US1066588A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILEDJULY 25, 1905.

1,066,588. Patented July-8, 1913.

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J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

LPPLIOATION FILED JULY 25, 1905.

PatentedJilly 8, 1913.

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coLuMm PLANOGRAPH cm, WASHINGTON, u. c,

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Patented July 8, 1913.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1905.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO., WASI'QINOTON. D. c.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING- MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1905.

Patented July 8, 1913.

5 SHEETS- SHEET 4.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, .1905.

1,066,588. Patented Ju1y'8, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

EMPIRE VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs H. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

The present invention is designed more particularly to provide a voting machine with improved mechanism for adapting it for use by qualified or class voters and with improved mechanism whereby the voter may cast his ballot for or against propositions or questions that are submitted to popular vote, and with mechanism also whereby any pair or pairs of ballot keys for amendment voting may be rendered incapable of use by voters who are not qualitied to vote on amendments or questions with respect to which said keys are adapted for casting ballots.

In many States the law permits certain persons to cast ballots for certain oflices or to vote upon certain questions, such persons, however, being denied an unqualified franchise. The present invention provides a votin g machine with mechanism whereby, when the machine is to be used by a qualified or class voter so-called (that is to say a voter who had not the right to vote for all the o 'liices or questions for which the machine is adapted to cast ballots), those ballot keys of the machine which the qualified or class voter has no right to use will be locked out of operation. By the present invention, also, the otlicer whose duty it is to prepare the machine for an election, may so adjust or set parts of the mechanism within the inclosing casing of the machine that the oflicial in charge of the machine may at the proper time, render any predetermined pair or pairs of ballot keys designed for amendment voting incapable of use by voters not qualified to operate such keys, since it often happens that voters entitled to cast ballots for or against certain questions or amendments are disqualified from voting upon other questions or amendments that may be presented for ballot at the same election.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved voting machine, the general structure where- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 25, 1905.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Serial No. 271,217.

of is fully set forth in my application No. 238,388. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical cross section through the upper part of the machine, this section being taken between the groups of frames or units that carry dual rows of keys and mechanism controlled thereby. Fig. 3 is a View in vertical cross section through the upper part of the machine in front of the so-called amendment or question keys. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail view and Fig. 5 is a similar detail view showing disks that are operated by the mechanism of the amendment keys. Fig. 6 is a View in vertical cross section on line 66 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section upon a large scale, this section being taken inside the section plates illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail view in horizontal section showing in plan the disks to which the amendment ballot keys are connected and parts adjacent said disks. Fig. 9 is a view in horizontal section on line 99 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a detail View in vertical section of a latch for the controlling bar 0.

Through long slots 151 formed in the top 126 of the inclosing casing extend the ballot keys 160, 160 and 160 These keys are arranged preferably in rows from front to back of the inclosin casing, the several rows being designated B, etc., to H of the drawings. It will be understood, of course, that each row of ballot keys will contain a number of keys 160 corresponding to the oflices to which there are candidates to be elected and may contain, as shown, additional ballot keys 160 for amendment or question voting. Each of the ballot keys 160 is suitably connected with interlocking mechanism, the purpose of the interlocking mechanism being to prevent the voter from casting a greater number of ballots than he is entitled to cast; and each of the ballot keys is also arranged to actuate or to place in condition for actuation, mechanism whereby the voters ballot will be registered.

As shown, each of the ballot keys 160 is connected to a rocker-bar 206 that is pivoted upon one of the straight ticket shafts 210 that extend from front to back of the machine. Each rocker-bar 206 has connect ed to its lower end a pair of links 216 that extend upon opposite sides of the interlocking slide blocks 220 of the interlocking mechanism. lVithout going into the details of construction of these interlocking slide blocks or of the interlocking mechanism generally, since the details of construction of such mechanism form no part of the present invention, it is sufficient to say that each of the interlocking slide blocks 220 is beveled or truncated at its lower corner forming a space through which passes a pin 21. that extends between the lower ends of the links or rods 216. The interlocking slide blocks can be separated a sufficient distance to permit the pin 217 to pass up between the opposing ends of these slide blocks, but when one pin 217 has been raised by the actuation of the corresponding ballot key and has spread the interlocking slide blocks 220, no other pin 217 can be lifted and consequently no other ballot key in the same group, or the parts controlled thereby, can be operated. The interlocking slide blocks 220 beneath the ballot keys corresponding to the same office are all mounted in manner free to slide upon a bar or rail 224 that extends from side to side of the inclosing casing, a pin 231 serving to limit the movement of the slide blocks along the bar in one direction. Inasmuch as each set of interlocking slide blocks 220 must be spread in order to permit a ballot to be cast for the ofiice to which this set of interlocking slide blocks corresponds, it will be understood that if the slide blocks 220 of the set be so held together that they cannot be spread apart at all, then obviously none of the ballot keys corresponding to such slide blocks can be operated and, hence, with the slide blocks in fixed or locked position, no ballot can be cast for the oiiice to which the rows of interlocking slide blocks correspond.

