improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Brushing, Blacking, and Polishing Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1897--Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Brushing, Blacking,
and Polishing Boots and Shoes.
A communication from GUILLAUME GIROG-LANAUZE, Manufacturer, and JULES
LAFAURIE, Gentleman, both of Castelmoron-s-Lot (Lot & Garonne), Republic
of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The present invention relates to machines which may be actuated automatically
The machine consists chiefly of
for blacking and polishing boots and shoes.
three brushes, each of which serves for a different purpose the brushes being
actuated by a special motor which may be put in motion in any manner as for
instance by the insertion of a coin, as is the case in most automatic machines,
or by hand or otherwise.
Whatever motor be used and whatever mechanism actuates it, the motor will
always act on the first shaft, which will simultaneously drive the three brushes,
the first of which removes the dirt, the second applies blacking or polishing
paste, and the third polishes the boot or shoe.
Before describing the mechanism of the machine itself I will describe the
construction and operation of brushes which it is preferable to use and which form
the main part of the machine to be described as an example.
This brush-system consists of an endless belt, that is to say one the ends of
which are joined together, provided on its inner surface with three flexible and
separate brushes, the first of which removes the ad, the second applies the
blacking or polishing paste and the third polishes; this belt-brush is guided by
a rail of special shape. A combined forward and reciprocating movement is
communicated to the belt, that is to say the belt reciprocates while one of its
brushes rubs and acts on the boot and as soon as the operation of said brush is
finished, it moves forward and the following brush comes in contact with the
boot and so on till the three brushes have accomplished their task.
The brush is secured to the belt which is held and guided in its travel by a
guide which determines the direction of movement of the belt. Rollers provided
with projecting flanges are secured to the belt and roll on the rail or guide. The
latter may be permanently fixed if it is desired to brush surfaces which always
remain the same; but as boots vary in shape and size the rail should also be made
flexible; and is therefore mounted on a rigid frame by means of rods which allow
of a movement of the belt in the direction of the axes of the rods.
The rigid
frame may be of any shape but it should always be approximately concentric to
the belt-brush. The rods are distributed along the whole surface of the rigid
frame so that owing to the rigidity of the frame and to the flexibility of the
belt and of the bristles and to the helical springs pressing on the flanges of the

page_text: rods the brush adapts itself to the outline of the boot at the same time brushing
the hollow and arched parts. The rods freely slide in the sleeves secured to or
formed on the rigid frame and are pressed forward by springs.
By unscrewing the sleeve or its cap to a greater or less extent, the belt-brush
is moved forward or retracted at the part where the rod supports the flexible rail
and thus the brush is caused to follow any desired course. The spring serves to
effect elastic brushing allowing at the same time a certain variation of the con-
figuration of the surface to be operated upon.
The foot is introduced from the top; and in the vertical part of the boot, that
is to say at its back, and on the sides the brush is also vertical but over the front
part of the boot it is substantially horizontal in order to rub the convex part of
the boot. The brush is guided obliquely by the guide and by the frame which
take concentrically the same shape. In another part of its travel the belt again)
becomes vertical following as much as possible straight lines and easy curves.
As has been stated before a periodical reciprocating motion is imparted to the
helt, during which the first of the three brushes that is to say the one for removing
the dirt, acts on the boot; the operation of this brush being completed, the
reciprocating movement is automatically converted into a forward movement so
as to bring the second or "blacking" brush, in front of the boot upon which
it acts, then the third brush is similarly brought into action and polishes the boot
and finishes the operation.
The rigid frame may be of any desired shape as long as it allows the flexible
rail to be fixed round the boot in such manner as to cause the brushes passing
round the boot to surround the latter and to adapt themselves to all its curves.
The rigid frame may be in the form of a loop with a restricted end in which
the foot is placed whilst the other part serves for holding or guiding the non-
operative part of the belt-brush. This latter part is arched in an are of a circle.
