An Improved Method of Cleaning and Polishing Boots and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Cleaning and Polishing Boots and Apparatus
therefor.
I, ANDRÉ RIESTER, of 44, Rue des Entrepreneurs, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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;-
The invention which forms the object of the present application relates to an
improved method and apparatus for enabling the polishing of boots to be effected
whilst still on the feet and a brilliant polish to be instantaneously obtained.
For the brushing, polishing and subsequent rubbing of boots after having spread
thereon a layer of the blacking or varnish usually employed, I proceed as
follows:-
The dirty boots are subjected to the action of a jet of sand or other suitable
pulverulent material conveyed under pressure by means of a compressed air ejector
having an annular or central jet. When the spots of mud or the like have dis-
appeared, a jet of liquid blacking in an extreme condition of sub-division is
directed on the boot always by means of a compressed gas ejector like the jet of
a vaporizer and if such a blacking as for instance the "Nubian" blacking be
employed any subsequent brushing or polishing becomes superfluous. The polish-
ing may be obtained by means of a jet of bran, talc or other suitable material or
even by a series of jets of highly compressed air. According to the nature of the
boots, the liquid may be replaced by a varnish or brown, yellow or white cream
or the like.
This essentially novel apparatus may be very advantageously employed in com-
bination with automatic machines released by coins and located in streets or public
buildings which the passers-by may utilize for cleaning their boots without with-
drawing them from their feet simply placing them on a foot-plate. The release of
the machine produced by means of a coin will cause a tap for supplying com-
pressed air to the ejectors of the apparatus to be opened, which tap of course is
connected with a general town main for supplying compressed air or provided with
a removable reservoir of compressed gas.
In the accompanying drawings, various methods of making the apparatus for
carrying out this improved method are shown:
Figures 1 to 10 show first a mode of arrangement of such an apparatus.
Figure 1 is a diagram in lateral elevation of the apparatus as a whole;
Figure 1 the same in front elevation;
Figure 2 a section through the axis of the machine parts;
Figure 3 a semi-section of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the electric connections allowing of the move-
ments being regulated during the working of the apparatus;
Figures 5, 5, 5" show the position of a three-way cock;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 three operating planks;
Figures 9 & 9 a current distributor and an interrupter;
Figures 10, 10, and 10" a receiving apparatus in three positions, and

page_text: Figure 11 an enlarged detail view of Figure 1 at the point where the distri
bution of air into the three series of pipes takes place.
The apparatus comprises; 1 a frame, Figures 1 and 1^, on the exterior of which
a slot a is provided for the insertion of a coin, a handle b and an opening c for
inserting the foot.
2. In the interior of the frame an electro-motor actuating an air compressor
or more simply a reservoir of compressed air, or more simply still in case the thing
is possible a connection with a public compressed air supply.
3. The whole of the various apparatuses the use of which will be hereinafter
described.
The apparatus therefore comprises (Figure 4) a receiving apparatus d, an
electric bell e, two batteries f, a rheostat and a box in the form of a money box.
The receiving apparatus is of the ordinary construction. It is composed of a
balance beam 1, Figures 10, 10, 10", pivoted on a fixed axis 1 and having a
counterweight 2 only allowing the beam to oscillate when a given coin is placed
in the tray 3. At this moment a fixed contact 4 arrests the fall of the piece of
money remaining at 3 in the tray and the apparatus having the inclination shown
in Figure 10 a current is established by means of a metallic contact 5 between
the wires 6 and 7 ending in two glass tubes containing mercury into which the
-contact 5 dips; an iron plate S is simultaneously approached to the electro-magnet 9
in such a way that when the current passes in the said electro-magnet through
wires 10 and 11, the plate 8 is pulled against the electro-magnet 9 and causes the
tray 3 to turn on its axis 12 and the apparatus will assume the position shown in
Figure 10 causing the coin to drop into a box 13 and contact to be established
by the contact 14-between-two wires 15 and 16 in which the current can pass by
means of the tubes filled with mercury into which the contact-14-dips. When
the current ceases to pass in the wires 10 and 11 the plate 8 ceases to be attracted
to the electro-magnet and the balance beam rises in order to resume the position
shown-in-Figure 10 encountering a stop 17.
