Improvements in Machines for Burnishing Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 28th June, 1887,
[Communicated from abroad by ЕMMONS M. PARKHURST, of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
Improvements in Machines for Burnishing Boots and Shoes.
1, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 has reference to a burnishing machine for boots and shoes, and
consists in certain improvements, all of which are fully set forth in the following
specification and shewn in the accompanying drawing which form part thereof.
One object of my said invention is to provide a suitable construction of adjustable
crank for reciprocating the burnisher, by which the length of its reciprocation may
be adjusted to suit boots and shoes of different sizes, whereby the extent of reciproca-
tion of the burnisher may be in exact accordance with the requirements. This enables
a greater quantity of work to be done on the same machine, as in the case of burnishing
ladies' or children's shoes the length of the reciprocation would be shorter and a
greater number of said reciprocations of the burnisher may be had per minute than
when a longer throw of the crank is used as in burnishing men's boots and shoes.
Another object is to provide a burnisher machine, such as herein set forth with a
burnisher secured to its reciprocating frame or carrier by an elastic connection to
admit of lateral vibration, adapting itself to irregularities in the surface to be polished
or burnished. My object is also to provide a machine of this class with a fixed support
which is preferably made adjustable against which the shoe may be held by the
operator and thus remain stationary with reference to the reciprocating burnisher.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a burnisher machine embodying my invention
on line x, x.
Figure 2 is a plan view of same; and
Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation shewing the elastic connection between the
hurnisher and its actuating or reciprocating frame.

page_text: A is the frame of the machine. B is the crank shaft and is journalled therein at b.
C is the band wheel secured to said shaft, and D is the crank head. This crank head
is provided with a face plate clamped to it by screws e. The said plate face is
provided with a dovetail circular recess or hole E arranged excentrically with reference
to the shaft B. F is a crank pin support and is shaped like a frustum of a cone and
is made to fit into the dovetail or conical hole E of the face plate. The crank pin f is
secured to its support F to one side of the centre thereof as shewn It is evident from
this construction that if we loosen the screws e that the plate F may be revolved
changing the distance of the crank pin support F with reference to the centre of the
crank D whereby the throw of the crank may be adjusted from nothing to the full
throw and after being adjusted the tightening of the screws e will securely clamp the
plate F against any further tendency of movement. The crank pin f works in a
vertically reciprocating bearing G which reciprocates in a tubular bearing g in a cross
head U of the reciprocating burnisher shaft H, which shaft is adapted to reciprocate
in guides h secured to the frame of the machine. I do not limit myself to the
particular form of crank bearing shewn, though it is preferable perhaps, to all others
as one which is easily kept lubricated and is less liable to wear and thump.
Secured upon the end of the shaft H is a burnisher frame I, to which the burnisher K
is attached. The burnisher frame is provided with guides Q on its side and preferaby
over the connections with the burnisher. These guides Q work against the anti-
friction rollers P journalled on stationary bearing secured to the brackets J; which
brackets are bolted to the main frame of the machine. As the burnisher is recipro-
cated, the upward thrust due to the pressure of the shoe or boot is received by the
rollers and prevented from coming upon the guide shaft G, preventing it wearing
upon its bearing and binding. Ŕ is a gas pipe from which a gas jet burns; the
flame projecting towards the rear or enlarged part of the burnisher to keep it at a
uniform temperature.
The rollers P may be adjusted by the connection p. The burnisher K is made
V-shaped as shewn, but it may be of any shape desired; the particular construction
thereof being immaterial to this invention. It is secured to the burnisher frame I by
an elastic connection (see Figure 3). The burnisher is provided with end journals k
which fit into tubular bearings L placed within a rubber cylinder M. This rubber
cylinder is carried by the burnisher frame I. This burnisher is provided with exten-
sions or shoes N, which rest flat upon the spring guides O, which guides are attached
to the burnisher frame I and are carried with the reciprocation of the burnisher.
It is seen from this construction that if the burnisher nose be thrust upward the
extensions N will act as cams upon the springs O, allowing the burnisher to follow all
inequalities in the surface to be burnished. This connection while practically rigid,
under normal conditions, nevertheless admits of sufficient vibration to the burnisher to
compensate for all such inequalities in the surface to be burnished and the elastic
cylinder M also facilitates this action, and relieves the end thrust of the burnisher.
S is a guide against which the shoe may be held and whereby it is supported
against lateral movement while being acted upon by the reciprocating burnisher.
This guide S is made adjustable vertically upon the supports T by a bolt and slot
connections and these supports are adjustable longitudinally at t upon the frame of
the machine. By this means guide S may be adjusted vertically or longitudinally
with reference to the burnisher to suit various kinds of work.
While I prefer the construction shewn, I do not limit myself to the details thereof
as they may be modified in various ways without departing from my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a shoe burnishing machine, a rotary crank head, a crank pin therefor,
a plate adjustable about a fixed centre carrying said crank pin and means to clamp
said plate to the crank head in combination with a reciprocating burnisher and

page_text: connecting mechanism substantially as described, between said crank pin and
burnisher, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a shoe burnishing machine a rotary crank head, a crank pin therefor,
a support for said crank pin having a fixed centre excentric to the centre of the crank
head a distance substantially equal to the distance between the centre of the crank pin
support and crank pin to admit of adjustment to bring the crank pin approximately
over the crank head centre, and means to clamp the support in the position of
adjustment, a reciprocating burnisher and connecting mechanism substantially as
described, between said crank pin and burnisher, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Third. In a shoe burnishing machine the combination of the reciprocating burnisher
with the adjustable crank consisting of crank head D clamping face plate d screws e,
crank pin support F and its pin f, and connecting mechanism, substantially as
described between the crank-pin and burnisher substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Fourth. In a shoe burnishing machine, the combination of the reciprocating
burnisher with the adjustable crank consisting of crank head D clamping face plate d,
screws e, crank pin support F and its pin f, shaft H, having cross head U sliding
box G therein and connecting mechanism, substantially as described, between the
shaft H and burnisher, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a shoe burnishing machine, the combination of the crank, the recipro-
cating burnisher frame, connecting with said crank, the burnisher carried by said
frame and an elastic connection between said frame and burnisher, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In a shoe burnishing machine, the combination of the crank, the recipro-
cating burnisher frame, connecting with said crank; the burnisher carried by said
frame and having a shoe N, an elastic connection, between said frame and burnisher,
consisting of the elastic cushions M between the burnisher frame and burnisher, and
springs O, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Seventh. In a shoe burnishing machine, the burnisher frame I, having guide
faces Q in connection with burnisher K, and rollers P, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Eighth. In a shoc-burnishing machine, the burnisher frame I, having guide faces Q
in combination with burnisher K, rollers P, guide rod H and crank D having pin f,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. In a shoe burnishing machine, the burnisher frame I, having guide faces Q
in combination with burnisher K, rollers P guide rods H, and the adjustable crank to
reciprocate said rod H, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of May 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.