US2284144A - Voting machine - Google Patents

Description

y 1942- A. N. GUSTAVSON' I 2,284,144-

' VOTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Era-E mwgyz k May 26, 1942. a A. N. GUSTAVSON VOTING MACHINE Filed June 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III m FIG-5' Patented May 26, 1942 VOTING MACHINE Alvin N. Gustavson, Jamestown, N. Y., assignor to Automatic Voting Machine Corporation, Jamestown, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1939, Serial No. 278,527

10 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in voting machines and particularly to a mechanism for actuating a pair of curtains that provide a booth at the front of the machine.

In the present form of the invention the curtain operating mechanism is made operable by a lever conveniently positioned beneath the'keyboard on the front of a voting machine. The mechanism is adapted to provide direct or delayed opening and closing of the curtains by the operating lever. The purpose of this is to give a voter complete privacy during casting a ballot as well as assuring that the ballot cast will be recorded and the machine reset prior to the curtains being opened. The curtain operating lever is, therefore, connected with certain elements in the voting machine that control locking, unlocking, and resetting.

One of the objects of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanism for operating the curtains of a voting machine.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanism that, through actuation of a conveniently positioned lever, will open or close the curtains of a voting machine.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a mechanism for operating the curtains of a voting machine that may be timed to open or close the curtains in advanced or delayed response to the operating lever during locking, unlooking, or recording and resetting of the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; and in which Figure l is a perspective View of the upper front portion of a voting machine embodying one form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the curtain operat ing mechanism mounted on the top of a voting machine, the position of the parts corresponding to open position of the curtains;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the position of the parts when the curtains are closed;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the curtain operating mechanism, being taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2; v

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of the lever by which the curtain mechanism is operated, parts being broken away to show certain structural details;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the position assumed by the lever when the cur.- tains are in closed position;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 88 of Figure 5; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a ratchet for controlling the operating lever.

Reference is now had to the drawings wherein the numeral I0 is employed to generally designate a voting machine in which one modification of the invention has been embodied. The voting machine comprises a cabinet having a voting keyboard |2 on the front wall thereof. Secured to the upper front corners of the cabinet is a U-shaped rod 13 from which issuspended a pair of curtains l4. These curtains are bi-parting and when open assume substantially the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Mounted in the cabinet directly beneath the top plate I6, is a curtain operating mechanism. This mechanism is carried by a support |l. Projecting downwardly from the support is a shaft l8 on which is mounted a gear I9. Beneath the gear is a flanged pulley 2|. The gear and pulley may be made integral or joined so as to rotate as one element about the shaft l3. Secured to the support I1 is a shaft 22 that pivotally mounts a cam plate 23. This plate is normally urged into engagement with a flange of the pulley 2| by means of a tension spring 24. A pin 25 on plate 23, mounting one end of spring 24, also serves as a contact lug as hereinafter explained. A further shaft 26, carried, by the support l1, pivotally mounts a gear segment 21, the teeth 28 of which mesh with the teeth of the gear l9. The gear segment 21 includes a laterally ofiset arm 29 at the end of which two pins 3| and 32 are mounted.

A slidable plate 33 forms part of the mechanism and is provided with a slot 34 adjacent one end. A stud 36, carried by the top plate I6, projects through the slot 34 and supports one end of the plate 33. Adjacent the other end 31, the plate is of reduced width and terminates in a perpendicular arm 38 that is adapted to contact pin 25 during operation of the structure. Adjacent the end 31 is a slot39 through which pin 32 of the arm of the gear segment 21 projects. Pins 32 and 36 support the plate 33 for reciprocal movement, limited by the length of slots 34 and 39.

