US3022528A - Automatic shoe shine device - Google Patents

Description

R. R. PAGANO AUTOMATIC SHOE SHINE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 27, 1962 Filed Dec. 23, 1959 INVENToR. 400# 40. /DAAA/o AGE/v7' wmp vv Feb. 27, 1962 R. R. PAGANO 3,022,528

AUTOMATIC SHOE: SHINE DEVICE Filed Dec. 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,622,528 AUTOMATIC SHOE SHINE DEVICE Ralph R. Pagano, 118 87th St., Brooklyn 9, N.Y. Filed Dec. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 861,481 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-31) The present invention relates to an automatic device for feeding measured amounts of a viscous substance to a receiving station and in particular to an automatic shoe shine machine in which a measured amount of a viscous shoe polish is controllably fed to an applicator brush at measured intervals wherein an operator of said machine is enabled to apply shoe polish to each of a pair of shoes and polish the same.

One feature of the device resides in the construction of a reservoir for containing a viscous substance under continually applied hydrostatic pressure, one end of the reservoir having a discharge line associated with an electrically operable discharge valve coupled to a control circuit with which is associated a selectively operable timing mechanism adapted to control a complete cycle as well as to control via cam means sub-cycles within the complete cycle. As a preferred embodiment, the reservoir has a one-way valve means connected thereto which enables the filling of said reservoir with the viscous substance without dismantling the reservoir assembly.

' Another feature resides inthe use of a plurality of reservoirs, each confining a different viscous substance, e.g. such as various colors of shoe polish, wherein the ejection of a desired color can be controlled in accordance with selectively controlled electrical circuits. Thus, each reservoir may have electrically operable discharge means each of which may be associated with a control circuit containing a selectively operable timing mechanism adapted to effect sequential feeding of measured amounts of the viscous substance to a particular receiving station, e.g. an applicator brush where the substance being fed is shoe polish. In a preferred aspect of the invention, a selector or isolation circuit is employed for selectively energizing a particular control circuit with respect to the particular element of the device (c g. reservoir discharge means) to be actuated, the selector circuit thereafter isolating itself from the circuit by means of a thermal time delay cut-out relay. l

Putting it another way, the invention provides an automatic device capable of being controlled selectively in the delivery of one of a plurality of viscous substances to a receiving station wherein one portion of the device is mechanically arranged with electrically controlled mechanical elements for utilizing one type of viscous substance, and another portion of the device similarly arranged with mechanical elements for utilizing another type of viscous substance. Thus, in the case of a shoe shine machine, the electrically controlled elements comprise an orice for ejecting shoe polish to a receiving station comprising an applicator brush and a rotatable shaft containing said applicator brush as well as additional brushes for polishing the shoes. To effectively control the automatic actuation of the device, a combination of control circuits may be employed comprising a main or holding circuit for each group of mechanical elements and selector or isolation circuits each adapted via releasably operable contacts or switch means to select a main or holding circuit according to the particular shoe polish desired. Each of the holding circuits has releasably associated therewith subsidiary circuits comprising a timing circuit and other circuits each adapted to control an element of the group of mechanical elements associated with the holding circuit, the timing circuit containing a timing motor having cam means associated therewith pre-set to energize selectively each of said subsidiary circuits as well as control the total running cycle of the device.

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As applied to a preferred embodiment of an automatic shoe shine machine, the device comprises a frame for housing two sets of mechanically arranged elements, one for handling black polish, the other brown polish. Two rotatable shafts are provided, one containing a set of brushes for handling one polish and the other containing a similar set for handling another polish. Each shaft is separately driven by a motor via belt and pulley means. Each of said brush assemblies is associated with an upright cylindrical reservoir each containing one of the aforementioned viscous polishes under continually applied hydrostatic pressure, each reservoir having associated therewith an electrically operable discharge means.VV

Each'of the brush and reservoir combinations has associated therewith a control circuit comprising a holding circuit and an isolation circuit, each isolation circuit being adapted via releasably operable switch means to select a holding circuit corresponding to that portion of the device to be actuated, the isolation circuit being thereafter cut out by a thermal time delay relay. Similarly as in the other embodiments, the holding circuit has releasably coupled thereto subsidiary circuits cgmprising a timing circuit containing a timing motor having means associated therewith pre-set to actuate the motor for rotating a particular shaft and to actuate the discharge means for ejecting the shoe polish in accordance Awith a desired operating sequence determined by cam settingsY on the timing motor.

It is anobject ofthe invention to provide a device capable of being automatically controlled for feeding measured amounts of a viscous substance from a reservoir to a receiving station.

