not provide a way to clean and treat a variety of different colours of shoes or boots in an easy fashion. The brush used to clean or polish the shoe or boot absorbs the colour of the polish used on the shoe or boot, and therefore when changing colour of shoes or boots, the operator of the prior art apparatus must either clean the brush inside the apparatus or replace the brush with a brush that is used with the colour corresponding to the colour of the shoe. While such apparatus work effectively when the number of colours of shoes or boots is limited to a few, they do not work effectively when the number of colours to be used is numerous, and change of colours requires a further operational step that requires the operator's assistance. Furthermore, the prior art apparatus do not provide a sequence of cleaning, priming, and colour treating, which is beneficial in assuring quality shoe care. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and treating a boot or shoe in which a plurality of colours of boots or shoes may be cleaned and treated without requiring a change of cleaning or polishing brushes. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for cleaning and treating a boot or shoe which can be used as an efficient fully automatic shoe care apparatus requiring a minimum of operator labour. The apparatus according to the invention is suitable for use an a commercial basis by shop owners wishing to provide shoe care service. Another object of the invention is to duplicate industrial leather pigmentation to give, the shoe or boot treated by the automatic apparatus a brand new look. According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for cleaning and treating a boot or shoe comprising a housing, a boot or shoe holding mandrel located inside the housing, brush means for cleaning an exterior surface of the boot or shoe held by the mandrel, positioning means for moving and positioning the brush means with respect to the mandrel, and treating solution jet means for spraying a jet of treating solution over at least a part of the exterior surface of the boot or shoe held by the mandrel, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises separation means for isolating the jet of treating solution from the brush means. Preferably, the housing includes a brush station and a spray station, and the mandrel is displaced between the brush station and the spray station. The brush and spray stations may be separated by a door for isolating the jet of treating solution from the brush means. Preferably, two mandrels are provided in an inverted position for holding a pair of shoes or boots in an inverted position. The mandrels may comprise a resilient permeable foam portion shaped to fill the boot or shoe, the foam portion being enveloped in a flexible airtight bag, so that each mandrel may be contracted and expanded by exposing the foam portion to ambient air pressure or vacuum respectively. The contracted mandrel may be of a sufficiently reduced volume such that the boot or shoe is easily fitted over the mandrel, and the expanded mandrel sufficiently fills the boot or shoe in order that it is held securely by the mandrel, while helping the boot or shoe maintain its firm shape. The two mandrels may preferably be independently rotatable about a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to a sole of the boot or shoe, and the mandrels may be displaceable along a track between the brush and spray stations. In the brush station, sole, side and front brushes may be used to clean the respective parts of the shoe or boot with the help of sprayed water to wash away soil from the boot or shoe. A special cleaning solution is also preferably sprayed on the boot or shoe in the brush station to prepare the leather for the colour or pigment treatment in the spray station. The spray station may include air dryer means for effecting a complete drying of the boot or shoe before being sprayed with the treating solution. The jet means preferably comprise an air brush nozzle which is positionable by nozzle motor means along a first vertical axis, and the nozzle motor means may also rotate the nozzle about a horizontal and a vertical axis in order to direct the jet of treating solution at any given angle with respect to the boot or shoe. In the case that the apparatus comprises a pair of mandrels, the treating solution may be sprayed by a single nozzle positioned equidistantly from both mandrels. In this way, a collaboration of -nozzle motor means movements and mandrel rotations are carried out as treating solution is sprayed over the exterior surface of the pair of boots or shoes held by the mandrels. Preferably, selecting means are provided in order to allow a selection of one of many different kinds of treating solutions, and to facilitate the changeover between one kind of treating solution and the next, purge means are provided for cleaning the nozzle and its supply conduit with a cleaning solution. Preferably, before placing the shoe or boot on the mandrel, the interior of the