A bracket 4| is secured to the side wall of the cabinet H. A pin 42 is secured to this bracket and pivotally mounts a bell crank 43. The bell crank is vertically disposed and at its upper end is pivotally joined to one end of a strap 44. The other end of the strap 44 is pivotally joined to a bracket 46 that is secured to the under face of plate 33 adjacent the inner end of slot 34. Substantially midway of the ends of the strap 44 is a pin 4! to which one end of an expansion spring 43 is joined. The other end of this spring is secured to pin 3I located on the arm 29 of the gear segment 21. The lower arm of the bell crank 43 is pivotally joined to one end of a link 49. The other end of this link is pivotally connected with a bracket I carried by a vertically disposed bar 52. This bar extends downwardly along the side wall of the cabinet, being mounted in suitable guides for vertical reciprocation.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that a double pulley block 53 is secured to the side wall of the cabinet adjacent the top wall I6. Mounted on one corner of the rod I3 is a pulley 54. A double pulley block 56 is positioned at another corner of this rod. An endless cord or belt 51 is provided. The cord has several turns about the pulley 2i and passes through one of the pulleys in blocks 53 and 56,

around pulley 54, and back through blocks 56 and 53 to the pulley. It will be noted that a portion of the cord adjacent the front of the machine is doubled and the free ends of curtains I4 are clamped or otherwise suitably joined thereto. Rotation of the pulley 2I in a clockwise direction causes the cord to travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 of the drawings for the purpose of moving the curtains I4 from opened position, position.

Attention is now directed to Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, wherein means for operating the above described mechanism is shown. Beneath the keyboard I2 of the machine, the cabinet II is formed with a forwardly offset compartment 58 that is adapted to enclose a curtain operating lever and parts incident thereto. Mounted in this compartment is a supporting frame 59 that includes front and rear plates 6| and 62. horizontal shaft 63 is carried by these plates and projects beyond the outer face of plate BI. An operating lever 64 terminates at one end in a handle 66 and at the other end in forks 61, the

spacing of which is approximately the diameter of shaft 63. lhe lever 64 projects through a slot 68 in the top Wall of the compartment; Mounted on the shaft 63 is a hollow rectangular member 69 having a collar H that is pinned or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft. A rectangular opening extends lengthwise of the member to facilitate entry of the forked end of the lever 64. The lever may thus be readily withdrawn from the compartment when it is desired to store the machine. Between the plates GI and 62 and mounted on the shaft 63 is a disk I2. A laterally offset arm I3 is secured to the disk I2 at a given point on its circumferential edge. One end of a link I4 is pivotally joined to the arm I3. The other end of this link is pivotally connected with one arm of a bell crank I6. The other arm of the bell crank I6 is pivotally connected with a further link 11 that in turn is joined to a bracket I8 secured to the lower end of bar 52.

It is apparent from the description of the invention thus far that movement of the operating lever 64 from left to right, as viewed in Figures 1 and 5, rotates disk I2 and, through link I4, bell crank I6, and link II, moves bar 52 vertically upwardly. This movement of bar 52, through shown in Figure 1, to closed link 49, rotates bell crank 43 and laterally moves plate 33. Inasmuch as plate 33 is connected through pin 32 with gear segment 21, said gear will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the pulley 2I to rotate in a clockwise direction and move the cord 51, in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, to close the curtains I4.

An arm I9 is secured to disk I2 in a position substantially opposite to the arm I3. One end of a link 8| is pivotally joined to the arm I9, the other end being pivotally connected with a bell crank 82 that is mounted on a centrally disposed pivot 83. The other end of this bell crank is pivotally joined to a link 84 that in turn connects through a bracket 86 with certain parts of the voting machine, such, for example, as looking, unlocking, and resetting mechanisms. Inasmuch as the present invention cooperates with these mechanisms in a manner heretofore known in the art, further description is unnecessary.

It is common practice in voting machines of the type to which the present invention relates to provide means by which an election officer may unlock the voting machine to the extent of permitting a voter to close the curtains, which action in turn unlocks the machine for voting. In the present disclosure a conventional entrance knob 8! is mounted in the side wall of the cabinet, being guided for vertical reciprocation in a suitable slot. The inner end of the knob 81 is pivotally joined to one end of a link 88 that in turn connects with one end of a rocker bar 69. A bracket 9| provides off center pivotal support for bar 89. The position of this pivot tends to maintain the bar 39 in the position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. On the free end of this bar is a pin 92 that is adapted to project into a slot 93 formed in the circumferential edge of the disk I2. In order that the lever 64 may be moved to close the curtains the entrance knob- 81 must be raised. This movement of the entrance knob rocks bar 89 and withdraws pin 92 from slot 93 of the disk I2. During rotation of the disk to a position to close the curtains (see Figure 6) and return, the pin 92 rides on the. edge of the disk and only again enters the slot 93 upon completion of the voting cycle.

