IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BURNISHING THE EDGES OF BOOT OR SHOE SOLES
Year: 1884

page_text: Ì, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BURNISHING THE EDGES
OF BOOT OR SHOE SOLES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
"
This invention relates to machines for burnishing the edges of the soles of boots
and shoes and comprises the novel construction and arrangement of the parts all
substantially as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing is illustrated a machine for burnishing the edges
of boot and shoe soles constructed according to this invention.
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation and partial vertical cross section.
Figure 2 is a front elevation.
Figures 3 and 4 are cross sections on lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively Figure 2
and
Figures 5 and 6 are detail sectional views hereinafter referred to.
A represents a frame or stand having legs B on which frame or stand the various
moving and other parts are supported.
C is a horizontal shaft turning in suitable bearings a in the frame A and carrying
pulleys D E F and G, Figure 4.
The pulley E is the driving pulley and is rigidly connected to said shaft and is
driven by a belt from any suitable driving mechanism, and D is a loose pulley on
to which the driving belt for pulley E is shipped when not operating the machine.
The pulleys F and G are tixed to and turn with the shaft C. The pulley G is
connected by a cross belt H with a pulley J fixed to a horizontal shaft K parallel
with the shaft C and turning in suitable bearings b in the frame A and carrying
another pulley L in line with the pulley F. These several pulleys are all on the
same horizontal plane.
M is a pulley in line with and between the pulleys F and L and arranged to
turn by its shaft N in suitable bearings d in the upper end of an upright bar P
pivotted at its lower end to the floor at f.

page_text: This pulley M is connected by a belt Q with a pulley R above it and on a shaft S
which turns in suitable bearings g in the upper end of the frame.
Attached to this pulley R is a pulley T, from which a belt U extends to and
around a pulley V of a shaft W arranged to turn in bearings in the end m of an
arm Y, attached to and arranged to rock or oscillate in a vertical direction on
shaft S.
The shaft W carries a pulley Z, connected by a belt A2 with a pulley B² on a
shaft C of the burnisher-tool D².
5
The arm Y has behind its shaft S an extension E³, having a weight F2 arranged
to slide back and forth thereon, by which to balance and adjust the end m of the 1
arm and the parts carried by it, as shewn more particularly in Figure 1.
Power communicated to the shaft C revolves the pulleys F and G and through
the cross belt H the pulleys J and L the crossing of the belt revolving the pulleys J
and L in a reverse direction to the pulleys F and G. The pulleys F and L are
friction pulleys acting on the pulley M as it is placed in contact with either the
one or the other of said pulleys. This contact is obtained by swinging the arm P
in the proper direction therefor, and when so placed in contact the pulley M is
revolved, and through the several pulleys and belts between said pulley M and the
pulley B on the burnisher tool, said pulley B2 and its shaft Care caused to
revolve in one or the other direction as the case may be.
The shaft C of the burnisher tool, as shewn more particularly in Figures 5 and 6
In the said shaft
is of tubular form, turning in suitable bearings in the burnisher.
is a rod or spindle G₁, carrying on one end the burnisher head H2.
The rod or spindle G is adapted to be easily inserted and removed from said
tubular shaft as desired, and to turn therewith when in said shaft. It is secured in
the shaft by a thumb screw J* screwing into a collar K2 secured by a set screw of to
the tubular shaft, which thumb screw passes loosely through one side of said
tubular shaft and bears against said rod or spindle.
The burnisher head H is circular in form, and as its edge n is revolved by said
tubular shaft, the edges of the boot or shoe sole are burnished as usual.
By loosening the said thumb screw J2 the burnisher head with. its spindle can be
removed from said shaft, and this mode of removing and inserting or attaching the
burnisher head by its rod or spindle to the said tubular shaft C enables heads of
various sizes and shapes to be attached to the said shaft C, and used as desired,
and when so attached to be secure from any liability to become loose or detached,
when in operation. The boot or shoe to be burnished is held and supported on
the parts L, A last having been placed in the boot or shoc, the boot or shoe is
placed with its toe against the end t of the piece Q³ of a rod P' on an arm M of
the frame; the end w of the arm S² of said piece Q placed in a socket in the last
and then the end x of a lever T2 placed against the sole of the boot or shoe to
firmly hold the boot or shoe between it and the piece.Q. The parts holding the
boot or shoe are arranged so that the boot or shoe can be turned or rotated as
desired.
°
j
Any suitable arrangement of parts for holding and supporting the boot or shoe
while being operated upon by the burnisher tool can be used as this is no part of
the present invention.
The support for the boot or shoe and the length of the belt A³ with the arm Y,
in substantially a horizontal position are so arranged, relatively to each other, as to
be all in proper position for a convenient and practical operation of the burnishing
tool.
To burnish the edges of a boot or shoe sole, first secure the boot to its support
then take hold of the boot at its back or heel portion by the left hand and with
the tool D, by its handle U³, in the right hand, at the same time causing the
burnisher head to be revolved, apply and press the working edge n of the burnisher
head to the edge of the boot or shoe sole, turning the boot back and forth, until the
entire edge of said sole has been presented to and acted upon by the burnisher

