Improvements in and relating to Coin-freed Machines of the Automatic Class.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Coin-freed Machines of the
Automatic Class.
I, JAMES HINES, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, Dumbartonshire, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to coin-freed
machines of the automatic class, and comprises a new or improved machine, or
construction and arrangement and combination of the parts of mechanism, to be
automatically actuated by the weight or action of the person, or by a local motor,
freeing it by the insertion of the coin or coins, so as to brush clean and polish the
boots or shoes of the person standing on the platform of the machine, one or both
feet at a time, and susceptible of various modifications in the construction of the
brushing mechanisin, in accordance with the improvements.
The nature and novelty of the improvements and mechanism consist under one
arrangement characteristic of the general improvements, in forming a shallow
rectangular basement box, or case of metal, preferably close on the bottom and all
the sides with an open space on top in which is mounted a horizontal platform.
This platform would or may be portable and stationary and have a small local
electro-motor or pneumatic hydraulic or gas engine within the box part of the
machine, for actuating the brushing mechanism. The motor may be set on by the
insertion of a coin freeing a lever which would automatically set on the motor, or
the person night actuate the lever to set on the motor against the power of a
spring or weight, which would stop the motor when it had gone a sufficient time
for each operation. Or the platform may reciprocate vertically a few inches or so
up and down within said case in guides or on the free end of an oscillating lever
or levers fulcrunied at its extreme back end, and raised automatically until the
plate reached the upper surface of the box by a chain passed over a pulley with
counterbalanced weight at the free end fitted within a close pillar three feet or so
in height erected over the close back end of the basement box frame, and pressed
down by the greater weight of the person standing on it when freed to do so to
work the whole machinery, all as hereinafter described, rests being fitted on the
side or bottom of the box for stopping the platform in its lowest position, the
platform being locked in its upward position by the power of the counter weight.
In said pillar a vertical hand lever would or may also be mounted on a fulcrum
near the base and back end of the machine, the upper hand end working through a
slot in the top of the pillar, connected by rods, or rods and levers, to actuate
locking bolts under the corners of the platform, by a spring, strong enough for the
purpose acting on the hand lever, operated by the person inserting the coin in the
slit in the pillar, which by light mechanism would free a locking bolt catch on or
engaging into this lever and allow it to be oscillated to unlock the platform, against
the power of a spring which pulled it into the position of locking the platform, the
platform however in rising by its counterbalanced weight, locking its self by acting
on the under curved sides of the locking bolts. This lever would also have a free
arm or other equivalent which would come down and act on the lever frame
carrying the platform and assist the weight of the person to depress the platform
in the act of unlocking it after inserting the coin. The platform would be fitted
with recesses a few inches deep in its central part, with plates for the boots or
shoes of the person to rest in to be cleaned, thus leaving space round the plates and
below the platform for the oscillating or reciprocating brushes to clean the surfaces
of the boots. These recesses would be covered by a raised part in the front end

page_text: over the front and instep of the boots when in position for cleaning, to allow room
for transverse brushes to reciprocate over the instep clear of the recesses.
Under one arrangement horizontal reciprocating brushes would be mounted on
the opposite sides of each boot or shoe, attached to the inside of reciprocating straps
or bands which may be made of leather, chain bands or other equivalent, and which
bands would pass round vertical pulleys, having their spindles niounted some con-
siderable distance in front of and behind the boots. These bands would preferably
be attached to their pulleys, which would be of such a size as only to oscillate a
half turn or so, both simultaneously so that the one set of brushes at the sides of
both boots or shoes, say the right side would be traversing forward, while the
others were traversing backward, and vice versa, when at their extreme ends the
brushes would be clear of the boots or shoes when stopped to allow of the insertion
of the boots or shoes through the holes on the supporting plate below the level of
the motion of the brushes. Another set of transverse reciprocating brushes would
be mounted over the front upper part of the boots or shoes on corresponding edge
straps or bands over vertical rollers mounted quite out beyond clear of the
other straps or bands. These brushes would be shaped to the approximate shape
of the point and upper front part of the boot and instep, each brush reciprocating
to and fro over the front of its respective boot or shoe on the same band. For
brushing the heel part of cach boot, a single horizontal reciprocating brush only
would be required, and this would preferably be mounted on the back free end of a
horizontal lever fulcrumed on a vertical spindle under the front or sole part of
each supporting plate. And the rollers of these bands and levers, with their
brushes would be so connected by straps that they would all be reciprocated by
one connecting rod and lever or segmental wheel from the motor, so that the
brushes would be out of each others way at the extreme end of their stroke. That
is, when the longitudinal acting brush is travelling towards the point of the boot on
the one side, say the right side, the transverse brush, cleaning the point and top of
the boot is passing to the left, and rice versa passing to the right when the longi-
tudinal acting brush is passing forward on the left side, and the same takes place in
relation to the transverse brush acting at the heel. The bands carrying the