To avoid unnecessary complication of parts in a voting machine, it is necessary that a voter be prevented from moving the curtain operating lever 64 through only a part of its travel and then returning the lever to its original position. In other words, when a voter has been permitted by the election officer, through movement of the entrance knob 81, to move-the lever 64 and close the curtains, he must continue movement of this lever until the curtains are completely closed and all parts of the machine are set for voting. Only then may the lever 64 be returned to its original position to'open the curtains. Attention is directed particularly to Figures 5, 6, and 9 wherein is shown means by which a voter is required to complete the voting cycle; A Y- shaped member 94- is pivotally joined at one end to plate 6|. The ends of the arms of this member are engaged by springs 95-. The other ends of the springs 96- are joined to the ends 91 of a T-shaped member 98 l'idway of the stem of the member 98 is a pin 99 that projects through a slot I 69 in a ratchet plate I-GI. This plate is mounted on a pivot I02 remote from the slot I00. Secured to or formed integral with the under face of the plate It: is an element I03.

disk 12.

. as follows.

segment I06 and the teeththereof are engageable by either of the teeth I04 carried brythe ,platelfll.

With the curtains in opened position the operating lever 64 and the parts above described assume the position shown in Figure 5; namely, tooth I04 engages one end of the segment I06 of disk I2, ,pin 99 is locatedin the lowermost end of slot I00, and the springs 96 are under tension. Movement of the lever 64 rotates the The plate IOI' acts to prevent return of the lever 64 by reason of engagement of tooth I04 with one of the teeth ofsegment I06. Com-.

plete movement of the lever to the right .of Figure 5 brings one of the stop members I91 ,into engagement with the pin ,99, which being engaged with plate IOI, causes said plate to swing about its pivot I02 approximately 90 degrees. In this position the other tooth I04 of the element I03 engages one of the teeth of the segment I06 andthe pin 99 is positioned at the other end of slot I00. The parts in'this position are shown in Figure .6 of the drawings.

The invention as described provides a substantially direct response of the curtain mech anism to the operating lever during closing the curtains with a delayedresponse during opening the curtains. In order that the mechanism by which this is accomplished may be fully understood, a complete voting cycle is set forth A voter enters the booth formed jointly by the curtains I4 and the voting machine It. An election oilioial raises the entrance knob 81 which, as set forth, disengages bar 89 vfrom disk I2 to permit movement of the lever 54 to close the curtains I4. The voter grasps handle 66 and moves the lever 64' from left to right, suitable stops I08 being provided to mark the limit of travel of this lever. Movement of the lever 54 and linkage heretofore described causes the gear segment 21 to be rotated and in turn rotate gear I9 and pulley 2|, thus causing the cord 5"! to travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 2. During movement of the lever 64, arm I9, carried by disk 12, has been rotated from the position of Figure 5 to that of Figure 6. Thus link 8|, connected with this arm, has rotatedbell crank 82, raising bracket 86 which serves to actuate certain elements to unlock the voting machine. It will be noted that link 8I has substantially no lateral movement until lever 64 has been moved into almost complete curtain closing position and that final closing of the curtains occurs substantially simultaneously with unlocking of the machine for voting. It is, therefore, impossible for a voter to commence indicating his ballot on the keyboard I2 prior to the curtains being completely closed.

It is assumed the voter has indicated his ballot and desires to leave the booth. The lever 64 is moved from right to left and the linkage connecting this lever with plate 33 functions as already described. It will be noted, however, that return movement of the plate 33 does not actuate gear segment 21 until pin 32 engages the opposite end of slot 39. During this movement of the plate 33, spring 48 has been extended, gear segment 21 being held against rotation by the cam plate 23. Further movement of the plate 33 causes the arm 38 to contact and release cam plate 23. This permits the energy of spring 48 to rapidly rotate the gear segment 2'! and in turn, through pulley 2I and cord 51, quickly open the curtains I l. It is pointed out that a rapid rotation of gear segment 2'! and the consequent opening of curtains I4 occurs at substantially the end of travel of at the completion of a ballot appears exactly as it did prior to the voters entry into the booth.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of a curtain operating mechanism and one possible delay and advance arrangement, of the parts thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations in action and the structural parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims. 7

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting machine having at least one movable curtain for enclosing a voter, a mechanism connected with and adapted to move said curtain into open or closed position, a lever on said machine for operating said mechanism, said mechanism. including rotatable means, and further means having direct rotative response to said lever in one direction and delayed response thereto in the opposite direction, said further means serving to operate said rotatable means.

