US3440676A - Shoe polishing machine - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1969 w. A. BECK ET AL SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Sheet of 3 Filed May 10, 1967 i 0 Mad 5 7 $3M m /W M 4. Z

April 29, 1969 w, BECK ET AL SHOE} POLISHING MACHINE Sheet Filed May 10, 1967 April 29, 1969 w. A BECK ET AL 3,440,676

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE Filed May 10, 1967 Sheet 3 of 3 cZ -ji United States Patent SHOE POLISHING MACHINE William A. Beck, River Hills, and William F. Kruke, Cedarburg, Wis., assignors to Beck, Inc., Grafton, Wis.,

a corporation of Wisconsin Filed May 10, 1967, Ser. No. 637,564 Int. Cl. A471 23/05, 23/06 US. Cl. 1531 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a coin operated shoe polishing machine in which the polish in the form of an aerosol spray is applied to a rotating polishing brush at intervals during the polishing cycle. A pressurized spray can of polish is mounted for rotation in an inclined plane and at given intervals during the cycle, an actuating member is moved into the arc inscribed by the rotating can, and the discharge nozzle of the can rides against the actuating member to discharge polish onto the polishing brush.

In the past, coin operated shoe polishing machines of various degrees of complexity have beenused in commercial establishments such as hotels, depots, airports, auditoriums and the like. In most polishing machines of this type the polish, either in a liquid or solid form, is applied directly to the shoe to be shined. For example, in one common type of machine the polish is applied by spraying liquid polish directly on the shoe which is placed in a recess in the lower end of the machine. A machine of this type is not entirely satisfactory in that if the shoe is not placed within the recess at the time the polish is sprayed during the automatic cycle, the polish will'spray directly on the floor. Another problem with a machine of this type is that the polish is frequently sprayed onto the customers stockings or trouser cuffs.

Another conventional type of shoe polishing machine utilizes applicator brushes which remove polish from a solid bar and apply it to the shoe. Over a period of time, the solid polish bar will harden with the result that it is very diflicult to remove the polish from the bar and the effectiveness of the shine is destroyed.

The present invention is directed to an improved shoe polishing machine in which the polish in the form of an aerosol spray is applied directly to the polishing brush at specified intervals during the polishing cycle. More specifically, the machine includes a cabinet and two polishing brushes are mounted in the front of the cabinet adjacent the floor. One of the brushes is to be used for shining brown shoes, While the second brush is to be utilized for shining black shoes. Pressurized spray cans of brown and black polish are mounted for rotation in an inclined plane within the cabinet behind each of the brushes. As the cans are rotated, an actuating arm is pivoted inwardly at a predetermined time during the polishing cycle and the discharge nozzle assembly of one of the rotating cans rides on the arm to discharge polish directly onto the corresponding polishing brush. As the can is being rotated as the polish is sprayed, the polish is distributed along the entire length of the polishing brush.

The polishing cycle is started by inserting a coin in a coin slot in the front of the machine and after insertion of the coin, the customer pushes either a brown or black push-button indicating the color of shoe to be polished. Depressing the brown or black button sets u the electric circuitry to drive a cam drive motor and a second motor to rotate the polishing brushes. As the cam rotates, it actuates a switch to operate a solenoid to thereby pivot the arm associated with the selected color 3,440,676 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 ice to spray that color of polish onto the corresponding polishing brush.

Continued rotation of the cam will cause a stop switch to be actuated which deenergizes the circuitry and stops the polishing cycle.

The polishing machine of the invention provides a uniformity of polishing during the entire period of service of the aerosol spray can. The unit can remain idle for substantial periods of time without clogging or hardening of the polish in the spray cans. This results in a more reliable unit and reduces maintenance costs.

As the polish is sprayed directly onto the polishing brush rather than onto the customers shoes, it eliminates all problems of polish accidentally contacting the customers stockings or trouser cuffs.

