US2769190A - Shoe polishing machine - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 6, 1956 B. c. ASHLEY SHOE POLISHING MAQRINE Filed Nov. 4, 1952 22a 7 Fig 3 Burn/s 6. Ashley INVENTOR.

Nov. 6, 1956 Filed Nov. 4, 1952 B. 0. ASHLEY 2,769,190

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 O m 0' 0 ob 0 0 V s w: a o

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N \N A w s o 0 0 a I a I q N '2' M3 o 3 5 Burn/s 0. Ashley INVENTOIZ.

Q a BY @W o '0 Q and Q- 0 9 3 m Nov. 6, 1956 B. c. ASHLEY 2,769,190

I SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 4; 1952 S Sheets-Sheet 5 Bum/'s 0. Ashley INVENTOR.

, Attorney:

United States Patent SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Burnis C. Ashley, Houston, Tex.

Application November 4, 1952, Serial No. 318,705

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-31) This invention relates in general to shoe polishing machines, and more specifically to a machine whose shoe polishing operation is entirely mechanical.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved machine which may effectively polish shoes through the use of mechanical means only, said shoe polishing machine being of a nature whereby the expense of having the shoes polished may be much less than that normally charged for manual shoe polishing operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe polishing machine which is of the type which may be conveniently mounted in stores or other public places and which may be customer-operated so as to automatically shine ones shoes upon the actuation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe polishing machine which includes a plurality of brushes having control means for selectively actuating the same, said brushes being adapted to sequentially clean, apply polish to, and shine a shoe positioned within a shoe receiving opening of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe polishing machine which is especially designed for mechanically shining shoes, said shoe polishing machine being of a relatively simple construction and formed of readily obtainable materials whereby the same is economically feasible. i

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved shoe polishing machine which is of the type that may be conveniently disposed within an attractive cabinet and which may be operated to selectively polish black or brown shoes, or any other desired combination of shoes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved control mechanism for a shoe shining machine, said control mechanism being so designed whereby the same may be actuated by a coin disposed within a coin slot, said control mechanism being adapted to selectively operate drive means for the shoe polishing machine and including means for selectively applying polish to a set of polish applying brushes.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the shoe polishing machine which is the subject of this invention andshows the general appearance of the machine including shoe receiving recesses formed in a portion thereof;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the shoe polishing machine of Figure 1 and shows the general appearance of the same; I i

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the mechanism disposed within the cabinet of Figures 1 and 2 and shows the general construction of the shoe polishing mechanism;

Figure 4 is a transverse horizontal sectional view through one half of the lower portion of the cabinet of Figure 1 and shows the specific arrangement of brushes and drive mechanisms for operating a shoe polishing assembly for polishing one sh-oe;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a shoe being in the process of being engaged by a toe engaging brush of the shoe polishing assembly of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the rear of the shoe of Figure 5 and shows one side of the same being engaged by a side and heel engaging brush;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by t e section line 77 of Figure 8 and shows the manner in which a hanger for a brush mounting shaft is secured to one of the conveyor chains;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8-8 of Figure 4 and shows the mounting and drive means for the conveyors and brushes; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 4 and shows the relationship of the brushes at a different point in the shoe polishing cycle of the shoe polishing mechanism.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in particular, it is seen that there is illustrated a cabinet which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The cabinet 10 includes a generally rectangular base portion, which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12, and an upstanding portion which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 14. The upstanding portion 14 is intended to contain control mechanism for shoe polishing machinery disposed within the base portion 12. Mounted at the top of the upstanding portion 14 is a display case 16 in which may be mounted for display articles such as shoe laces and the like.