The reciprocating movement of the whole helt is produced by a pivotted rod which
describes an arc under the action of a crank and a connecting rod which is
pivotted to the aforesaid rod. The free end of this rod being connected to the
beit at the arc shaped part of the rigid frame will impart to the belt a reciprocating
motion, but in order to enable each lyush to advance after completing its operation
so that the next brush may come into operation, the connection of the end of
the rod with the belt is not a fixed one; the connection being effected by two
clasps or pivotted hooks pivotted on a pin fixed on the rod. The two clasps engage
under the influence of springs with the notches or teeth secured at suitable places on
the periphery of the belt-brush. The clasps, therefore cause the latter to reciprocate
as long as they remain in engagement; but after a certain predetermined number
of reciprocating strokes, that is to say, after the brush has completed its operation,
the clasps become disengaged at the upper end of the course of the rod and the
latter returns by itself leaving the belt brush stationary during its backward
movement; when the rod has arrived at the end of its stroke, the clasps again
engage with the next tooth and the reciprocating movement of the following
brush takes place, and so on till all three brushes have successively operated upon
the boot. The engaging and disengaging of the clasps is effected by a pin
passing through the rod between the two clasps. This pin is provided with a
cone which by entering between the two clasps in a recess or opening provided
for that purpose, separates the said clasps thus disconnecting the belt from the
rod. In order to produce this engagement at a desired time there is arranged
at the top of the frame a flat band forming a stop and capable of moving laterally
by means of a lever pivotted on a fixed pin and operated at a given moment by
tappets fixed on the side of the last wheel of the driving mechanism.
During the periodical reciprocating movement of the band the pin and its
cone is out of engagement and is outside the arms of the clasps. During this
time the stop remains moved by the action of a spring so that the piu can pass
freely the reciprocating movement therefore takes place unimpeded. But as soon
as one of the tappets acts on the lever the stop instantly moves and comes into

page_text: the path of the pin the latter striking against it and its cone enters between the
arms of the clasp moves them away from each other, and consequently sets the
brush free during the return of the rod; having arrived at the bottom or rear
end of its stroke; the pin strikes against another stop attached to the sides of the
frame; this stop causes the pin to recede, the clasps fall down again and thus
effect engagement for the periodical reciprocating movement of the next brush.
The rotary movement may be imparted to the gear wheel by a train of gear
wheels operated by the, driving shaft. It only remains now to describe how
blacking or polishing paste is supplied to the brush which follows the one for
removing dirt from the boot. A cup is secured in any suitable place over or upon
the frame, it is filled with liquid blacking or paste on which suitably loaded a
piston acts. From the cup distributing pipe extends, which if it is desired to
distribute blacking over the whole width of the brush, may be caused to reciprocate.
The escape of the blacking or paste must only take place when the red returns
alone after having been disengaged from the brush for removal of dirt, that is
to say immediately before the blacking brush becomes operative. For this
purpose a cock or valve is arranged on the pipe the plug of said cock being pro-
vided with four long rods which are arranged so that two hooked bolts or pins
arranged at each end of the blacking brush, successively engage in their move-
ment, two rods of the plug and thus effect at first the opening and then after the
brush has passed the closing of the cock, which will remain closed till the
blacking brush again comes into operation.
In this machine I have described only one belt with brushes of large size but
in certain cases it may be found advisable to use two or even three brushes side
by side travelling in a parallel direction. In this case they would be smaller
and consequently more flexible and a special rail or guide and pair of clasps would
be required for each belt.
I have described the machine as an automatic machine as an example but I
do not confine myself to the use of automatically controlled mechanism and my
correspondents reserve to themselves the right of using any automatic machine
having one or more of the three descriptions of brushes described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Brushing, Blacking,
and Polishing Boots and Shoes.
A communication from GUILLAUME GIROU-LANAUZE, Manufacturer, and JULES
LAFAURIE, Gentleman, both of Castelmoron-s-Lot (Lot & Garonne), Republic
of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 111 Hatton Garden in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to machines which may be actuated automatically
for blacking and polishing boots and shoes. The machine consists chiefly of three
brushes each of which serves for a different purpose the brushes being actuated
by a special motor which may be put in motion in any manner, as for instance

page_text: by the insertion of a coin, as is the case in most automatic machines, or by hand
or otherwise.