4. The apparatus comprises three reservoirs, ie, a-reservoir_i_for_fine sand, a
reservoir for talc, bran or other suitable material, and a reservoir for liquid
blacking. These reservoirs may be of any suitable form. Their arrangement is
shown in Figures 1 and 1^.
The foot-plate on which the-foot-may be placed is surrounded by an arrange-
ment, the object of which is to clean, black and polish the boot or foot-gear-in-a
few seconds, the finish of the operation being announced by means of a bell and
the operation being only able to be produced twice at each insertion of a piece of
money. Three metal supports 18, 18, 18, Figures 2 and 3, which pass across
the width of the box when operations are carried out, are fixed to the frame.
Between the end supports two solid cylindrical rods 30 are bolted. They serve as
slides for the part 29 supporting a movable arrangement 54, 53, 51, 52, which is
displaced or travels with them except the tubes supplying bran and sand 53'
and 54 which are fixed. A cylinder 40 and three planks or boards 38, 381
and 381, Figures 2 and 3 are fixed to the supports 18 and 18¹. A metallic rod 28
between the supports 18 and 18" supports the three-way tap and the inter-
rupter 36 a cylinder 34 is fixed at 18" in order to serve as guide for a spring 33
which is compressed under the action of the compressed air admitted behind the
piston 41. A support 44 is fixed at 18" in order to support a hook 43 and an
electro magnet 26. A hook 25 fixed to a rod 22 surmounted by a T piece 21
can rise and descend sliding in a ring 61 fixed on the support 18. Two brass
tubes 51 and 52 containing compressed air distribute air to nozzles 53 and 54 in
such a way as to send a jet of fine sand or bran according as one or the other
nozzle is opened on to a plank 57 placed obliquely to the direction of the nozzles.
These planks scatter the conical jet into a flat fantail-shaped jet. These tubes are
firmly connected with the whole arrangement 25 by rods 291. 55 is small
reservoir of liquid blacking. 50 is a compressed air tube with a nozzle which at a
given moment sprays the liquid blacking over the boot.

page_text: 6. The apparatus comprises a series of electric wires and tubes. The tubes are
indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1. The electric wires, Figure 4, connect
two groups of apparatuses, i.e. the first placed at the top of which we have just made
mention, and a second one, the working of which with the exception of the inter-
rupter 36, Figure 2, is explained by the drawing, whilst the working of the
interrupter will now be described and which is shown in detail in Figures 9
and 94.
This interrupter has only the action of producing an interruption of current
during a very short time so as to allow the balance beam of the receiving
apparatus to resume its normal position shown in Figure 10. This interruption
of current must be produced each time that the two feet of a person are inserted
in the apparatus in order that the boots may be blacked, that is to say each time
47 has made two movements and returned. The current arrives at %, then into t,
continues in a strip and follows its general course.
The black dot indicates a
piece of ebonite which when it passes under the strip interrupts the current.
Each time that the whole arrangement and has described 360° the current
will be subjected to an interruption. It is sufficient now to look at the figure and
to ascertain that each time that 47 has made two forward and backward move-
ments, the whole arrangement tt and c has described 360°.
The following is the working of the apparatus.
If a piece of money be inserted in the slot a, it passes to 3, and the balance
beam of the receiving apparatus assumes the position shown in Figure 10. The cir-
cuit is connected between 6 and 7 and current passes from 70 and from the electro-
magnet 26 of the hook 43 into the base 71 whilst hook 43 adheres to the electro-
magnet 26. If the foot be then placed upon the pedestal and pressure be applied
thereon, two actions are produced the rod 22 slides in the ring 61 compressing a
spring on said rod 22 and establishing contact at 23 (the current going from 70
passing by the contact pedal 72, 11, 9, 10, 73, the interrupter and 71). The
receiving apparatus assumes the position shown in Figure 10, causing the piece
of money to drop into the money box and establishing connection between 15
and 16. The current going from 70 by the contact 14 passes through the rheostat
and then returns through the interrupter and the base 71 to the battery. The
wires 10 and 11 going from 72 and 73 maintain the receiving apparatus in the
position shown in Figure 10 when the contact of the pedal or foot-plate ceases to
be established, the hook 43, remaining adherent to the electro-magnet 26.