The top wall 18 of the base portion 12 is provided with a pair of shoe receiving openings 20 and 22 in which ones foot may be disposed. For purposes of illustration, the shoe receiving opening 20 is associated with a black shoe polish applying mechanism and the shoe receiving opening' 22 is associated with a brown shoe polish applying mechanism. In order that the shoe polishing mechanisms may be selectively operated, a'front wall 24 of the up standing portion 14 is provided with coin receiving slots 26 and 28 which are adapted to control the black polish applying mechanism and the brown polish applying mechanism, respectively. Associated with the coin receiving slots 26 and 28 are coin returns 39 and 32, respectively, into which pass defective coins which will not operate the control mechanism of the shoe polish mechanisms of the shoe polishing machine.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it is seen that there is illustrated a schematic diagram of the mechanism of the shoe polishing machine, which is the object of this invention, the mechanism including a black shoe polish applying mechanism which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 34 and a brown shoe polish applying mechanism which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 36. It will be observed by carefully reviewing Figure 3 that the black shoe polish applying mechanism 3,4 is identical to the brown shoe'polish applying mechanism 36. Inasmuch as the two shoe polish applying mechanisms are identical, only one will be described in detail.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it is seen that the base portion 12 of the cabinet 10 includes a front wall 38, a rear wall 40 and one side wall 42 which extends between adjacent edges of the front and the rear walls. The base portion 12 also includes the above-mentioned top wall 18 to which is secured the upstanding portion .14 and which is provided with the shoe receiving opening 22 The base portion 12 also includes a bottom wall 44 which is in spaced parallel relation with respect to the top wall 18.

As is best illustrated in Figure 8, secured to the bottom wall 44 is a plurality of upstanding C-shaped supports 46 which have lower flanges 48 thereof secured in overlying relation to the bottom wall 44 by suitable fasteners 50. The supports 46 also include upper flanges 52 which have mounted thereon in overlying relation thereto by suitable fasteners 54 rollers 56. Each of the rollers 56 engages an inner portion of a lower conveyor chain 58 whose outline is best illustrated in Figure 4. Each of the rollers 56 is provided with a lower annular flange 60 which underlies the conveyor chain 58 and supports the same above the bottom wall 44.

In vertically spaced relation to the conveyor chain 58 is an identical conveyor chain 62. The conveyor chain 62 is also supported by a plurality of C-shaped supports 64. However, the supports 64 are secured by suitable fasteners 66 to the underside of the top wall 18 and depend therefrom. Secured to a lower flange of each support 64 and extending upwardly therefrom is a roller 68. The roller 68 engages the conveyor chain 22 and supports the same for movement, each roller 68 being provided with a lower annular flange 70 which underlies and supports the conveyor chain 62.

Disposed at a rear outer corner of the conveyor chain 58 is an enlarged C-shaped support 72 which has mounted thereon for rotation a vertical shaft 74. The vertical shaft 74 has rigidly secured to the upper end thereof for rotation therewith a drive sprocket 76, the drive sprocket 76 engaging the conveyor chain 58 for imparting movement to the same. Mounted on the lower end of the shaft 74 is a driven pulley 78 which is connected to a drive pulley 80 by a drive belt 82.

Carried by the top wall 18 and depending therefrom at the same outer rear corner of the conveyor chain 62 in vertical overlying relation with respect to the support 72 is a C-shaped support 84. The C-shaped support 84 has mounted thereon for rotation a vertical shaft 86 carried by the lower flange thereof. The upper end of the shaft 86 is provided with a drive sprocket 88 which is intermeshed with the conveyor chain 62 and is adapted to impart movement to the same. The lower end of the shaft 86 has secured thereto a driven pulley 90 which is connected to a drive pulley 92, the pulleys 90 and 92 being connected by a drive belt 93 entrained thereover.

The drive pulleys 80 and 92 are in vertical alignment and mounted on a common drive shaft 94 which is supported at its lower end in a bearing member 96 carried by the bottom wall 44 and at its upper end in a bearing member 98 carried by the top Wall 18. The manner in which the drive shaft 94 is rotated will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

As is best illustrated in Figures 4 and 7, secured to certain lengths of the conveyor chains 58 and 62 are inwardly projecting hangers 100 which are pivotally connected to connecting members 102 carried by the conveyor chains by pivot pins 104. These hangers 100, which are secured to the upper sides of each of the conveyor chains 58 and 62, have formed on their inner ends in opposed relation suitable bearing members 106. Extending between and rotatably journaled in aligned bearing members 106 are vertical shafts 108. The shafts 108 have secured to lower portions thereof driven pulleys 110 which are engaged by an elongated continuous drive belt 112. It will be understood that movement of the drive belt 112 will impart rotary motion to the pulleys 110 and the associated shafts 108.