brushes would or may be guided in grooves or between antifriction rollers to
cause the bands and other brushes to approximately reciprocate to the curved
surface of the sides of the boots or shoes during their reciprocation. Instead of
mounting the brushes on these reciprocating straps, it is to be understood that
they may be mounted on reciprocating levers, preferably having their fulcrum on
the opposite side of the boot to that on which the brushes act, to get a good sweep
on the surface of the boot or shoe in their reciprocation. Or in some cases these
brushes may be mounted on one or it might be two rotating arms on a vertical
spindle on one or both sides of the boot or shoe, and with single or double sets of
brushes on each arm acting on one or both sides of the boot, the spindles of these
rotating arms being so geared by wheels together from the motor as to rotate in
opposite directions, and so brush the sides of the boot in the reverse directions
alternately. Or instead of mounting these brushes on arms and rotating central
spindles which would pass each other at alternate half or quarter revolutions, the
brushes may be mounted on horizontal disc rings without central spindles with
bands or teeth on their outer circumference, the rings being carried in anti-friction
rollers, and brackets or standards from the lower or upper platform of the frame,
the brushes clearing each other at each half or quarter revolution of the rings. In
any of these arrangements the brushes would preferably be mounted on the bands,
levers, or rings in three sets on a rotating spindle or fixed stud preferably with one
blank side, so that the three brushes would on the starting of their reciprocation
be moved one quarter round at one end of their reciprocation to bring the brush
for cleaning off the dirt first into the plane of its reciprocating action on the boot
for a certain number of reciprocations when the brushes would be oscillated
another quarter round on their spindles and bring the blackening brush into the
plane of its action on the boot for a reciprocation or two, and then again make

page_text: another quarter turn on their spindle and bring the polishing brush into the plane
of its reciprocation on the surface of the boot to act for a considerable time in
polishing the boot, and just before stopping, the brushes would make another turn
on their spindle and bring the blank plane upwards in a line with the boot, so that
the boots or shoes could be removed or inserted without requiring to touch the
brushes should they not be stopped at the extremities of their motion. Instead of
making the three brushes to reciprocate on an axis as described, they might be
fixed in reciprocating slides on plates on the bands or on the ends of the levers,
arms, or ring discs described, and each brush be reciprocated to and from the
surface of the boot as required. Or otherwise a three sided brush may be used
mounted on a spindle on studs projecting from the band or other oscillating or
rotating parts, so as to be turned intermittently a third of a revolution as cach
respective brush was to be brought into action for cleaning, blackening, or polishing,
or a four sided brush with a blank side may be similarly used; and the brushes
may be mounted with springs behind them to yield to the approximate shape of
the boot during their reciprocations. And by a further improvement each
blackening brush during its turning on its centre, or just before being brought
into its reciprocating brushing action at the extreme end of its reciprocation
would get the blackening applied from a vessel of liquid blackening mounted under
it which would have a small hole in a plate on top, through which a small circular
blackening serving roller or brush would be reciprocated up and down by levers
actuated by cams on one of the motion shafts of the gearing, so as to ascend in
front of the boot blackening brushes for a very short time at the carly part of the
motion of the gearing, or just after the brushes had taken the dust off the boot or
shoe, and the hole in the upper part of the blackening vessel would take off all
superfluous blackening, so that serving roller or brush would deliver but a small
portion of blackening on to the blackening or boot brushes at the proper time for
doing so, to give a final polish to the leather surface. Or a cake, pillar, or roller
of paste blackening might be reciprocated up in the path of the blackening brush,
so that it would take a little of it at the first or second reciprocation when a small
jet of water might be thrown on to the blackening or the brush at the time the
brush was taking off the blackening; or in some cases a small jet of liquid
blackening might be applied to the blackening brush at the moment it came into
action. In some cases rotating circular brushes may be arranged on vertical
spindles carried in sliding brackets above the foot plate and below the upper plate
along each side of each boot or shoe, and at the heel, for brushing the surface of
these parts, and have one larger brush on a horizontal spindle rotated over the
front part of the hoot and instep to brush this part. These circular brushes are
brought into action by the person pressing his foot on to the supporting plate,
which would move the brackets carrying the roller brushes by levers or otherwise
in their slides; and they would then be rotated by a driving cord or band wound
alternately in opposite sides of grooved pulleys on the lower ends of the spindles
of the brushes, which would make them rotate in opposite directions and so have
a better brushing effect on the surface of the boot. In this arrangement one set
of rotating brushes might be used for cleaning, and another for blackening, and
a third for polishing the boots, the person placing his boot into the recesses of these
sets of brushes in succession. Where a supply of electricity, compressed air, water,
or other motive power is available from public companies or otherwise, the brushes
could be actuated by a small electro or other motor placed within the machine,
and started by the insertion of the coin, the current or supply being automatically
switched or turned off after the defined supply for each coin has been given, in
which case the platform need not move, but the motor just before stopping would
itself be switched off by the momentum of a weighted lever or other equivalent.