In order to prevent the spreading of the interlocking slide blocks 220 and hence pre vent the operation of any of the ballot keys for the particular otlice controlled by said group of slide blocks, I prefer to employ the mechanism next to be described, and which constitutes one partof the subject-matter of my present invention. Transversely of the inclosing casing of the machine extends a plate or diaphragm 15 (see Figs. 2 and 9) upon which is mounted in manner free to slide, a bar or frame K. To this bar or frame K is connected, preferably by a plate K, a rearwardly extending bar K Over the bar K extend retaining straps that are fixed to the plate or diaphragm 45, and similarly over the bar K extends a guide strap 70 that is attached to the plate or diaphragm 45. Between the upwardly and outwardly extended arms 76 and 76 of the frame or bar K, extends a rod L whereon are mounted a number of sleeves M arranged side by side and each having fixed thereto a plate or arm m. Each of these plates or arms m is formed with an indicator plate m suitably marked or desig nated with a number, letter or like designating mark. The sleeves M are revoluble upon the rod L and can be turned to the vertical position or to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2. A supplemental rod L serves to limit the revolution of the arms in about the rod L. Assuming that there are 30 oflices to be voted for, then each row or group of ballot keys A, B, G, D, etc. will contain 30 keys (in addition to the amendment or question keys 160 and 160 and there will be 30 sets of interlocking slide blocks 220 arranged transversely of the machine. These transverse rows of interlocking slide blocks will correspond in number and arrangement to the pivoted cross arms at on the rod L. When the cross arms m are in horizontal position, they will not extend high enough to engage with the interlocking slide blocks 220, but when any one of the cross arms m is turned to vertical position as shown in Fig. 2, such upturned cross arm will extend so high that if the frame or bar K be moved backward over the plate or diaphragm 45, the upturned cross arm 1% will contact with the interlocking slide block and will move the group of slide blocks 220 backward along the bar or rail 22 1 until the slide block at the opposite end of the group bears against the pin 281. Hence, it will be seen that by turning up ward any number of the cross arms m and by then moving inward the bar or frame K, the interlocking slide blocks of a corresponding number of otlices can be jammed tightly together so that the operation of the ballot keys corresponding to such interlocking slide blocks and oflices is effectually pre vented. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for shifting the bar or frame K and the cross arms carried thereby to effect the jamming together of the interlocking slide blocks 220; but obviously, this mechanism for shifting the bar or frame K and the connecting arms m, should be under the control of an otlicer in charge of the voting machine.

As shown, a controlling bar 0 passes through the inclosing casing and is connected to one end of a lever O that is pivoted as at 0 upon a stud projecting from the plate or diaphragm 45. The opposite end of the lever O is slotted at 0 and pivoted to a pin 0 projecting from the rod K A spring P is connected to the pin 0 and to a similar pin 0* project-ing upward from one of the plates 77, this spring serving to draw the parts normally to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 9 of the drawings.

