Year: 1886

page_text: I, LEVIN THOMAS JONES, of Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America,
gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is. to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to a machine for brushing boots and shoes, and is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a top view of the machine.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line x-x, looking toward the rear part of
the machine.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine.
Figure 4 is an end view of the front part of the reciprocating carriage, and an
elevation of the guiding standard.
The letter A designates a frame having two sides, and B the foot-block located
between the two sides. The foot-block has at the heel-end two upward-projecting
flanges, a, one at each side; the inner faces of these flanges are straight, and each
has a lateral inclination toward the other, or in other words one flange extends in
a line at an angle with respect to the other, whereby when the heel of the shoe is
drawn back between them they will serve to center the heel. A pointed prong, b,
projects up from the center of the sole part of the foot-block and when the heel
has been centered the sole of the shoe becomes fixed on the said prong thus the
heel-flanges and prong both center and hold the foot steadily on the foot-block.
The stand, G, has two parallel slots, c, and a slide-rod d, is suitably secured to
the stand above each slot, each side of the frame A is fitted to slide freely on one
of these rods, so that the frame has a horizontal reciprocating movement. All the
brushes are carried by the frame.
The front brush serves to polish both shoe-toe, top, and instep; this result is
obtained by attaching two horizontal arms, e, to the block C of the front brush;
constructing the frame A so that its front part, f, will project forward far enough

page_text: to allow the said arms, e, which are pivoted thereto at ¹, to drop in front of the
foot-block B. The block C of this toe-brush, see Figures 3 and 4, has a straight
central part, which forms the top or back of the brush, and at each end thereof is
a downward-projecting part, el, at an angle with respect to the straight central
part; the said angular projecting part c¹ at each end serves as a lateral support to
the bristles on the central part. To facilitate the polishing properties of the front
brush, C, the bristles are so cut on each side that they gradually lengthen until the
center is reached, my object being to have the ends instead of the sides of the.
bristles, touch the shoe. It will be seen that if the bristles were of uniform length,
the sides would do the polishing. The bristles are so cut that only the ends of the
brush will touch the shoe, the ends of the front half touching when the brush
moves up the shoe, and the ends of the rear half when the brush moves down the
shoe. By this construction and arrangement of parts the one front brush has the
requisite movement to brush the shoe-toe, the top of the shoe, and the instep.
A spiral spring, g, has one end attached to the forward-projecting part below the
brush-arm pivot, and the other end to the brush, and serves to press the brushes
down on the shoe. A standard, h, is fixed rigidly to the stand and its upper
part, h, has position above the forepart of the reciprocating frame, so that the
frame moves below it; a chain, i, has one end attached to the upper part of the
standard and the other end to the front brush C. As the frame A reciprocates
the lower end of the chain has a swinging movement. When the frame moves
forward the front brush C, passes from the instep down the shoe and drops in
front of the toe; then upon the frame moving back the standard, h, and chain, i,
as a device, serve to lift the front brush upon the toe, and this device continues to
lift it as it passes up the high part of the instep. Some kind of a lift device to
raise the front brush is necessary. In the present instance the standard and chain
is employed for this purpose, but it is obvious other lift devices might be used.
1
The two side brushes D, are each pivoted or hinged at k, to a slotted bar l;
these brushes swing in a horizontal plane; the slotted bar is made fast to the
frame-side by a set-screw, 'm, whereby the brush is capable of adjustment toward
or away from the shoe; a spring, n, serves to keep the brush pressed toward the
foot, while a chain, o, having one end attached to the reciprocating frame and the
other end to a brush, limits the movement of the brush in that direction. The
chain, o, acts as a "stop."
The two shank-brushes, E, polish the hollow part of the shoe at each side; these
brushes are pivoted or hinged, and provided with springs substantially as the side
brushes, except they swing in a vertical plane.
The two heel-brushes, F F', have a position with respect to each other different
from any that have heretofore been used, and this difference produces a useful
result.
•
One heel-brush F1 hinged to one side of the frame, is at the rear of the other
heel-brush, F, hinged to the opposite side of the frame, and in a normal position
the bristles of each brush project across a longitudinal line, p, drawn through the
center of the foot-block. Each heel-brush has a spring, n, and a chain, o, same as
the side brushes, and for the same purpose. As the reciprocating frame moves
forward the first heel-brush F, takes effect on the greater part of the rear of the
shoe-heel, and as soon as the first brush passes from the rear to one side of the
heel, the second brush F, takes effect like-wise on the greater part of the rear and
opposite side; thus the two brushes together by reason of their position are capable
of thoroughly polishing the rear of the shoe-heel. When the frame moves back
the operation of the heel-brushes is reversed, and the frame has a back movement
sufficiently far to allow both heel-brushes to entirely clear the shoe-heel,-thus
permitting the bristles on these brushes to assume the normal position. Some
advantage is also derived from the peculiar construction of these brushes; each
brush has at the outer part a row, q, of bristles, and adjoining them is an inner