shoe or boot is sprayed with a bactericide to assure hygienic operation. A computerized electronic control system may be used to coordinate the movements of all electromechanical components of the apparatus in order to carry out a fully automatic boot or shoe treatment. The operator of the apparatus according to the invention may thereby simply place a pair of boots or shoes on the contracted mandrels and specify to the computerized control system the approximate size and shape of the boots or shoes and the desired kind of treatment to be carried out before initiating the automatic treating process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and features of the present invention will become clear by way of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side, cut away view of the apparatus according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 2 shows an oblique view of the mandrels mounted on the track according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 shows an oblique view of the brush means according to the preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a cross-section of the dye circulation means and the means to selectively draw treating solution from one of many treating solution reservoirs in accordance with the preferred embodiment; Figure 5 shows an oblique view of the nozzle motor means; Figure 6 shows a side view -of the nozzle motor means; Figure 7 is a block diagram of the computerized control system according to the preferred embodiment; and Figure 8 is a side view of a disinfecting spray gun according to the preferred embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in Figure 1, the apparatus (10) according to the preferred embodiment comprises a housing ( 14 ) which contains a brush compartment (32) and a treating solution spray chamber ( 34 ) which are divided by a partition door (30). A mandrel (16) supports a shoe or boot (12) in an upside down position in such a way that mandrel (16) fills the shoe or boot preventing any sprayed treating solution ( 24 ) from entering inside the boot (12). Mandrel (16) is moveable along positioning track means (20) between the brush station (32) and the spray station (34). As shown in Figure 2, there are two mandrels (16) provided in a side by side arrangement, and each mandrel is to be provided with a foam cover portion (38) which is enclosed by a plastic bag (40) which is sealed to a bottom of the mandrel (16). Each mandrel consists of a rigid forward part and an articulated rear part which is resiliently biased to spring outwardly. Each mandrel is rotated about a vertical longitudinal axis of the mandrel by mandrel rotating motors (82). A vacuum pump (42) communicates with the inside of plastic bag (40) for drawing out of the plastic bag (40) the air contained within foam portion (38) and the mandrel (16). As the air is drawn out, ambient pressure causes the bag (40), foam (38) and mandrel (16) to collapse reducing it inside sufficiently so that boot (12) may be placed over top of mandrel (16). Once a boot (12) is put in place on each mandrel ( 16) , the vacuum pump is turned off and the inside of bag (40) is subjected to ambient pressure and the mandrel (16) as well as foam portion (38) are biased to expand therefore filling boot (12) and preventing any treating solution (24) from entering inside -boot (12). A motor (90) turns feed screw (84) and a threaded block (86) connected to the mandrels is caused to move linearly along feed screw (84) for positioning of the mandrels. The mandrels are slideable along track means (20) by means of slides (88). A projection (80) extending from mandrel (16) makes contact with door (36) as shown in Figure 2 to open door (36) which is biased to be closed. Clearly, each mandrel (16) is to be provided with an extension (80) for opening a pair of doors (36) closing the threshold between stations (32) and (34). In the brush station (32) as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the exterior surface of the boots ( 12) is cleaned by a set of three brushes in the following manner. Positioning means (20) move the mandrel (16) until the boots (12) are moved towards the brush station (32) with the mandrels pointed forward as shown in Figure 3. A front portion or toe portion of boots (12) is cleaned by brush (74) and the soles of boots (12) are cleaned by sole brush (70). One side of each boot (12) is cleaned by side brush (72). All three brushes (70), (72) and (74) are driven by brush motor (78) which is gear reduced to rotate the brushes 70, 72 and 74 at a relatively slow speed. The side brush (72) and the front brush (74) are fixed, while the sole brush (70) is resiliently mounted for a slight up and down motion which may result as different styles of heels and soles of boots (12) are passed under sole brush (70). A cleaning priming solution nozzle (76) as shown in Figure 1 is used to spray a cleaning solution onto the boots (12) to prepare them for receiving a colour treating solution by removing oil, grease and dirt deposits on the