The central rear portion of the drive belt 112 is entrained over a drive pulley 114 which is mounted on a vertical drive shaft 116. The lower end of the drive shaft 116 is journaled in a support bracket 118 extending forwardly from the rear wall 40, and the upper end of the drive shaft 116 is rotatably journaled in a suitable bearing member 120 depending from the top wall 18. The

manner in which the drive shaft 116 is rotated will also be described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it is seen that also carried by the conveyor chain 58 and secured to the upper side thereof are inwardly extending hangers 122. The hangers 122 have mounted on the inner ends thereof for rotation eyelet pulleys 124 which engage the drive belt 112 and retain the shape thereof while the conveyor chains are passing around corners at the ends of the cabinet. It will be also noted that the rollers 56 are tightly grouped at the forward end of the cabinet so as to permit proper movement of the conveyor chains about a heel of a shoe. It will be further noted that certain of the rollers 56 have their annular flanges 60 omitted.

At the rear portions of the drive belt 112 there are provided numerous guide pulleys 126 rigidly carried by the bottom wall 44 for guiding the drive belt 112 into engagement with the drive pulley 114. The guide pulleys 126 are so arranged that the pulleys and 124- remain in constant engagement with the drive belt 112 except for a very short interval.

Referring now to Figure 4 in particular, it is seen that the brown shoe polish applying mechanism 36 which is illustrated therein includes a cylindrical toe cleaning brush 128, a pair of wheel-shaped side and heel cleaning brushes 130, a cylindrical toe polish applying brush 132, a pair of wheel-shaped side and heel polish applying brushes 134, a cylindrical toe polishing brush 138, and a plurality of wheel-shaped side and heel polishing brushes 140. While this arrangement may be varied, it will be understood that the brushes should be so arranged whereby the sequence of operation of the shoe polish machine is such that the shoe is first cleaned, then polish is applied, and then the polish is shined. In order that shoe polish may be selectively applied to only the polish applying brushes 132 and 134, there is provided a pivotally mounted bell crank 142. The bell crank 142 has one arm 144 disposed adjacent the paths of the brushes and has mounted on a free end thereof a first polish pad 146 and on the opposite end thereof a second polish pad 148.

The second arm of the bell crank 142 is connected to a plunger shaft 150 of an electromagnetic device 152 which may be selectively actuated in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter. When the electromagnetic device 152 is actuated, the bell crank 142 is pivoted to the position illustrated by the solid lines in Figure 4 so that the polish pad 146 engages the brush 132 and the polish pad 148 sequentially engages the brushes 134. It will be understood that the electromagnetic device 152 is actuated only long enough to apply polish to the brushes 132 and 134. The bell prank 142 then returns to its normal position, which is illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 4 so as to move the polish pads 146 and 148 out of the path of the other brushes.