page_text: head, this operation being repeated as many times as is necessary for the thorough
burnishing of the same.
In such operation it is necessary, that as the boot is turned its edge surface,
where being burnished, should move in a reverse direction to the direction in which
the acting portion of the circular edge n of the burnisher head moves, that is, the
working surface of the tool and the edge of the sole being acted upon should not at
such time move in the same direction.
To effectually and practically burnish or polish the edge of the boot or shoe sole,
its edge should be rubbed by the burnisher head a more or less number of times,
and therefore time is saved by reversing the motion of the burnisher head and
correspondingly the movement of the boot as is obvious. In order to secure the
respective reverse motions as desired of the sole edge and burnisher head, and keep
the tool as constantly at work as possible loosing no time in operating the machine,
the reversing of the rotation of the burnisher head must be done quickly, and on
the instant, and this is accomplished by the present invention, by simply swinging
the arm P forward or backward, as the case may be, for the pulley M to be in
contact with either one or the other of the pulleys F. L.
To operate said arm P conveniently, a horizontal arm V° is provided, it being
pivotted to the frame at 62 and by its angular arm pivotted to another hori-
zontal arm W2, adapted to swing horizontally on a pivot f of the frame A, said
arm W being attached by its socket g³ to the end of the arm P carrying the
pulley M.
Both of these arms V and W° extend toward the front, in convenient positions
for the one V to be raised by the knee of the operator, when he is setting down,
and for the other W to be pushed by his body when he is standing.
Raising the arm V³, or pushing the arm W2, by their connection, as described
with the arm P, puts the pulley M, in contact with the pulley F. By relieving
the arm V or arm W' from the pressure of the knee or body of the operator,
the end of arm V³, which is weighted, as at for the purpose, returns the pulley M
to its contact with the pulley L, which is constantly maintained, except when
operated as above described.
The reversing of the motion of the pulley M and the consequent change of
rotation of the burnisher head, is thus secured in a simple easy and quick manner.
From a collar m² arranged to swivel on the rod n of the handle U³ of tho
burnisher tool (which collar is secure from escape by a set screw p³) an arm q²
extends backward, its end having an opening s² to freely slide over and rest on a
horizontal rod t attached to the frame A at u. On this arm is an upward
projection having a concave upper surface extending across the arm on which
surface the arm 92 can rest when the tool is not being used in a convenient position
for the operator.
The swivelling of the collar m³ on the tool enables the tool to be turned or
swivelled as desired to accommodate its working edge to the various changes of the
out-line of the sole of the boot.
The tool is weighted, as at w², so as to retain its balance against the pull of the
belt in revolving its shaft, and it with the belt are preferably heavier than the
weight F, when adjusted, in order to assist more or less the operator when
burnishing the sole edge. This weight F' keeps the belt A' tight at whatever
height the tool is held when operating it.
As shown, the pulleys F and L, in their action on the pulley M, bear directly
against the belt Q where it is in contact with the pulley M, but as is obvious the
pulleys can bear directly against each other; as for instance, the pulley M could be
of width sufficient for the pulleys F L to bear on it outside of the belt, and in such
case the peripheries of said pulleys could be flat, or of V shape in cross section. It
is preferable however to have some elastic material such as leather on their bearing
surfaces.
The pulley M can be moved between the pulleys F and L, for the purposes of this
invention in other ways, as for instance by sliding on guide ways suitably arranged

page_text: therefore. Also the pulley L can be driven independently of the pulley F,
preserving however its rotation in reverse directions The support for holding the
boot or shoe and the burnisher tool and their operating parts are all on the same
stand so that the machine is compact, convenient for transportation and requires no
setting up or adjustment of the parts nor of the support to the burnisher tool, when
the machine is moved from place to place.
In lieu of having the end of the lever V weighted as described, it can have a
spring attached to it to return it to its normal position.
It is obvious that other burnisher tools can be used in lieu of the one herein
particularly described, and also that an edge trimming tool for boots and shoes
can be substituted for a burnishing tool without departing from this invention.
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 combination with a tool for burnishing the edges of boot and shoe
soles, constructed and arranged substantially as described to be rotated by belts
and pulleys, of a pulley arranged to be moved forward and backward between two
driving pulleys adapted to be revolved in reverse directions by means of a cross
belt.
Second. In combination with the pulleys F and G, and J and L, the pulleys J
and G being arranged to revolve in opposite directions, of a pulley M, connected to
the burnisher tool by belts for the operation thereof and carried by a swinging
frame P provided with means for operating to for the purpose specified.
Third. In combination with the pulleys F and G, and J and L, the pulleys G
and J being connected by a cross belt H, of a pulley M connected to the burnisher
tool by belts for the operation thereof, carried by a swinging frame P operated by
an arm V2 or W2 substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fourth. A tool for burnishing the edges of boot and shoe soles provided with
an arm q² arranged to slide and rest on a supporting arm t2 of the frame A, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. In combination with pulleys G and J arranged to revolve in reverse
directions, of a pulley M connected to the burnisher tool by belts for the operation
thereof, carried by a swinging frame P, having an arm V2, operating the same and
weighted at its end, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Sixth In a burnisher tool, a head H2 rigidly attached to one end of a rod G²,
detachably secured in a tubular shaft C3, said shaft being adapted to be rotated
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Seventh. In combination with a burnisher tool having a swivelling collar m²
and an arm q³ attached thereto, of an arm t2 of the frame on which said arm q³ can
slide and rest, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Eighth. A tool, for burnishing the edges of boot and shoe soles, provided with
an arm q, arranged to slide on a supporting arm t2 of the frame A having a
concave projection v³ substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated this 30th day of December 1884.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.