US3104805A

US3104805A - holicky

Info

Publication number: US3104805A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1960-12-09
Publication date: 1963-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-24

Description

Sept. 24, 1963 w. F. HOLICKY VOTING MACHINE AND REGISTERING MEANS-FOR USE THEREIN s Sh ee ts-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9 1960 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E /-/oL/c/ 477m; @MQMM; MW W,

A TTORA/E Y5- Sept. 24, 1963 VOTING MACHINE AND REGISTERING MEANS FOR USE THEREIN Filed Dec. 9, 1960 W. F. HOLICKY CONTROL CIRCUIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I50 INVENTOR.

WILL/AM F. HoL/c/o faZMMwm/W A 'r v'gedevs P 4, 1963. w. F. HOLICKY 3,104,805

VOTING MACHINE AND REGISTERING MEANS FOR USE THEREIN Filed Dec. 9, 1960 5 SheetsSheet 3 STCEAIZZED r95 ADVANCE Armada-Y5- United States Patent 3,164,805 VOTING MACHENE AND REGISTERING MEAN FOR USE THEREHN William F. Holicky, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Seismograph Service Corporation, Tulsa, Okla, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 9, 1960, Ser. No. 74,88 17 Claims. (Cl. 235-50) tion by the voter in making his choice. These machines require elaborate interlocks to satisfy all of the conditions which may be necessary in the various jurisdictions using voting machines. Thus, it is necessary to interlock the selectors so that in ,a contest where a single choice must made between two or more candidates, it will be impossible for the voter to operate more than one selector. Moreover, in some instances the voter is required to cast votes for two or more candidates of a relatively large group and in such cases it is necessary that interlocks be provided to prevent overvoting, that is, the arrangement must be such that after the required number of choices have been made, it is impossible to operate any additional selectors. Thus, it is apparent that the interlock mechanism is extremely complex and adds considerably to the size and Weight of the machine. Moreover, since each selection presents a completely different set of interlock problems, it is obvious that the task of setting up or programming the machine is ex- 3,i4,85 Patented ept. 24, 1963 number of parts and, as a consequence, to provide distinct advantages with respect to weight and cost.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a new and improved vote recorder which is operated in synchronism with a vote detecting scanning mechanism movable along the voting panel to determine the voters choices.

lengthwise thereof with the strip containing a list of ceedingly laborious and time consuming and can be performed only by highly skilled persons. As a result of the complexity of construction, the voting machines now in use are very expensive, can be maintained and/or repaired only by skilled persons, are large, heavy and bulky so that they cannot be transported easily to and from the voting station before and after elections and, in addition, they occupy a tremendous amount of storage space between elections. In addition, the weight of these machines makes them suitable for use only in buildings which have floor areas capable of supporting them, a problem which in some instances leads to the location of a voting station at a point not centrally or conveniently located in the area served. Despite all of these glaring disadvantages, the basic design of voting machines has not changed in the last half century. Weighed against these disadvantages are the rapidity with which the vote may be cast and registered and the rugged,

. relatively trouble-free construction.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a voting machine which retains to a large extent the advantages of the machines now in use but at the same time avoids all of the aforementioned disadvantages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a voting machine of small size and weight which is inexpensive to manufacture when compared with machines presently in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a voting machine which prevents overvoting without the use. of complex interlocks between the selectors of the machine.

The invention has for another object the provision of a new and improved vote registering apparatus construoted and arranged to utilize a minimum amount of space within the voting machine, to employ a minimum diflerent issues or office groups to be decided by the voter. Each group is divided into several selecting positions listing the different alternatives or candidates for that particular office. The office groups are separated by stop pins which are mounted in fixed positions upon the column but which can be placed in any desired position during programming. Mounted for sliding movement upon the column are several voting keys or selectors there being provided in each office group a number of keys exactly equal to the number of votes being cast in that group. Thus, in the usual oifice group where a single selection must be made from a group of candidates, only one voting key is provided and this key may be moved from a neutral position adjacent one of the stop pins to a selecting position adjacent the name of the candidate selected by the voter. This key cannot be moved past the oifice stop pins and, hence, only one vote may be cast within the Oflice group. if more than one vote is to be cast within an oflice group, several voting keys equal in number to the total number of votes to be cast are inserted between the stop pins defining that group. if cumulative voting is permitted, the name of each candidate will appear more than once on the candidate strip and, hence, the voter may divide his votes in any manner which he desires by giving all or several of his votes to a single candidate or by splitting them among several candidates. Each column also supports detents for holding the voting keys in any position selected.

The machine is programmed by placing the office stop pins at desired positions defining the ofiice groups, insenting the voting keys into each column and placing the candidate strips in position. The stops and the candidate strips cannot be moved after assembly and while the voting keys are slidable along the columns they cannot be removed after the machine is locked for use in the election.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the voter begins the voting operation by inserting 'a ballot card which is held in position within the macln'ne and thereafter the voter makes his selections by manually sliding the kyes along the columns to the chosen selecting positions in each oflice group. After the selections have been made, the voter starts the registering operation by depressing a vote switch which starts the movement of a scanning device along the rear of the voting panel and, at the same time, begins the closing of a cover or curtain for the front panel of the machine. In one form of the invention the voters selections are recorded by punching holes in a ballot card, with the ballot cards being collected for subsequent counting at a tabulating station. In this form of the invention, as the scanning device moves from row to row along the panel, the ballot card is advanced step by step past a series of punches each of which is electrically connected to one of the columns. As the scanning device reaches each row, in each column where the voting key has been moved to a selective position, an electrical circuit is completed to the punch associated with that column and, hence, a hole is punched in the ballot card at a position corresponding to that of the votingJkey selected.