The
A catch 50 held by a spring pushes a frame 29 firmly connected with a finger 48
and contacts or catches 39 391 3911 (Figs. 2 and 3) a little backward.
catch 39 which compresses the spring may be projected on the upper part of the
frame and a rod 27 pivoting on its axis throws a current of air into 51 which
expels sand from 33 against the planes 57 and then on to the boot. At the same
time the finger 48 has turned a three-way cock 35 from the position Figure 5 to
that shown in Figure 5. The compressed air penetrates between piston 41 and
compressing the spring 33 pushes by means of 31 the whole of the devices 29, 51,
52, 53, 54, 38, 47, 48 and 49. When the piston reaches the end of its course
several effects are simultaneously produced. First the catch 39 falls back drawn
by a counter-weight C' acting on the rod 271, Figure 11. The jet of sand is thus
arrested. The catch 39 mounts up its bevelled edge and by means of the rod 27,
opens the pipe for the compressed air which penetrating into 56, sprays the
blacking onto the boot. The catch 3911 which has compressed its spring (Fig. 8)
will be sharply lifted immediately the upper guide allows it to move. The rod
27 opening the tap for compressed air therefore sends a jet of bran which passes
from 52, 54 and 57 and then on to the boot, Figures 2 and 3. For a very short
time the bran and the blacking are distributed simultaneously. The catch 47
reaching the end of its course places the three way tap in the position shown in
Figure 5. The air can then escape from the cylinder and the spring 33 by
expanding will return the whole arrangement backwards, causing it to describe
180° to the point 30, whilst the catch 39" acting on the spring 1 of the return

page_text: contact, Figure 8, gives warning by means of a bell that the operation is
completed.
The spring 33 pushes a washer 60, Figure 2 and a nut until the stops 59 arrest
them. The catches are then in the stop position indicated on the boards and at
this moment everything is closed.
The operation is the same for the boot on the second foot with the difference
that the interrupter 36 having then made a complete revolution has produced the
interruption of current necessary for causing the hook 43 to revolve and to lock
the pedal. There are therefore three periods in all namely; the period of clean-
ing by means of sand, (Figure 6) the very short period of spraying with liquid
blacking (Figure 7) and the period of polishing by means of bran, talc or other
suitable material (Figure 8). In order to substitute suitable distributed jets of
compressed air for the jet of sand it is sufficient to replace the arrangement 51
in the apparatus just described by a pipe 77 having a series of plain nozzles 78.
The whole of the pipe and its nozzles is represented respectively in a longi-
tudinal sectional elevation, plan view and transverse sectional elevation in
Figures 12, 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings. Figures 15 and 15* show
the details of a flat nozzle. The nozzles are inclined in such a way as to throw
towards the bottom of the apparatus the mud and dust removed from the boot.
Figures 16 and 17 show respectively in longitudinal elevation and lateral eleva-
tion a registering counting device which may be combined with the apparatus in
order to check the number of operations effected. This arrangement is operated by an
electro-magnet S1, the wires of which are connected with points 91-92 of the electric
distribution Figure 4. A small plate 80 is thus attracted at the same instant as
the hook-43-of-the apparatus is operated and falls back simultaneously with this
hook. It follows that each time a coin is inserted in the apparatus, the electro-
magnet attracts the small plate 80.
The latter carries a spring 82 which causes a ratchet wheel 83 keyed to a
drum 84 on which are attached two rods 85 to advance to the extent of one tooth.
These rods draw with them in-their-rotation a ring 86 threaded internally and
graduated with 10 equidistant divisions on its exterior periphery which slide in a
screw thread 87, the pitch of which is one millimetre. At the end of 10 attrac-
tions of the small plate 80, that is to say after each 10 utilizations of the
apparatus, the-wheel-88-makes-a-complete revolution and the ring 86 advances
one millimetre on the screw thread 87. Above this screw is fixed-a-scale-divided
in millimetres and graduated from 0 up to 100. Each of the figures of the scale
will thus represent tens" and each of the figures of the ring 86 units." An
_ exact indication of the number of operations performed by the apparatus is thus
obtained. In order to return the counting register to zero-the-checker has only
to lift the spring 82 which he hooks up at 89 thus allowing him to cause the
ring 86 to recede or move back to the end of the screw by acting on a thumb
screw or wheel 90.
