US1116360A

US1116360A - Primary-voting mechanism.

Info

Publication number: US1116360A
Application number: US669252A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles C Abbott
Original assignee: TRIUMPH VOTING MACHINE CO
Current assignee: TRIUMPH VOTING MACHINE CO
Priority date: 1911-02-13
Filing date: 1912-01-02
Publication date: 1914-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1931-11-10

Description

I o. c. ABBOTT. PRIMARY VOTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1912.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES I o. o. ABBOTT. PRIMARY'VOTING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2, 1912. v 1,'1 16,360. Patented Nov. 101914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTIC PROHIBITION WJTNESSES INI/5;?! TOR A/larnzj/ Umrnn sratrnsriaanivrormon..

CHARILES C. ABBOTT, OF PITTSFIEIQD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGOR T0 `TRIUMPHy 'VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- mioN or NEW JERSEY.

PRIMARY-VOTIN MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N ov. 1(1), 1914.

original application inea February is, 1911. serial Nojeossa Divided ami this application med Ja'nuary: 2, 1912. serial Np. 669,252. i

To all whom tm/ay concern Be it known that I, CHARLES C. nnnor'i, a. citi 'en of the United States, residing at Pittsfield, county of Berkshire, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in APrimary-Voting Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to voting machines and has for its object to provide mechanism adapted for use in primary voting, the same being a division of a prior application filed by me February 13, 1911, Serial Number 608,383.

The present inventionA contemplates the provision of means for locking all of the voting members of a voting machine except those corresponding to the nominees of the party of the voter, said last named voting members beingv unlocked and in a condition to be operated by the voter whether said members occupy one or a plurality of lines. I have further made provision whereby the locking means for the voting members may be controlled or adjusted to unlock the vot, ing members corresponding to any desire i party, all others remaining locked.

With the above and other objects in vie 1 have devised the novel mechanism which l,

l will now describe, referring to the accom# panying drawings'forming a part of this specification and using reference characters .to indicate the several parts.

' Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of the voting members, con-I necting bars, locking bolts, and adgacent .frame parts. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the primary locking mechanism and one line of voting members. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, of the primary locking mechanism. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the key bar as viewed from the left in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged de-I tail elevation of a portion of Fig. 4C with the' locking bolt in section substantially on the line 5-5, Fig. 2, said view showing the forin of the keys and the manner of securing thel same in position on the key bar, and also, illustrating diagrammatically the operation of these keys upon the locking bolts.` Fig. 6; is a detail .elevation of the latch for locking* the keybar operating shaft in position; I i #The investie@ wherein Shown. as aepledi to a machine of the general type shown and disclosed in Letters Patent No. 914,006,

granted to me March 2, 1909. The'machine' shown in said patent is a horizontal machine, so called, in which the names of party I -be understood that there may be any suit- -v 'able number of lines of voting members and' -any suitable number of columns (i. e. any number of voting members in each line) according to the requirements.

12 denotes the framework of the machine which is preferably constructed of sheet` metal forming a casing and providing the necessary supports, guides and bearings for the various parts of the machine.

13 denotes the voting devices or members l as a whole, these voting members comprising oscillatozff-7 shafts journaled in the framework and having voting levers or keys 14 lying outside the machine in front.. y Turning of these voting members from the non-voting to thexI voting position, e. e. rotating them in a clockwise direction through a suitable angle from the position shown in F ig.` 1, places them ina position to cause an operation of suitably arranged counters corresponding inj number to the voting members. This counti-ng mechanism' is not shown herein as it forms no portion ofthe present invention and is fully disclosed in my prior patent above referred to.

15 denotes connecting bars corresponding in number with the party lines of the machine.

16 denotes arms on the voting member shafts, said arms carrying pins 17 which pass through sl'ots 18 in the bars 15.

' The voting mechanism thus far referred to is, in a general way, well known in the art and will, it is thought, be understood without further description. The specific construction of the voting members 'and the parts operated thereby form no portion of the present invention.