The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the follow.

ing detailed description taken in conjunction with'the accompanying drawings wherein: p FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a voting machine characterized by the features of thepresent" invention; p FIG. 2 is a schematic and diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view, partially diagrammatic, illustrating the punching mechanism used in the voting machine of the present invention; a FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line44 in FIG.

' the upper and lower panels 21a and 21b, respectively, of

the housing. In the event that the voting machine breaks down during the course of an election or, if for any other reason, access may be desired to the interior of the housing 21, one or more of the panels may be removed by unlocking the appropriate key operated lock or locks.

The housing 21 defines an upper, generally vertically extending voting panel section identified by the reference numeral 24 and a lower ballot or card handling section 25. In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the selectionsmade by the'voter are adapted to be re corded or registered upon a ballot paper or card with all of the cards or papers being collected for subsequent transport to a central counting or tabulating station Where the results of the election may be computed very rapidly by runningthe ballot cards through conventional punch card controlled counting or tabulating machines. However, certain of the features to be described are applicable to other types of vote recording other than on a ballot the voter. Thus, for example, if the election is a national election, this strip may contain an office title such as PRESIDENT. and therebeneath may appear the different candidates competing for this ofiice. The ofiice .title and the candidates for the ofiice will be referred to hereinafter as an oliice group. However, it should be understood that the term oflice group may also refer to propositions on which a yes or no answer it required as, for example, on bond issues, constitutional amendments or the like. Each of the candidate positions or Each of the printed candidate strips 40 may be protected by a transparent sociated.

card as, for example, to vote recording by punching a continuous tape or to recording by magnetic heads upon amagnetizable strip. The ensuing description will, however, be devoted primarily to the use of a ballot card 26 by each voter for recording the voters selections and, to this end, a card of the type customarily used in tabulating ,or computing operations, is employed. This card is inserted into the voting machine 20, for example, through a card receiving opening 27 provided at one side of the machine and is held in position within a card receiving and punching mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 28 with thecard remaining in position while the voter makes his selections upon the front panel of the upper section 24.

In accordance with an important feature of, the present 7 invention, the front face or panel of the upper section 24 is made up of a plurality of side by side vertically extending columns Stla, 3%, 30c, etc. While eight vertical columns are shown, it will be apparent that this isrnerely for illustration since in actual practice any desired number of columnsmay be used. The ballot card 26 contains a number of lengthwise columns equal in number and respectively corresponding to the columns 30a, 30b, Silt, etc. of the voting panel.

Each column has mounted on the front or" exposed face thereof a printed or written candidate strip all containingdifferent offices or propositions'to be decided-by cover for the purpose of preventing it from being marked or damaged by the voter using the machine.

Each column is also provided with suitable means, such as a series of uniformly and vertically spaced recesses (not shown) for receiving office stops 46 which divide the different oflice groups of each column. The column also carries one or more voting'keys or selectors 48 slid-' able therealong between the pair of ofiice stops of each ofiice group in order to'gpermit the voter to make his selections in a manner which will become obvious from the following description- The voting keys cannot pass the office stops and, hence, their vertical sliding movement is limited to the oflice group with which it is as- To consider the operation of the voting machine, let it be assumed that the column 30a contains two o ifice groups, namely, an ofiice-group in which the voter must select between candidates A, B, C and D and a second oflice group in which the voter must choose between candidates E, F, G and H. Let it be further assumed that the voter is entitled to vote for only one of the four candidates in each otfice group. Thus, under these conditions, the candiate strip 40 on the column 304: will contain at the top a first :oifice title listing the title of the ofiice for which the candidates A, B, C and D are running and, in addition, will contain beneath this first office title four selecting positions respectively listing the four different candidates. Below the first oflice group will be asecond ofiice title and iour selecting positions listing the four candidates for that particular ofiice. A pair ofofiice stops 46a and 46b are inserted within appropriate openings above and below the first ofiice group with the stop 46b being'provided at a position adjacent to but immediately below the bottom selecting position containing the name of the candidate D. The up- 7 per stop 46a lies above the selecting position for the candidate A and is separated therefrom by one additional position, A voting key 48a is. adapted to'slide along the column' 3% from a neutral or non-voting position located adjacent the upper stop 46a to any one of the selecting positions wherein an outer pointer or indicator 49 on the key overlies oneof the candidate titles A, B, C or D. The voter exercises his choice between the four candidates by moving the key to a position adjacent the candidate selected. Since the voter is provided with only one key .for this office group, he may, of course, select only one of the four candidates and, as aconsequence, it isrnot necessary to provide an interlock arrangement for preventing further voting in this office group. i A similar situation exists in the second oifice group of the column 36M where a second voting selector or key 48b is {provided for sliding movement along the column between the stops 46c and Md. The number of selecting positions available in each of the columns is, of course, determined solely by the height of the column and the space occupied by each selecting position. Obviously, any suitable number of selecting positions may be provided but in one form of the present invention, thirty such positions were selected although in the form of the invention illustrated panel of the voting machine and the ballot card contains a number of transverse rows respectively corresponding to the horizontal rows on the columns.

