US2496106A - Voting machine with mechanism for - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1950 R. F. SHOUP r vowmc MACHINE WITH MECHANISM FOR GROUP vo'rmc Filed March 15, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PAM 60W f 5/6 014 TTOP/VAFFS' Jan. 31, 1950 R. F. SHOUP 2,496,106

vo'rINc MACHINE WITH MECHANISM FOR GROUP VOTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed firarch 1a; 1548.

I INVENTOR. FAA 50M F SHOUP ATTO/P/VEI/S -Jan., 31, 1950 R. F. SHOUP VOTING MACHINE WITH MECHANISM FOR GROUPIVOTING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 13, 1948 JNVENTOR. Pwl/ao/v F 5400/ KW ML? 6' TTOP/VAV S Patented Jan. 31,, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VOTING MACHINE WITH MECHANISM FOR GROUP VOTING Ransom F. Shoup, Ardmore, Pa., assign'or to The Shoup Voting Machine Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application March 13, 1948, Serial No. 14,713

2 Claims. (Cl. 23555) This invention relates to voting machines and more especially tovoting machines of the type covered by Sho'up Patent No. 2,054,102.

In some jurisdictions, at a general election of county, State or national officials, there is also an election of a group of local officers such as local judges, school-board members or the like for which each party presents as many candidates as there are ofiicer's to be elected and each voter has the privilege of casting a single party vote, splitting his vote between the candidates of the parties or casting a personal choice vote for individuals other than the party candidates, or a combination of regular party nominees and individuals not in nomination. For a voting machine to handle such an election, it must be capable of being set up in such manner that a straight ticket lever is available for use only for the group of candidates presented by each party and that a voter may register a personal choice vote for a group of individuals other than the candidates of either party, or the voter may register a vote for a combination of party candidates and individuals other than party candidates.

An object of this invention is a mechanism for use in a Shoup type voting machine to enable it to be set up in such a manner as to satisfy the requirements above set forth.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

t Fig. l is a fragmentary front view of the voting machine illustrating position of parts in a straight ticket vote;

Fig. .2 is a fragmentary rear View of the frame of the voting machine showing the position of parts in said straight ticket vote;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the voting machine showing the position of parts in a split ticket vote;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear View of the frame of the voting machine showing the position of parts in said split ticket vote;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 6 and '7 are enlarged sections on the line 66 of Fig. 5 with certain of the illustrated parts in diiferent relation; and

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

In so far as practical, the reference characters used herein will correspond to the reference characte'rs used in the specifications of Shoup voting machine patents such, for example, as Shoup et al. No. 2,054,102'a1nd Shoup 2,191,086,

In the voting machine of Shoup et al. Patent No. 2,054,102, there are ten vertical columns of spindles and a main interlock, together with interlock straps for connecting to the main interlock the spindles of columns 1 to 9 counting away from the interlock. Figs. 1 to 4 are broken away in such manner as to illustrate only the 7th, 8th and 9th columns. The interlock straps for the spindles of these columns are of the variable length type shown and described in copending Shoup application, Serial No. 733,379.

The spindles 38 are journalled at one end in a plate 39 and at the other end are journalied in vertical straps 40. Each spindle is equipped with an operating handle 30 and is of square crosssection except that it is provided with a circular groove 38a to be received in a circular bearing provided therefor in straps 40. Each spindle 38 extends through and supports achannel member 60, the ends of which engage the plate 39 and straps 40 and the channel member is received within square apertures in two arms 53 and 59'. A rod 5% extends between and has its ends attached to the arms 59 and 59'. A plate 59a is attached to each arm 59' through the intermediary of the rod 591) which passes through a slot in the plate 59. The plate 59a is thus slidably and rotatably connected to the arm and is, therefore, capable of being adjusted to different positions relative to the plate as fully described in said Patent No. 2,191,086. By reason of the rectangular cross-section of the channel member 60 and its snug fit on the square portion of the spindle 38, it is firmly secured to the spindle for rotation therewith. Likewise, rotation of the spindle 38 causes rotation of the arms 59 and 5 9. The arms 59 cooperate with a locking and restoring frame as described in said Patent No. 2,054,102 and the arms 59and plates 50a cooperate with vertically movable members I in the manner described in said Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086.

