Patent GB-190728728-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Boot and Shoe Polishing Machines.
Filed: 1907-12-31
Granted: 1908-09-17
Abstract: 28,728. Marks, E. C. R., [Seadler, B. F.]. Dec. 31. Boots &c., cleaning &c.-In a coin-freed boot and shoe cleaning and polishing machine, sets of rotating brushes carried on endless chains pass along the sides of the boots, and another similarly-mounted set for cleaning the toe portions moves in a path transverse to the boots. The machine is operated by a motor started by the fall of a coin, released when the user takes his seat, means being provided for preventing the release of the coin unless the sitter's weight is above a certain amount. The seat and footrests are raised or lowered by the motor, and the rests pass into and out of the casing through an aperture normally closed by horizontally sliding shutters, which are automatically withdrawn by the descent of the seat. As shown in sectional plan and elevation in Figs. 1 and 2, the sides of each boot are acted upon by pairs of brushes 9, 10, 11, 12, which remove dust, apply the polishing-medium, polish, and finish the boot, respectively, and are mounted equidistantly on an endless chain 24 running in quadrangular guides 27 and driven by a motor 8 through a shaft 58, pin-wheel 59, and sprocket-wheel 61. The brush spindles 14 are drawn towards the boots by means of springs 16, Fig. 3, and are connected by flexible shafts 45 with spindles 44 mounted radially in cylindrical casings 42, loosely carried on a shaft 40 and rotated synchronously with the chains 24. Each spindle 14 is provided with a fast friction disk 46, which, by the engagement of a loose roller 47 on the spindle with a flange 48, is thrust against a disk 43 fixed on the shaft 40, rotated by the motor through a shaft 51 and bevelgearing 50, 49. The brushes thus receive a rapid rotary motion while in contact with the boots. The toe-cleaning brushes, three of which are shown, namely 17, 18, 20, are similarly mounted and rotated, and are formed with flange portions 21, 22. The polishing and finishing brushes, one of which 20 is shown, are composed of disks of cloth &c. threaded on the brush spindle and concentrically stitched near their edges to form a napped surface. In order to prevent interference between the side-cleaning and toecleaning brushes, the latter are automatically retracted during certain portions of their travel. This is effected by mounting each brush on a spring-influenced rod 33 working in a recess in a link 29 of the carrier chain 30, Fig. 8, the position of the brush being regulated by the engagement of a roller 34 on the rod with a flange 35, shaped as shown in Fig. 1. A shaft 90, rotated through shafts 58, 68, carries cams 91, 92, controlling clutches 86, 87, respectively. The cams are shaped so as to throw the clutches into and out of action alternately, and four times in all during the complete operation. Sliding columns 6 support the seat 4 through the medium of springs 7, Fig. 5, of a predetermined strength, and. are raised and lowered by means of a cam-plate 102, in the groove of which works a roller carried by a brace 104 secured to the columns. The cam-plate is mounted on a shaft rotated by the motor through shafts 58, 68, a clutch 119, and sprocket gearing 99, 101, the clutch being controlled by a cam-disk 93 on the shaft 90. The horizontally sliding shutters 2 are connected together by a cord 116, which has a sprocket-chain portion 118, and passes over guide-pulleys 113, 114, 115, 117 and a sprocket-wheel 106 fixed to the rockshaft 105. When the seat and columns descend, a web 98 on one of the columns bears down an arm 111 attached to a pivoted toothed sector 110 engaging a pinion on the shaft 105 ; the sprocketwheel 106 is thereby rotated and draws back the shutters to admit the foot-rests 3 carried by the columns 6. On the return movement of the columns, a pin 112 raises the arm 111 and the shutters are again closed. To start the machine, a coin or token is inserted at 126, Fig. 6, in the tube 125 fixed to the seat, and is prevented from falling by a spring- pressed lever 127. If the user's weight is sufficient to overcome the springs 7, the tube 125 is depressed and forces aside the lever 127. The coin then falls down the shoot 123 and strikes the arm of a balanced lever 124 operating the switch of the motor. The seat and foot-rests then descend, the shutters open, and when the parts are in position for the cleaning operation to begin, the clutch 119 is disengaged and clutches 86, 87 are thrown into action. At the end of the cleaning operation, the clutches are reversely actuated, the seat rises, the shutters close, and the motor is switched off.