The normal or nonvoting position of the ,parts'is shownin Figs. 1 and Withthe parts in this position the pins 17, carried by the arms 16 of the voting members, are inengagement with the left ends of the slots 18 in the bars 15, as shown in Fig. l. None of the voting members in any line can be turned into voting position, as above described, without causing a movement of the lcofrresponding connecting bar from right to 2O denotes primary lookin bolts or members. These bolts are equa in number to the number of lines of voting members, are guided in suitable parts of the framework, and are movable from an inoperative or retracted position into an operative position in which their forward ends are adjacent studs 19 riveted to the ends of the connecting bars 15. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the connecting bars 15 are all in the extreme position toward the right, and each of. the bolts 20, when in operative position as shown in Fig. 2, serves t `o lock the corresponding bar 15 in its extreme position, and, by engagement of the pins 17 with the ends of the slots I18, to lock the voting members in the corresponding line in non-voting position.

21 (see Figs. 3 and 4) denotes a key bar or carrier slidably mounted in a guideway formed by the rear of the machine casing and a cover plate 22 secured thereto, said cover plate having an index opening 23. The rearward ends of the bolts 20 pass through openings in the rear wall of the casing and through opposite openings in the cover plate 22 and are preferably profvidedoutside said cover plate with heads 24.

25 denotes party markers arranged according to statutory provision and each designated by an identifyin symbol, herein shown as letters, y A, 13, C, etc. The key bar 21 is shown as composed of three plates riveted together, the central plate being provided with a series of projecting lugs or teeth 26. Said lugs or teeth may,

for convenience, be considered as arranged.

in groups, there being a number of teeth in each group equal to the number of party lines, and the individual teeth of each group being designated on the key bar by symbols corresponding to the symbols displayed `by the party markers, as shown in Fig. 3. The several groups are further distinguished by designatin characters, preferably numerals, 2, 3, f 4, etc.

27 (see Figs. 2 and 3) denotes a shaft journaled in the framework and provided outside the casing with an operating knob or handle 28. The shaft 27 carries a pinion 29 adapted to coperate with rack teeth 30 formed on the key bar 21. By rotating the s shaft 27 the key .bar can be moved longl- `tudinally to bring any desired symbol opposite the index opening 23..

31 denotes a washer loosely surrounding' the shaft 27 and fixed against rotation to the framework.

32 denotes a second washer mounted on the shaft 27 for rotation therewith but movable longitudinally thereof.

33 denotes a collar pinned to the shaft 27 and between which and the washer-32 is interposed a spring 34. rhe washers 31 and 32 are formed with interengaging angular recesses and projections and, being held in yielding engagement with one another by the spring 34, form a yielding lock for normally holding the shaft in certain predetermined angular v positions. rlhese positions are such as will hold the key carrier 21 with one 'of the symbols carried thereby exactly opposite the index opening 23. The shaft 27 is longitudinally movable in its bearings to carry the pinion y 29 into .and out of engagement with the rack 30.

35 (see Figs. 2 vand 6) denotes a latch pivoted at 36 to the framework and provided with a projection 37 adapted to occupy a position between the collar 33 and the framework to hold the shaft 27 against longitudinal movement and consequently maintain the pinion 29 in engagement with the rack 30.

38 denotes a spring for normally holdingl the latch 35 in locking position.

39 denotes members carried by the bar 21,

plained. As shown the keys comprise flat strips of metal bent to form angular offsets or cam portions 40. The keys may be applied to the key carrier in any required position and are held in place thereon by engagement with the teeth 26, the offsetportion 40 embracing one of these teeth, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. The primary locking members 20 are provided with notches 41 adapted to receive the edges of the keys 39.

