Abstract: Various apparatus for cleaning footwear are described. One footwear cleaning apparatus includes a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; and a plurality of brushes arrayed within the box and positioned substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box, wherein the plurality of brushes includes at least one first brush configured to contact a first side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one second brush configured to contact a different, second side surface of the piece of footwear, and at least one third brush configured to contact a bottom surface of the piece of footwear, and wherein the at least one first brush and the at least one second brush are configured to, when actuated, rotate towards a center of the box about an axis that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the box.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for scarifying the interior surface of pipes, such as a sewer pipe, the apparatus including a chassis, a carriage coupled to the chassis to reciprocate along a longitudinal axis of the chassis, a shaft capable of indexing rotation coupled to the carriage, and arms extending radially from the indexing shaft and tipped in high-pressure nozzle assemblies. The method includes positioning the apparatus in a pipe and alternately reciprocating the carriage and indexing the shaft so as to scarify successive longitudinal swathes of the pipe surface until the desired circumference of the pipe section is scarified. The apparatus is then repositioned in the next section of pipe and the method is repeated until the desired length of pipe is scarified. The apparatus may further include a separable propulsion unit.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiment relates to an injection device that is a single patient use, disposable device containing a needle and a cartridge containing a drug or pharmaceutical product. The device is initially provided in a pre-armed configuration wherein the needle sheath maintains cantilever locking tabs on the housing in a position to the maintain the needle in a position separated from the septum of a cartridge. To arm the device, the practitioner removes the needle sheath and pushes down the plunger assembly. The cantilever locking tabs flex outwardly thereby allowing the cartridge-to-housing interface and the cartridge to move forward whereby the butt end of the needle punctures the septum of the cartridge. Additionally, the cantilever locking tabs form a stop configuration with the housing of the device. The disclosed embodiment is particularly adaptable to dental anesthetic applications, as well as other medical and veterinary applications.

Abstract: An automatic shoe polishing device that comprises a housing cabinet containing components of the automatic shoe polisher that includes a digital control unit implementing multiple cycles of operation to accommodate multiple shoe profiles. At least one brush and spray assembly with a rotating brush and aerosol spray nozzle mounted on a linear moving platform. A shoe tray and track secure a shoe in place and transport a shoe within the device. A plurality of aerosol containers contain at least a cleaner and polisher mixture, with a pneumatic system used to distribute the aerosol mixture using an aerosol spray nozzle and to power at least one lift piston on the shoe tray and track to accommodate the multiple shoe profiles. The digital control unit operates the brush and spray assembly in multiple movement and spraying cycles back and forth to in turn clean and polish a secured shoe.

Abstract: Various apparatus for cleaning footwear are described. One footwear cleaning apparatus includes a box having an open top surface for receiving a piece of footwear; and a plurality of brushes arrayed within the box and positioned substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the box, wherein the plurality of brushes includes at least one first brush configured to contact a first side surface of the piece of footwear, at least one second brush configured to contact a different, second side surface of the piece of footwear, and at least one third brush configured to contact a bottom surface of the piece of footwear, and wherein the at least one first brush and the at least one second brush are configured to, when actuated, rotate towards a center of the box about an axis that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the box.

Abstract: A shoe cleaning apparatus includes a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top and bottom walls. A cleaning assembly is mounted to the housing and extends upwardly from the top wall. The cleaning assembly cleans a shoe positioned on the top wall. A drive assembly is mechanically coupled to the foot cleaning assembly and rotates a plurality of brushes of the foot assembly when the drive assembly is turned on. A vacuum is mounted within the housing and is in fluid communication with apertures extending through the top wall. The vacuum suctions material from the shoe into the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for shining shoes is provided in which an oil shoe polish containing 5˜20 volume % of an oil ingredient is substantially coated on a shoe surface by using a rotating sponge and is maintained for a certain time period under a high temperature environment of above 60° C. by introducing a heat wind, so that it is possible to obtain an excellent shoe shining effect similar to that of a manual shoe shining work or a higher shoe shining effect than the same.

Abstract: A hand-guided device has a housing and a drive component with a drive element that is movable relative to the housing by way of a motor. A tool is releasably connectable to the drive element. In order to achieve a universal usability of the device by equipping it with various tools as well as with a different way of movement each, the drive element is eccentrically mounted in the drive component with an eccentricity and on the housing, a fixed bearing is disposed at a distance from the drive element for an optional cooperation with a tool.