The polish is sprayed from the aerosol can during a specific timed interval in the polishing cycle, resulting in an accurate metered amount of polish being applied to the polishing brush. Moreover, the aerosol cans can be readily removed when empty and new cans installed with a minimum of labor and without the necessity of removing and cleaning tubes, hoses or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

The drawing illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the outer cabinet of the polishing machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the drive mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the shelf and showing the drive for the can holders;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the adapter for the spray can; and

FIG. 6 is a wiring diagram showing the operation of the machine.

The drawing illustrate a coin-operated shoe polishing machine including a cabinet 1 having a front wall 2 and a pair of side walls 3. A pair of polishing brushes 4 and 5 are mounted beneath the front wall at the bottom of the machine. The brush 4 is adapted to be used for polishing brown shoes, while the brush 5 is to be used for polishing black shoes.

A conventional coin-slot switch unit 6 is mounted in the front wall 2 and is adapted to receive a coin to start the operating cycie of the machine. In addition to the coinslot unit 6, a pair of push- buttons 7 and 8 are mounted on the front wall 2 and by depressing the button 7, the circuitry will be actuated to polish brown shoes, and by depressing button 8, the circuitry is set up to polish black shoes, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The polishing brushes 4 and 5 are mounted on a horizontal shaft 9 which is journalled in housing 10 attached by brackets 11 and 12 to the front wall 2 and bottom wall 13 of the cabinet.

To rotate the brushes 4 and 5, a pulley 14 is mounted on shaft 9 and is connected by a belt 15 to a pulley 16 mounted on the drive shaft of motor 17 which is supported on the inner surface of the front wall 2.

An inclined shelf 18 is positioned between the side walls 3 within the cabinet 1 and a gear motor 19 is mounted on a bracket 20 which is supported on the shelf 18. Drive shaft 21 of motor 19 is connected by a coupling 22 to a shaft 23 which is journalled within an opening in the shelf 18. The lower end of the shaft 23 carries a pair of pulleys 24 and 25.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the pulley 24 is connected by a belt 26 to a pulley 27 mounted on shaft 28. Similarly, the pulley is connected by a belt 29 to a pulley 30 mounted on shaft 31. To provide the proper tension on belts 26 and 29, a tightening roller 32 rides against each of the belts. Each of the rollers 32 is rotatably mounted on the end of an arm 33 which is pivotally connected to the lower surface of the shelf 18. Springs 34 serve to bias each of the rollers 32 into engagement with the respective belt to maintain the proper degree of tension on the belts.

Shafts 28 and 31 extend upwardly through the shelf 18 and the upper end of each shaft carries a can holder 35 and one can holder supports an aerosol spray can 36 of brown polish to be sprayed on the brush 4 for polishing brown shoes, while the other can holder 35 supports an aerosol spray can 37 which contains black polish to be sprayed on the brush 5.

The liquid polish in each of the cans 36 and 37 is pressurized by a liquified fluorocarbon gas commonly sold under the name of Freon. The liquified fluorocarbon gas has a vapor pressure above atmospheric pressure and when the outlet of the can is opened the pressure of the fluorocarbon gas will serve to discharge the polish from the can. As the head space in the container is increased in volume due to the discharge of polish, additional quantities of the liquified fluorocarbon gas will be vaporized to maintain the desired vapor pressure within the can. Examples of liqui fied fluorocarbon gases which can be used as the pressurizing medium are perfiuorocyclobutane, chlorotrifluoromethane, tetrafluoromethane, chloropentafluoroethane, and mixtures thereof.