A counter C is associated with each spindle 38 and is provided with a drive pinion 43 having a square aperture through which extends the square portion of the spindle 3B. The counter C preferably is of the construction disclosed and claimed in Shoup Patent No. 2,140,336.

Each rod 501) has connected thereto one end of an interlock strap 6! leading to a main interlock 42 of a construction described and claimedv in Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086. In the interlock- 42 are provided a plurality of interlock members 62, certain of which are tubular for the purpose of receiving pins 63 extending through apertures in the interlock casing for the purpose of fastening said members against movement relative to the casing. Each interlock strap BI passes between the pair of interlock members 62 and is provided with a wedge 64 for spreading the two members apart.

In the wall I there is provided a vertical column of personal choice slots I39 with a slidable closure I40 for each slot. In back of the slots is a guide table I4I over which passes a sheet of paper I42 from a feed roller I43 to a take-up roller I44. A yoke I50 pivotally supported on a vertical rod 158a is rotated counterclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 5 by movement of any closure I48 to its open position and, when actuated, is returned to its original position upon return of the machine to curtain-open position by means (not shown) but fully disclosed in said Shoup Patent No. 2,054,102. The yoke I50 cooperates with mechanism, not shown, to advance the paper I42 a predetermined distance for each actuation of the yoke.

The rod I50a is supported by brackets I50?) attached to a vertical plate I500 of the shape shown in Fig. 5 and the plate I 500 is provided with a vertical series of apertures constituting guideways for links US! which at one end are attached to arms I 60 pivotally supported by the rod 150a and each link is provided with a pin 6Ia connected to an interlock strap 6|. Each of the arms 460 is provided with a head I60 projecting into a slotted channel-shaped runner 222 having a right-angle extension attached to a slide 223 supported by the wall I0. Each slide 223 is in alinement with a personal choice slot closure I40 so that movement of a personal choice slot closure to open position swings the arm I60 counterclockwise with consequent leftward movement of the corresponding link I6I and its associated interlock strap 5! to bring the head 84 thereof between rollers 62. Restoration of any actuated arm I50 and the corresponding closure I40 is ef- 'fected by mechanism for that purpose, described in Shoup et al. Patent No. 2,191,086.

I On each spindle 38 is located an arm or butterfly 85 consisting of two plates 8I and 82 (Figs. 6-8) having square apertures 8Ia, 82a of proper size snugly to receive the square portion of a spindle 38 and the apertures are so arranged that they register with each other only when the plates BI and 82 are oriented with respect to each other and are out of register when the arms coincide. The arm 8| is provided with a tapped aperture 83 and the arm 8| is provided with an arcuate slot 84. A stud 85 passes through the slot 84 and is threaded into the tapped aperture 83. The stud 85 is formed with an annular shoulder 86 engageable with the outer surface of the arm 82. To mount the arm on a spindle, the two plates 8| and 82 are arranged as shown in Fig. 6 with the apertures in register and it is moved along the spindle until the plate M is in alinement with a circular groove 380 of the spindle. The plate 82 is then rotated to make it coincide with the plate 8 I, thereby causing the sides of its aperture to be misalined with the sides of .the spindle, so that it, as well as the arm 80 is locked against axial movement. The stud 85 is tightened to clamp the shoulder 85 against the plate 82 to lock the two plates against relative 'movement.

A plate 4 II is provided. This plate has vertical columns of generally rectangular apertures M2 and is mounted over the spindles in the 7th,

8th and 9th columns with a spindle 38 passing through each aperture and with the upper edges of each aperture resting on the spindle passing through it. The left wall (as seen in Fig. 2) of each aperture 4I2 has a substantially semi-circular recess 4I2a at the bottom thereof. Each aperture also receives the pin 85 of the arm or butterfly associated with the spindle 38 passing through said aperture. A spring 4I3 biases the plate 4II toward the main interlock 42. An interlock strap BIc is attached at one end to the plate M i and has its remaining and arranged in that portion of the main interlock corresponding to the top row of spindles. The introduction of interlock strap SI c in the main interlock 42 is permitted by reason of the fact that the interlock strap SI of the top spindle 38 of column 9 as hereinafter set forth is shortened as described in applicant's co-pending application, Serial No. 733,379, to withdraw the wedge head 54 thereof from the interlock 42. The wedge head 640 of the interlock strap BIc is inserted in place of wedge head 64 in the main interlock 42.