The gearing would or may consist of a train of two, three or other number of
spindles and corresponding pairs of speed reducing spur wheels and pinions from
the first motive shaft of the motor whether this is a special motor or effected
by the weight of the person standing on the movable plate, and the spindles of this

page_text: gearing would or may all be carried in bearings in a portable double sided frame
secured together by suitable stays and bolted to the underside of the fixed or
movable platform adjacent to and carrying the brushing mechanism so as to actuate
these. When the weight of the person on the platform was to form the motive
power the first slow motion shaft of this gearing would be moved by the downward
action of the platform by any suitable mechanical motion. One arrangement
suitable for this purpose would consist of a disc wheel or drum secured on the first
motion shaft, with three, four, five, six, or other number of ratchet teeth on it,
turned by a spring pawl lever, jointed and fixed to the stationary part of the
basement frame under the ratchet teeth of this wheel, the spring always keeping
the pawl in action on the ratchet disc. This disc would be so fitted with a spring
detent that it could not turn backwards, and the few inches upward and downward
motion of the platform would be such as to bring a tooth of the wheel in the
upward motion always just past the pawl lever, so that it would spring in under
the tooth, and as the platform descended the wheel would turn to the circum-
ferential extent of this reciprocating motion of the platform forward, and the
distance between the ratchet teeth. And in this way turn the whole train of
gearing, making the first motive spindle go at a high speed during the descent of
the platform by the weight of the person on it, so as to clean a boot or shoe at each
downward action when the person would step off the platform again and permit it
to ascend, and either put in a second coin to clean the other boot, or have an
arrangement connected with the hand lever which would only allow the platform to
return to its full height and be locked after every second action of the machine and
brushes.
Dated the 10th Anvil 1901
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Coin-freed Machines of the
Automatic Class.
I, JAMES HINES, of Dunedin Lodge, Lenzie, Dumbartonshire, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying three sheets of
drawings, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to coin-freed
machines of the automatic class, and comprises a new or improved machine, or
construction and arrangement and combination of the parts of mechanism, to be
automatically actuated by a local motor, freeing it by the insertion of the coin or
coins so as to brush clean and polish the boots or shoes of the person standing on
the platform of the machine, and susceptible of various modifications in the
construction of the actuating and brushing mechanism, in accordance with the
improvements.
The nature and novelty of the improvements and mechanism consist in forming
a shallow rectangular basement box, or case of metal, preferably close on the
bottom and all the sides with an open space on top in which is mounted a horizontal
platform in front. This platform is or may be portable or selfcontained and
stationary and have a small local electromotor or pneumatic, hydraulic, or gas
engine, within the box part of the machine, for actuating the brashing mechanism.
The motor may be set on by the insertion of a coin freeing a lever which would
automatically set on the motor, or the person might actuate the lever to set on the
motor against the power of a spring or weight which would stop the motor when
it had gone a sufficient time for each operation. The platform would be fitted
with recesses a few inches deep in its central part, with plates for the boots or

page_text: shoes of the person to rest in to be cleaned, thus leaving space round the plates and
below the platform for the reciprocating or oscillating brushes to clean the surface
of the boots. These recesses would be covered by a raised part in the front end
over the front and instep of the boots when in position for cleaning, to allow room
for transverse brushes to reciprocate over the instep clear of the recesses.
Where
a supply of electricity, compressed air, water, or other motive power is available
from public companies or otherwise the brushes could he actuated by a small
electro or other motor placed within the machine, and started by the insertion of
the coin, the current or supply being automatically switched or turned off after the
defined supply for each coin has been given and the motor just before stopping
would itself be switched off automatically by the momentum of a weighted lever
or other equivalent.
The gearing would or may consist of a train of two, three, or other mmmber of
spindles and corresponding pairs of speed reducing spur wheels and pinions or
equivalent pulleys and belts from the first motive shaft of the motor; and the
spindles of this gearing would or may all be carried in bearings in a portable
double sided frame, secured together by suitable stays and bolted to the back
part of the platform adjacent to and carrying the brushing mechanism so as to
actuate same.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto
appended four explanatory sheets of drawings, in which the same reference letters.
are used to indicate corresponding or equivalent parts in all the figures.
where shown.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan view of a complete
coin-freed automatic machine for brushing, blacking and polishing boots and shoes
as constructed in accordance with and illustrative of one general arrangement of my
improvements for brushing two boots at a time.
Figure 3 on Sheet 2 is a back elevation corresponding to and at right angles to
Figure 1. And
Figures 4 to 9 on Sheets 1 and 2, are views of details of the mechanism.
shown detached from and to a larger scale than in the general views of the
machine Figures 1 to 3.
Referring to these drawings:-The whole mechanism is secured to a basement.
frame A, and enclosed within a box or case A', A, close on the bottom and all the
sides, the case A', A2, being shown as removed in these figures, and only indicated
in dotted lines in Figure 1. A low box part is formed in front at A', on to which
the persons step to have their boots or shoes brushed and which encloses the
brushes proper in the space A", A, below the top part A', and over foot plates B,
the shape of the boot sole, carried on a frame B₁, B", from the sole plate A, the
boots being passed in through holes at B2 in the top plate A', so as to rest on
the plates B, B, and be cleaned by the brushes as hereinafter described. The tall.