The aerosol spray cans 36 and 37 are of conventional construction and the upper end of each can is provided with a nozzle 38 having a discharge orifice 39 which extends generally normal to the axis of the can. Nozzle 38 is carried by a stem 40 which is slidable within the can and orifice 39 is normally closed by a conventional springloaded valve mechanism, not shown. Surrounding the nozzle 38 is an adapter 41 having opposed holes 42, one of which is in alignment with the orifice 39. As best shown in FIG. 5, a pin 43 is slidably mounted within an opening in the upper end of the adapter 41 and is maintained in the opening by a pair of rings 44 which are located within circumferential grooves in the upper and lower ends of pin 43. When the pin is depressed inwardly, the lower pointed end 45 of the pin will engage a recess or notch in the upper end of nozzle 38, thereby depressing the nozzle and opening the discharge orifice 39 to spray polish from the can.

The polish from each of the cans 36 and 37 is sprayed onto the corresponding brushes 4 and during predetermined intervals in the polishing cycle by arms 46, each of which is pivotally connected to a bracket 47 mounted on the shelf 18. Each arm 46 has a generally curved surface 48 and as each individual can 36 and 37 is rotated about an axis normal to shelf 18, the outer end of the pin 43 will ride against the inner surface 48 of arm 46 to thereby open the corresponding discharge orifice 39 and spray the polish onto the respective polishing brush.

The arms 46 are movable from an inoperative position where the pins 43 will not engage the arms 46 as the cans rotate, to an operative position where the pins 43 engage the arms 46. To move the arms from the inoperative to the operative position, a bracket 49 is connected to the outer end of each arm 45 and a spring 50 connects each bracket with the outer end of a plunger 51. Plungers 51 are mounted for reciprocating movement in solenoids 52 and 53, respectively. As the plunger 51 is drawn into the solenoid, the corresponding arm 45 is moved to the operative position where the pin 43 of the rotating can will engage the arm to thereby spray polish from the can.

The solenoids 52 and 53 are operated by a drive mechanism driven by the gear motor shaft 23. A pinion 54 is mounted on the shaft 23 and drives a large gear 55 mounted on shaft 56 which is journalled on the shelf 18. Gear 55 carries a cam segment 57 mounted off-center with respect to the gear 55, and a stud 58 is connected to the upper surface of cam 57 adjacent the periphery of the cam. As the gear 55 and cam 57 rotate, the edge of the cam engages switches 59 and 60 which are mounted in vertically aligned relation on a bracket 61 connected to the shelf 18. Switch 59 is operably connected to solenoid 52, while "switch 60 is connected to solenoid 53. Depending on whether the brown or black circuitry has been energized, the actuation of the switches 59 and 60 will operate the respective solenoids 52 and 53 to thereby pivot the corresponding arm 45 and spray the polish from the corresponding spray can.

In addition to the switches 59 and 60, a stop switch 62 is mounted on bracket 61 and is adapted to be engaged by the stud 58. Actuation of switch 62 will serve to open the electrical circuit and stop the polishing cycle.

The wiring diagram is shown in FIG. 6. A coin-operated switch 64, arranged to close when a coin is inserted into the coin slot 6, is connected to one of the power lines 65 in parallel with the normally closed stop-switch 62. Closing the normally open contacts of switch 64 by inserting a coin in the slot 6 serves to energize the relay 66 and close the normally open latching contacts 66-1 which serve to maintain energization of relay 66 when the coin switch 64 is opened. The power supply through contacts 66-2, Which are also closed through energization of relay 66, is delayed until the contacts of coin switch 64 return to their normally open position, thus insuring maximum security of the coin-receiving mechanism.

Relay contacts 66-2 are connected in parallel with pushbuttons 7 and 8. When the brown pushbutton 7 is depressed by the customer, relay 67 will be energized to close the normally open contacts 67-1 and 67-2, and the black pushibutton 8 is rendered inoperative. Closing of the normally open contacts 67-1 will energize the drive motor 17 and the gear motor 19 to thereby rotate the polishing brushes and start the cam drive mechanism.

