An Improved Machine for Varnishing, Polishing, or Applying India- rubber Solution and the like to India-rubber Shoes, Goloshes, or other Articles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Varnishing, Polishing, or Applying India-
rubber Solution and the like to India-rubber Shoes, Goloshes, or
other Articles.
I, WILLIAM MACDONALD MACKINTOSH, of 24, Spänhusvagen, Malmö, in the
Kingdom of Sweden, Manager of Works, 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 subject of this invention is a varnishing machine, designed more particu-
Jarly for varnishing india-rubber shoes, whereby such shoes, as supplied by the
manufacturer, may be varnished in an expeditious and economical manner.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine; and
Figure 2 is a top view or plan thereof.
The last A, with the shoc B fitted thereon is suspended from a hook C in the
centre of a stationary frame G, which is so curved as to follow, at a constant
distance therefrom, the horizontal outline of the shoe (Figure 2). Upon a
vertical rod D which, with its rollers V V₁, is adapted to travel upon, and be
guided by, rails U U provided for the purpose on the frame G, there are arranged
the brushes E, L, M, for applying and rubbing-in the varnish, polish, or india-
rubber solution. The vertical brushes L are secured to the rod D) by means of a
clamp R, provided at the back N of each; while, to these backs N are linked the
backs of the upper brushes M. These brushes M carry arms P, whose upper
ends rest upon a guide-rail Q, provided on the frame, said arms being pressed
into contact with such rail by suitable springs (Figure 1). The lower rotary
brush E, designed to act upon the sole of the shoe, is supported by an arm F,
located upon the rod 1) and constantly pressed outwards by a spring, so that a
toothed wheel I, carried by such arm, may engage with a rack H mounted or
formed in a recess in the frame G. The shaft or spindle of the wheel I is
connected to the brush-spindle by bevel gearing K. The brushes are supplied
with the varnish, polish or solution through tubes t, 1, 2, leading, from a reservoir S
secured to the bar or rod D.
The bar 1 is adapted to be moved along the frame G in the manner presently
to be described; the vertical brushes L being adapted to slide over the approxi-
mately vertical portions of the shoe, and to apply the varnish to it all round. The
upper brushes M, whilst being depressed by the guide Q, similarly slide over
the nearly horizontal parts of the shoe, which they accordingly coat with varnish;
they are, however raised out of contact with the shoe by their springs the
moment they arrive at the points X (Figure 1) of the shoe, where the nearly
horizontal part of the surface of the vamp or upper joins the vertical sides
thereof which are coated by the brushes L; the guide Q (Figure 2) receding at
the positions in the travel of the brush corresponding to those points. The lower
brush E, which revolves as the rod or bar moves along the frame, is adapted to
apply the varnish to the sole, exercising a rubbing action at the same time. After

page_text: one or more strokes of the bar D, the shoe will be found to be sufficiently varnished
or polished, and may be removed and replaced by another shoe.
In order to cause it to move along the frame G, the bar or rod D is suitably
connected with another similar bar which, by the aid of cams, is moved along a
course or path corresponding to that of the said bar D. The following is the
specific arrangement whereby such motion is imparted to the bar D, reference
being made to Figure 3 of the drawings.
A slotted arm a mounted upon a vertical rotary shaft 6 is provided with a
slot, which grasps, or engages with a vertical rod d, adapted to be moved by
rollers similarly to the bar D (Figures 1 and 2)-along a stationary guide c,
corresponding with the guide or frame G of Figures 1 and 2; so that whenever
the shaft 6 turns, the rod d describes a curve corresponding in shape to the inner
edge of the frame G. This rod d is, by means of a rod e connected with a number
of bars or rods such as D, which are thereby caused to participate in, or exactly
reproduce, the movements of the said rod d, the frame which guides them pre-
venting any deviation.
Thus it will be seen that more than one bar or rod D, and consequently, more
than one varnishing machine, may be operated at the same time and from the
same motor mechanism; and it is owing to this circumstance that the operation
of the novel varnishing appliance is more economical than that of any similar
apparatus hitherto employed.
By omitting the brushes L and M, the machine may be rendered serviceable
for the application of india-rubber solution or the like to the soles of rubber
shoes or to other articles; the shape or outline of the frame G being altered to
suit requirements.
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. A machine for varnishing india rubber shoes, in which a rod or bar (D)
carrying brushes (such as E, L, M,) is adapted to move along and around the
curve corresponding to and preserving a constant distance from the horizontal
outline of the shoe, so that the brushes move in close contact with the said shoe
and in so doing apply to it the varnish, polish or india rubber solution with which
they are fed through tubes (such as t, t¹, (2) from a reservoir (S) attached to the
bar or rod (D); the upper brush being, however, pressed into contact with the
shoe by a guide only whilst it travels over the approximately horizontal front
part of the vamp or upper, and being at other times, raised out of contact there-
with.
2. In a machine of the kind specified in the 1st claim the arrangement whereby
the brush E, which is to polish or varnish the sole of the shoc, is set in motion
through a toothed wheel (I) coupled therewith, which wheel, as the bar D moves
along the frame G, engages with a rack (H) provided on such frame.
3. A modified form of the machine specified in the 1st claim, wherein the
brush (E), which is adapted to act upon the sole of the shoc, is alone retained;
so that, given a suitable shape or outline of the frame G, the machine may be
serviceable for varnishing, polishing or applying india rubber solution to goods
other than shoes or goloshes.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.