pillar or raised part A, A, at the back of the sole plate A encloses an electro
motor C, C, and actuating gearing, carried on the entablature frame A³, supported
on corner pillars A, and secured by its frame C², to the frame A³ at C. The
one end of the spindle C', of the motor has a small pulley C³, giving motion by a
belt C, to a large pulley C, on a second motion shaft C, carried by its end
journals in bush bearing blocks at the top of vertical standard brackets C6, bolted
by basement flanges to the entablature frame A³. This second motion shaft C³,
has a small pulley D on it, which by a belt D', gives motion to a large pulley Du
keyed on a double crank shaft d, D, carried in bush bearing blocks B, bolted to
and close over the centre of the entablature frame A³, so as to rotate this shaft at
a much slower rate than the electro motor, and the arrows indicate the direction
of motion of these bands and shafts. Each crank d of this crank shaft d D', by a
short connecting rod actuates the upper arm d², of a vertical beam lever d³
fulcrumed at d to a bracket on the underside of the cutablature frame A³. The

page_text: lower arm 3 of this beam lever d, d, is jointed to the back end of a horizontal
reciprocating connecting rod d having its front end jointed to a bracket at d
projecting up from the centre of a carriage E running on anti-friction wheels E
between upper and lower guide rails E secured at their ends Ex in brackets
projecting up from the soleplate A. Each of these carriages E have standard
Brackets E, jointed at their lower ends E, projecting up on each side of the
plates B1, supporting the soleplates B, on which the boots rest and have jointed to
them at top by screw pivots e the side reciprocating brushes E³, projecting towards
each other on opposite sides of the boot, with blade springs at el to allow them to
oscillate slightly on their pivots e as well as oscillate with the standards E2 on the
joints E, of the carriage E with spiral springs E', seen particularly in Figure 3.
keeping the brushes against the sides of the boots or shoes to polish these as the
carriage is reciprocated by the connecting rod d', and beam lever d², d³, from
the cranks d, which are set nearly at right angles to each other, as shown more
particularly in Figure 1, and so that these reciprocating brushes E³, of the one
carriage E, say that of the right foot, will be passing towards the toes of the boot
when the other carriage and brushes are passing towards the heel of the left boot,
as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, or vice versa as indicated by the dotted
arrows in Figure 2. The oscillating brushes F and F, will oscillate intermittently
and alternately over the front and instep of the right and left boots, respectively
as the reciprocating brushes E³ are respectively passing towards and from the heel
parts of the boot. And rice versa the oscillating brushes G, G', for polishing
the heels of the boots will oscillate to brush these when the reciprocating
brushes E3 are traversing to and from the toe parts of the boots, and all clear of
these brushes, all as will hereinafter be described. The oscillating brushes F, F¹.
which have their bristles on the lower side of their block, as shown in side and
plan view detached in Figures 5 and 6 on Sheet 2, are each mounted by a joint pin
and brackets to jointing flanges on the underside of a lever F2, secured to an
actuating band pulley F3 mounted on the lower end of a spindle F, carried in
lower and upper centre bearings in a bracket F4, bolted to the under front side of
the entablature A³, having a regulating pinching screw F5 passed through this
with jam nuts for carrying the upper end of the spindle F. Each brush F, F', is
connected by a spiral spring f, to its lever F, so as to allow the brush to oscillate
on its pin ex through the brackets f, F", seen in Figure 5, while always bringing it
back to its normal vertical position on a stop on one of the lower jointing flanges f
of the lever F. On the upper end of the spindle F, a volute or coiled spring",
is mounted by a boss within a fixed hollow case f³, secured by a bracket at f
to the underside of the entablature A³. This spring f" always turns the
brushes FF to their outward normal position, while a strap secured to the
pulley F, oscillates the brushes positively in the inward direction, this strap/',
being carried over guide pulleys, and led forward below and secured to each
carriage E. which as it moves backwards towards the heel oscillates the brushes F,
or F, inwards over the front of the boots or shoes, as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 2. The heel brushes G, G, are similarly mounted by screw centres G", to
flange brackets g, with reacting spiral springs, on levers G2 on the top end of
spindles G, carried in centre bearings at their lower and upper ends in
brackets G, the upper centre screw bearing G³, being made adjustable and hollow
to receive oil to lubricate the centres of the spindles. Each spindle G and
brush lever G2 is actuated positively in the inward direction, by a strap g drawn
by the carriage in the forward direction having its one end secured to the
pulley G³, and its other end secured to one of the carriages E, so as to actuate the
brushes G G as the carriage is traversed forwards from the heel, by the con-
necting rod d and lever d³, as shown in Figure 1, and the direction indicated by
the arrows in Figure 2. These spindles and brush levers are oscillated in the
opposite direction, as indicated by the dotted arrows in Figure 2, by the volute
springs g, within the fixed hollow bosses g³, at the lower end of the spindle G,

page_text: to
equivalent to those
shown in Figures 5 and 6. Stop blocks f, g, on
these straps f, g, stop the brushes and their spindles in their normal outward
positions.
Underneath each of these brushes F, F1 and G, G, blacking vessels H are
shown as mounted, as seen particularly, in Figure 2, preferably of a round or
cylindrical shape as seen detached in sectional clevation Figure 9, mounted on the
top of a vertical spindle H' carried in a footstep and upper journal bearing in
standard brackets H, H, and turned or oscillated in a positive direction by a
band or strap pulley H³, and in the opposite direction by a volute or coiled spring,
equivalent to the spring shown in Figure 5, mounted on the bottom of the
spindle within the fixed box. The one end of each strap, is attached
to the pulley H³, and passed round guide pulleys, and attached at to the
straps, so as to rotate the blacking vessels H, when these straps are actuated,
the springs in the inside of the box 3 taking up the slack of the straps, y', as
shown dotted in particularly at gin Figure 2. Each blacking vessel His
mounted with a pail and agitator on the upper end of rods H* passing down
through the top of the standards H", and attached to a raising and lowering
ring H, raised and lowered by a cord H³ passed over a guide pulley at H, and led
back and up over guide pulleys at H, and attached to the lower end of a lever 1,
so as to be pulled and actuated by that lever as will hereinafter be described in
reference to Figures 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9, when the pads, are to be raised to put
blacking on the brushes.