The plate 4| I is shown as an assembly of three parts 4IIa, 4IIb, 4IIc secured together as by bolt 4M to provide twelve apertures M2 in each vertical column and twelve spindles in each of columns 'I, 8 and 9 are shown as equipped with butterflies or arms 80 and pins 85. However, in the use of the machine, only as many spindles are equipped with pins as are necessary to meet the ballot requirements. Should more than twelve spindles in each column be required to meet the ballot requirements, a plate 4II with a large number of apertures would be used. Also plate 4II may be of one piece construction if desired.

The arrangement above described makes it possible to use a single voting machine to handle an election in which each of several parties presents a ticket for a series of national, State or county offices with each party nominating a single candidate for each oillce and in which a group of ofiicials also is to be elected with each party nominating as many candidates as there are members of the group to be elected. A column of spindles other than in the 7th, 8th and 9th columns except for the top spindle is allocated to each party and the spindles of each such column, except the top spindle, are connected by interlock straps BI to the main interlock 42 in the customary manner to prevent operation of more than one spindle of such columns in any horizontal row below the top row. The oflice designations and candidates names are located on the face of the machine for such columns as usual except that the arrangement of designations and names begins with the second horizontal row instead of the first horizontal row. The operation of the spindles in these columns follows the standard general election procedure.

Assuming that a board of twelve also is to be elected and that each of three parties has nominated twelve candidates for election to the board, one of the 7th, 8th or 9th columns is assigned to each party and the names of each partys candidates are located on the face of the machine in the usual manner beginning with the top horizontal row of spindles of the 7th, 8th and 9th columns. The top twelve spindles of each of columns '7, 8 and 9 are disconnected from the main interlock 42 as described in Shoup co-pending application, Serial No. 733,379 by setting the variable length interlock straps SI of these top twelve spindles at their minimum length, thereby removing the wedges 64 thereof from the main interlock, and said spindles instead are connected by interlock straps B I to a supplemental interlock 42' in such manner that any twelve but no more of the thirty six spindles of columns '7, 8 and 9 may be operated. To effect this, each of the thirty-six spindles of columns 7, 8 and 9 has an arm or butterfly 80 with pin 85 like arms or butterflies 80' and pins 95 secured thereto. The arms 80 are oriented with respect to arms 99 and the i interlock straps BI are secured to pins 85. The wedges 64' of straps SI engage the supplemental interlock 42 which is similar in construction to the main interlock. The supplemental interlock is shown positioned at the left of Fig. 5. It may be at the right. Also, each of the thirty-six spindles of said columns is equipped with an arm or butterfly 80 each having a pin 85 extending into an aperture H2 in the plate 4| I which latter is connected to the upper section of the main interlock '42 by the interlock strap 61c and its wedge 640. The top personal choice slot I39 is large enough to permit the writing in of 12 personal choice votes if the voter so desires. This is the one the voter should use for personal choice voting. The top personal choice closure I49 is also connected by the link I01, pin file and an interlock strap SI into the top section of the main interlock 42 with the arrangement being such that operation of either the plate 4 or the top personal choice closure I 49 looks out the other of said two members. Other of the personal choice closures I40 could be used instead of the latter in the same way with plate M I.

The section of the main interlock 42 corresponding to the top row of spindles receives the interlock straps 6| of the top spindles of each of columns 1 to 6 inclusive, the top personal choice interlock strap GI and the interlock strap tile. The said section of the main interlock is in its normal condition which permits the pulling in of only one interlock strap wedge between the interlock members. The top spindles of columns 1 to 6 inclusive are locked against operation by proper setting of the arms 59a as described in Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086. Therefore, the only interlock wedges which can be pulled into said upper section of the main interlock are those of the top personal choice closure interlock strap GI and the interlock strap tile for the plate 4H. Consequently, movement of the top personal choice closure I40 to the right of Fig. 5 looks the plate 4H against movement, thereby preventing operation of any of the top twelve spindles in columns 7, 8 and 9, while movement of the plate 4 II to the left of Fig. 5 by operation of any of said spindles 38 in columns 7, 8 or 9 looks out the top personal choice closure I40. As long as the top personal choice closure I40 is not operated, the top twelve spindles in any of columns 7, 8 and 9 also can be simultaneously actuated by the operation of the straight ticket lever I95 over it and its associated member I99 to vote a straight ticket as described in Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086. Such action also looks out the top personal choice closure I40 because plate M! is moved to the left. Operation of more than twelve of the thirty-six spindles associatedv with the plate 4! I is prevented by the supplemental interlock 42', and interlock straps 6|".

