Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for Burnishing or Finishing Boots and Shoes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for
Burnishing or Finishing Boots and Shoes.
We, ALFRED POCHIx of Fern Bank, Princess Road, Leicester, Boot and Shoe
Engineer, HENRY ADDISON of same address, Foreman Machinist, and GEORGE
SHIPLEY of 84 Clipstone Street, Leicester, Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machinery or apparatus used for the purpose of
burnishing or finishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes and has particular
reference to that part of the machine by means of which the polish or glazing of
the before mentioned parts of a boot or shoe is effected.
In machines as at present constructed for this purpose, there is employed a
heated iron which is rapidly moved to and fro over the part of the boot or shoe
to be burnished.
According to our invention instead of using the iron before mentioned we employ
a flexible metal device or surface, a convenient illustration of which may be in the
form of a compound link chain, that is to say, a chain having links connected to
each other both laterally and longitudinally so as to secure flexibility.
This flexible metal device may be heated after the manner of the iron herein-
before referred to or in any other suitable way and have a backing of asbestos or
other material which is incombustible and not affected by heat.
The flexible metal device may be carried or supported by expanding rollers or
otherwise in such a manner as to bed closely to the part of the boot or shoe being
operated upon to thereby produce the requisite glaze or polish.
The invention is not confined to a flexible metallic chain as herein before referred
to but is capable of several modifications one of which may consist of a number of
balls, spheres, buttons or equivalent connected together in any convenient manner
to permit of an individual or collective movement in either a longitudinal or lateral
manner for the purpose named.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Machinery or Apparatus for
Burnishing or Finishing Boots and Shoes.
We, ALFRED POCHIN, trading as The Standard Engineering Co., of Welford
Road, Leicester, HENRY ADDISON, Foreman Machinist, and GEORGE SHIPLEY,
Pattern Maker, of the same address, 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 relates to machinery or apparatus used for the purpose of
finishing the soles and heels of boots and shoes aud has particular reference to that

page_text: part of the machine by means of which the polishing or glazing of the before
mentioned parts of a boot or shoe is effected.
In machines as at present constructed for this purpose, there is employed a
heated iron or tool which is rapidly moved to and fro over the part of the boot
or shoe to be burnished.
According to our invention instead of using the iron or tool before mentioned
we employ a flexible metal device or surface for the said purpose.
The said flexible metal device may be carried or supported by expanding rollers
or otherwise in such a manner as to permit of bedding closely to the part of the
bout or shoe being operated upon to. thereby produce the requisite glaze-or polish.
The invention is capable of various modifications and may consist of a compound
link-chain, i.e. a chain, having links connected to each other both laterally and
longitudinally, or it may consist of a number of blocks, balls, spheres, buttons, or
equivalents. connected together in any suitable manner.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a finishing or burnishing machine provided with one
form of flexible metal burnishing surface in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a detail view hereinafter referred to.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the pulley and a portion of the flexible metal
surface passing over the same and gas, jet for heating it, and 'Figure 4 is an end
elevation of a portion thereof.
Figures 5 and 6 are perspective view and end elevation respectively of one of
the series of blocks, per se.
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a compound link chain herein-
after referred to.
A represents the pedestal of the machine in the upper end of which are two
arms A¹ A forming bearings for a shaft B carrying the usual fast and loose
pulleys B B2, by the former of which the said shaft is driven.
Upon the said shaft there is mounted a pulley Cover which passes a flexible
metal surface which in this instance is shown in the form of an endless belt D.
The latter also passes over a pulley E mounted loosely on a spindle 'E' which
may be screwed or otherwise connected to a slide block whose sides are shaped
to fit into a groove or passage with inclined sides in a horizontal extension G of
the pedestal A so as to be movable up or down to cause the pulley E to slacken
or tighten the flexible metal surface D as may be required.
For the purpose of adjusting the tension i.e. slackening or tightening the latter
as mentioned, the slide block F is internally threaded to receive a screwed spindle F',
which can be rotated by a band wheel F but which is prevented travelling up or
down by a pin F3 passing through a block F connected to the arm A and into
a circumferential groove F (shown in dotted line) in the said spindle.
The flexible metal surface is heated by a gas flame H³ from a pipe H which
plays on the back thereof and the heat can be regulated by the stop tap H'.
The flexible metal surface forming the endless belt represented in Figures 1,
3 & 4, of the accompanying drawings, consists of a number of blocks or pieces J,
one of which is shown per se.in Figures 5 and 6.
Each block is formed with a smooth curved acting or burnishing surface J
against which the operator presses the heel or sole of the boot or shoe to be
burnished.
The shape of the acting surface will vary according to whether the flexible metal
surface is to be employed for burnishing heels or soles.
The surface J of the block shown in Figures 5 and 6 is suitable for heel
burnishing but for sole burnishing the said surface would be of a uniform curve
from one end. to the other end.
To connect these blocks together so as to constitute an endless flexible 'band or
chain, the said blocks are by preference provided at each end with a projecting
pin Jover which small link plates J³ Figure 3, are fitted.
They may however be connected together by other means.

page_text: Although a flexible metal surface consisting of a series of blocks J formed into
an endless band is a most convenient form yet we do not confine ourselves to that
particular form of construction, as it is obvious that a series of balls, spheres,
buttons, or other equivalent smooth faced instruments or devices may be connected
together in a somewhat similar or convenient manner and the same result would be
obtained froin the use thereof.
Or we may employ an endless chain, one form of which is shown in Figure 7,
the links K whereof are connected to each other both laterally and longitudinally.
In Figure 1 the flexible metal surface is shown as passing over two pulleys so as
to be revolved thereby, but it is obvious that a reciprocating motion may be
communicated thereto by rocking or oscillating the shaft B in any of the well
known ways and the reciprocating flexible metal surface would effect the burnishing
of a boot or shoe heel or sole when pressed against it just the same as if the said
flexible metal surface were continuously travelling or revolving.
Although the said flexible metal surface is most convenient for use when in the
form of an endless belt, the present invention is intended to include a flexible metal
surface in the form of a strap the ends of which may be connected in any suitable
manner to the pulleys before mentioned.
L, is a brush such as is ordinarily used on finishing machines and does not form
part of the present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a boot and shoe burnishing machine the employment of a revolving or
reciprocating flexible metal surface substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a boot and shoe burnishing machine an endless flexible inetal surface and
means for adjusting the tension of same substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. In a boot and shoe burnishing machine a flexible metal burnishing device
consisting of a series of smooth faced blocks, balls, spheres, or equivalent
instruments connected together to form an endless chain substantially as described.
4. In a boot and shoe burnishing machine a flexible metal burnishing device
consisting of a series of smooth faced blocks, balls, spheres, or links connected
together to form an endless chain, tension pulleys, and means for moving one of the
said pulleys relatively to the other to slacken or tighten the said endless chain for
the purpose described.
5. In a boot and shoe burnishing machine the combination with a revolving or
rocking shaft of a flexible metal burnishing surface in the form of a strap or an
endless belt, means for slackening or tightening the said strap or belt substantially
as and for the purpose described.
6. The improved boot and shoe burnishing machine consisting of the parts
constructed, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the
purpose described.
Dated this First day of March 1895.