The electro motor C and gearing of the machine is started by the insertion of a
penny or other coin or coins through a slot at a in the upper domed part A', of the
enclosing case A2, which coin slips down a downward curved or angled rectangular
metal channel into a receiving box all where it falls on to the inner arm of a
tilting weighted lever a which when tilted by a lever on it tilts another vertical
lever ata, fulcrummed to a bracket at a to the position shown in dotted lines in
Figures 1, and 4, the weight on its top arm a retaining it in this position until
pushed back again by a block on a make and break electric contact spring lever
or brush of the terminal S of one of the main supply wires S, as will hereinafter
be described, and more particularly shown in the enlarged detached view Figure 4
corresponding to Figure 1, of the setting on and stopping mechanism. The other
main wire N enters one of the terminals N¹ of the electro motor C, and the
other terininals of the motor has the wire led to it; while another wire s² leads
to a terminals", on the bracket, which has two make and break electric contact
spring levers or brushes, working on the surface of a stepped metallic surface
disc fixed on the spindle, carried on the top of the brackets , bolted to
the plate D over the entablature plate A³. This spindle, has also a large
ratchet wheel e secured on it, turned one tooth at a time each revolution of the
crank shaft D by a small cam D* on it, acting on the back arm ² of a pawl
spring lever c, c, fulcrumed at c", with a spring bringing the ratchet lever
always down to be acted on by the cam D, the pawl yielding and acting to turn
the wheel, one tooth at a time. The coin slips off the lever a when tilted and
passes into a shoot a, at the bottom of the box a", to be delivered into a locked
drawer or other receptacle not shown in the drawings, and removable through the
back or end of the case A². A retaining spring pawl carried on one of the arms
of the wheel c works into a ratchet wheel, secured to one of the brackets ³, with
the teeth in the opposite direction to the teeth of the wheel c, so that the wheel
cannot turn backwards during its motion and does not stop until it makes a
complete revolution, when the raised part at 63, behind the stepped notch of the
disc raises the inake and break contact lever and tilts the lever a³, a, back
to its normal position, shown in sharp lines in Figures 1 and 4, against the arin a³,
of the coin tilting lever and breaks the contact with the lever at this
stepped or notched part 6, and circuit through the wires S, N, and so stops the
machine.

page_text: :
The automatic starting and stopping action of the mechanism is as follows:-
The weight of the coin tilts the lever a down and causes the arm a³ to throw
over the lever a, a, the lower arm a of which acts on the block b', and makes the
contact lever or brush to press on the disc behind the raised notch 3 and so
complete the circuit from the main wire S and terminal S', through the disc
and spring brushes ", " to the terminal and wire ", s, and the terminal and
wire s, s', of the motor C, and the main wire N, so that it will now act and turn
he crank shaft D2, until the cam D and ratchet pawl C, C2, turns the ratchet
wheel e one tooth at a time for a complete revolution until the raised part at 6³,
raises the contact lever to tilt the lever as a all as before stated, and free it and
break contact with the disc at the notch part, behind the raised part ³, each
tooth on the ratchet wheel c, representing a complete double traverse of all the
brushes given by one revolution of the crank shaft D².
The brushes E³, F, F, and G, G, as here shown both clean the boots and
blacken and polish them, and the pads has shown in Figure 9 for putting the
blacking on the brushes F, F, are placed horizontally, but are placed vertically
for putting the blacking on the vertical face of the brushes 13 and G, G', and are
only brought into action for an instant when the person getting his boots cleaned
desires it as in dry weather and when his boots are dry, as will now be described in
reference to Figures 7, and 8. Figure 7 is a side elevation, and Figure 8 a back
elevation detached, corresponding to Figures 1 and 3, of the mechanism for putting
the blacking on the brushes when desired, and just after the brushes have cleaned
the dirt off the boots. There is an angled lever I for each set of the straps H³,
which raises the pads of the blacking vessels, below the brushes F, G, and F, G¹,
and another vertical acting arm l' on which the whole is fulcrumed at I to
brackets projecting down from the entablature A3. The lower counter
weighted end of this lever I, has vertical double webs at 12, with pads on them
for dipping into the open top horizontal vessel H* and when raised putting the
blacking on the brushes E³, E³, of each set, as they reach their extreme forward
position in front of the plates B, B', and toes of the boots over this blacking
vessel H. The upper arm I³, of these levers I, 1, 12, carries sliding plates I³,
which when these levers are to be moved are each brought opposite cams 1' on the
crank shaft D2, and these sliding plates are actuated from a horizontal sliding rod i
carried at in a bracket I, and one of the standards C, and actuates the sliding
plates, by the lever plate 2, the latter being fulcrumed on a bracket at
projecting from the said standard C. This movement of these levers 2, ", is
effected only when a coupling pin on a crank or disc arm mounted on the lower
end of a vertical rod *, is pressed down through a boss on the sliding rod i to take
into a slot in the outer arm of the lever, fulcrumed on a bracket i, the inner end
of this lever being reciprocated by a cam projection on the one side of the
ratchet wheel c against the power of springs so as to oscillate the levers I, I', to
the dotted position shown in Figure 7, and bring all the blacking pads up to put
blacking on the brushes. This inserting of the coupling pin 3, at the lower end
of the rod is effected by the person outside pulling the handle j of the vertical
lever at the top of the dome A, laterally to the position shown in dotted lines
in Figure 3. This lever is carried in a bracket and secured on one end of a
spindle mounted in brackets and has secured on its other end the lever j³
carrying the upper end of the vertical rod . Each blacking vessel H* has a
reciprocating rod k with arms carrying an agitator formed of louvre plates ',
and this agitator is actuated against the power of a spiral spring ", by an arm 2
on each lever d³, which works on an antifriction pulley on the end of the rod k
which is actuated in the other direction by the spring. The plate B' on which
the supporting boot plate B rests is preferably made open or with small holes B*
all round the plate B for the dust brushed off the boots to pass down through on
to shallow removable trays A* as shown particularly in Figure 2.