Another object is to provide an automatic Vshoe shine machine capable of being selectively operated to suit the needs of the operator.

Other features and objects will more clearly appearV from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. l depicts generally in three dimensions one embodiment of the invention as applied to an automatic shoe shine device;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along line 2-2 showing I n 1 showing the relation of the ejection orifice to the aplicator brush;V and Y FIG. 6 is illustrative of an electrical circuit which may be employed in the device of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an embodiment of a shoe shine device is shown having the general shape of a triangular prism. The frame includes vertical members 2 spaced forward of the device as shown in FIG. 2, members 2 serving to support therebetween cross members 3 and 4 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The front portion of the device has a vertical structural member 5 (FIGS. 1 and 3) of contoured sheet steel (e.g. 16 gage) connected to side members 5a also of sheet steel which in turn are connected to angles 1a in the rear of the device (FIG. 3) to form a rigid suporting structure. Structural member 5 has connected at each side thereof auxiliary members 6,

cal circuit components maintained within container 12 shown in FIG. 2. Another container 12a is provided connected to the back of cross member 3 for containing a sheathing of sheet steel 13 bent rearwardly at 1 to form a rigid structure; Y

Crossmembers 3 and 4 are used to support a pair of cylindrical reservoirs 14, 15 preferably of high strength extruded transparent plastic material, although the reservoir may be made of metal. As employed in a preferred embodiment, the reservoirs have a diameter of about 3 inches,V a wall thickness of about 1A inch Vand a length of about 12 inches. Each cylinder contains a hollow floating piston or cup 16,1701?V 2O gage spun steel having connected to the hollow thereof (note FIG. 4) a high energy compression spring 18 of cold drawn steel in which Y hollow the spring is Vcapable. of being fully retracted when the'reservoiris lled with a viscous substance such as shoe polish. The Ypiston which is about 21/2 inches high its snugly into the inner bore of the reservoir. Eachk reservoir is held in position by upper plates 19 and lower Y plates 20 removably fixed to cross bars 3 and 4, respectively, the lower plate having a hole cut out (note FIG;Y 4) for receiving and supporting acomponentbell shaped- `bottom 21 of the'reservor, the bottom` being supported Vat its flange 22. Cylinder 15 is adapted'totit snugly into bottom 21Y and sealed tight via exible washer 23. The; various elements making up the reservoirs are held to-VV gether asa unit by tie rods 24 (FIG. Y2) bolted tight to resist the expanding tendency of piston springs 18. When the cylinders are lled with a viscousY substance to be discharged, such as shoe polish,v and the oating pistons with the connecting springs put in place, and the reservoir assembly clasped tight between 'support plates 19 and 2i) via tie rods 24, the springs are caused to retract within thelhollow of the pistons wherein suicient energy is stored up `within the springs to maintain continual hydrostatic pressure on the viscous substance.

The bell shaped bottom of the reservoir has extend-' ingf therefrom outlet tubingV 2S (FIG. 4), preferably copper tubing, to which 'is connected a control valve 26 for controlling the amount-of flow of shoepolish. The outletextends toy a discharge line 27 which connects to a solenoid operated valve 2S normally in the closed position bvut'electrically operable vto open for a timercalculated to discharge a measuredV amount of viscous substance to the applicator brushof the shoe shine machine via ldischarge orifice 29 (FIG. 5). Referring to FlG. 5, discharge orifice 29 is disposed beneath Ysheet metal guard 30held rigid by strut 30a whichguard is immediately atop applicator brush 42,. A leather flap 31 is alsoV .provided forward of orifice 29 beneath the guard'toA prevent any centrifugal,splatteringgof shoe polish that mightpossiblyY occur during polishing.

To facilitate filling of the reservoir without discon.V

necting-the various elements, Va onefwayvalve 32 is provided in bottom x21l throughgwhich, shoe polish 32a can be injected'byrmeans of a high pressurel gun or similarV As shown in FIGfB, the space-below shelf -9 in 'thelower part of the machine isoccupied by a pair of shafts.

deviceV (FIG. 4). i

journaled at 33fand 34fon auxiliary members 6 and 7 in the forward Ypart of the machineand similarly journaled in. the rear,atm35, 3,6.Y TransverseV support `men-1- bers '37, 38 are provided to support the rearend ofthe shaft. The journaled shafts 39,l 4,0each contain three sets of'brushes; applicator brushesV 41, 42, V polishing brushes 43, 44,.and birding brushes '45', 46, Each of the shafts are driven by. V-beltsY (notshown) by means of pulleys 47,1, 48 via'Ymotors 10 andV 11, respectively, the

aid the operator to support himself during a shoe shine cycle;

The triangular-like prism S projecting upward from the machine in FIG. 1 is not structurally essential but would be useful for containing instructions, e.g. on the vertical faces thereof, for guiding the operatorV in utilizing the device.