surface of the boots or shoes (12). A water spray nozzle (77) is used to spray water on brushes (70), (72) and (74) in order to remove any dirt and calcium deposits from boots (12). A drain panel (104) is provided underneath the brush station (32) in order to collect the spent wash solution. A suitable boot and shoe cleaning solution is commercially available from Stahl, a division of ICI, under the name "Wash". Once the mandrels have been moved such that boots (12) engage front brush (74 ) , the mandrels are rotated 180 so that side brush (72) cleans the opposite side of the boots (12). Of course, other movements of the mandrels with respect to the brushes may be carried out to effect a more evenly distributed brush cleaning, taking into consideration the shoe size inputted by the operator. The control system co-ordinates the translational and rotational movements of the mandrels (16) to assure a smooth and effective brushing over the surface of boots (12). In the spray station (34), as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6, spray means (22) spray a jet of treating solution (24) on boots (12) . As shown in Figures 5 and 6, spray means (22) include a spray nozzle (50) rotatably mounted to stepper motor (54) for a rotation about a horizontal axis as shown in Figures 5 and 6, stepper motor (54) subsequently being mounted to stepper motor (56) for rotation about a vertical axis, and stepper motor (56) being mounted to a vertically slideable block (51) slideable on rails (53) and moveable by pulley (55) driven by stepper motor (52). Thus, spray nozzle (50) may be adjusted in height and may be directed at a variety of angles and elevations towards either one of mandrels (16). Since the side of boot (12) which is exposed to the spray of treating solution ( 24 ) may be chosen as mandrels (16) are rotated, by selecting a series of movements of mandrels (16) and of spray means (22), a smooth and even application of treating solution (24) may be applied to boots (12). As shown in Figures 4 and 5, each pigment solution reservoir (96) is provided with a stirring motor (100) and a pair of tubes (97) and (98) for recirculating the treating solution contained within reservoir (96). The tube (97) is connected to an inlet of a circulation pump (93) which has a number of rollers (94) rotating on a wheel (95) which pinch and circulate the treating solution in tube (92) in a direction from tube (97) to tube (98). The recirculation pump (93) is provided with a plurality of tubes (92) r one for each treating solution reservoir (96). In this way, the treating solution contained in reservoir (96) can be adequately mixed prior to usage by spray means (22). Since spray nozzle (50) is an air gun or an air brush, it is very important that when treating solution (96) contains suspended particulate matter, that the treating solution be thoroughly mixed and contained no precipitated solid matter which may block nozzle (50) or leave deposits in the supply tubing. Therefore the pigment treating solutions held in reservoirs (96) are circulated by pump (93) for 5 minutes every 15 minutes continuously. Motors (100) turn impellers to mix any one container (96) for about three minutes before using the pigment treating solution. From each reservoir (96) a tube (99) is fed to treating solution selection means (60) which comprises a solenoid valve for selecting one of the treating solutions coming from one of the reservoirs (96) in such a manner as shown in Figure 5 in which a particular tube (99w) is at one end of the row of solenoid valves. Tube (99w) contains water or a thinner cleaning solution for flushing out any dye or pigment solution contained in the output tube (99x). The output tube (99x) is then fed to pump (64) before leading to nozzle (50). The compressed air to be fed in at tube (57) of nozzle (50) is supplied by air compressor (102) shown in Figure 1. The tubes (99a) to (99c) represent a plurality of different treating solution supplies to be connected to manifold (68) as desired. The treating solution can be a pigment solution contained in one of the containers (96) or a top-coat solution contained in a larger container not shown. In general, the treating solutions are stored on three shelves in an end compartment of housing (14) where an end access door (not shown in Figure 1) allows access to refill all containers. " Pigment treating solution containers (96) can be mounted on roll-out shelves to facilitate refilling. On a third shelf (not shown) at the same level as pump (93), primer solution, top-coat solutions and bactericide solutions are contained in larger containers. Based on the number of operations carried out, the control system estimates when refilling is required and will direct the operator to attend to the refill. An access door closed switch may also be used to inform the control system that the maintenance has been done. A key lock may also be used to lock the end access door, so that only the operator carries out maintenance. In general, the apparatus 10 offers two cycles