Although in this arrangement Figures 1 to 3, an ordinary electro motor only has

page_text: been described and shown set on and off from public electric supply mains for
actuating the mechanism of the machine, it is to be understood that where hydraulic
power is available or pressure air or gas, that these fluids may be used to work
local motors within the case of the machine; or it might be heavy weights to work
a mechanical motor, like a clock, wound up at intervals. In any of these cases
equivalent starting and stopping mechanism to that shown in Figure 4 consisting of
a notch disc and ratchet wheel mechanism may be used started by the coin for
tilting the levers only instead of the starting and stopping levers b, b', being an
electric make and break contact lever, it would be a spring or gravitating pawl
lever taking into a notch in the disc ³ to stop the motor, and removed to set the
mechanism into action through the levers tilted by the insertion of the coin.
Various other equivalent arrangements of the mechanism for carrying and
actuating the brushes than those described in reference to the figures on Sheets 1
Under one
and 2, may be adopted, as shown in Figures 10 to 17 on Sheet 3.
arrangement as shown in diagram plan view Figure 10, and applicable for
brushing either one or two boots at a time, horizontal reciprocating brushes E³
are mounted on the opposite sides of each boot or shoe and plate B on which
these rest, attached to the inside of reciprocating straps or bands K which may
be made of leather, chain bands or other equivalent, and which bands pass round
pulleys K on vertical spindles K' mounted some considerable distance in front of
and behind the boots. These bands K are preferably so attached to their
pulleys K', and are of such a size as only to oscillate a half turn or so, both
simultaneously so that the one set of brushes E3 at the sides of both boots or
shoes, say the right side would be traversing forward, while the others were
traversing backward, and vice versa, when at their extreme ends the brushes would
be clear of the boots or shoes when stopped to allow of the insertion of the boots
or shoes through the holes B2, in the upper plate A', on to the supporting plate B
below the level of the motion of the brushes E³. And one spindle K2, of these
pulleys K would have a smaller pulley mounted on it, actuated by a band or
strap K from a first motion spindle and pulley K. And when two sets of these
straps K and brushes are to be actuated, as shown in Figure 10, to brush two
boots at the same time, the two pulleys K' at the opposite ends would be connected
by straps K, on pulleys below the pulleys K', so as to actuate the second set of
straps K. Another set of transverse reciprocating brushes F would be mounted
over the front upper part of the boots or shoes and straps K on the outside of
corresponding edge straps or bands F¹ over horizontal acting rollers F' mounted
quite out beyond clear of the other straps or bands K, K, as dotted in, in Figure 10.
These brushes F would be shaped to the approximate shape of the point and the
upper front part of the boot and instep, each brush reciprocating to and fro over
the front of its respective boot or shoe on the same band. For brushing the heel
part of each boot, a single horizontal reciprocating brush G only would be required,
and this would preferably be mounted on the back free end of a horizontal lever
fulcrumed on a vertical spindle under the front or sole part of each supporting
plate, but two brushes G may be used mounted on reciprocating straps G', and
And the
passing round pulleys G2, similar to those F for the front brushes F, F.
rollers of these bands or levers with their brushes would be so connected by straps
that they would all be actuated from the pulley K or a lever on its spindle, so
that the brushes would be out of each others way at the extreme end of their
stroke. That is when the longitudinal acting brush E³, is travelling towards the
point of the boot on the one side, say the right side, the transverse brush, cleaning
the point and top of the boot is passing to the left, and vice versa passing to the
right when the longitudinal acting brush E' is passing forward on the left side, and
the same takes place in relation to the transverse brushes G acting at the heel.
The bands carrying the brushes would or may be guided in grooves or between
antifriction rollers to cause the bands and brushes to approximately reciprocate to
the curved surface of the sides of the boots or shoes during their reciprocation, or
when leather straps are used they would yield and give the necessary elasticity for
К

page_text: this purpose.
Instead of mounting the brushes E3 on these reciprocating straps K.
it is to be understood that they, as shown in diagram plán view Figure 11, may be
mounted on arms E' on reciprocating bell-crank levers E, E, preferably fulcrumed
at E, on strong studs projecting up from the baseplate on the opposite side of the
boot and plate B supporting it, to that on which the brushes act and reciprocating
below these plates to get a good sweep on the surface of the boot or shoe in their
reciprocation, the arms E2 carrying the brushes above the plates B', in the hori-
zontal plane of the sides of the boot to be brushed. The lateral levers E' E' are
connected by a link connecting rod E, and one of the levers E is oscillated by a
connecting rod d from the first motion shaft or it might be lever as d³ in Figures 1
to 3, all so that when these levers E, E, are simultaneously actuated the one brush
would be oscillating towards the toe on the one side while the other was oscillating
towards the heel on the opposite side and vice versa. And an equivalent arrange-
ment of levers might be used for brushing the front and heel parts of the boot,
at right angles to those shown, the brushes passing each other as before
described.