The device has a door 5 6 (FIGS. l and 2) hinged at 56a and latched at 56b behindV which a coin box 57 is mountedA via a bracket 58 to cross member 59 xed to the sides of the device. in FIG. l, two slot chutes 61, 62 are provided directed v to slot chute 65 of the coin hoX.V Y

ing onwhetherV blackor brown polish is desired. Each.

of the two slots effects the energizing of an isolationcircuit which determines the actuation of the control circuits energized by amain coin Vswitch subsequently actuated by the s-ame coin which actuates the isolation cir-` cuit. T he circuits employed` inV controlling the operation of the machine will be more clearly understood by referring to FIG. 6

ln this figure, acoin receiver 60 is indicated schematically with co-in. slots 61, 62, one to actuate the black polishing side of the machine, e.g. 61, the other thebrown polishing side, c g. 62. Slot 61 contains black. selector Y switch 63 for actuating the black isolation circuitY conbelts passing throughV openingst4r9r5r0fof shelf9YV to pulleys f 51, 52 of the shafts.V VOne, set of brushes is adapted for black polish, theother-set for brown polish. Foot railings` 53, 53a, and hand railings` 54,5441 .arelprnovided vtiointerval, `cuit has also been released fromv itsnormally open positaining relay assembly` K1 while slot. 62A contains brownV selector switch 64 for similarly actuating the brown isolating circuit containing relay assembly. K1. are directed towards main slot 65 containing main control switch 66 which the coin ac-tuates after actuating either selector switch 63A or: 64. The two isolation cir- Y cuits are important in that,V depending on the one energized, they determine selectively the operation of the main or holding circuit in controlling the shoe shine cycle. Assuming the black side ofthe circuit is to be energized, a coin is caused to traverse slot or chute 6l to eiect contacting of 'selector switch 63 and the momentary closing of the circuit through line 67, coil 68 of electromagnetic isolation relay K1 and Vpower supply line 69. As coil 68Y is energized, contact '71 releases from its normally open-position with contact 72 and locks up with contact to form a complete circuit. with the normally closed contactsof thermal delay relay 73. The heater of the thermal relay is energized andvis pre-set to maintain a complete-circuit for a short time interval, e,gr.rfor about three to ve seconds or other desired time During Vthis period contact 75 yof another cirtion with contact 76 and locked up with Vcontact 74 due to energized coil 68.k

The purposeofrthethermal delay relay is to avoid lock-up of the isolation relay andato re-open the circuit in the event the coin does Ynot actuate main switch 66 andris rejectedrfor any of thefollowing reasons (l) A change coin box is lusedand there are no coins readily available for making change; Y

(2) A vbent'or defective coin is dropped in the chute and fails to actuateswitch 66;

(3) Slugs are used Yin lieu of coins;

(4) Faulty operation vof ,the switches.

If during the,aforementionedV short time interval, none of the foregoing situations occur, then the coin, after setting up thegblackgi'solation circuit, enters the chute or slot 65 of the coin box withinv said time Yperiod and At the top of the machine shown Both slots actuates the main coin switch. When this occurs, a circuit is formed through line 77, previously closed contacts 75-74, line 78, ccil 79 of black holding relay K2, and line 80 through re-set switch 81 to ground. Coil 79 is thereby energized causing contact 83 to release from open contact 84 and lock up with contact 82 through normally closed re-set switch 81. In the meantime, the thermal relay operates after expiration of said short time period to open the contacts 71 and 75, thus cutting the isolation circuit completely from the subsequent operation of the machine. The black holding relay K2 is also isolated from the coin switch through power lead 80a, coil 79, line St) and to ground via transfer switch 81. Because coil 79 is now energized, contact 87 is released from open contact 88 and locked up with contact 86 whereby the circuit containing timer 85 is closed via line 89, through contacts 87-86 to ground. The timer which comprises a 1/s r.p.m. motor is energized and starts to run a complete revlution for about 180 seconds except for a momentary stopping at 175 seconds.