Of course it is evident that instead of the counter being constructed so as to
register 1000 operations, it would be easy to make it register a larger number.
The counting device is placed in a metallic box locked with a key which can
only be opened by the checker.
Figures 18 to 34 represent in detail another method of carrying out my inven-
tion and is intended more particularly for use in the vestibules of houses.
In this form of construction an arrangement is shown which allows, (in case the
boot is dirtied with dry, hard mud or a large quantity of wet mud, or where it is
impossible to have the use of compressed air,) the cleaning by an air blast which
removes the pulverized material, to be replaced by a simple brush or any other
suitable arrangement of bristles, vegetable fibres or metallic brushes. This brush
has the form of a mould provided with bristles internally, and the internal surface
of which assumes the shape of a very large boot. When the foot is inserted in this
mould it is sufficient to move it about in all directions in order to effect the
removal of the mud.

page_text: The apparatus is arranged in such a way that the air necessary for supplying
the nozzles is compressed by the weight of the body itself when the foot plate
is pressed down by the foot; the advantage of this mode of working consists in
the absolute independence of each apparatus which allows of its being placed for
instance in the vestibule of a house. By attaching thereto a receiving apparatus,
and an electrical distributing apparatus such as hereinbefore described, an auto-
matic apparatus suitable for public places (such as railway stations and small
provincial towns where a supply of compressed air is not available) may be
obtained or produced.
Figures 18, 19 and 20 show the whole of the apparatus in front elevation, side
view and plan view respectively. In these figures I have shown more particularly
a disc regulating the extent or the height of the blacking on the boot. This regula-
tion is made from the outside by means of a handle 135, which is placed in the
desired notch and which by means of chains 137 and a wheel 136 moves spindles 138,
which carry at their lower ends screw threads 139 acting on toothed sectors 140,
for causing the nozzles 141 to incline more or less.
Figures 21, 21, 21, 22 and 23 show the arrangement of the tubes supplying
air and blacking and the details of the nozzles or ejectors. Figure 22 is a vertical
half section at the level of the nozzles; Figure 23 is a similar horizontal half
section. The air under pressure arrives by an air tube 142 passes through a
nozzle 141 and emerges by the orifice raising the india-rubber cone 144 which
forms a plug or stopper for the tube 143. Figures 21, 21 by which the blacking,
coming from the tube 146, is supplied. Figure 21* is a horizontal section of the
tube 143.
The blacking emerges from the tube 143, being drawn and sprayed by the air
under pressure. When the air under pressure ceases to arrive, an elastic retain-
ing thread 145 draws back the cone 144 on the orifice of the tube and an auto-
matic closing is thus obtained necessary for preventing the blacking drying up.
I have only mentioned this method of closing the tube as an example, but of
course the closing instead of being performed automatically may be obtained by
means of a knob or the like operated from the outside allowing the stopper 144,
to be withdrawn and replaced when the blowing apparatus, or the pressure of
compressed air stops. As will be hereinafter indicated the blacking is constantly
supplied by the pressure of a suitably calculated weight at a level superior to
the nozzle, it follows consequently that the indiarubber stoppers are constantly
moistened and do not adhere to the orifice.
Figures 24, 25, 26 and 27 are sectional views showing the working of the clean-
ing brushes.
Figure 25 is a section through the axis of the apparatus, that is to say along
the line 25 of Figure 24, this latter is a section on the line 24 of Fig. 25.
Figure 27 is a horizontal section on the line 27-27 of Figure 25. Figure 26
is a partial plan view.
The foot is placed on a foot plate 101, sustained by a spindle 111, and lever 102.
Buttons or knobs 108 which act on a system of levers, spindles and hooks 107,
are then pressed, and disengage these hooks 107 from the hooks 106 which main-
tain the brushes in the position 116.