:
In some cases as shown in diagram plan view Figure 12 the brushes E³ may be
mounted on one or it might be two balanced rotating arms E E, on vertical rotating
spindles E on one or both sides of the boot or shoe, and it might be with one, two,
or three brushes on each arm E, as shown in Figure 12, acting on one or both
sides of the boot set on the plate B, B, supported by hanging studs B, the
spindles E of these rotating arms E being so geared by wheels together from
the motor as to rotate in opposite directions, and so brush the sides of the boot in the
reverse directions alternately the sets of arms being always at right angles to each
other, when passing the boot, or the one set moved out of the way as the other set
came into action, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 12, and so that the
brushes E3 would clear each other in coming into action and pass the supporting
studs B.
Referring to the three brush arrangement shown in diagram view Figure 12ª,
and in sectional elevation and plan Figures 12", 12", each brush E³ is mounted on
brackets having studs E³, which pass through slots in the plates E' at the ends of
the levers E. The studs E are attached to the sliding rods E7 which have
springs mounted on them to press the studs E' and brushes E3 always inwards
when the pawl ¹¹,, is released by the action of the lever t'. Anti-friction
pulleys are mounted on studs on the rods E', E', which are acted on by the
segmental cam 2 for bringing the released brushes E always back to their normal
position, and in which position the spring pawl (", ", locks them. The cam t
slides on vertical guides t³, and is raised into action by the lever t fulcrumed on
the standard, these being all counter weighted so as to be easily raised by the
light rod to, and a lever above actuated by three stud pins which may be fitted in
the ratchet wheel c Figure 4, the three acting positions of the lever being dotted
in in Figure 12. Each brush E³ is thus brought into action in rotation as the
levert and cam 2 are raised to their three positions, to release the spring catches t
by the segmental lever t guided by the link to fulcrumed on a bracket projecting
from the standard t, the lever t successively taking on to the tail ends of the
catches to relieve them and their brushes as required to alternately clean,
blacken, and polish the boot as the three stud pins in the ratchet wheel c came
round to raise the lever to the three positions as described and shown.
otherwise as shown in side and plan view in Figure 13 the brushes E3 might be
mounted in a set of three by arms E2 on a rotating spindle or fixed stud at E, as
say in the side standard of the carriage E, preferably with one blank arm and side,
so that the three brushes E3, would on the starting of their reciprocation be moved
one quarter round at one end of their motion to bring the brush for cleaning off the
dirt first into the plane of its reciprocating action on the boot for a certain number
of reciprocations, when the brushes E3 would be oscillated another quarter round
on their spindles E" and bring the blacking brush into the plane of its action on
the boot for a reciprocation or two, and then again make another quarter turn on
Or

page_text: their spindles and bring the third or polishing brush into the plane of its recipro-
cation on the surface of the boot to act for the greater part of the time in polishing
the boot, and just before stopping the brushes would make another turn on their
spindles E", and bring the blank position of the arms E³ upwards, or downwards
as the case may be, in a line with the boot, so that the boots or shoes could be
removed or inserted without requiring to touch the brushes should they not be
stopped at the extremities of their motion. One arrangement of mechanism for
effecting this is shown in side and end elevation respectively in Figures 13 and 13B
and in plan view in Figure 13° Sheet 4. This consists in mounting on the arms E
of the brushes E³ a ratchet wheel T, both on the stud Eu", on the frame of the
carriage E, which has mounted on it a spring lever T' with coupling pin T", which
takes into four holes T equally divided round the ratchet wheel T to hold it in
its four positions with either of the brushes E³ upwards to act on the boots, or
the blank position at each time the carriage E stops and the machine finishes its
motion, ready for the insertion of another coin and cycle of operations. The ratchet
wheel T, has only four teeth, so as to turn the brushes Es one quarter revolution
at each operation by the action of the lever T, mounted to a stationary fulcrum
at T, and having an acting stud end at T which takes into the ratchet teeth of
the wheel T as the lever is lowered to the dotted in position in Figure 134, and the
carriage E is traversed forward in the direction of the arrow to one quarter of a
revolution, the angled or wedge arm T³ first relieving the coupling catch T" to
allow the ratchet wheel and brushes to turn and spring in again as the ratchet wheel
has made a quarter turn, and hold the brushes there for the desired time, the
lever T being raised out of action by the cord T, and a counter-weighted lever
above actuated by pins in the wheel as before stated to lower the lever in this
case when the brush arms E2 have to be turned to their four positions. Or other-
wise, as shown in Figure 14 the three brushes E³, may be mounted on the three
sides of a square block on a spindle or studs at E" projecting from the band or
other oscillating or rotating parts, so as to be turned intermittently a fourth of a
revolution as each respective brush was to be brought into action for cleaning,
blacking, or polishing, as described in reference to Figure 13. Or as shown in
Figure 15 a three sided block E, and brush E, may be used mounted on a spindle
or studs, and turned intermittently three times during the cleaning of the boots as
described.