In cases where the voter is permitted to exercise more than one choice in a particular office group as, for example, in the lower office group of the column 3M, several keys may be provided. For example, in the office group shown at the bottom of the column 302, the voter is permitted to select between any three of six candidates I, J, K, L, M and N. This selection is, of course, made by moving each of three keys 48c, 48d and 482 from their neutral positions adjacent the upper oflice stop 46a to selecting positions adjacent the names of the candidates selected. If cumulative voting is not permitted, the names of the candidates 1, J, K, L, M and N will appear only once and, hence, only one vote may be cast for any one candidate. However, if cumulative voting is permissible, that is, if the voter maycast more than one of his votes for a single candidate, then the names of the candidates will be listed in each office group more than once. In the case illustnated in column 302, if the voter is permitted to cast all three of his votes for one candidate, then the name of each candidate is listed three times and, if the voter so desires, he may cast three votes for his chosen candidate by moving the three voting keys to positions respectively adjacent the three listings of that particular candidate. After the voter has moved all three of the keys 48c, 48d and 48:2 to a selecting position, he cannot, of course, cast additional votes for other candidates and, hence, overvoting is prevented without the use of elaborate interlocks between the three voting keys.

The voting keys are held in the neutral and selecting positions by detent means 51 associated with each of the columns as, for example, is illustrated for the column 30a shown in FIG. 2. As is described in detail in copending application Serial No. 74,825 of Stanley W. Wilcox, Guilbert M. Hunt and Arthur F. Fassnacht, which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, this detent means may take the form of an elongated continuous strip having one end attached to its associated column. The elongated strip contains a plurality of laterally extending detent fingers 52 extending outwardly from its attached end with each finger carrying at its outer end a key engaging portion 53. Each detent finger extends outwardly from the attached end for a distance such that its key'engaging portion 53 is disposed in the path of sliding movement of the voting keys 48 on the column. Each of the key engaging portions 53 is bent to form a key holding notch 54 and a wiping finger notch 55. The detent fingers are normally flexed :or biased towards the front or voting panel but when a voting key is moved over a detent finger, the finger is flexed inwardly and if the key 'is stopped at a selecting position, it seats within the key holding notch 54 and is thus resiliently held. The detent fingers SZ'are verti- 'cally spaced apart so thenotch portions 54 of adjacent fingers are separated by a distance corresponding to the width of one of the selecting positions and the detent fingers are so oriented with respect to the attaching holes (not shown) for the office stops 46 that when [a voting key is seated against a stop, it is also seated within a notch 54 on a detent finger.

Turning now to the construction of the voting key and referring again to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that this key or selector may comprise a gener-ally rectangularly shaped body member having the pointer 49 referred to above extending laterally outward therefrom to overlie the edge of the candidate strip on the column. The key is suitably guided for sliding movement along the channel but, at the same time, it cannot be removed from the column by the voter and its lateral movement is very limited. The rearwardly extending portion of the voting key is provided with a detent operating and key restoring tooth 62 protruding rearwardly from the body portion. 1

After the voter has made his selections upon the voting panel of the machine by sliding the keys to the chosen selecting positions, his choices are adapted'to be recorded or registered as, for example, by punching or recording in any suitable manner either upon a continuous recording medium or, in the form shown upon the ballot card 26. The registering operation is initiated by the actuation of a manually operated VOTE switch 70' which is operated by the voter as soon as he has completed his selections. Operation of the VOTE switch completes an electrical circuit shown schematically in FIG. 2 from a suitable power source and associated relay control circuit to a drive motor 71 which has its output shaft connected through suitable reduction gearing and through a sprocket and chain arrangement 72 to drive a scanning mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 73. The scanning mechanism is swept along the rear of the voting panel first in a sensing or vote registering direction and remains at the bottom of the panel until it is returned at the start of the next voting cycle by the insertion of a properly positioned ballot card as is disclosed in copending application Serial No. 74,887 filed simultaneously herewith by Stanley W. Wilcox and Edward J. Crossland which application is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. During the return sweep of the scanning mechanism 73, the voting keys are all retained automatically from their selecting positions to their neutral positions ready for the next voters selections. The secrecy of the ballot may be preserved by use of a cover for the front panel in the manner described in the aboveidentified copending application Serial No. 74,825.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the scanning mechanism 73 begins its sensing or vote detecting sweep at the top of the voting panel section 24 and moves downwardly along the rear of the front panel until it engages a limit switch 74 at which time the drive to the motor 71 is interrupted. When the scanning mechanism is moved upwardly to return to its original position, an upper limit switch 75 is engaged to stop the motor drive. It should be apparent that by appropriate changes in design the sensing sweep could begin at the bottom of the panel although in this case the voting keys would be in their neutral positions when they were located adjacent the lower stop of each office group.

The sprocket and chain assembly 72 includes a pair of vertically extending chains respectively located at opposite sides of the voting machine although, for simplicity, only one of these is shown in FIG. 2. The scanning mechanism itself comprises a horizontal rail mounted at its opposed ends upon carriage assemblies respectively carried by the chains. The carriage assemblies are fixedly secured to the chains and are guided for vertical movement within suitable guide channels provided along the sides of the voting machine housing 21. The rail 80 is preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application Serial No. 74,825 referred to above and includes an inner rod 82 affixed at its opposed ends to the carriages carried by the chains together with a hollow shell 81 surrounding the rod 82 for limited rotation thereon.