for treating boots (12). The first cycle is merely a preparation cycle which consists of a long cleaning cycle in the brush station (32) spraying plenty of water (77) and about half as much cleaning solution (76) in order to clean off excess soil or calcium from boots (12), and then the mandrel (16) returns to spray station (34) where the boots may be removed from apparatus (10) for a prolonged drying outside the apparatus (10) while the apparatus (10) may be used for other purposes. The second cycle of apparatus (10) includes a brief cleaning stage in brush station (32) using a small quantity of primer solution (76) in order simply to prepare the exterior surface of boots (12) by removing dirt and the action of the primer solution on the boots (12). The mandrels (16) are then returned into spray station (34) where one of three treating cycles is carried out. In a first treating cycle, one of three top coat solutions, namely a gloss, semi-gloss or mat top coat solution, is applied evenly over the exterior surface of boots (12) by selecting the solution using selecting means (60) and spraying it over boot (12) using spray means (22). In a second treating solution cycle, a coloured pigment treating solution selected by selecting means (60) from one of the treating solution reservoirs (96) having a colour chosen by an operator of apparatus (10) to be a match to the colour of boots (12) is sprayed in a single coat over the exterior surface of boots (12). During the spray process, exhaust fan (70) is used to draw air from station (34) through carbon filter (72) so that toxic paint fumes do not contaminate the environment surrounding apparatus (10). Dryer fans (74) are then used to direct a stream of drying air onto boots (12) while mandrel (16) may be rotated to more evenly dry the colour treating solution applied to boots (12) . The second treating cycle is finished by applying a top coat solution to boots (12) in order to protect the colour treating solution applied, and then further drying time is allowed before removing boots (12) from apparatus (10). Of course, fan (74) does not operate while jet means (22) spray treating solution (24), since the fine mist (24) would be affected by the air current created by fan (24) . In a third treating cycle of the spray station (34), the same procedure as in the second treating cycle is carried out, except that two or more coats of the colour pigment treating solution are applied in the case that a change of color of shoes is desired. Figure 8 shows the disinfecting spray gun (120) which is used manually by the operator before placing the boots (12) on the mandrels (16) to kill germs inside the boots (12) and reduce odor. The gun (120) has a wall hook (121) for attaching the gun (120) to an inside wall of chamber (34 ) . A bactericide solution named "Sanitized" is fed through tube (122) and compressed air is fed through tube (123). A push button air valve (124) is used to start and stop the spraying. A spray nozzle ( 125 ) is mounted at the end of a metal flexible tube (126) to allow the nozzle (125) to be inserted into anay size or shape of boots (12). When mounting hook (121) is connected to a side wall of chamber (34), a switch (not shown) is activated to indicate that the gun (120) is mounted or dismounted. Preferably, the control system will require that the gun (120) be dismounted and remounted before commencing any other cleaning or treating operations, so that sanitary conditions are encouraged. With reference to Figure 7, the electronic control system for controlling apparatus (10) will be described. The control system is divided into a first part consisting of the display and command input controller and a second part consisting of the motor and solenoid control system. The purpose of the display and command input controller is to interface between the operator and the motor and solenoid control system. The motor and solenoid control system controls the various electromechanical components of apparatus (10) in order to carry out the series of operational steps required to treat the pair of boots (12). The display and command input controller is linked to a keyboard pad for inputting the various parameters concerning the operational cycles of apparatus (10). A small LCD display screen is provided in order to prompt the operator for the various keyboard inputs and to inform the operator of the status of apparatus (10). An EEPROM memory for recording statistics concerning the history of operation of apparatus (10) is provided which is connected to the display and command input controller. The display and command input controller is also connected to a serial port for transmitting data by direct bus connection or by modem to another computer system for allowing diagnostic service communication to be communicated between a main computer and the display and command input controller of apparatus (10) , and also for down loading the statistical data concerning apparatus (10) to the main computer. The majority of the electronic components