In some cases, as shown in elevation and plan Figures 16 and 17, rotating
circular brushes E³ may be arranged on vertical stud spindles E", carried on sliding
brackets or sliding plate or carriage E, preferably running on wheels E¹, and
rails E secured at their ends at E along each side of the foot plate B, and boot
or shoe Z, and at the heel has a large brush G mounted on a spindle G", for
brushing the surface of the boots at these parts, and have one larger brush F, on a
horizontal spindle F¹ carried on brackets, and rotated over the front part of the
boot and instep to brush this part. These circular brushes are brought into action
when the person places his foot on to the supporting plate B, and inserts a coin to
start the motor as before described, which rotates the brushes through the pulley
and cord K", K, and these in turn actuate the driving cord or band K, wound
alternately on opposite sides of the grooved pulleys K', on the lower ends of the
spindles of the brushes, which would make them rotate in opposite directions and
so have a better brushing effect on the surface of the boot. The rod d', in this
arrangement is released simultaneously with the insertion of the coin to give the
plate E a reciprocating action to alternately bring the brushes G and F into
working position at the toe and heel and enable the side brushes to act on all
parts of the side surfaces of the boot. In this arrangement one set of rotating
brushes might be used for cleaning, and another for blacking, and a third for
polishing the boots, the person placing his boot into the recesses of these sets of
brushes in succession. And the whole set of brushes would be rotated by a band K¹¹
from a first motion spindle and pulley K actuated by the motor.
When special pads or brushes h are used for serving the blacking the pads or

page_text: other equivalent; before mentioned in reference to Figures 1 to 3 and 7 to 9, would
only be raised out of the blacking vessel H, when the special blacking brushes
were brought into reciprocating brushing action at the extreme end of their recipro-
cation and would get the blacking applied from the vessel H of liquid blacking
mounted under them. Or, otherwise, as shown, in sectional elevation in Figure 18,
a small hole would be formed in a plate on the top of the vessel H, which is
mounted on the upper end of the revolving spindle H through which a small
circular blacking serving roller or other equivalent would be reciprocated up and
down by the rods H². These rods H² would be operated by the cam 15, working
on the plates I, which would bring the lever I to the dotted in position shown in
Figure 7, pulling on the strap H, which in turn raises the rods H² and blacking
pad out of the dish H, for the supply of blacking to the brushes. The mechanism
is primarily operated by a projection ex on the intermittent acting ratchet wheel c,
so that the roller bar or pad h, would ascend up through the hole in the blacking
vessel Hin front of the boot blacking brushes for a very short time at the early
part of the motion of the gearing or just after the brushes had taken the dust off*
the boots or shoes, and the hole in the upper part of the blacking vessel would take
off all superfluous blacking, so that the serving roller or bar would deliver but a
small portion of blacking on to the blacking or boot brushes at the proper time for
doing so, to give a final polish to the leather surface. Or a cake, pillar, or roller
of paste blacking might be reciprocated up in the path of the blacking brush in an
equivalent manner to that shown in Figures 7, 9, and 18, when a small jet of water
might be thrown on to the blacking or the brush at the time the brush was
taking off the blacking from an ordinary nozzle pipe with tap and dispense with the
use of a liquid vessel H. Or in some cases a small jet of liquid blacking might be
applied from an ordinary nozzle pipe with tap to the blacking brush at the moment
it came into action.
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 :-
-
First. The mode and means or construction of a machine with automatic brushing
and power actuating mechanism operated by the insertion of a coin or coins to
clean, blacken and polish boots and shoes while on the feet of the wearer, substan-
tially as herein described, in reference to and by way of application shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Second. In a machine for brushing boots and shoes, while on the feet of the
wearer, the starting and stopping or operating of the brushing mechanism by the
insertion of a coin or coins through a slot or opening to act on a weighted lever
which actuates a balance lever or equivalent organ to make electrical or mechanical
connection to start and stop the-motive power substantially as herein described in
reference to and by way of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
1
Third. In a coin-freed machine of the automatic class, the stopping and starting.
of the motor, whether electrical or mechanical by an arrangement of tilting levers
and stopping and starting notched disc and ratchet wheel mechanism for cleaning,
blacking, and polishing boots and shoes, while on the feet of the wearer, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and by way of application shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In a coin-freed machine of the automatic class, the arrangement and use
of reciprocating and oscillating brushes actuated from a local motor and power
transmitting mechanism started and stopped by the insertion and weight of a coin
or coins, to clean, blacken and polish boots and shoes while on the feet of the
wearer, substantially as and in the manner herein described, in reference to and by
way of application shown as operated by motive gearing in the accompanying
drawings.
Fifth. In a coin freed machine of the automatic class, the construction or
arrangement and combination of reciprocating and oscillating brushes, or rotating

page_text: brushes, as described in reference to the drawings on Sheet 3, for being actuated by
a local motor, for the cleaning, blacking, and polishing of boots or shoes, while on
the feet of the wearer.
Sixth. In a coin-freed machine of the automatic class, the construction and use
or arrangement and combination of blacking vessels and their serving pads, brushes,
or equivalent members locally placed under the brushes and intermittently actuated
to put blacking on these at the proper times while brushing the boots or shoes on
the feet of the wearer, substantially as herein described in reference to and by way
of application shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 10th February 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.