The outer shell has a polygon shaped periphery and carries a rigid arm 83 which engages a fixed post 84 as the rail approaches the bottom of the voting panel, thereby to turn the shell through a predetermined angle for the purpose of moving a plurality of spaced apart keys restoring fingers 85 into position to engage the voting keys during the return sweep of the scanning mechanism. One such finger is provided for each column and they are effective during the return sweep to pick up the actuated voting keys 48 to return all or" them to their neutral positions adjacent the upper office stops of their respective ofiice groups. As the scanning rail approaches its upper position during its return movement the rigid shell turning arm 83 engages a fixed upper post 88 which is efiective to turn the shell 81 back to the scanning position.

Returning now to the vote sensing'operationand referring still to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the scanning rail shell 81 supports or carries a number of longitudinally spaced voting'wipers 86, there being one such wiper for each of the columnsfitla, 39b, etc.

making up the front panel. During the downward sweep of the railStl, the wipers are positioned to complete an electrical circuit to the punching mechanism whenever they pass a voting key 48 in a selecting or neutral position. This electrical circuit includes a common electrical connection between the selecting positions afforded by the each knife is also recessed as indicated at 112a to permit downward movement of the knife without operating the in the ballot card at a position corresponding to that of" I the actuated voting key. The punching mechanism is best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings and preferably comprisesa plurality of solenoids 100a, 1001;, etc.

there being one such solenoid associated with each of the columns 30a, 3012, etc. The construction of the punching mechanism 28 forms an important part of the present invention and comprises an upper male die carrying block 10 1' and a female die plate 102 carried in fixed position upon a lower support block 103-. The female 7 die plate is provided with a plurality of female die openings104a, 104b, etc; horizontally aligned transversely of the ballot card 26. "The male die block 101 is provided with a recess 105 in the bottom thereof cooperating with the female die 102 to form a card receiving passage through whiehthe ballot card 26 passes as it is advanced j through the voting machine. The male die block is further provided with a plurality of openings Idea, 106b,

into the female die opening in order to punch a hole in an obvious manner. The card chips falling from the female die openings 104a, 10 th, etc. fall downwardly through an opening 110 in the lower support block 106 and maybe removed following the election 'when the' voting machine is cleaned.

Associated with each of the male punching dies 107a, 107b, etc. is a die operating knife, these knives being respectively indicated by the reference numerals 111a,

111b, etc. As is bestshown in FIGS. 3 and 5, each knife associated punching die as will also become evident from the ensuing description. The body portion 112 extends through a guide slot formed in a fixed support plate 119 and at the extreme right end is provided with an open ating head 120 which cooperates with the solenoid associated with theknife blade to move the blade to a die engaging position against the action of the biasing spring 116. More specifically, when the solenoid lti tla associated with the knifeblade 111a is actuated, ithe head portion 12% is attracted and the knife blade is moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the right in order to draw the lower end of the knife blade to a position where the recess 118 overlies the upper end of the male die 18711. The solenoids assooiatedwith adjacent pairs of voting panel columns are positioned one above the other and the head portions of adjacent knives are bent in opposite directions, i.e., upwardly and downwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 in order to conserve space.

The knife blades are adapted to be driven downwardly to pivot them in unison about the pins 114 by means of an operating lever .125 which has one end mounted for pivotal movement about a fix-ed pivot pin 126 and has its other end attached to the operating arm 127 of a card punch solenoid 128. The operating arm 127'is normally biased upwardly so that the lever 125 does not engage any of the knife blades but when the solenoid 128 is actuetc. respectively aligned with the female die openings 104a,

104b,,etc. Each of the openings ltlda, 10 6b, etc. accommodates a male punching die or plunger 107a, 107 b, etc,-

ated, thearm 127 pivots the lever 125 about the pin 12% toforce all of the knives downwardly. The lower knife engaging surface-129 of the lever 125 is shaped so that the pivotal movement of the lever is effective to move all of the knives downwardly equal distances. Thus, .all of the knives which-have been moved to the right to a die actuating position by operation of their associated solenoids 10th:, 100b, etc. will be driven downwardly through the ballot card when the solenoid 128 is actuated. Those knife blades which remain in the position shown in FIG. 3, that is, those blades which have not been actuated by the associated solenoids 100a, 100b, etc, will be driven downwardly by the operationof the lever but they do not engage their associated male dies since the heads 1% of these dies lie beneath the recesses 11%.