From the construction of parts above set forth, it will be understood that if the machine is adapted for the casting of ballots for candidates for 30 otlices and the machine is to be used not only by unrestricted voters but also by qualified or class voters who are entitled to vote only for candidates for certain offices, as for example the offices corresponding to the cross arms or detents marked 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 on Fig. 9 of the drawings, then the city clerk or person in charge of the election will, before the voting begins, turn all of the remaining det-ents from 6 to 30 from horizontal to vertical position. Then when a qualified or class voter comes to casthis ballot, the officer in charge of the machine will. draw outward the controlling bar 0 as far as possible. This outward movement of the controlling bar 0 will cause the bar or frame K to be moved inward, and as the frame or bar K is thus moved inward the detents m that have been turned to vertical position will contact with the corresponding rows of interlocking slide blocks and will jam these blocks against enclwise movement, in manner above described, so that none of the ballot keys corresponding to such rows of interlocking slide blocks can be actuated by such voter. Inasmuch, however, as the detents numbered 1 to 5 have been left in horizontal position, such detents will pass beneath their corresponding rows of interlocking slide blocks, and, hence, will not effect the movement of such blocks. Consequently, the voter will be free to operate the ballot keys corresponding to these interlocking slide blocks that have thus been left free. In order to enable the bar 0 to be held or locked when it has been thus drawn outward by the officer in charge of the machine, I prefer to employ a latch having a stem or pin adapted to enter the hole 0 formed in the bar 0. As shown, the latch. comprises a casing O that is fixed to the side wall or plate of the inclosing casing of the machine and within this casing O is mounted the stem 0, the lower end of which projects through a hole in the casing O to permit the stem 0* to enter the hole 0 in the bar 0. A spring 0 within the casing serves to normally force the stem 0 downward, so that when the bar 0 is drawn outward to the limit of its movement, the stem will automatically pass into the hole 0 hen the bar 0 is to be released, the officer in charge will grasp the knob at the top of the stem 0 and lift the stem from engagement with the bar 0, whereupon the spring P will automatically draw inward the bar 0 at the same time that it restores the sliding bar K and parts carried thereby to normal position.

The two ballot keys 160 and 160 which for convenience are placed at the end of each party row or group, are designed to enable the voter to cast his ballot for the affirmative or negative of the various propositions that may be submitted to popular vote. In Fig. 1 each of the seven party groups or rows is shown as provided at its rear end with two amendment or question ballot keys 160 and 160 and each of these pairs of keys enables a voter to cast an affirmative or a negative ballot. upon a question that may be submitted. Hence, it follows with the capacity of the machine shown, seven questions may be submitted to popular vote. The ballot keys 160 and 160 are arranged in vertical position, and each of these keys is slotted to receive the end 205 of its corresponding rocker-bar 206 that is shown as mounted upon the straight ticket shaft 210 thatextends from front to back of the machine. Each straight ticket shaft is provided with a number of sleeves 207 through the squared hole of which the shaft passes and the end of each of the sleeves 207 is formed with a segmental lug 212 that sets within a cut-away space 211 of the rockerbar 206 The short end of the rocker-bar 206 projects through a slot formed in the lower portion of the corresponding ballot key 160 or 160 while the lower and longer arm of the rocker-bar 206 is connected by a link R or a link S to its corresponding shifter disk 1" or s. The rocker bar 206 that is connected to the ballot key 160, which may be termed the affirmative or yes ballot key, has its lower end connected by the rod R to the shifter disk 9", while the ballot key 160 that may be termed the negative or no ballot key has its corresponding rocker-bar 206 connected by the link S to the disk .9, both of the disks r and .9 being mounted upon a pin or axle t that passes through the side bars t and 25 extending from side to side of the main frame and suitably support-ed therein. Upon the inside of the disk 1" is a stud or projection r, and in like manner upon the inside of the disk 8 is a projection s. The disks 1" and s are also formed respectively with notches r and 8 the purpose of which will presently appear.

From the construction of parts as thus far defined, it will be seen that if the voter depresses the negative ballot key 160, the corresponding rocker-bar 206 will be turned about its pivot point, causing the link S to be lifted and, as the link S is thus lifted, the disk 3 to which the lower end of said link is connected, will be turned in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4:) until the stud 8 upon the inside of this disk 8 is brought into con tact with the stud 1" that projects inwardly from the disk 1. This movement of the ballot key 160 will serve also to set in readiness for operation the mechanism whereby the voters ballot will be registered upon the numbered wheels (not shown) corresponding to the affirmative and negative keys 160 and 160*. This mechanism, however, for registering the ballots forms no part of the invention designed to be claimed in this application. If the voter should decide to change his ballot from negative to affirmative, he will simply depress the affirmative ballot key 160. This depression of the ballot key 160 will cause the corresponding rocker-arm 206 to turn about the shaft 210 and to lift the link and turn the disk 1", to which the lower end of link R is connected. As the disk 1" is thus turned in upward direction, its stud r will engage the stud s of the disk 5 previously turned to the position shown in Fig. 5 and, hence, will turn the disk 5 back to its normal position. As the disk 8 is thus turned back to normal position, its link S will draw downward the rocker-bar 206 that corresponds to the negative ballot key 1630 and, this downward movement of the link S will effect a corresponding upward movement or restoration of the ballot key 160 to its normal position. By this means it will be seen that the voter is prevented from casting both an affirmative and negative ballot for the same proposition or question that is sub mitted to popular vote.