Timer 85 contains a shaft with three separate cams mounted thereon pre-set to operate switches to actuate (1) brush motor 10 via switch 92 and relay K3 containing electromagnetic coil 92a and switch 92b, (2) the solenoid 28 via switch 94 and (3) re-eset switch 81 which is biased in the closed position shown in FIG. 6. The control of the timer over these switches is indicated by dotted lines 85a, 85h, 85e and 85d. When 175 seconds of the threeminute cycle have been completed, re-set switch 81 is transferred to the other contact by virtue of the cam setting in the timer whereby the black holding circuit is completely opened via opening of switches 83 and 87 causing timer 85 to stop momentarily during the transfer. When the re-set switch reaches the other contact, the timer is re-energized and continues running for the remainder of the 5 seconds of the cycle through line 89, switches 87-88, line 90, through re-set switch 81 to ground. Upon completion of the total cycle, the cam on the timer, re-sets switch 81 to its original position shown in FIG. 6.

Regarding the brush motor, the timing cycle is set to start at the point when holding relay K2 takes over the circuit. Approximately 2 seconds after relay K2 takes over, switch 92 is closed by the timer whereby coil 92a of relay assembly K3 is energized causing heavy duty switch 92h to close and brush motor 10 to run. After the brush motor has run for about 175 seconds, re-set switch 81 is caused to transfer as aforesaid, cutting out the K2 circuit and stopping the timer momentarily until transfer of switch 81 is completed and the timer resumed to finish out the 5 seconds remaining. At the end of three minutes, switch 92 is opened thereby deenergizing coil 92a with the consequent opening of switch 921) and the stopping of the motor.

Switch 94 which controls normally closed solenoid 2S is in the open position at the beginning of the cycle. After approximately four or iive seconds of the cyle has passed, the switch is closed forapproximately one second whereby the solenoid is energized to open orice 29 during which time black polish is ejected onto applicator brush 41. At the end of the one second pulse, the corresponding cam in the tirner reaches a pre-set position whereby solenoid 2S is closed via opening of switch 94 to shut ot any further feeding of the black polish. The solenoid is maintained closed for approximately 20 seconds during which time the operator of the machine is applying the already ejected polish onto one of his shoes. At the end of this period, the corresponding cam in the timer has reached another pre-set position wherein another one second pulse is generated causing switch 94 to close and solenoid 28 to open and eifect a second ejection of polish for application to the other shoe. After the second ejection of polish, the solenoid remains closed for the balance of the cycle.

In the meantime, as stated above, re-set switch 81 maintains a complete circuit through holding relay K2 for about seconds until transfer of re-set switch 81 is effected. At the endY of the full cycle, the timer motor stops, the switch 81 is re-set to place the main circuit in a position for lock up withholding relay K2 in preparation for the next cycle. An electrically operable counter C may be provided connected to line 77 of main switch 66 to record the number of shoe shine cycles carried out by the device.

While the circuit containing relays K1 and K2 has been discussed with regard to the application of black polish, the same discussion is applicable with regard to the circuit containing relays Kl and K2. It will be noted that the same numeral designations have been used corresponding to those employed in the circuits of K1 and K2. Although the circuit is shown as operating on A.C. power, it is to be understood D.C. power may be employed as well.

With respect to the isolation circuit illustrated in FIG. 6, it will be understood that while reference is made to a thermal time delay mechanism, other mechanisms may be employed to eect the same result. For example, the time delay mechanism may comprise a specially designed relay having associated therewith a mechanical element conligurated to operate on a time sequence to cut in or cut out the relay. Similarly, with respect to the timing circuit comprising timer motor 85, other timing mechanisms comprising cooperating mechanical elements may be em ployed to effect the same result. v

It will be appreciated that while the apparatus described herein and the control circuits employed are directed to the automatic operation of a shoe shine device, .it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other devices where controllable feeding of viscous substances is involved. For example, the invention may be applied to the controllable feeding of viscous foodstuis, such as gelatina, ground meats, e.g. sausage meats, cottage cheese, butter and the like to receiving stations containing packaging units for receiving said viscous substances. The invention is also applicable to the feeding `of non-food items such as greases, cosmetics and other viscous substances.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modications and variations of the embodiments herein disclosed can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is dened in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic shoe shine device comprising a frame for housing said device, at least one rotatable shaft supported by said device, said at least one shaft having mounted axially thereon a shoe polish applicator brush and at least one shoe polishing brush, a motor associated with said shaft, at least one reservoir supported by said frame having discharge means cooperably associated with said shoe polish applicator, said vreservoir being adapted to hold a viscous shoe polish therein, said discharge means being adapted to apply a measured amount of polish to said `applicator brush, electric circuitry for lautomatically controlling the operation of said device including an isolatable selector circuit and a main holding circuit having a solenoid with associated switches, said selector circuit `having associated therewith a iirst coin-operable switch means and a solenoid with associated switch means energizable via said coin switch means, one of said switches being releasably adapted to set up said main holding circuit for energization by a second coin switch means cooperably associated with said rst coin switch means, said selector circuit having coupled thereto a time delay circuit breaker adapted to isolate said selector circuit at a given time interval after the said main holding circuit has been energized, 'a normally closed holding switch for maintaining the holding circuit energized after actuation by said second coin switch means, subsidiary circuits releasably coupled to said holding circuit, one circuit com- Yswitch means' for the reservoir discharge means,tthe