A voter upon, entering the machine operates it to curtain closed position in the usual manner. He then records his vote for the national, State or county election in the usual manner. In recording his vote for members to be elected to the board, he may vote a straight ticket by operating the straight ticket voting handle I95 to lower the member I90, Figs. 1 and 2, thereby simultaneously actuating all twelve spindles in the column as described in Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086. Alternatively, he may split his vote among the parties as he desires by individually operating selected spindles as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Whether he votes a straight ticket or votes a split ticket, actuation of any of the thirty-six spindles 38 results in movement of the plate 4II to the left to pull the wedge 640 of interlock strap 6Ic into the main interlock 42 thereby looking out the personal choice interlock wedge of strap GI and preventin actuation of the top personal choice closure I40. Should the voter wish to cast a personal choice vote for members of the board, he may do so by opening the top personal choice closure I40 to swing the yoke I50 and through the link I6I and pin em pull the wedge of the top personal choice interlock strap 6| into the main interlock 42 looking out the wedge 040 of the interlock strap 6Ic and preventing leftward movement of the plate M I. All twelve personal choices can then be written in on the paper I42 under the top personal closure in the wide top personal choice slot I39, or written or printed on a separate paper ballot and affixed or attached by the voter to the paper I42 appearing in slot I39. Allthirty-s ix spindles are then locked by the plate 4Il so that the voter cannot record a vote for any one of the various party nominees by operating any of the spindles 38 in columns 7, 8 or 9.

The arrangement of the apertures M2 is such that with the spindles 38 of columns 7, 8 and 9 in unvoted position and the plate 4! I in its rightmost position as biased by spring M3, the bottom end of the arcuate recess MZa is engaged by a stud 85 and the wedge 640 of the interlock strap 6 I0 is out of engagement with the interlock members 62. Upon actuation of any of the top twelve spindles of columns 7, 8 and 9 to voting position, the spindle 38 thereof turns clockwise with consequent elevation of the pin 85 through an arc (Fig. 2 or 4), the extent of which is limited by the extent of rotation of the spindle from unvoted to voted position. The arrangement of the arm 8| on the spindles is such that the are through which the pin 85 travels locates the pin at a slightly higher level than the axis of the spindle so that after a spindle has been moved into voted position, the pull exerted on the pin 85 by the spring 4I3 through the medium of the plate 4H tends to advance the spindle beyond voted position rather than to restore it to unvoted position. However, because the spindle cannot proceed beyond its voted position, the spring tend-s to maintain the spindle in voted position and oppose return of it to unvoted position. Therefore, any spindle moved to voted position remains in voted position when released by the voter. Such operation of the spindle causes leftward movement of the plate 4II sufficient to bring the wedge E le of the interlock strap filo between two interlock members 62, thereby looking out the top personal choice slide I40. The plate MI is released for rightward movement by counterclockwise operation of the spindle either by the voter or by the spindlerestoring mechanism operative upon return of the machine from curtain-closed to curtain-open position as described in said Patent No. 2,054,102 but not herein illustrated.

The bottom edge of the plate MI is engaged by a collar M carried by a spindle 38 in the row of spindles next below the bottom edge of the plate. The collar 415 serves to retain the plate MI in vertical position should excessive pressure be exerted on the plate All through an attempt improperly to operate the machine.