' As was indicated previously the ballot card 26 is adapted to be moved step by step past the'punching dies by suitable mechanism operated in synchronism with the scan- 1 ning or vote detecting sweep of the rail 3-6. This mechanisrn is also adapted to return to its original or startcomprises a body portion 112 having an elongated slot 7 11 3 therein for receiving aguide pin 114 mounted on a fixed support bracket 115. The loose connection between the guidepin 114 and the slot 113, of course, permits pivotal movement of the knife and, in addition, permits limited movement to the rightfrom the position shown in FIG. 3. Each knife'is normally biased to the position shown in FIG. 3 where the pin 1'14- enga'ges the right edge of the slot 113, the biasing being accomplished by a coil spring 116 having one end carried upon the support I bracket 115 and having the other end hooked around a I raised finger 117 on the body portion of the knife. Thus,

the spring pivots each knife about the pin 114 to its extreme counterclockwise position as viewed in FIG. 3, the pivoting being limited by engagement of the free end of-the knife with a fixed plate 119. The bottom of the body portion 112 of each knife is provided with a die engaging recess 118 which engages the male die to perform the punching operation in a manner which will become "obvious as the description proceeds. The bottom of 'ing position at the completion of the scanning sweep so as to receive the ballot card of the next voter. The card .advance and return is represented by the block 138 in FIG. 3 and may take a number of. different forms but in the form shown in FIG. 2 it comprises the. .card support 1113 containing the female die block 102. The card support is provided with a guide track opening 136 extending toward the opening 27 and having mounted for movement therein a card pusher 139, which is adapted to by a detent'ed ratchet and pawl unit 142 operated step by step by a solenoid 143. The armature 144 of the latter solenoid is obviously adapted to engage the ratchet 145 in order to turn the output shaft 146 through a predetermined angle each time that the solenoidis energized. A spring biased detent 147 acts against the ratchet 145 to index it in each step -of its advance and this detent is adapted to be released by a solenoid 148 in order to permit the return of the card pusher. The shaft 146 is suitably connected to drive a pinion 150 meshing with a rack gear 151. carried by the card pusher 13?. When the pusher 139 is fully advanced a drive roller or the like (not shown) advances the card 26 off of the support and feeds it to a ballot collector which may take the form of a ballot allotting and assorting mechanism 140 (FIG. 1) of the type described in copending application Serial .No. 74,886 filed simultaneously herewith by Guilbert M. Hunt and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. As is disclosed in the latter application the sorting mechanism 140 feeds the ballot cards of successive voters to different chambers within a ballot box 141 which may be removed from the voting machine at the completion of the election for transport to the counting station where the votes are to be tabulated.

The step by step advancement of the ratchet 145 is effected by periodically completing an energizing circuit to the solenoid 143 as the scanning rail 80 sweeps downwardly during its vote detecting sweep. To this end, the-re is provided, as is shown in FIG. 2, an elongated, vertical conducting strip 142 carrying a number of vertically spaced pins or wiper contactors 153- thereon for periodically engaging a wiper 154 carried on the shell 81. The wiper 154 may be grounded while the strip 142 is electrically connected to the solenoid 143. The wiper 154 is of such length that it does not normally engage the strip 142 but whenever it contacts one of the pins 153 the circuit to the solenoid 143 is, of course, completed. Thus, as the scanning rail 80 moves from row to row along the rear of'the voting panel during its vote detecting sweep, the solenoid 143 is periodically energized with the result that the ballot car-d moves step by step through the punch mechanism 28 in synchronism with the continuous sweep of the scanning mechanism.

When the scanning mechanism 73 reaches the bottom of the sweep the engagement of the limit switch 74 is effective to complete a holding circuit to the solenoid 148 in order to release the detent 147 from the ratchet 145. The latter circuit remains completed until the pusher 139 returns to its original position. The engagement of the limit switch is also effective, as described above, to terminate the drive to the motor 71. The release of the detent 147permits the pusher 139 to be returned along the track opening 136 by means of a spring wound drum 155 having attached thereto oneend of a flexible band 156 or the like which has its other end secured to the pusher. The drum spring, not shown, stores energy as the pusher is advanced and, hence, is effective to retract the pusher when the detent 147 is released. When the pusher 139 returns to its original position, it opens a normally closed limit switch 160 connected in the holding circuit to the solenoid 148, thereby permitting the detent 147 to engage the ratchet 145 to prepare the card advance mechanism for the next cycle.

The card advance mechanism 138 may also include a suitable stop for indexing the ballot card in proper position within the punching mechanism when the card is inserted into the machine, this stop being rele'ased when the VOTE switch is actuated in order to permit the card to advance. This stop may take a number of forms but, as shown, it comprises a stop plate 162 biased upwardly towards the position shown in FIG. 2 where it extends through the guide track opening 136 and protrudes into the path of the ballot card in order to engage the forward edge of this card when it is inserted. The card is thus held in position within the punching mechanism 28 by the stop plate 162 and by the side walls of the card guide recess 105 in the male die block 101. The stop plate is adapted to be moved downwardly out of the path of the ballot card to permit the card to advance by means of a solenoid 166 actuated from the circuit 137 when the VOTE switch 70 is operated. The solenoid 166 remains energized during the card advance and until the pusher 139 engages the limit switch 1611 upon return to its starting position.

For the purpose of controlling the actuation of the male punches and their associated knives in the punching mechanism 28, the scanning rail 80 carries a grounded wiper 170 for periodically engaging a series of vertically spaced pins 172, one for each horizontal row of selecting positions, mounted on a conducting strip 171. The strip 171 is connected to the punch drive solenoid 128 referred to above which is, of course, rendered effective to drive the active male punches downwardly whenever its energizing circuit is completed by engagement of the wiper '170 with one of the pins 172.