switch means for the brush motor and the normally closed holding switch in accordance with a predetermined cycle.

2'. An automatic shoe shine device comprising a frame for housing said device, at least one rotatable shaft supported by said device, said at least one shaft havingmounted axially thereon a shoe polish applicator brush and at least one shoe polishing brush, a motor associated.

with said shaft, at least one reservoir supported by said frame having discharge means cooperably associated with said shoe polish applicator, said reservoir being adapted to hold a viscous shoepolish therein, said discharge means being adapted to apply a measured amount of polish to said applicator brush, electric circuitry for automatically controlling the operation of said device includoperable switch means to set up said main holding cir- Y cuit for energization by a second coin siwtch means co- `operably associated withsai'd iirst coin switch means, said selector circuit having coupled thereto a time delayl circuit breaker for cutting out'saidiselector circuit at a' giveni time'. interval after the said mainv holding circuit hasfbeen energized, a norm-ally closed holding switch for maintaining the holdingY circuit energized after actuation by said second coin switch means, subsidiary circuits releasably coupled to said holding circuit, one circuit including means for actuating the reservoir discharge means, another circuit including means for actuating said `brush motor, and a` still' another circuit comprising av timer motor having timing cams associated therewith adapted sequentially to control the means for the reservoir discharge means, the means for thebrush motor' and the normally closed holding switchY in accordance withka predetermined cycle. n

3'. An automatic shoe shine device comprising aframe for housing said device, at least lone rotatable shaftrsupported by said device, said atV least one shaft having mounted axially thereon a shoe polish applicator brushy and at least one shoe polishing brush, a motor associated' With said shaft, at least one reservoir supported by said frame having discharge means cooperably associated with said shoe polish applicator, said reservoir being adapted to hold a viscous shoe polish therein, said discharge' ing an isolatable selector circuit. and a main holding circuit, said selector circuit being adapted via a lirst coin-V 3 means being adapted to apply a measured amount of polishrto' saidapplicator brush, electric circuitry for auto maticallycontrolling the operationrof said' device including an isolatable selector circuit and a main holding cir: cuit, said selector circuit being adapted'through switch means to set up said main holding Vcircuit for energization by another switch means, said selector circuit being adapted to isolate itselfY from the circuitry at a given time interval after the said main holding'circuit has been energized, a normally closed holding switch for maintaining the holding circuit energized, subsidiary'circuits releasebly coupled to said holding circuit, one circuit being adaptedfor actuating thereservoir discharge means, another circuit being adapted for actuating said brash motor, and a'still another circuit being adapted via a timer motorv to sequentially control the means for actuating the reservoir discharge means, the means for actuating the brush motor andv the normally closed holding switch in accordance with a predetermined cycle.

4. An automatic shoe shine device Vfor feeding a measuredv amount of shoe polish to a rotatably mounted shoe polish applicator' brush comprising, means for rotating said brush, a reservoir having Ya lshoe polish discharge meansA associated therewith', said discharge meansbeing adapted with means to apply a measured amount of polish to said applicator brush, a main electric circuit for automatically controlling the operation of said device including means yfor yenergizing said circuit, saidv energizing' means being ladapted to` isolate itself from'the circuit at 'a given time interval after the main circuit has been energized, normally closed switchfor maintaining said main. circuit energized after actuation by saidV energizing means, subsidiary circuits releasably coupled to said main circuit, one circuit being adapted for actuating the reservoir discharge means, another circuit-being adapted to actuate the means for rotating said applicator brush and still another circuit comprising means for sequentially controlling the means for actuating the reservoir discharge means, the .means for actuating the applicatorV brush, and for opening and closing thenormally closed switch in accordance* with a predetermined cycle.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,176,14L1r Holmes Marf21, i916 Carter Jan. 7, i958

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