Whatever motor be used and whatever mechanism actuates it, the motor will
always act on the first shaft marked X in the accompanying drawing (Figs. 4
and 5), which will simultaneously drive the three brushes, the first of which
removes the dirt, the second applies blacking or polishing paste and the third
polishes the boot or shoe.
Before describing the mechanism of the machine itself I will describe the
construction and operation of brushes which it is preferred to use and which form
the main part of the machine to be described as an example.
This brush-system consists of an endless belt, that is to say one the ends of
which are joined together, provided on its inner surface with three flexible and
separate brushes, the first of which removes the mud, the second applies the
blacking or polishing paste and the third polishes; this belt-brush is guided by
a rail of special shape. A combined forward and reciprocating movement is
communicated to the belt, that is to say the belt reciprocates while one of its
brushes rubs and acts on the boot and as soon as the operation of said brush is
finished, it moves forward and the following brush comes in contact with the
boot and so on till the three brushes have accomplished their task.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate in section and in plan a part of the flexible belt-brush.
The brush Al is secured to the endless helt A which is held and guided in its
travel by a guide B which determines the direction of movement of the belt.
Rollers C provided with projecting flanges are secured to the belt and roll on
the rail or guide B. The latter may be permanently fixed if it is desired to brush
surfaces which always remain the same but as boots vary in shape and size, the
rail B should also be made flexible, and is therefore mounted on a rigid frame 1)
by means of rods E which allow of a movement of the belt, in the direction of
the axes of the rods. The rigid frame may be of any shape but should always be
approximately concentric to the belt-brush. In this boot-blacking machine, said
belt-brush may be of the shape shown in plan in Fig. 3. The rods E are dis-
tributed along the whole surface of the rigid frame so that owing to the rigidity
of the frame and to the flexibility of the belt and of the bristles and to the helical
springs G pressing on the flanges of the rods the brush adapts itself to the out-
line if the boot, at the same time brushing the hollow and arched parts. As
shown in Fig. 2, the rods E freely slide in the sleeves F secured to or formed on
the rigid frame and are pressed forward by springs G.
By unscrewing the sleeve or its cap F to a greater or less extent, the belt-brush
is moved forward or retracted at the part where the rod supports the flexible
rail, and thus the brush is caused to follow any desired course. The spring G
serves to effect elastic brushing, allowing at the same time a certain variation of
the configuration of the surface to be operated upon.
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view in plan showing the shape given to the belt-brush
this shape being imparted to it by the concentric rail or guide and the rigid
frame. The outline of the foot placed on the foot plate is shown at H.
The foot is introduced from the top; and in the vertical part of the boot, that
is to say at its back and on the sides the brush is also vertical but over the front
part of the boot it is substantially horizontal in order to rub the convex part of
the boot. The brush is guided obliquely by the guide and by the frame which
take concentrically the same shape. In another part of its travel, the helt again
becomes vertical following as much as possible straight lines and easy curves.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of an automatic boot-black, the belt brush
device described being used.
Fig. 5 is a front view partially in section on the left-hand side on line 0 0.
On the right hand side on line (Fig. 4).
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are details of construction.
As has been stated before, a periodical reciprocating motion is imparted to the
belt, during which the first of the three brushes, that is to say the one for removing

page_text: the dirt, acts on the boot; the operation of this brush being completed, the
reciprocating movement is automatically converted into a forward movement so
as to bring the second or "blacking" brush in front of the boot upon which it
acts, then the third brush is similarly brought into action and polishes the boot
and finishes the operation.
The rigid frame may be of any desired shape as long as it allows the flexible
rail to be fixed round the boot in such manner as to cause the brushes passing
round the boot to surround the latter and to adapt themselves to all its curves.