2. .In a voting machine having means for enclosing the front thereof to provide a voting booth, a mechanism for actuating said enclosing means, a lever connected with and adapted to operate said mechanism, a rotatable drive member in said mechanism having cable connection with said enclosing means and further means operable by said lever, said further means having delayed response to said lever during the operation of opening said enclosing means, said further means serving to operate said drive member.

3. In a voting machine having means for enclosing the front thereof to provide a voting booth, a mechanism for actuating said enclosing means comprising a drive member, a cable connecting said member with said enclosing means, a voter operated lever, means in said mechanism operatively connecting said lever and said member, said means having direct operative response to movement of said lever in one direction and delayed operative response when said lever is moved in the opposite directionwhereby to cause said booth meansto open and close in difierent time periods.

4. In a voting machine having a pair of top hung slidable curtains adapted to provide a voting booth, a mechanism operating said curtains, said mechanism including a rotatable member having cable connection with said curtains, a further rotatable member having gear connection with the first mentioned member, a voter operated lever, means connecting said further member with said lever, said means being directly responsive to movement of said lever in only one direction to rotate said further member.

5. In a voting machine having a pair of slidable curtains adapted to provide a voting booth, a mechanism for operating said curtains, said mechanism including a pulley, an endless cable connecting said pulley with said curtains, a rotatable member, said rotatable member having gear connection with said pulley, a slidable plate, a voter operated lever, linkage connecting said lever with said plate, and means connecting said rotatable member with said plate, said means providing for rotation of said rotatable member by said plate in one direction only.

6. In a voting machine having a pair of slidable curtains adapted to provide a voting booth, a mechanism for operating said curtains, said mechanism including a pulley, an endless cable connecting said pulley with said curtains, a gear segment having connection With and being adapted to rotate said pulley, a plate having slotted engagement with and serving to rotate said segment in a direction to close said ourtains, spring means connected with said segment, said spring means being under tension when said curtains are closed, and means operable by said plate to release said spring means whereby to rotate said segment in a direction to open said curtains.

7. In a voting machine having a pair of slidable curtains adapted to provide a voting booth,

a mechanism for operating said curtains, said mechanism including a pulley having a cable connected with said curtains, means for rotating said pulley to drive said cable and open and close said curtains, a voter operated lever, linkage connecting said lever with said means, said lever being operable through said linkage to move said means in a direction to close said curtains, further means for rotating said means to open said curtains, said further means being operable by movement of said lever and said linkage in the opposite direction.

8. In a voting machine having a pair of slidable curtains adapted to provide a voting booth, means for operating said curtains, said means comprising a mechanism having a pulley and an endless cable connecting said pulley with said curtains, a gear segment having connection with and being adapted to rotate said pulley, a slidable plate, said plate, at one end, having slotted connection with said segment and movable to rotate said segment in one direction, a spring connecting said plate with said segment, means for securing said pulley and said segment against rotation when said curtains are in closed position, said plate being operable in one direction to tension said spring and operable in the reverse direction for releasing said pulley securing means whereby said gear segment is caused to rotate said pulley in a direction to open said curtains.

9. In a voting machine having means for enclosing the front thereof to provide a voting booth, a mechanism for actuating said enclosing means comprising a cable drive member and a cable connecting said member with said enclosing means, a further member having gear connection with the first mentioned member, a voter operated lever, means connecting said further member with said lever, said means being directly responsive to movement of said lever in only one direction to rotate said further member.

10. In a voting machine having at least one movable curtain for enclosing a voter, a mechanism connected with and adapted to move said curtain into open or closed position, a device on said machine for operating said mechanism, said mechanism including rotatable means, further means having direct response to said device in one direction and delayed response thereto in the opposite direction, said further means serving to operate said rotatable means, means carried by said machine engaged with said device when said curtain is in open position, and further means exteriorly of the enclosure area formed by said curtain for releasing said machine carried means whereby to permit movement of said device through the cycle of closing and opening said curtain.

ALVIN N. GUSTAVSON.

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