Adjacent the disks 1" and s is mounted a locking bar V that is formed throughout its length with a series of raised portions or lugs 22 to which are pivotally connected, as at o, the latches W whereby the movement of the disks 1 and 8 may be prevented. As shown, the locking bar V is formed with a number of slots o through which pass pins e whereon the bar V is supported. As shown, the bar V is arranged between the disks 1* and s. It will be seen, by reference to Figs. 3 and lof the drawings, that if the bar V be moved toward the left, the latches lV being in the position there shown, these latches will pass into the notches r and 8 of the disks 1 and s. Hence, it will be seen that so long as the latches are in the notches r and s of the disks, any movement of the disks by the amendment keys 160 and 160 will be prevented; and, consequently, these keys and the registering mechanism controlled thereby, will. be locked out of action. Inasmuch as the latches W are pivotally mounted upon the bar V, it will be seen that if it is desired to leave one pair of amendment or question keys 160 and 160 free for action, it is only necessary to turn the corresponding latch iV to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings; then, when the locking-bar V is shifted to lock the amendment keys, (except the one that is to be free for action), all the latches W will enter the notches r and 8 of the corresponding disks 1" and 8, excepting the latch 1V that has been turned to the position shown by dotted lines.

The movement of the locking-bar V, necessary to control the disks 1 and s and. to lock out of action any or all of the amendment keys 160 and 160 may be effected in any convenient manner. In the accompanying drawings this locking-bar V is shown as shifted or controlled by mecha nism that performs certain other functions, as will presently more fully appear.

To a lug y, depending from the lockingbar V, is pivoted one end of a rod Y, the opposite end of which rod is slotted, as at y, to receive a pin 2 that projects from the sliding bar or frame K, (see Figs. 2, 3 and 9).

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the controlling bar 0 is drawn outward by the officer in charge of the election, the frame K will be moved inward. And this inward movement of the bar or frame K will, through the medium of the bar Y, as the pin l reaches the end of the slot y, cause the locking-bar 'v to move its latches V into the notches r and s of the disks 7" and 3, thereby locking the amendment keys against operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

l. A voting machine comprising in com bination a pair of longitudinally recipro eating ballot keys, a rocker bar operated by each of said keys, and means whereby the shifting to the voted position of one of said ballot keys will restore to normal position the parts shifted by the other of said ballot keys.

2. A voting machine, comprising in combination, a pair of ballot keys, a rocker bar for each of said ballot keys, a revoluble disk or plate connected to each of said rocker bars, and engaging devices forming a lost motion connection between said disks or plates arranged to prevent the movement of both disks at the same time to voted position.

3. A voting machine comprising in combination two movable ballot keys for casting aflirmative and negative ballots, a pair of movable disks or plates arranged side by side and connected respectively to said keys and lugs or abutments laterally projecting from the adjacent faces of said plates or disks and contacting with one another to prevent the movement of both of said keys at the same time to voted position.

4. A voting machine comprising in combination, two ballot keys, a movable plate or disk for each of said keys, interlocking devices between said plates or disks and a. shiftable bar or carrier provided with a series of adjustable latches one for each pair of keys for engaging said plates or disks for selectively locking said keys against movement.

5. A voting machine comprising in combination several pairs of ballot keys movable plates or disks connected to said ballot keys, interlocking devices between said disks, a shiftable bar or carrier provided with individual latches, one for each pair of disks, each of said disks being recessed to permit simultaneous engagement with both disks of said latch, said latches being selectably movable on said pair to and from their operative position, whereby when the bar or carrier is shifted the latches that are in operative position will engage the disks opposite thereto and lock the keys connected thereto.