It will be noted that the toe engaging brushes 128, 132 and 138, which are identical, are normally in a position whereby they do not engage a shoe which may be placed upon a shoe support 154 adjacent the front end of the cabinet 10. As is best illustrated in Figure 8, the brush 132 is mounted on a shaft mounted for rotation within a suitable journal member 156 which is supported by a support arm 158. The other end of the support arm 158 includes a suitable journal member 160 which is mounted on an associated rotating shaft 108. Carried by the associated shaft 108 is a first bevel gear 162 which is intermeshed with a bevel gear 164 carried by an end of the shaft on which the brush 132 is mounted. It can be seen that when the shaft 108 is rotated the bevel gears 162 and 164 function to rotate the brush 132. In order that the brush 132 and its support arm 158 will not rotate together with the shaft 108, there is provided a coil spring which has a lower end thereof connected to the support arm 158 and an upper end connected to an associated bearing member 106. The coil spring 170 retains the brush 132 in its normal position, as is best illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it can be seen that rigidly secured to the support arm 158 and extending outwardly therefrom is an arm 172. The outer free end of the arm 172 is provided with a roller 174 which is adapted to engage a cam 176 carried by the side wall 42 and projecting inwardly therefrom. As the conveyor chains progress in their travel, the arms 172 move into engagement with the cam 176 and the associated brush 132 is rotated inwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 9 to overlie a toe of a shoe positioned upon the shoe support 154 in order to properly engage the same in a manner best illustrated in Figure 5. It will be noted that the brush is referred to by the reference numeral 132 and the shoe is referred to by the reference numeral 178. However, it will beunderstood that the brushes 128 and 138 will engage the shoe 178 in exactly the same manner. After the arm 172 moves out of engagement with the cam 176, the brush 132 is returned to its normal position.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated one of the wheel-shaped brushes, which will be referred to as the brush 134, and which is illustrated as being in engagement with the side of the shoe 178. It will be understood that the brush 134 will remain in engagement with the sides and heel of the shoe 178 during its travel around the front portion of the cabinet. Due to the effective engagement of the brushes, such as the brushes 132 and 134, with the shoe 17:8, it will be seen that the same will be thoroughly cleaned and polished.

Referring once again to Figures 4 and 8 in particular, it will be seen that there is supported on the rear wall 40 of the base portion of the cabinet 10 an electric motor 180 which is provided with a drive pulley 182. The drive pulley 182 is in alignment with a driven pulley 184 mounted on the drive shaft 116 and is connected therewith by a drive belt 186. Disposed above the pulley 184 is a first gear 188 which is intermeshed with a gear 190 secured to the drive shaft 94. In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that both the conveyor chains and the drive belt 112 will be driven by a single power unit, such as the electric motor 180.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that there is operatively associated with the electric motor 180 in a manner to be described in more detail hereinafter a control member which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 192. The control member 192 includes a pair of concentric contact rings 194 and 196 which are substantially continuous. However, the contact rings 194 and 196 are interrupted so that there will be a point whereby no current will be passed from them to contact fingers 198 and 200, respectively, engaged therewith. The control member 192 also includes a segmental contact ring 202 which is engageable by a contact finger 204.

The controls for the shoe polish applying mechanisms 34 and 36 also include coin control switches 206 and 208 which are associated with the coin receiving slots 26 and 28, respectively. Connected to these coin operated switches 206 and 208 are main lead wires 210 and 212 which are connected to a power source. Inasmuch as the wiring for the two shoe polish applying mechanisms 34 and 36 are identical, only the wiring for the shoe polish applying mechanism 36 will be described in detail.

Connected to the coin control switch 208 at a point remote from the connection of the lead wires 210 and 212 are wires 214 and 216. The wire 216 is connected to the contact ring 194 and the wire 214 is connected to the contact rings 202 and 196. The wire 214 is also connected by a wire 218 to one terminal of the electromagnetic device -2.

It will be seen that connected to terminals of the motor 180 and the contact fingers 198 and 200 are wires 220 and 222, respectively. Connected to the other terminal of the electromagnetic device 152 is one end of a wire 224 whose other end is connected to the contact finger 204.

Referring once again to Figures 4 and 8 in particular,

it will be seen that mounted on the drive shaft 116 below the pulley 184 is a pulley 226. The pulley 226 is connected to a pulley 228 of a speed reduction box 230 by a drive belt 232. The speed reduction box 230 is provided with a drive shaft 234 on which is mounted the control member 192. The various contact fingers are mounted on a stationary block 236 carried by the rear wall 40in alignment with the control member 192.

In operation, a persons shoe is deposited into the desired shoe receiving opening 20 or 22 depending upon the color shoe to be shined.' Then, a coin is selectively positioned in the correct coin receiving slot 26 or 28 so as to actuate one of the coin operated switches 206 and 208.