Abstract: A footwear cleaning apparatus includes a vertically oriented frame with an upper frame for supporting the user that is standing while cleaning the footwear. The apparatus receives water from a garden hose and provides a control valve for regulating the water flow while the user is standing upright. The water is directed upwardly through a foot platform on the lower frame, and also through a lower brush onto the footwear sole, the resulting splash causing water to wet two side brushes that are oriented to bear upon the sides of the footwear. A scraper assembly is also on the lower frame and provides a horizontal scraping edge and two vertical scraping edges for the sole and sides of the footwear, respectively. After the water is turned off a drain outlet allows the device to be drained.

Abstract: Our invention, THE SHOE SHIMMER, is intended to consolidate in a neat and organized fashion the task of shoe shining. Whereas this task is not beloved because of the dirt and mess it leaves behind, we have eliminated the mess and have returned shoe shining to be a part of the morning routine in the home.

Abstract: Footwear cleaning apparatus includes a housing with an opening for receiving footwear to be cleaned. A first cylindrical brush is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis for cleaning the bottom of the footwear yielding to its insertion movement into the housing but preventing rotation in the opposite direction. A pair of second cylindrical brushes are rotatably supported about generally upright axes oppositely positioned adjacent the path of movement of the footwear for cleaning the sides of the footwear also in a manner yielding to its insertion movement but preventing rotation in the opposite direction. A third cylindrical brush also positioned in the path of movement of the footwear for cleaning its upper surfaces is rotatably supported about a substantially horizontally disposed axis on an axle extending between upright mounting braces for rotation, yielding to insertion movement of the footwear but preventing rotation in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning and polishing products, including fruits and vegetables, in which the product is placed in a specially constructed cleaning bag and oscillated. The rolling motion of the product cleans and polishes the surfaces of the product. The bag has a lining especially selected for the purpose and is designed for occasional replacement of the lining or temporary removal for cleaning purposes. In one embodiment, the bag features an elastic section that accommodates various sizes of loads.

Abstract: A body lotion applicator including a housing with a handle portion and a head portion. Further provided is a rotating lotion applicator assembly situated within the head portion of the housing including a lotion applicator pad. Also situated within the head portion of the housing is a driving motor adapted for effecting the rotation of the lotion applicator pad upon the actuation thereof. A battery is situated within the handle portion of the housing in electrical communication with the motor via a pair of wires for actuating the motor. Also provided is a mercury switch employed to allow actuation of the motor only when the applicator is situated upright.

Abstract: A portable water recycler for cleaning and recycling water used in a produce washing system or another similar system. The portable water recycler is most particularly advantageous in the recycling of water used in a potato washing system. The portable water recycler includes a conveyor filter which removes and conveys debris generally laterally while allowing water to pass generally vertically through a funnel and into a reclaiming tank. The reclaiming tank has a sloped floor and a bottom outlet. Dirty water is discharged from the bottom outlet and pumped through at least one centrifugal separator for further separation of particulate material from the water.

Abstract: An automatic shoe polisher includes a casing having an internal chamber for a rechargeable battery and a liquid cartridge. A pair of doors provide for access to the battery and liquid cartridge. The door for the liquid cartridge is provided with a protrusion or biasing element to maintain the position of the liquid cartridge in the casing. A motor assembly is connected to a pinion which coacts with a shaft assembly to drive the cleaning/polishing element which is mounted to the shaft by a universal coupling. The coupling permits the polishing element to be pivoted about the shaft. A spring is arranged around the shaft to bias the shaft. A valve with an inlet is arranged on the shaft to move into the chamber so that the polishing fluid is directed through the shaft to the polishing element.

Abstract: A receiving side handle is provided for receiving and supporting a liquid rubbing compound dispenser from a hand-held buffing machine of the type having a threaded side handle bore. The receiving side handle is interchangeable with original equipment threaded side handles. In this way, the receiving side handle retrofits hand-held buffing machines to enable a buffing machine operator to dispense liquid rubbing compound on a surface while maintaining an uninterrupted grip on a retrofitted buffing machine. The receiving side handle includes a handle frame attached to a threaded rod for mounting the handle frame to a hand-held buffing machine. In addition, the receiving side handle includes a coupling structure defined by a portion of the handle frame, the coupling structure being provided for receiving and coupling a liquid compound dispenser to the handle frame.