6. A voting machine, comprising in combination several pairs of ballot keys, movable disks or plates mounted to rotate on a single axis connected to said ballot keys, interlocking devices between said plates or disks, a shiftable locking bar provided with a number of latches for dogging said ballot keys, said latches being pivoted upon said locking bar, whereby any one or more of said latches may be thrown out of operative position.

7. A voting machine, comprising in combination a pair of ballot keys, two rocker bars. one for each of said keys, a pair of revoluble disks or plates mounted to rotate on single axis connected to their respective rocker bars, said disks or plates being provided with lugs or abutments projecting laterally from the adjacent faces thereof and adapted to engage and limit the movement of the disks or plates, whereby the placing of both ballot keys in voting position at the same time is prevented.

8. In a voting machine, the combination with. a plurality of ballot keys and with interlocking mechanism comprising sliding blocks for limiting the number of said ballot keys that may be operated by a single voter, of means for checking the movement of said interlocking mechanism comprising a movable part and series of adjustable contact arms arranged to shift said sliding blocks to inoperative position whereby the interlocking mechanism of any row of ballot keys may be checked to prevent the actuation of said keys.

9. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot keys and with interlocking mechanism comprising sliding blocks for limiting the number of said ballot keys that may be operated by a single voter, of means for checking the movement of said sliding blocks comprising a movable member and a plurality of contact arms or parts mounted on said movable member and movable individually into the path of said slide blocks and means for shifting said movable member to cause such contact arms as have been moved to operative position to positively shift and check the movement of the slide blocks.

10. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot keys and with interlocking mechanism comprising sliding blocks for limiting the number of said ballot keys that may be operated by a single voter, of means for checking the movement of said sliding blocks comprising a movable bar, a series of contact arms adjustably mounted on said bar and arranged to be moved by said bar into the path of the sliding blocks to positively shift them to inoperative position and a bar or part extending outside the casing for controlling the movement of said bar carrying the contact arms.

11. A voting machine comprising in combination a plurality of pairs of ballot keys for casting affirmative and negative ballots, interlocking devices comprising disks mounted to rotate on a single axis between each pair of keys for preventing the shift of more than one of the keys of each pair to voted position and adjustable mechanism arranged to selectively lock out one or more of said pairs of ballot keys while permitting the remaining pair or pairs of keys free for operation by the voter.

12. In voting machines, the combination of a plurality of pairs of ballot keys for voting on questions with interlocking devices comprising a pair of disks mounted to rotate on a single axis between each pair of keys to prevent the operation of one of them, of a shiftable lock-out member and a series of devices on said member and movable therewith for locking said pairs of keys against operation, said devices being movable on said member into and out of operative position whereby one or more of said pairs of keys may be selectively locked against operation.

13. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of devices for voting on questions comprising a pair of disks mounted to rotate on a single axis, of a shiftable lock-out bar or member and a series of latches on said bar or member, one for locking out each of said devices for voting on questions, said latches being movable on said bar or member into and out of operative position.

14. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of pairs of ballot keys for voting on questions with interlocking devices between each pair of keys comprising a pair of disks mounted to rotate on a single axis, of a shiftable lock-out bar having a series of latches, one for locking out each of said pairs of keys, said latches being movable on said bar into and out of operative position whereby one or more of said pairs of keys may be selectively locked against operation.

15. In a voting machine a pair of interlocking disks pivoted on a single axis, each having a pin mounted thereon projecting toward the other disk, said pins interfering with each other to prevent more than one of said disks being moved to voted position.

16. In a voting machine a pair of interlooking disks pivoted on a single axis, each having a pin mounted thereon projecting toward the other disk, said pins interfering with each other to prevent more than one of said disks being moved to voted position, each of said disks having a recess out therein, a single dog to engage both of said recesses to prevent the rotation of either of said disks.

17. In a voting machine a pair of interlocking disks pivoted on a single axis, said disks revolving in opposite directions to reach voted position, a pin on each of said disks, the pin on one disk engaging With the pin on the other disk to prevent more than one of said disks reaching voted position, recesses in said disks placed normally in line with each other, a dog for engaging With said recesses to prevent the movement of either of said disks.

JAMES H. DEAN. Witnesses GEORGE P. FISHER, J12, KATHARINE GERLAOH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. C.

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