Turning now to the operation of the voting machine described above, it will be observed that the scanning rail is at the bottom of the voting panel when the voter approaches the machine and inserts his Iba-llot card 26 through the opening 27 and into the punching mechanism 28. When the card is properly oriented and is in position against the stop plate 162, the scanning mechanism moves upwardly to return all of the voting keys to their neutral or non-voting positions adjacent the upper stops of the ofiice groups. It will be recalled that the shell 81 was turned at the bottom of the scanning sweep and, hence, the fingers are disposed to perform their key restoring function during the return sweep. As the scanning mechanism approaches the end of the return sweep, the arm 83 engages the post 88 to turn the shell 81 to the scanning position illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein the wiper 86 is disposed in position to engage the inwardly flexed detent springs 52, the key restoring finger-s 85 are po sitioned so that they cannot engage the voting keys and the

wipers

154 and 170 are disposed to engage the

pins

153 and 172 during the scanning sweep of the rail. The card remains in fixed position while the voter makes his selections on the voting panel by operation of the voting keys 48, that is, by sliding the voting keys from their neutral positions to the desired selecting positions. Until the voter actuates the VOTE switch 70 he is free to alter his selections in any desired manner. As soon as the voter is satisfied with his selections he actuates the switch 70 to complete a circuit to the electric motor 71, thus driving the scanning rail 80 in a direction to begin the downward or vote sensing mechanism 73. Actuation of the VOTE switch completes a circuit to the solenoid 166 to remove the stop plate 162 from the path of the ballot card.

As is described in copending application Serial No. 74,888 filed simultaneously herewith by Stanley W. Wilcox and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, provision may also be made for punching the first three rows of each ballot card with holes identifying the voting station or precinct where the ballot is cast, thus permitting sorting of the ballots at the counting station. If such provision is made, after the scanning mechanism 73 passes the first three ballot identifying rows of selecting positions on the voting panel, it begins to sense the voting keys selected by the voter and actuates the corresponding punches. Thus, if the voting keys in the fourth row are positioned as shown in FIG. 1, the first voted key encountered will be that located in the column 30b which is shown in a neutral 'or non-voted position adjacent the uppermost stop in that column. The fact that the voting key is in the neutral position may indicate either that the voter did not desire to cast his vote for any of the candidates in that particular oflice group or, of course, that he inadvertently neglected to make a selection. In any event, a circuit is completed to the punch solenoid 10Gb associated with the column 30b through the wiper 86 and the detent strip 51 associated with the second column thus moving the knife blade 111b to the right as viewed in FIG. 3. If other voting keys were located in this fourth horizontal row, the associated solenoids would also 'be actuated but with the voting keys positioned as shown in FIG. 1, only the solenoid associated with the column 30b is energized. Soon after the circuit to the punch solenoid 10% is completed, the scanning rail reaches a position where a circuit is completed by the wiper 170 to energize the solenoid 123 thus pivoting the lever 125 about the pivot pin 126 to drive the actuated knife blade 111b downwardly. and, hence, to force the male die 107b through the ballot card. None of the other male dies is at this time moved downwardly and as a result only one hole is punched in the ballot card for the fourth horizontal row. The hole thus punched'isof course, indicative of a neutral or non-voted key but the tabulating machine at the counting station can be set to discount this particular hole and, as a result, no votes will be counted for any of the candidates in the first ofiice group in column 30b.

After the holes in the ballot card have been punched to correspond to the location of the voting key in the fourth horizontal row, the card advance wiper 154- cugages a pin 153 to complete a circuit to the solenoid 143 in order to advance the ballot card pusher 139 one step i in the manner described above. Each of the card advance pins 153 is spaced slightly below the corresponding punch, solenoid pin 172 forthe same horizontal row so that the'card is not advanced until the punching operation has been completed. The scanning rail continues its downward movement until it reaches a position adjacent the fifth horizontal row of selecting positions at which time it detects the voting keys in this horizontal row which have been moved to a selecting position. With the voting keys positioned as shown in FIG. 1, only the voting key at the .top of the column 300 is in a selecting position and, hence, only the solenoid 1000 associated with the column 300 will be energized. In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that energization of the solenoid 128 by the'en-gagement of the wiper 170 with the next pin 172 as the rail 80 moves downwardly is effective to drive all of the knife blades downwardly thus forcing only the male punching die 1070 through the ballot card; As soon asthe hole in the ballot card has been punched by the die 107c,'the lever 125 is returned to its raised position as shown in FIG. 4 and die 1G7c is returned to its raised position by the coil spring 109 associated therewith. Soon thereafter, the card advance wiper 154 engages'the next pin 153 to advancethe card one more step. The horizontal scanning rail then reaches the sixth horizontal row and encounters three actuated keys so that at the time three holes are simultaneously punched in the ballot card. The operation then continues in an obvious manner until the scanning mechanism 73 reaches the end of its sweep and engages the lower limit switch 74 whereupon the drive to the motor 71 is interrupted and, at the same time, a circuit is completed to the detent solenoid 148 which releases the ratchet 145 and permits the card advance and return mechanism 138 to return the pusher 139 to its original position, thus conditioning the machine for receiving the ballot'card of the succeeding voter. When the pusher is returned it engages and operates the limit switch 160 to break the holding circuit to the ratchet detent solenoid 148, thus conditioning the card advance mechanism 138 g for the next scanning sweep of the rail. The operation of the limit switch 160 is also eifective to break the holding circuit to the card stop solenoid 166, thus permitting the card stop-plate 162 to return to raised position to indexthe ballot card of the next voter.