The brushes then drop into the position 115, Figure 24, and bear on the foot.
They are then held there by spring hooks 118 fixed on the foot plate. The foot
must then be moved about, rubbing it as much as possible against the walls, and
when this operation is considered to have been carried on to a sufficient extent,
the foot plate is lowered by pressing upon it with the foot, the lever 102 then acts
on rods 105 by means of a spindle 103, and lever 104, which rods allow the two
brushes 115 to assume the position 116 turning on the spindle 117, the catches 106
being held up by hooks 107, in such a way that when the blacking has caused the
boot to shine, the latter can be withdrawn without coming in contact with the
brush and may, in case it is not absolutely dry, continue to dry in the air.
When the foot is withdrawn, the foot plate assumes its initial position to which

page_text: it is returned by a counterweight 114 by the intermediary of a cord and a
pulley 113, Figure 25.
Figures 28 to 31 show more particularly the parts for producing and circulating
the compressed air.
At the commencement of the operation, a piston 119 is in the position shown in
Figures 28 and 29. When the heel has travelled a little less than the half of its
course the brushes being then raised the air of the cylinder 120 will attain a pres-
Eure of about seven lbs. per square inch according to the diameter of cylinder 120. A
valve 121 will be raised, the air passing through the three way cock 122 will be
directed according as the case may be into the nozzles for supplying brown or
yellow polish, or those supplying blacking. When the operation is completed a
counter-weight 114 again raises the pedal or foot plate and the piston 119 to their
initial positions, the air then penetrates into the cylinder by a valve 123. The
three way cock 122 has been opened from the exterior at the commencement of
the operation by the operator who has placed it at the necessary point by means
of a spindle 120, gearing 127, and a handle 128. A ridge 124 allows of the dry
or wet mud which has been removed by the friction of the boot against the brush
to fall into a drawer 125.
The arrangement for distributing liquid blacking is shown more particularly in
Figures 32, 33 and 34.
A weight 130 comprises a vessel 129 filled with blacking arranged in the interior
of the cylinder 131, this vessel-taking the place of a reservoir. The weight 130 is
calculated as hereinbefore shown. When the vessel gets nearly empty the method-
of recharging it is as follows:-A tap 132 is closed, a door 133 opened, the
weight 130 is raised, the hopper is filled with blacking and the tap 134 opened and
blacking continues to be poured in, until it ceases to flow, then the tap 134 is
re-closed, the weight 130 replaced and the tap-132-again opened.
In order to make use of the apparatus, the procedure is as follows:-The
handle 128 is placed in such a way as to indicate the nature of the blacking
(whether black or brown or yellow) which it is desired to make use of, the disc 135
is turned to a suitable extent to obtain-a-suitable-inclination_of_the_nozzles 141
in order to limit the jet of blacking to the height of the golosh of the boot and
to spare the gaiter. The disc 135, Figures 19 and 20, has divisions correspond-
ing to a man's foot, a woman's foot, and a child's foot of average size. The foot
is inserted and placed on the pedestal and after the boot has been cleaned, the
brushes are raised and when these latter are hung up, the valve 144 rises under
the pressure of the air and the nozzles 141 send the sprayed blacking onto the
boot. Two boots are thus successively brushed and blacked.
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 general way the improved method of spreading blacking on boots and
the like and cleaning and polishing them, consisting in subjecting the boots to
the successive action of jets of compressed air, sand, sprayed blacking, tale, bran
or other suitable material projected by means of ejectors of compressed gas, said
jets being adapted to serve successively for removing the mud and blacking and
polishing the boots, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. For carrying out the hereinbefore described method of cleaning and polishing
boots an automatic apparatus released by the insertion of coins substantially as
herein before described and shown in Figs. to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
3. For carrying out the herein before described method of cleaning and polishing
boots, an apparatus working automatically by the weight of the body of the
operator, substantially as herein before described, and shown in Figures 18 to 34
of the accompanying drawings."

page_text: 4. The combination with the apparatuses hereinbefore described for cleaning
and polishing boots, of a registering counting apparatus substantially as herein-
before described and shown in Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.