An Improved Boot-cleaning and Polishing Machine.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Boot-cleaning and Polishing Machine.
1, SIGMUND BONNÉ, of 20, Kaiser Strasse, Nuremberg, in the Kingdom of
Bavaria, and Empire of Germany, Tool Manufacturer, 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:-
The invention herein described is a machine intended to supersede the tedious:
and time-wasting cleaning and blacking of shoes by hand.
The new machine is preferably useful for hotels, hospitals and so on, and may be
made transportable like a small car for street use.
Where motive force is at disposal, as in the case of most hotels, boarding-houses,.
barracks and the like, the machine will be more advantageous, otherwise there may
be provided an arrangement of a treadle or hand movement.
In the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 shows a section of the machine,
Fig. 2 a view, with one brush removed to admit of the construction being seen
and
Fig. 3 a side-elevation with a diagram of the treadle.
The car-arrangement for street use will not differ except in evident details, which
need no description.
Substantially as shown by the figures, the machine, is composed of rotating
brushes, one of which c is destined for cleaning, a second of similar construction
for polishing and the third one a, smaller than the others for applying the
blacking.
Each of the brushes is mounted on a spindle which is arranged to allow a sliding
along in the direction of the spindle, and which spindles form a species of cross.
The said brushes are in action only if wanted and changed in a manner similar
to that of revolving lathes.
For this purpose the following construction is adopted.
P
In the frame formed as required for the different purposes the hollow shaft R is
supported by means of the bearings and 12, and at the end of it is connected a
friction or bevel wheel r.
Between the bearings a pulley S is keyed on the hollow shaft R, for transmitting
the rotation.
In the hollow shaft R an axle W can turn and slide, which supports, at one end,
the said cross with the rotating brushes.
Now as each of the brushes is provided with a friction or bevel wheel a bi
and respectively corresponding to the said bevel-wheel r the transmission of
rotation is effected as soon as the pressure of the boots against the brushes brings
the friction gear into action.
To change the brushes (see Figs. 1 and 2) there is a spring catch F, which may
be of different form. In the figures the spring-catch consists of a disk i, on which
are four projections which engage with hollows in the bearing I, as shown in com-
bination with a spiral spring pressing against the disk i, thus securing its position.
By these means is obtained an easy changing of the brushes, while the brushes are
secured against slipping on the shaft.
The handle d serves for changing the brushes.
As the machine is destined as well for working liquid as paste blacking there is
a special device for applying the liquid blacking.
For this purpose the fourth arm of the cross is bored out and on the arm is
attached a closed vessel e.

page_text: The vessel communicates by means of a small tube f with the brushes as shown
in Fig. 1.
A valve at the top of the vessel admits the necessary air, in order that the
brush may receive the quantity of blacking required.
The action of this machine will be easily understood.
As soon as the pulley S and the hollow shaft R with the bevel wheel is set in
motion, the shoe is pressed firmly against the brush b, which is of a rather rough
texture for cleaning.
By the pressure of the boot on the brush the bevel wheels and are
brought into contact and the friction gear comes into action so that brush 6 is made
to revolve, but no other.
In order that one man be sufficient to work the machine the arrangement of the
parts is so made that the brushes and treadle are on the same side of the machine.
After cleaning follows the operation of applying the blacking and the polishing
of the shoes in a corresponding manner, whereby the handle it brings the brushes
respectively in the required position.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
(1). In a machine for cleaning and polishing shoes, a combination of different
rotating and changing brushes, a common bevel-friction-wheel acting on a corre-
sponding bevel-friction-wheel upon each of the brush-spindles, a catch device for
changing and securing the position of the brushes and an arrangement for applying
the blacking substant ally as described.
(2). The apparatus for cleaning, blacking and polishing boots, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of February 1892.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.