Improvements in Boot Cleaning Machines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
I, ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT of 62 Croxteth Road Liverpool Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to an improved machine for cleaning boots when on the
wearers feet or when off.
It consists of several continuous chains one above the other having vertical rods
passing through each chain. The rods also pass through tubes which regulate the
distance apart of the chains. The upper part of the vertical rods carry brushes
which brush the toe, heel and sides of the boot and are travelled by means of
toothed wheels working into the lower chains. The spindles carrying the wheels
are supported from beneath and revolve in sockets.
There is also a similar arrangement, working in toothed wheels, of two or more
chains one behind the other having horizontal rods passing through each, which
carry brushes and brush the front part of the boot.
The boots are moved from one side to the other or raised to meet the brushes
by means of suitable device. When off the wearers feet the boots are held in
place by some special contrivance.
The brushes may travel backwards and forwards or continuously in one
direction.
The spindles or shafts carrying the toothed wheels are revolved by hand or
power, by means of intermediate gearing.
Although I have mentioned toothed wheels and chains, other forms of
mechanism may be used to carry out the invention without altering its special
features, and instead of bringing the boots in contact with the brushes, the
brushes may be brought in contact with the boots.
Dated this Eighth day of October 1895.
Improvements in Boot Cleaning Machines.
I ROBERT LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT of 62 Croxteth Road Liverpool in the
County of Lancaster Civil 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 :-
This invention has for its object a machine which can be run by hand or
mechanical power and which will clean boots while on the wearer's feet or off as
desired.
The invention will be understood from the following description reference being
had to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a section thereof on the line X X.
Figure 2 is an end view of the machine.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the complete machine with a pair of boots in
position.

page_text: In these
A is the framework and B the vertical driving shaft. The latter is shown
geared to a horizontal shaft D with a handle but if turned by mechanical power
would require the necessary gearing.
The vertical shaft B is provided with three bevel wheels L L L one at
the top, another near the middle and the other at the bottom. The top bevel
wheel L works into another bevel wheel L on the horizontal shaft D carrying the
handle. The second bevel wheel L works into another bevel wheel L on the
horizontal shaft conveying the power to the upper chain H2 of brushes J2 and
the bottom bevel wheel L works into another bevel wheel L on the shaft E
carrying a bevel wheel L working into a bevel wheel L on the shaft F which
carries bevel wheels L L working into a bevel wheel L. fixed on to one of the
vertical shafts G and one of the vertical shafts G' having two chain wheels M M
keyed to it.
These chain wheels M M carry two of the chains H H having the vertical
rods K passing through them and the vertical brushes J are attached to these
vertical rods. The horizontal brushes J' are fixed to rods K* passing through the
horizontal chains H2 which are carried at each end by chain wheels M M on a
horizontal shaft one of which has a bevel wheel L keyed on to it and this bevel
wheel L works into another bevel wheel I on a shaft F carrying another bevel
wheel L working into a bevel wheel L on the vertical driving shaft B at about
.half its height.
In order to place the top of the front part of the boot in contact with the
horizontal chain of brushes J a platform is provided which is fixed to a vertical
rod S sliding in a vertical tube T having vertical openings through which passes the
end of a lever R supporting the sliding vertical rod S and thus moving it up and
down. The lever works on a pivot U at the middle of its length and its other end
comes beneath a collar on a vertical rod Q terminating in a screw at the bottom.
The screw end of the vertical rod Q works into a socket and the upper end
terminates with a disc to turn by hand and thus raise or lower the platform
carrying the boot. For controlling the slackness a nut and screw are provided at
the bearings of the shaft carrying one end of the chain of horizontal brushes J.
For ecatrolling the slackness of the chains H H' carrying the vertical brushes J J¹
the two horizontal plates N N forming the framework for each set of vertical
brushes J J1 are curved inwards and a roller carried at the end of a bracket
presses against each of the two lower of the three chains MH'.
The bracket carrying the roller rests on a plate and can be pushed out or drawn
in and then screwed to the plate. The plate is part of a standard having two
plates of sufficient width and length to carry a bracket on each side at the height
of each chain H H requiring adjustment. The standard is placed between the two
sets of vertical brushes J J' and the brackets project from it on each side. If the
boots are brushed on the feet of the wearer they rest each on a platform, the
person standing with one foot on each platform with the toes under the upper chain
of brushes J. If the boots are off the feet they are held in position by any
suitable device keeping them to the platform. The outer side of the boots the
front of the toe and the beel are brushed by the vertical brushes J J' which travel
round them. The top of the front of the boots are brushed by the horizontal
brushes Jattached to the upper chains H2 which travel over them. The machine
does not apply the blacking to the boots which must be done by some independent
means.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The operator stards on the platforms which he raises or lowers by turning the
disc handles on the rods Q until the platforms are at a suitable height for the
vertical brushes J J¹ to brush the sides of the boots. He then turns the handle on
the shaft D which is at a suitable height and starts the brushes J J travelling
round the boots and moving his boots from side to side or from end to end or
inclining them slightly until they are brushed except the top of the front of the

page_text: boot, when he raises the platforms and brings the top of the front of the boots in
touch with the horizontal brushes J' and then turning the handle as before these
brushes J brush the top of the front of the boot.
In thus describing my invention I do not bind myself to the exact arrangements
herein described for it is obvious that so long as the boots are pressed against the
brushes as they travel round or over them it is immaterial how the brushes
are kept in place and travelled or whether they are horizontal vertical or
inclined.
The apparatus as above described is used mainly for polishing but it will be
obvious that it can also be used for cleaning boots. It is not intended that each
machine should brush all sizes and shapes of boots or shoes. When the boots are
not on the wearer's feet a last or its equivalent is put inside to support the leather
over the instep so that the brushes in passing over cannot press the leather down
and make it miss polishing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in or relating to apparatus for cleaning or polishing boots
and shoes while on the wearer's feet or off as desired substantially as described
and illustrated also the following parts or improvements taken separately :-
(a) In combination the chains HH' passing round the boot to be cleaned
brushes J J attached to rods K K¹ passing through the chains H H³
substantially as described;
(6) The combination of chains H2 with rods K2 having brushes J' attached
for brushing the top of the front of the boot substantially as described ;
(c) The special arrangement of parts with the vertical shafts G carrying
tooth wheels M M M M for supporting and maintaining the brushes J J' in
position while travelling round the boot substantially as set forth;
(d) The special arrangement of parts with the horizontal shafts carrying
tooth wheels M M M M for maintaining the brushes J' in position while
travelling over the boots substantially as set forth.
Dated this Seventh day of August 1896.
R. LETHBRIDGE TAPSCOTT.