As the cam rotates, the cam switch 59 will close and as the contacts 67-2 are closed at this time, the solenoid 52 will be energized to pivot the corresponding arm 46 inwardly. As the cam rotates, the plunger 43 will be depressed as it rides against the arm to thereby spray brown polish from can 36 onto the polishing brush 4. When the cam segment 57 moves out of contact with the switch 59, the switch 59 will open to thereby deenergize the solenoid 52 and move the corresponding arm 46 outwardly so that polish will not be sprayed from the can 36 as the can rotates.

In a similar manner, if the customer selects to polish black shoes, he depresses the black button 8, energizing relay 68 through the normally closed contacts 67-1 and closing the normally open contacts 68-1 and 68-2, simultaneously rendering the brown pushbutton 7 inoperative. Closing of contacts 68-1 serves to actuate the motors 17 and 19 to rotate the polishing brushes and start the cam drive mechanism. As the cam rotates, the switch 60 will be closed and as the normally open contacts 68-2 are closed, the solenoid 53 will be energized to thereby move the corresponding arm 46 inwardly so that the can 37 containing the black polish will ride into contact with the arm to spray polish onto the polishing brush 5.

Subsequently, the stud 58 will contact the stop switch 62, closing the normally open contacts of switch 62 and thereby deenergize relay 66, and opening the normally open contacts 66-2 of relay 66, thus diverting power through the closed switch 62 and through the closed contacts 66-2 keeping relays 67 and 68 energized, and thereby continuing the polish cycle until stud 58 allows the contacts of switch 62 to return to their normally open position, thus breaking the circuit and stopping the polish cycle.

By spraying polish directly onto the polishing brush, the invention eliminates the inherent disadvantages of a polishing system in which the polish is applied directly to the customers shoes. Under normal operation, the cans 36 and 37 will each rotate several times for each revolution of the gear 55. The position of the can in its cycle of rotation when the arm 46 is pulled inwardly is not critical, for as the can rotates, the plunger 43 will ride against the arm to open the valve and spray the polish onto the corresponding polishing brush. By altering the shape of the cam 57, the arm 46 can be moved to its operative position more than once for each revolution of the corresponding can so that more than one spray of polish can be obtained during the cycle, if desired.

By employing the polish in liquid form in an aerosol spray can, the present invention eliminates the use of tubes or conduits for the polish and thereby eliminates problems of caking or hardening of polish within the tubes. Moreover, to eliminate any problem of wax congealing and precipitating within the cans 36 and 37 in the event the cans are subjected to temperatures below average room temperatures, an electric heating element 69 is mounted above the platform 18. Heating elements 69 are supported from a vertical bracket 70 secured to the base 13 and each element 69 is confined within a shield 71 that serves to direct the heat generated by the elements toward the respective cans 36 and 37. The elements 69 act as polish conditioners by warming the polish and thereby preventing the Wax constituents of the polish from settling out in the cans even though the machine may be exposed to relatively low ambient temperatures. As an added advantage, the heat developed by the elements 69 serves to warm the liquified gas propellant in the cans 36 and 37 and maintain the propellant at high enough pressure for eflicient delivery.

With the pressurized type of discharge utilized in the invention, a uniform amount of polish is applied to the brush for each shine regardless of the period of time the spray can has been in service. As the cans rotate in an inclined plane about an axis which is ofifset from the vertical, the rotation serves to completely mix the liquid polish within the cans and further aids in providing a uniform discharge of polish onto the brushes.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim:

1. In a shoe polishing machine, a supporting structure, a polishing brush mounted for rotation on said supporting structure, a container to contain polish and having a discharge opening enclosed by a movable discharge mechanism, drive means for moving the container and said discharge mechanism in a given path of travel with respect to the supporting structure, the axis of said discharge opening being in alignment with said brush during at least a portion of said path of travel, and operating means mounted on the supporting structure and located in the path of travel of said discharge mechanism for operating said discharge mechanism and discharging the polish through said opening and onto the brush during said portion of said path of travel.

2. The polishing machine of claim 1, and including means for mounting the container for rotation about an axis disposed at an angle to the vertical, and said drive means acting to rotate said container about said axis.