shown in Figure 7 are to be housed in housing (14) adjacent the brush motor (78) in a special compartment provided in the upper corner of apparatus (10). A rear door not shown in the figures provided with a key lock is to open access to the rear of apparatus (10) in order to gain access to the electronic components as well as brush station (32). A sensor detecting the open state of the rear service store is directly connected to the display and command input controller in order that apparatus (10 ) may be shut down if the rear door is opened during operation. The motor and solenoid control system includes its own microprocessor and program memory for controlling and coordinating the movements of the various components of apparatus (10). The control system controls the positioning of mandrel (16) by controlling the carrriage motor (90), as well as the right and left mandrel motors (82) independently. Using optoelectric rotations sensors, movement of the right and left mandrels (16) is sensed by the right and left mandrel rotation sensors and the information obtained is used to determine the position and speed of mandrels (16) . A further optoelectric rotation sensor is coupled to feed screw (84) for determining the rotation of the feed screw (24) and thus the speed and position of positioning means (20). Since the sensors used detect movement rather than position, an initial position is determined for positioning means (20) using the track start limit switch sensor, and in the case of the mandrels (16), the motors (82) are merely rotated in one direction until each mandrel (16) comes against a stop at which point a zero position is established. Thus, in an initialization, the carriage of positioning means (20) is moved towards one end of the track by rotating feed screw (84) until the track start limit switch is activated, and mandrels (16) are rotated in one direction until they reach a stop, and then the control system calculates the position of mandrel (16) and positioning means (20) as a result of subsequent motion detected by the optoelectric motion sensors. The control system is able to control the position of spray means (22) by controlling stepper motors x, y and z and an initial position of the stepper motors x and y for controlling the sideways and -up and down motion of nozzle (50) is determined merely by initially rotating the x and y stepper motors until they reach a limit stop in one direction, and for the vertical motion of stepper motor z, a limit switch for detecting the position of mounting (51) at the base of rails (53) is provided. The motor and solenoid control system also controls a number of non-positioning motors such as the vacuum motor (42) for mandrels (16), the brush motor (78) for driving brushes (70), (72) and (74), the treating solution mixer motors (100), the dye circulation pump (93), the treating solution pump (64), the exhaust fan (70) and the dryer fans (74). The control system also activates the solenoid valves for the nozzle (50), the treating solution selector valves and the water valve for washing boots (12) in brush station (32). A number of relays are also controlled by the control system, such as the relay for cutting power to the 12-volt power supply and the relay for cutting power to the 24-volt power supply, as well as for cutting power to the air compressor. The control system cuts power to the DC power supplies and the air compressor when apparatus (10) is not in use. When apparatus (10) is in use, the door lock mechanism (17) which includes an electromechanical locking mechanism is activated by the control system to lock the spray chamber (34) access door (not shown) . In the case of a power failure, two 12-volt batteries from which power is taken in parallel and in series to obtain a 12-volt and a 24-volt power supply, is used in order to safely shut down the system by returning positioning means (20) to the start position in spray station (34) with the mandrels pointing forward in their original position, and spray means (22) is flushed out with water and returned to its original position at which time the door lock mechanism (17) is opened in order to allow the operator to remove the boots (12) from mandrels (16). The battery back up power supply is also used at this point to operate vacuum motor "(42) to allow removal of boots (12) from mandrels (16). During this process, batteries (12) supply the required power to the electronics of the display and command input as well as the motor and solenoid control system. Circulation motors (93) and (100) are also operated as required during a power failure using the battery power.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for cleaning and treating a boot or shoe comprising a housing, a boot or shoe holding mandrel located inside the housing, brush means for cleaning an exterior surface of the boot or shoe held by the mandrel, positioning means for moving and positioning the brush means with respect to the mandrel, and treating solution jet means for spraying a jet of treating solution over at least a part of the exterior surface of the boot or shoe held by the mandrel, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises separation means for isolating the jet of treating solution from the brush means. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the mandrel is displaceable between a brush station and a spray station, and in that the separation means include a door between the brush station and the spray station. 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the mandrel is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to a sole of the boot or shoe. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the apparatus comprises two said mandrels for holding a pair of boots or shoes, and in that said mandrels are independently rotatable about said axis. 5. Apparatus as claimed in claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the mandrel comprises a resilient permeable foam portion shaped to fill the boot or shoe, the foam portion being enveloped in a flexible airtight bag, and in that the apparatus further comprises vacuum means in communication with the foam portion of the mandrel, the vacuum means being able to expose the foam portion to either ambient pressure or a negative pressure in order to allow for expansion and contraction of the foam portion and thus the mandrel. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the treating solution jet means include a jet nozzle moveable by nozzle motor means along a first vertical axis. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said nozzle is rotatable about a horizontal axis in order to adjust a direction of the jet of treating solution at an angle upwards or downwards. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the apparatus comprises two said mandrels each of which is independently rotatable about its axis substantially perpendicular to the sole of the boot or shoe, and in that the jet means comprise a single nozzle positioned equidistantly from said mandrels, and the nozzle is pivotable about a second vertical axis, such that the nozzle may be positioned at any angle towards the mandrels as the nozzle motor means directs the nozzle while each mandrel is turned to expose a side of the boot or shoe which is to receive the jet of treating solution. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the treating solution jet means include a plurality of treating- solution reservoirs, means to selectively draw treating solution from one of said treating solution reservoirs, and circulation means for circulating the treating solution contained in the treating solution reservoirs. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the treating solution jet means include purge means for cleaning the nozzle and a supply conduit to the nozzle with a cleaning solution. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the brush means include a rotatable sole brush member, a rotatable side brush member, and a rotatable front brush member. 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the apparatus comprises two said mandrels positioned side by side such that said sole brush member simultaneously cleans the soles of the boots or shoes held by the mandrels, the side brush member cleans a side part of the boots or shoes held by the mandrels, and the front brush member cleans a forward side of the boots or shoes, whereby by rotating the mandrels, the side brush member cleans both sides and a rear of the boots or shoes. 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12 characterized in that said apparatus further comprises water spraying means for spraying water on the brush means on said boot or shoe to improve cleaning thereof. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the mandrel is mounted on a rail, and in that said door is biased closed and open by the mandrel as it passes through said door. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises air dryer means for drying the boot or shoe in the spray station. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the treating solution is a colour pigment solution. 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that the treating solution is a top coat solution. 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12, characterized in that cleaning solution spray means are provided to prepare the boot or shoe to receive the treating solution. 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a bactericide spray gun for disinfecting an inside of the boot or shoe.

Inventors: BOUCHARD MARC, GILBERT ANNE, GILBERT FREDERIC, GILBERT MICHEL, ISABELLE PAUL, JACQUES MARC, LEMAY DANIEL, LESAGE STEPHANE, MORISSET LOUIS, PAQUET GHYSLAIN, ROBICHAUD NORMAND, ROY JEAN, BOUCHARD, MARC, GILBERT, ANNE, GILBERT, FREDERIC, GILBERT, MICHEL, ISABELLE, PAUL, JACQUES, MARC, LEMAY, DANIEL, LESAGE, STEPHANE, MORISSET, LOUIS, PAQUET, GHYSLAIN, ROBICHAUD, NORMAND, ROY, JEAN
Applicants: INTERAL MARKETING INC, INTERAL MARKETING INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A47L23
IPC codes: A47L23