When the scanning rail 80 approaches the lower position, the shell 81 is turned in the manner described above to condition the scanning rail for the return sweep. When the rail is'turned the wipers 154- and 170 are moved to positions wherein they cannot engage the

pins

153 and 172, respectively, during the return sweep of the railand, hence, both the card advance mechanism and the punch mechanism are ineffective during the latter Elaborate mechanicalinterlocks between the voting selectors are unnecessary and, hence, the weight and size scanning means.

of the machine is considerably less than that of voting machines presently in use; The use of a scanning rail and an associated recording mechanism operated in synchronism therewith avoids excessive'wiring or mechanical connections which would otherwise be required. Thus, the scanning arrangement contributes to the reduction in size, weight and cost of the machine. The use of a single vote recording device for each column simplifies the construction of the recording apparatus and,

hence, is an important factor in reducingthe cost, weight selecting positions along each column to permit the.

voter to make his choices, said selecting positions being arranged in different office groups along said columns and at least some of said columns containing several oflice groups, vote recording means comprising a single vote recording device for each column for recording upon a record medium the selecting positions chosen by the voter, scanning means movable along said columns and including a scanner associated with each column, means for operating each scanner whenever it encounters a selector in a selecting position to render the recording device of the associated column effective to produce an indication on said recording medium, and means for relatively moving the recording medium and the recording devices in synchronism with the movement of the 7 columns of slideable vote selectors movable to different selecting positions along each column to permit the voter to make his choices, said selecting positions being arranged in different office groups along said columns and at least some of said columns containing several ofiice groups, vote recording means comprising a single vote recording device for each column for recording upon a record medium the selecting positions chosen by the voter, a scanner associated with each column for detecting'each selector along the column located in a selecting position and for rendering the recording device associated with that column effective to record on the recording medium the selecting positions chosen, means for moving all out said scanners in unison to perform the detections, and means for relatively moving the recording medium and the recording devices in synchronism with the movement ot the scanning means.

3. In a voting machine a plurality of side by side columns of slideable vote selectors movable to difierent selecting positions along each column to permit the voter to make his choices, said selecting positions beingarranged in different office groups alongsaid columns and at least some of said columns containing several ofilce groups, vote recording means comprising a single vote recording device for each column for recording upon a recording medium the selecting positions chosen by the voter, a plurality of scanning meansyone for each column, movable along said columns to respectively,

render the recording devices efiective to record on said recording medium the selecting positions along each column containing a voting selector, and means for relatively moving the recording medium and the recording devices in synchronism with the movement of the scanning means. 7

4. Ina voting machine of the type using a ballot to record the voters choices, the combination of a plurality of side by side columns of voting selectors, each selector being mounted for sliding movement independently of the other selectors between a plurality of selecting positions, said selecting positions being arranged in different ofiice groups along said columns and at least some of said columns containing several office groups, a plurality of office stop means associated with each column to divide said selecting positions into the different ofiice groups, one selector being provided for each office group and the movement of the selector in each group being limited by said stop means, the selecting positions of the different columns being arranged in rows extending transversely of the columns, punching apparatus for punching holes in said ballot at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions to which a votmg selector has been moved, said punching apparatus comprising a plurality of male punches, one [for each column, a plurality of female dies respectively cooperating with the male punches to perforate said ballot, means normally biasing said male punches away from said female dies to provide a ballot passage therebetween, a plurality of male punch actuators, one for each column and each associated with one of the male punches, a plurality of scanning means, one for each column, mounted upon a nail extending transversely of the columns and continuously movable along said columns from row to row for detecting the selecting positions to which selectors have been moved, electrical circuit means rendered effective Whenever one of said scanning means detects a selector in a selecting position to condition the punch actuator associated with that column to operate the associated male punch, a single driving mechanism for all of said punch actuators, an electrical circuit periodlcally operative during the movement of said rail to render said driving mechanism effective as the scanning rail passes each row of selecting positions, thereby to drive all of the male punches associated with a conditioned punch actuator into the female dies to punch holes in the ballot, and means operated in synchronism with the movement of said rail for advancing said ballot step by step through said passage, thereby to punch holes in said ballot at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions containing a voting selector.

5. In a voting machine of the type using a ballot to record the voters choices, the combination of a plurality of side by side columns of voting selectors, each selector being mounted for sliding movement independently of the other selectors between a plurality of selecting positions, said selecting positions being arranged in different office groups along said columns and at least some of said columns containing several office groups, the selecting positions of the different columns being arranged in rows extending transversely of the columns, punching apparatus for punching holes in said ballot at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions to which a voting selector has been moved, said punching apparatus comprising a plurality of male punches, one for each column, a plurality of female dies respectively cooperating with the male punches to perforate said ballot, means normally biasing said male punches away from said female dies to provide a ballot passage therebetween, a plurality of male punch actuators, one for each column and each associated with one of the male punches, a plurality of scanning means, one for each column, mounted upon a rail extending transversely of the columns and continuously movable along said columns from row to row for detecting the selecting positions to which selectors have been moved, electrical circuit means rendered'eifective whenever one of said scanning means detects a selector in a selecting position to condition the punch actuator associated with that coluinn to operate the associated male punch, a single driving mechanism 'for all of said punch actuators, an electrical circuit periodically operative during the movement of said rail to render said driving mechanism effective as the scanning rail passes each row of selecting positions, thereby to drive all of the male punches associated with a conditioned punch actuator into the female dies to punch holes in the ballot, and means operated in synchronism with the movement of said rail for advancing said ballot step by step through said passage, thereby to punch holes in said ballot at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions containing a voting selector.