3. The polishing machine of claim 1 in which said container contains a mixture of liquid polish and a liquified gas, said liquified gas having a vapor pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

4. The polishing machine of claim 3 in which the liquified gas is a liquified fluorocarbon gas.

5. The polishing machine of claim 1 in which said operating means comprises an elongated member movable between an inoperative and an operative position, said elongated member, When in the operative position, being engaged by said discharge mechanism as said container is moved in its path of travel to thereby open said discharge opening and discharge polish onto said brush.

6. The polishing machine of claim 5, and including cam means operably connected with said elongated member to move said elongated member between said inoperative and operative positions at predetermined intervals during the polishing cycle.

7. In a shoe polishing machine, a supporting structure, a brush mounted for rotation on said supporting structure and adapted to be contacted by the shoe to be shined, means for rotating said brush, a container to contain polish and having a discharge opening and having a movable closure mechanism for selectively opening and closing said discharge opening, said container having its longitudinal axis disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal, means for rotating said container about an axis normal to said longitudinal axis, closure operating means mounted for movement between an operative and inoperative position, said closure operating means, when in said operative position, being located within the circle inscribed by said closure mechanism as the container is rotated whereby said closure operating means engages and opens said closure mechanism to spray polish on said brush, and said closure operating means, when in the inoperative position, being outside of the circle inscribed by said closure mechanism as the container is rotated whereby said closure mechanism is not engaged by said closure operating means during rotation of the container, and means for moving the closure operating means from the inoperative to the operative positions at predetermined times during the polishing cycle.

8. The polishing machine of claim 7, in which the closure operating means comprises a generally curved arm pivotally connected to the supporting structure.

9. The polishing machine of claim 8 in which said means to move said closure operating means comprises a solenoid operably connected to the free end of said arm.

10. The shoe polishing machine of claim 7, and including electrical heating means disposed above the path of rotation of said container for heating the container to maintain the polish in a Warm condition and segregation of the constituents of the polish.

11. In a shoe polishing machine, a cabinet, a pair of brushes mounted for rotation with respect to the cabinet, a pair of containers to contain polish, each container having a discharge opening enclosed by movable closure mechanism, first drive means for rotating said brushes, second drive means for rotating the containers in a plane inclined with respect to the horizontal with the axis of the discharge opening of each container being in alignment with one of said brushes during at least a portion of the rotation of said container, and operating means for each container and engageable with the respective closure mechanism for opening said discharge opening and discharging polish'onto the respective brush during said portion of rotation of the container.

12. The shoe polishing machine of claim 11, and including a pair of selector members mounted on the cabinet with the first of said selector members operably connected to the operating means associated with the first container and the second selector member operably connected to the operating means associated with the second container, operation of said first selector member acting to operate the operating means associated with said first container to thereby discharge polish from said first container, and operation of said second selector member acting to operate said operating means associated with said second container to discharge polish from said second container.

13. The shoe polishing machine of claim 12, and including means for rendering one of said selector members inoperative when the other of said selector members is operated.

14. The machine of claim 11 in which each operating means comprises an operating member movable from a first to a second position, the closure mechanism of the corresponding container adapted to engage the operating member when in said first position, and cam drive means operably connected to said operating means for moving said operating member between said first and second positions during the polishing cycle.

15. The shoe polishing machine of claim 1, and including heating means for heating the container to main tain the polish in a warm condition and segregation of the constituents of the polish.

16. The shoe polishing machine of claim 11, and including coin operated switch means having a first position and a second position, control switch means having a first position and a second position, an electric circuit connecting the first position of said coin operated switch means and the second position of said control switch means with said first and second drive means, an operating circuit connecting the second position of said coin operated switch means and the first position of said control 8 switch means, and a timing circuit including timing switch means for holding the control switch means in the second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,066,338 12/1962 Nappi 153l X 3,309,726 3/1967 Moore et a1. l532 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,407,040 6/1965 France.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

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