Abstract: A method of treating fungible produce at a wash station having a floor, comprising the steps of washing the produce, using a wash nozzle, with liquid containing a chemical treating agent. Effluent from the washing is collected in a storage tank. Liquid in the storage tank is conducted to a secondary tank, via a screen. Liquid in the secondary tank is conducted to a self-cleaning, self-backwashing filter. Back wash is conducted by gravity to a plurality of bag filters which collect particulate and discharge the filtered back wash into the secondary tank, above the screen. Liquid is conducted from the lower outlet of the self-backwashing filter to the storage tank. Liquid from the storage tank is conducted to the wash nozzle. The chemical treating agent is not filtered out by any of the filtration steps so that the chemical treating agent contained in the effluent from the washing may be reused and need not be dumped.

Abstract: The invention comprises a bean cleaning apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of elongated inclined rotating parallel rods. One of the rods in each pair has a spiral groove along its length and the other rod has a smooth cylindrical outer surface. The rods in each pair are mounted to a frame with a space between the rods in each pair narrower than a small bean and with the one rod in its rotation spiralling doward so as to auger the beans downward along the rods. The rods in their rotation in each pair rotating toward one another to move the beans toward the rods and with the engagement of the rods with the beans acting as a abresion to the outer surface of the beans to clean the beans of foreign matter as it moves along with the space allowing small particles of foreign matter to pass between the rods.

Abstract: A method are disclosed for treating fresh fruit to prevent and retard the growth of fungus. The techniques of the invention include simultaneously scrubbing the fresh fruit while drenching with a falling liquid containing a fungicide. Large volumes of liquid are used and the liquid can be recycled. The liquid also removes dirt and debris and, while containing a rather small amount of fungicide, such amount is present in a concentration sufficient to apply a coating to the fruit at the end of the scrubbing step given proper pH control. The pH of the solution is controlled. During the scrubbing step, the fruit is continuously rotated to provide even fungicidal deposit.

Abstract: The invention provides an endless rotary band cleaning device comprising an endless cleaning band mounted on three rollers disposed parallel to each other, namely: a drive roller, a guide roller and a secondary roller disposed in the space between the other two rollers. These rollers are arranged so that the lower part of the band follows a sinuous path comprising an upgoing path in which the band is washed and a downgoing path after which the band is impregnated with cleaning liquid. The upper part of the band situated between the drive roller and the guide roller serves as cleaning area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treatment of potato tubers so as to reduce bacterial and other diseases therein and improve the keeping properties thereof.The invention relates to a method comprising the steps of size-grading G potato tubers (55) and then bringing substantially soil-free size-graded tubers (55) to a thermal treatment zone T in which they are immersed in a fluid (10) at a temperature of from 45.degree. to 85.degree. C., for a period of time sufficient to kill at least some microorganisms without significantly damaging the tubers. According to the invention the tubers (55) are then passed substantially directly, through a drying zone D, in which they are surrounded by a hot air flow (68) having a temperature of from 40 to 75 degrees C., to dry their outer surfaces following which they are brought to a cooling zone P.

Abstract: A shoe polishing machine including a replaceable buff assembly to enclosingly engage the outer surface of a shoe, mechanism for producing relative vibratory motion between said buff assembly and a shoe positioned in said buff assembly. A button actuated mixing and spraying assembly for spraying polish on the buff assembly and the buff assembly including a polishing cloth for easy and economical replacement. The shoe buffing machine being adaptable for automatic operation on payment of a fee for use in public places including an electrical circuit for the automatic operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing mold and other detritus from raisins and the like having an aqueous bath in which the raisins are immersed; an endless conveyor having an inclined, transversely grooved, planar upper run onto which the raisins are deposited from the bath; and a drive mechanism for moving the upper run upwardly in time spaced increments of stepped progression while simultaneously oscillating the conveyor longitudinally so that the mold and other detritus are abraded and shaken from the raisins and conveyed upwardly with the run while the separated raisins gravitate downwardly along the run.

Abstract: A meat cleaning machine positions and holds a cut of meat to be cleaned on an elongated support and provides a carriage incorporating holding and scraping rolls for movement relative to the cut of meat to be cleaned. A power source is provided on the carriage for moving the same along the support and simultaneously rotating the scraping roll.