The operation of one of the switches 206 or 208 results in the passage of current to the associated control member 192 with the associated energization of the electric motor which results in the driving of the conveyor chains and the drive belt 112. The energization of the motor 180 also results in the rotation of the control member 192 due to the action of the speed reduction box 228. As the segmental contact ring 202 rotates, it comes in engagement with the contact finger 204 with the result that the associated electromagnetic device 152 is energized to apply shoe polish to the desired polish applying brushes 132 and 134. The conveyor chains continue their cycle until the contact fingers 198 and 200 reach the gaps in the contact rings 194 and 196, respectively. At this time, the circuit to the electric motor 180 is opened and the same stops revolving. Also, the coin in the selected coin receiving slot 26 or 28 is then permitted to drop into a suitable receptacle (not shown), to break the circuit to the control member 192. After the coin has dropped into the chute, the momentum of the various elements of the drive means results in the rotation of the control member 192 to a point where the contact fingers once again engage their respective contact rings 194 and 196 to properly complete the circuit should another coin be positioned within the associated coin receiving slot. After one shoe has been polished, it will be necessay to repeat the operation for the other shoe.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shoe polishing machine comprising an endless conveyor, a plurality of shoe engageable brushes, a stationary support for a shoe to be polished, means mounting said endless conveyor for movement about said stationary support, first drive means connected to said conveyor, second drive means connected to said brushes for rotating said brushes, said brushes including a first brush and second brushes, support means mounting said first brush on said conveyor for engagement with a toe only of a shoe, and other support means mounting said second brushes on said conveyor for engagement with sides and the heel only of a shoe.

2. A shoe polishing machine comprising an endless conveyor, first drive means connected to said conveyor for moving said conveyor through one complete revolution in a complete shoe cleaning operation, a plurality of shoe engaging brushes, second drive means connected to said brushes for rotating said brushes, support means mounting said brushes on said conveyor in sets for sequentially cleaning, applying polish and shining a shoe, each of said sets including a first brush and second brushes, said support means mounting said first brush of each of said sets for engagement of a toe only of a shoe, said support means mounting said second brushes of each set on said conveyor for engaging the sides and a heel only of a shoe.

3. In a shoe polishing machine, shoe polishing means including a shoe support, a plurality of brushes, a conveyor mounted for movement about said shoe support, drive means connected to said brushes for rotating said brushes, said brushes including a first brush and second brushes, said second brushes having bristles, support means mounting said second brushes on said conveyor with said bristles disposed in a plane normal to the general surfaces of said heel portions of a shoe mounted on said shoe support, and other means mounting said first brush on said conveyor for movement longitudinally over a toe portion of a shoe, said first brush having bristles lying in a plane normal to the general surfaces of a toe portion of a shoe, cam means connected to said other support means for retaining said first brush out of engagement with a shoe when disposed rearwardly of a toe portion of a shoe.

4. A shoe polishing machine comprising a shoe support, a conveyor mounted for movement about said shoe support, a plurality of shoe engageable brushes, first drive means for said conveyor, second drive means for said brushes, said brushes including a first brush, support means mounting said first brush on said conveyor for movement longitudinally over a toe portion of a shoe in engagement therewith, and a second brush, means mounting said second brush on said conveyor for movement about a shoe in engagement with side and heel portions thereof, cam means for retaining said first brush in spaced relation relative to a shoe when disposed rearwardly of the toe portion thereof, said support means including a support arm pivotally mounted relative to said endless conveyor, said cammeans including another arm connected to said support arm, a fixed cam engageable with said another arm to pivot said first brush into a shoe toe en- 7 gaging position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,024,589 McConnell Apr. 30, 1912 1,086,023 Campbell Feb. 3, 1914 1,086,032 Diekmann Feb. 3, 1914 1,086,043 Green Feb. 3, 1914 2,060,384 Shearer Nov. 10, 1936

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