Improvements in Expanding Buffs for Holding Sandpaper and other Rings, as Used in Finishing the Soles and Heels of Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 6th July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Expanding Buffs for Holding Sandpaper and
other Rings, as Used in Finishing the Soles and Heels of Boots
and Shoes.
I, JOHN ROBINSON, of Kingswood, in the County of Gloucester, Mechanical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in expanding buffs or circular discs, the
edges of which form a surface for the reception of convex strips or bands of sandpaper
used in buffing the soles and heels of boots and shoes; and has for its object to provide
a more suitable surface on the edge of the disc, and also to provide means for the
regular expansion of the surface, so as to keep the sandpaper strip or band free from
folds or creases.
Most of the discs used as a base for the sandpaper rings are made of stout rubber
rings compressed at the inner circumference to form a convex outer surface on which
the sandpaper rings are placed, the result being that the rubber is heated by the
friction of the sandpaper against its work, and soon becomes hard and rigid,
consequently the paper rests upon an unyielding surface, and quickly scorches the
edges of the leather. To remedy this, I cover the rubber ring with an outer ring of
thick felt, which forms a more elastic surface for the sandpaper, and absorbs the heat
generated by the friction of the paper.
The rubber ring and the outer felt ring are expanded in either of the following
ways-(1.) By placing a couple of discs on the central spindle, with a circular boss
also on the spindle, the faces of the discs are slightly bevelled, to form with the boss
an annular recess, narrower at the bottom than the top; a rubber ring, increasing in
thickness towards the centre, is placed over the boss, and by pressing the two discs
together, the outer edge of the rubber ring is-pushed up into a convex surface, and
with it the felt covering; in this manner the felt will be expanded to fit tightly
within the concave side of the sandpaper ring, which has been made of the required
size by joining together the two ends of a strip cut the right length; (2.) By putting
a concentric helical spring around the spindle between two flat discs, and a thimble
with a conical end also surrounding the spindle, the rubber ring and the outer felt
are placed over the helical spring, and then by forcing the taper edge of the thimble
by a screw along the spindle under the spring, the circumference of the latter is
extended and the rubber and felt expanded to the required size to fit the sandpaper
or other ring.
A detachable rim is fastened to one of the discs, as used in either of the described
methods of expansion, to serve as a guide for insertion in the welt of the boot, so that
the edge of the sole can be buffed without danger to the upper.
With an expanding buff as described, the sandpaper rings will fit more smoothly on
the discs, and can be made much more convex in form, so that the hollow edges of
"French" heels can be buffed; and the surface on which they rest being of a more
resilient nature, the rings will last much longer, not being liable to the scorching
which they get when used according to the present methods of making expanding
buffs.
This 4th don of T1, 1908

page_text: Improvements in Expanding Buffs for Holding Sandpaper and
other Rings, as Used in Finishing the Soles and Heels of Boots
and Shoes.
I, JOHN ROBINSON, of Kingswood, in the County of Gloucester, Mechanical Engineer,
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 improvements in expanding buffs or circular discs, the
edges of which form a surface for the reception of strips or rings or sandpaper and
other material used in finishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes, these strips
being joined in an endless band, and made slightly convex either before putting on
the disc, or curved as the material is expanded by the action of the mechanical
contrivances herein described after it has been put around the disc, the said
contrivances improving the surface and expanding it so as to keep the material quite
free from folds or creases.
My invention consists in providing means for uniformly expanding the surface of
the disc, and in covering the rubber with an endless band of felt, cotton-wick, or other
textile material so as to form a bed the exact size and shape required to support the
band of sandpaper, or to serve as a waxing pad on which wax, heel-ball, or similar
material is placed for polishing and finishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes.
The means employed for expanding the surface of the disc will be fully described
in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1' is a section
of a disc ready for expansion by a cone forced within the inner edge of an endless
helical spring, adjusted to its place by a screw on the outside; and Fig. 2 is a
section of a disc where the edges of the rubber band are forced up by the face of a
second disc, so as to form a convex surface by compression; and Fig. 3 is a sketch on
a reduced scale, showing how two or more helical springs may be placed side by side,
to form a wide surface for buffing or polishing the soles, where the polishing or buffing
band is required to be nearly flat.
A is the driving spindle (actuated by power) on which the body of the disc B is
placed, the sleeve being extended as shown and the end screw-threaded to receive a
nut C, by which the compression is made; in fig. 1 an endless helical spring D is
placed against the back around the sleeve, and a cone thimble E is placed over the sleeve,
with the apex inserted within the helical spring, a collar F which bears against the
flange of the thimble, has a disc at its outer edge and is fastened to the back to form
an annular channel, in which the rubber band R, surrounded by the textile band S,
is placed; as the cone thimble is forced within the spring, the surface of the latter is
enlarged, and the pressure of the spring against the rubber band expands it and the
textile band, as shown by dotted lines, and forms a smooth surface, either as a waxing
pad or as a base for the sandpaper cover; in Fig. 2 the outer rim of the body has a
bearing on which the bands lie flat until expanded; an outer disc G is placed on the
sleeve of the body, and its face pressed against the bands by the nut C, which forces
them into the position shown by dotted lines, to form a convex surface for waxing or
buffing. In Fig. 3 two helical springs are shown placed over the sleeve, and cone
thimbles E are placed between them, and by the pressure of the nut C against the
cones, the springs are expanded; a steel band is put around the springs and the ends
lapped, this forins a flat broad surface to receive the rubber and felt for polishing or
buffing the soles. At the outer edge of the disc a slight projection B₁ is attached

page_text: when required for use in buffing or waxing the edges of the soles, this projection runs
in the welts of the soles, and forms a guard to protect the disc from causing any
injury to the uppers.
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 :-
1. In a rotating wheel for buffing and polishing the soles and heels of boots and
shoes, the insertion of a helical spring within the rubber and other bands for expanding
their surface and making it convex, substantially as described.
2. In a rotating wheel for finishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes,
expanding the helical spring by one or more cone thimbles, as described and shown.
3. In a rotating wheel for finishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes,
attaching a guide to the periphery of the disc to engage in the welts to prevent
damage to the uppers.
4. The construction of polishing wheels for finishing the soles and heels of boots
and shoes with the expanding and guiding appliances, substantially as and for the
purposes shown and described in the drawings.
Dated thith d... SA 1905
J. G. WESTLAKE,
2, John Street, Bristol, Applicant's Agent.