It may happen that after a voter has operated the top personal choice slide I 40 to draw the wedge of the personal choice interlock strap 6| into the main interlock 42, the voter may attempt to operate one or more of the thirty-six spindles associated with the plate 4| l. Such an attempt would result in pressure being applied to the plate 4!! tending to move it to permit sufiicient rotation of the spindle to operate the counters associated therewith, thereby allowing the voter to vote for more candidates than he is legally entitled to. The recesses 412a decrease the leverage which a voter can apply to the plate 4| I through the procedure above described, thereby eliminating the possibility of a voter improperly operating the machine and th collar 5 also serves to prevent any outward movement of the bottom of the plate which might result in enough play to permit improper operation of the spindle.

. While the description has referred specifically to the use of the top personal choice closure for write-in votes, it is to be understood that any of the personal choice slides may be.used instead in conjunction with the plate 4. Where any of the narrower slides are used, probably the most convenient Way of writing in personal choice votes would be the provision of a separate paper ballot for written-in or printed personal choice votes which would be ailixed by the voter to the paper I42 exposed in the personal choice slot actually used.

The machine equipped with the mechanisms described herein may be used not only at general elections but at primary election as Well where voting of the character described is to be done with each party presenting like or diiferent numbers of candidates for ofiice. In such instances, the supplemental interlock 42 is, of course, set up as required to permit actuation only of a selected number of spindles to meet required voting conditions.

While specific embodiments ar described, structural variation within the scope of the claims is possible and is contemplated. There is no intention of limitation to the exact details shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a voting machine, a plurality of columns of spindles, an arm fixed to each spindle, a pin at the end of each arm extending parallel to the spindle aXis, a plate slidable at right angles to said spindles and having a substantially rectangular aperture for each spindle with said spindle and its associated pin projecting therethrough, each pin being engageable with one aperture wall upon rotation of its associated spindle from unvoted to voted position to slide said plate from one position to another, a personal choice slide, an interlock set up for a one vote condition, a single interlock strap connecting said plate to said interlock, an interlock strap connecting said personal choice slide to said interlock, said two interlock straps interacting with said interlock because of its being set up for a one vote condition to lock out either the personal choice slide or the plate upon actuation of the other, a supplemental interlock set up for a multiple vote condition, and interlock straps, one connecting each of selected of said spindles to said supplemental interlock, said last-named interlock straps and said supplemental interlock interacting because of its being set up for a multiple vote condition to permit actuation of a number corresponding to the multiple vote condition set up of said supplemental interlock of the selected of said spindles provided that said personal choice slide has not been actuated to lock out said plate.

2. In a voting machine, a plurality of columns of spindles, an arm fixed on each spindle, a pin on each arm extending parallel to the spindle axis, a plate slidable at right angles to said spindies and having a substantially rectangular aperture for each spindle with said spindle and its associated pin projecting therethrough, each pin being engageable with one aperture wall of the aperture through which it projects and adapted thereby upon rotation of its associated spindle from an unvoted to 9. voted position to slide said plate from a first position to a second position, spring means biasing said plate into its first position, and each said one aperture wall in contact with the pin engageable therewith, a personal choice slide movable from a closed to an open position, an interlock set up for a one vote con dition, a single interlock strap connecting said plate to said interlock, an interlock strap connecting said personal choice slide to said interlock, said two interlock straps interacting with said interlock because of its set up for a one vote condition to lock out movement either of the personal choice slide from its closed to its open position or movement of the plate from its first to its second position upon movement of the other, the looking out of said plate in its first position acting to lock out all pin provided spindles projecting through apertures in said plate because of the engagement of each of the pins associated with said spindles with the said one aperture walls of the apertures through which each of the pins projects, a supplemental interlock set up for a multiple vote condition, and interlock straps connecting each of the spindles passing through the apertures in said plate to said supplemental interlock, said last-named interlock straps and said supplemental interlock interacting because of its being set up for a multiple vote condition to permit actuation only of a number of spindles corresponding to the multiple vote condition set up of said supplemental interlock provided that said personal choice slide has not been actuated to lock out said plate in its first position.

RANSOM F. SHOUP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,748,690 Zink Feb. 25, 1930 2,093,554 Foehrenback Sept. 21, 1937 2,251,254 Shoup July 29, 1941 2,285,367 Shoup June 2, 1942 2,293,669 Shoup Aug. 18, 1942 2,312,128 Shoup Feb. 23, 1943 2,320,105 Shoup May 25, 1943

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