The operation of the keys 39 in locking and unlocking the 'several lines of voting members will best be understood from Fig. 5 taken in connection with Fig. 2. In the vformer figure a bolt 20 is shown in full lines in its operative or locking position and in dotted lines in its inoperative or retracted position. It will be understood that the bolts 20 are guided for horizontal movement only, and that the key bar is moved vertically to effect the movement of'these bolts. For convenience of illustration, however, in Fig. 5 the key bar has been represented as in one position only and the bolt 20 shown in two di'erentvertical positions,

.but it will be obvious that the relative horizontal positions of the bolt and key bar lines, key

`portion on tooth tical positions of the ke bar rather than of the bolt shown in this gure. p

When the straight portion of any key 39 is in engagement with the notch 41,0f the corresponding locking member or bolt, as

shown in full lines in Fig. 5, said member will be projected forwardly into locking po-l sition with its forward end in a position to be engaged by the stud 19 on the connecting bar 15, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby locking the corresponding party line; When the key bar 21 is moved (that is raised from the position shown in Fig. 5) to bring the cam portion 40 into engagement with the notch "41, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the

locking member is retracted and its forward end carried out of the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby unlocking the corresponding party line.

The several keys 39 (see Fig. 3) are preferably provided with designating characters corresponding to the designating characters or numerals provided on the key carrier 21 to indicate the respective groups of teeth 26. The keys are applied to the key carrier in such a manner that when the symbol A on the Akey carrier is opposite the index opening 23 party line A will be unlocked and the remaining party lines locked. When the knob 28 is turned to bring the symbol B opposite the index opening party line B will be unlocked, party line A will be locked, and the other party lines will re main locked. In this manner any desired party line can be unlocked leaving the other party lines locked. This, in the construction shown, is accomplished by placing the key 1 with its offset portion 40 on the tooth 26 designated by A(as shown the first group of teeth is not indicated by numerals, which may, however, be applied if desired), he key 2 with itsoiiset portion on the tooth B2, the key 3 on the tooth w, and so on. Should any party occupy more than one line the keys will be correspondingly arranged to cause both or all of these lines to be simultaneously locked and unlocked. For example, should the party B occupy the second and third l will be placed with its offset A, key,2 on tooth 132, key 3 on tooth B23 key 4 on tooth C4, and so on as will be obvious.

In order that the keys may at all times be in engagement with their respective notches these keys are preferably formed with their offset or cam portions 40 at a progressively varying distance Jfrom their upper ends, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In order to remove the key carrier from the machine for the purpose of arranging the keys the latch 35 is raised permitting the spring 34 to move the pinion 29 out of engagement with the rack 30. IThe key carrior may then be withdrawn downwardly from beneath the cover plate 22.

The operation of the machine has, it is thought, been fully explained in connection withthe foregoing description of its construction but may be briefly summarized as follows: Let it be assumed thatft the party markers 25" have been put in and the keys 39 applied to the key bar 2l: "in accordance with the requirements and asfhei ofore fully explained. A primary voterV having entered the polling place and declared his party, the custodian turns the knob 28 until the symbol corresponding to the party so declared appears` at 'the index opening 23. When this has been done the primary lock' ing member or members 20 which control the line or lines of voting members occupied by the party in 'question have been withdrawn by the engage-ment of the cam portions 40 of the correspondingvkeys with the notches 41 of said members 20, while all other locking members are held by the straight portions of the corresponding keys with their forward ends in positions to engage the studs 19 carried by the bars 15 of the other party lines thereby locking all voting members except those in the lines occupied by the candidates for whom the primary voter is entitled to vote.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, a member controllable independently of said voting members and provided with means for controlling said locking meansfto lock'or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, and a cover plate for guiding said member.

2. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including locking members for locking the 'acting members in the severa-l lines, and a key carrier provided with keys for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said key carrierfhaving a plurality of groups of attaching devices for said keys, the devices of the several groups being indicated by different designating characters.

3. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including locking membersy for locking the voting members in the several lines, and a key carrier provided with keys for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said key carrier having a plurality of groups of teeth for engaging said keys and the teeth of the several groups being indicated by designating characters. l

4. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism 1ncluding'- locking members for locking the -voting members in theseverallines, and a key carrier providedvwith keys for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said key1 carrier having a plurality of grou s of attaching devices for said keys,.the e- Vices of the-several groups being indicated by diierentfdesignatmg characters,and the keys having designating characters corre- Aspending to the characters on the key carrier.

5. vThe combination vvith lines of voting members, of primary lookin vmechanism 1ncluding locking members or locking the voting members in the several lines, and a key carrier provided with keys for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said key carrier having av plurality of groups ofl attaching devices for said keys, and the several devices of each group being indicated by diderent identifying symbols.

6. The combination with lines of votingV by different designating characters and theseveral devices of each group being indicated by diiierent'identifying symbols.

l7. `The combination with lines of voting-` lmembers, of primary locking mechanism including members for locking the voting .40.'

members in the several lines, a member provided with means for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, and a cover plate for guiding saidmember and having .an index opening, said member being provided With identifying symbols adapted to be brought successively opposite said index opening to indicate the line'or lines of votr` 5 ing' members which are unlocked.

S, The combination With lines 'of voting members, of primary locking mechanism in- 'cluding locking members for locking the voting members in the several lines, a key carrier provided with'keys for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, and a cover plate for guiding said key7 carrier and having an index opening, sai key. carrier having aplurality of groups -of attaching devices forsaid keys and thev several devices of each group being indicated by identiying symbols, the symbols of one group being adapted to be brought successively opposite said-index opening.

@9; The combination with lines of voting aliases members, of `primary locking mechanism in cluding locking members for locking the voting members in the several'lines,and a key carrier provided with keys for controllingl said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said keys being formed with a straight portion and with'an odset portion for attaching said keys to, the key carrier and for engaging and operating said locking members.V

10. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary lockin mechanism in' cluding locking members or locking the voting members in the several lines, and a key carrier provided with keysfor controlling said locking members? to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines,

vcl

said keys being formed with a straight portion and with an ofl'set portion for attaching said keys to the key carrier, and said lockf ing members having" vnotches engaged by the straight and odset portions of the keys.

11. rlhe combination with lines .of voting members, of primary looking mechanism including locking members for `locking the voting members, said locking members having notches, and means controllable independently ofsaid voting members and-engaging said notches Y:for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines.

.12. The combination With lines of voting members, of vprimary locking mechanism'in# cluding locking members for ,locking "the voting members, said locking members havmg notches, anda member controllable 1ndependently of said voting members'and. 'provided with means engaging said notches for controlling sai-d locking members, said last named member being progressively movable tov lock or unlock4 the voting members in any line or lines. f. v

' 13. The combination AWithvlines of voting ibo los

members, of primary locking mechanism including lockingmembers 'for locking Ithe voting members, said locking members having notches, and akey carrier controllable independently of said lvoting members and Aprovided with keys engaging said notches for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting membersin any line or lines. f a

14. The combination -vvithl lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism includinglocking vmembers vfor 'locking-thevoting members, said'locking members havingv notches, and a key carrier provided-With keys engaging'said notches for 'controlling said locking members'to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, said keys being adapted for 'attachment to said key carrier in anydesired position and arrangement.

f L15. VThe combination vvith lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism inbers in the several lines, means -forl controlling said locking means, Aand a'rack and 'pinion for operating-said controlling means to lock or unlock-the voting members many line or lines.

n 16.` The vcombination with lines ofvoting members, ofprimary locking mechanism 1ncluding means for locking the voting members in the severalv lines, a sliding key bar for controlling said-locking means, al rack on` said bar, and a pinion engaging said rack for operating said key bar to lock or unlock the votingmmbers in any line or lines.