As seen in plan the rigid frame may be in the form of a loop with a restricted
end (Fig. 3) in which the foot is placed whilst the other part serves for holding
or guiding the non-operative part of the belt-brush. This latter part seen from
the side, is arched in an arc of a circle as may be seen in Fig. 4. The reciprocating
movement of the whole belt is produced by a pivotted rod K the pivot of which
is at K and which describes an are under the action of a crank L and connecting
rod M which is pivotted to the aforesaid rod K at K". The free end of this rod K
being connected to the belt at the arc shaped part of the rigid frame will impart
to the belt a reciprocating motion, but in order to enable each brush to advance
after completing its operation so that the next brush may come into operation,
the connection of the end of the rod K with the belt is not a fixed one; the con-
nection being effected by two clasps or pivotted hooks N N (Figs. 6 and 7)
pivotted on a pin N¹ fixed on the rod K. The two clasps N N engage under the
influence of springs O with the notches or teeth O' secured at suitable places on
the periphery of the belt-brush. The clasps therefore cause the latter to reciprocate
as long as they remain in engagement; but after a certain predetermined number
of reciprocating strokes, that is to say, after the brush has completed its operation,
the clasps become disengaged at the upper end of the course of the rod and the
latter returns by itself leaving the belt-brush stationary during its backward
movement; when the rod has arrived at the end of its stroke, the clasps again
engage with the next tooth and the reciprocating movement of the following brush
takes place, and so on till all three brushes have successively operated upon the
boots. The engaging, and disengaging of the clasps is effected by a pin N
passing through the rod K between the two clasps N N. This pin is provided
with a cone O which by entering between the two clasps in a recess or opening
provided for that purpose, separates the said clasps, thus disconnecting the belt
from the moving rod. In order to produce this disengagement at a desired time
there is arranged at the top of the frame a flat band P forming a stop and capable
of moving laterally by means of a lever pivotted on a fixed pin Q (Figs. 5
and 8) and operated at a given moment by tappets Q¹ fixed on the side of the
last wheel R of the driving mechanism.
During the periodical reciprocating movement of the band the pin N and
its cone is out of engagement and is in the position shown in Fig. 7, that is to say
outside the arms of the clasps. During this time the- stop P remains moved by
the action of a spring P¹ so that the pin can pass freely; the reciprocating move-
ment therefore takes place unimpeded. But as soon as one of the tappets Q' acts
on the lever Q the stop instantly moves and comes into the path of the pin N
the latter striking against it and its cone enters between the arms of the clasp,
moves them away from each other, and consequently sets the brush free during
the return of the rod; having arrived at the bottom or rear end of its stroke the
pin strikes against another stop P2 attached to the sides of the frame; this stop'
causes the pin to recede the clasps fall down again and thus effect engagement for
the periodical reciprocating movement of the next brush.
Rotary movement may be imparted to the wheel R by a train of gear wheels
operated by the driving shaft X.
It only remains now to describe how blacking or polishing paste is supplied
A cup m
to the brush which follows the one for removing dirt from the boot.
(Figs. 4, 9 and 10) is secured in any suitable place over or upon the frame; it
is filled with liquid blacking or paste on which a suitably loaded piston n acts.

page_text: From the cup a distributing pipe q extends, which if it is desired to distribute
blacking over the whole width of the brush may be caused to reciprocate. The
escape of the blacking or paste must only take place when the rod K returns
alone after having been disengaged from the brush for removal of dirt, that is to
say immediately before the blacking brush becomes operative. For this purpose
a cock or valve q¹ (Fig. 10) is arranged on the pipe q, the plug of said cock being
provided with four long rods q" which are arranged so, that two hooked bolts
or pins arranged at each end of the blacking brush, successively engage in their
movements, two rods of the plug and thus effect at first the opening and then,
after the brush has passed, the closing of the cock, which will remain closed till
the blacking brush again comes into operation.
In this machine I have described only one belt with brushes of large size
but in certain cases it may be found advisable to use two or even three brushes
side by side travelling in a parallel direction. In this case they would be smaller
and consequently more flexible and a special rail or guides and pair of clasps
would be required for each belt.
I have described the machine as an automatic machine às an example, but-my
correspondents do not confine themselves to the use of automatically controlled
mechanism and they reserve to themselves the right of using an automatic machine
having one or more of the three descriptions of brushes described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion as communciated to me by my foreign correspondents and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
An automatic boot-blacking machine characterised by three brushes automati-
cally and successively coming before the boot in order to remove dirt, to put on
blacking and then to polish it, the movement being imparted by one driving shaft
such as X substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of August 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.