page_text: row, T, OI snorter and stiuer bristles. by this construction the requisite sweep or
the bristles on the shoo-heel is obtained.
In the present instance the position of the two brushes one at the rear of the
other, is brought about by hinging them to the frame at varying distances from
the rear end. But it is obvious this may be brought about if the two brushes are
hinged to the frame at the same distance from the rear end, by making the brush
for the rear with a longer shank than the other.
Each side of the frame has two bars, 8, that pass down through the slot, c; and
In cross bar, t, below the stand connects the bar, 8, at one side with those at the
other side. A shaft, u, carries a crank, u¹, and a pitman rod, V, connects the
crank, with the cross-bar t; the shaft also has a pulley, w, and a larger
pulley, w, is mounted on a standard, a, and has a crank-handle within convenient
reach of the operator who has his foot on the foot-block. A drive cord,' w³,
connects the pulleys w³ and w.
From the foregoing description the operation of the machine will be readily
understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. A shoe-brushing machine having its brushes hinged to a reciprocating
frame, and each brush provided with a spring to press the brush against the foot,
substantially as set forth.
2nd. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame;
brushes hinged or pivoted to the frame; a spring to press each brush to the shoe;
and a chain or equivalent "stop-device" to limit the movement of each brush, a's
set forth.
°
3rd. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame; a
front brush C provided with horizontal arms, e, which are pivoted to the forward
part of the frame; and a lift device substantially as described connected with the
brush, as set forth.
4th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame; a
front brush C provided with horizontal arms, e, which are pivoted to the forward
part of the frame; a spring to press the brush on the shoe; and a lift device
substantially as described connected with the brush, as set forth.
5th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame; a
front brush C provided with horizontal arms, e, which are pivoted to the forward
part of the frame; a standard fixed to the stand; and a chain connecting the
brush with the standard, as set forth.
6th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame; a
front brush C provided with horizontal arms, e, which are pivoted to the forward
part of the frame; a spring to press the brush on the shoe; a standard fixed to the
stand; and a chain connecting the brush with the standard, as set forth.
7th. A. shoe-brushing machine having in combination a two-side reciprocating
frame; a heel-brush hinged to one side of the frame and projecting across a longi-
tudinal line centered between the frame-sides; and a heel-brush hinged to the
opposite side of the frame, projecting across the said center line and having position
at the rear of the other heel-brush, as set forth.
8th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a two-side reciprocating
frame; two heel-brushes one hinged to each side of the frame and one at the rear
of the other, and both overlapping a longitudinal line centered between the frame-
sides; and a spring and stop-device to control each brush, as set forth.
9th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame; &
heel-brush hinged to each side to swing in a horizontal plane; and each brush
provided with an outer row, q, of bristles, and an inner row r shorter and stiffer,
as set forth.

page_text: 10th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame;
and a,toe-brush C, the block of which has a straight central part, and at each end
a downward-projecting part at an angle with respect to the central part, as set
forth.
11th. A shoe-brushing machine having in combination, a reciprocating frame; 5
and a toe-brush C provided with bristles which on the side are of graduated
length, whereby the ends of the bristles instead of the sides touch the shoe, as
set forth.