17. The combination with lines'of voting members, of primary lookin mechanism including locking members or locking the voting members in the several lines, means for controlling said vlocking membersi to lock or unlock. the voting members in any line or linesga/ rack connected with said controlling means, and a pinion movable into and out of engagement with said rack for operating said controlling means.

18. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, means'for controlling said locking means, means detachably` connected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock or unlock the voting members in'any line or lines, and' means for locking said operating means in engagement with saidcontrolllng means.

19, 'The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in' the several lines, means for controlling said locking means, means detachably connected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock or unlock the -voting members in any line or lines, and a latch for locking said operating means in engagement with said controlling means.

20. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, means for controlling said locking means, means detachably connected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, a latch 'for locking said operating means in engagement with said controlling means, and a spring for holding said/latch in operative ,position.

21. The combination with lines of voting members,`of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the-voting members in the several lines, a key bar for controlling said locking means,a shaft for operating said key bar to lock or unlock-the voting members in Yany line or lines, said shaft being movable into and out of engagegaging said notches aienwiai said'lmy bar', una a nah for 10erfing 'said shaft in operative position.

voting members in the several lines, said locking members having notches, -a sliding key bar havingmeans engaging said notches for controlling the'locking members, and

means 'for operating said. key bar to lock or iniock vthe voting members in any line or mes. s

28. The combinationwith lines of voting members, of rimary locking vmechanism including locking-,members for locking the voting members is thev several lines, said locking' members havin notches, means enor controlling said locking members, and means detachably connected with said controlling means for operating the same to lock or unlockthe voting members in any line or lines.

24:. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, means for controlling said locking means to lock vor unlock the voting members in lany line or lines, a rack connected with said controlling means, a pinion movableinto and out of engagement with said rack, and means for locking said pinion in engagement with said rack.

25. The combination' with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting mem.- bers in the several lines, means forcontrolling said locking means to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, and means for yieldingly holding said controlling means in certain positions with certain lines of voting members unlocked and the remaining lines locked.

26. The combination with lines of voting members', of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, means for controlling said locking means, means for operating said controlling means to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines', and means for yieldingly holding said operating means in certain positions with certain lines of voting members unlocked and the remaining lines locked.

27. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, means for controlling said locking means to lock or unlock the voting members in -any line or lines, said means including a shaft, and means for yieldingly holding said shaft in certain positions with certain lines of voting members unlocked -and the remaining lines locked.'

n l l o said last named means including a stationary washer loose on said shaft and a second Washer rotatable with said shaft and longitudinally movable thereon, said washers having Vinterengaging project-ions and recesses. f

28. The combination with a framework and lines of voting memberafof primary locking mechanism including means for'v locking the voting members in the several lines, means for controlling said locking -means to lock or unlock the voting* members in any line orlines, said means including a shaft, and means for yieldingly holding said shaft ingcertain positions with certain lines of voting members unlocked and the remainlng llnes locked, said last named means including a collar on the shaft, interengaging members on the framework and shaft respectively, and a spring interposed lbetween said collar and the interengaging mem er on the shaft.

29. The combination with lines of voting members, of primary locking mechanism including locking members"fer locking thev voting members in the several lines, a key carrier-provided with means for controlling said locking members to lock or unlock the voting members in any line or lines, a cover plate for guiding said key carrier and havmg an index opening,said keycarrier being provided with identifying symbols adapted to be brought successively opposite said inarranco dex opening to indicate the line or lines of voting members which are unlocked, and

' means for yieldingly holdingsaid key carrier in certain positions with said symbols opposite said index opening. v 30. The combination with a framework locking mechanism including means for locking the voting members in the several lines, a key bar for controllingsaid locking means, a shaft .for operating said key bar to lock or unlock the votin members in any line or lines, said shaft belng movable. into and out'of operative-engagement with said key bar, a collar on said shaft, interengaging members on the framework and shaft and lines fof voting members, of primary v respectively for holding said shaft in certain LESTER SHEPARnsoN.