6. In a voting machine of the type using a ballot to record the voters choices, the combination of a plurality of side by side columns of voting selectors, each selector being mounted for sliding movement independently of the other selectors between a plurality of selecting positions, said selecting positions being arranged in different ofiice groups along said columns and at least some of said columns containing several office groups, one selector being provided for each office group, the selecting positions of the different columns being arranged in rows extending transversely of the columns, punching apparatus for punching holes in said ballot at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions to which a voting selector has been moved, said punching apparatus comprising a plurality of male punches, one for each column, a plurality of female dies respectively cooperating with the male punches to perforate said ballot, a plurality of male punch actuators, one for each column and each associated with one of the male punches, a plurality of scanning means, one for each column, mounted upon a rail continuously movable along said columns from row to row for detecting the selecting positions along each column to which selectors have been moved, electrical circuit means rendered effective when the scanning means detects a selector in a selecting position in its associated column to render the associated male punch effective to cooperate with its female die to punch a hole in the ballot, and means operated in synchronism with the movement of said rail for advancing said ballot step by step between said male punches and said female dies, thereby to punch holes in said ballot at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions containing a voting selector.

7. In a voting machine of the type using a recording medium to record the voters choices, the combination of a plurality of side by side columns of voting selectors, each selector being mounted for sliding movement independently of the other selectors between a plurality of selecting positions, said selecting positions being arranged in different office groups along said columns and at least some of said columns containing several office groups, the selecting positions of the different columns being arranged in rows extending transversely of the columns, apparatus for recording on said medium at positions respectively corresponding to the selecting positions to which a voting selector has been moved, said apparatus comprising a plurality of recording devices, one for each column, means normally preventing said recording devices from recording on said medium, a plurality of scanning means, one for each column, mounted upon a rail continuously movable along said columns from row to row and each detecting the selecting positions along its associated column to which selectors have been moved, electrical circuit means rendered effective Whenever one of said scanning means detects a selector in selecting position in its associated column to render the recording preventing means ineffective and, hence, to record on said medium an indication representing the position of the detected selector, and means operated in synchronism with the movement of said rail for advancing said recording medium step by step past said recording devices.

8. In a voting machine of the type utilizing a ballot for recording the voters selections, the combination of means defining a plurality of side by side columns each divided into a number of selecting positions, means on each column dividing the selecting positions of that column into different office groups, at least some of said columns containing a plurality of office groups, the selecting positions being arranged in rows extending normal to the columns,

areasoe "1'5 manually operable selectors in each column whereby the voter makes his selection at the selecting positions ofeach ofice group, means for simultaneously scanning all of said columns by scanning one row of selecting positions at a time to determine which of the selecting positions along each row'has been seleced by the voter, recording means including a plurality of recording devices, only one for each column, for recording upon said ballot the selecting positions selected by the voter, and means for relatively moving said ballot and said recording devices step by step in synchronism with the row to row scanning by said scanning means. a p

9. The apparatus defined by claim 8 wherein the ballot is advanced step by step past the recording devices in synchronism with the row to row scanning of the scanning means. V I

10. The apparatus defined by claim v8 wherein the scanning means comprises a scanning rail extending transversely of said columns and movable longitudinallytherealong from a position near one end to a position near the other end. 1

11. The structure defined by claim 10 wherein the electrical circuit is provided for controlling the step by step relative movement, said circuit including switch means actuated periodically as said scanning rail moves along said columns, structure extendingalong the paths of movement of the rail, said switch means including a member carried by said rail to cooperate with said structure to actuate the switch means.

12. The voting machine defined by claim 8 wherein each select-or is mounted for sliding movement longitudinally along its column from a non-voting position to one of said selecting positions. I

13. A voting machine according to claim 12 wherein the means dividing the selecting positions along each column into different ofiice groups comprises adjustable stops provided at fixed positions spaced longitudinally apart along said columns for limiting the sliding movement of the selectors, each selector :beingdisposed adjacent one of said stops when inits non-voting position.

14. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein the scanning means comprises a scanning rail extending transversely of said columns and movable longitudinally therealong from a position near one end to a position near the other end. a

15. The structure defined by claim 14 wherein an elec trical circuit is provided ior controlling the movement of the rail, said circuit including switch means actuated periodically as said scanning rail moves along said columns, structure extending along the paths of movement or the. rail, said switch means including a member carried by said rail to cooperate with said structure to act-uate'the switch means.

16. The voting machine defined by claim 1 wherein.

Rice et al. Sept. 12, 1939 Thompson June 11, 1940 Dowey et a1 Aug. 10, 1943

Claims

1. IN A VOTING MACHINE A PLURALITY OF SIDE BY SIDE COLUMNS OF SLIDEABLE VOTE SELECTORS MOVABLE TO DIFFERENT SELECTING POSITIONS ALONG EACH COLUMN TO PERMIT THE VOTER TO MAKE HIS CHOICES, SAID SELECTING POSITIONS BEING ARRANGED IN DIFFERENT OFFICE GROUPS ALONG SAID COLUMNS AND AT LEAST SOME OF SAID COLUMNS CONTAINING SEVERAL OFFICE GROUPS, VOTE RECORDING MEANS COMPRISING A SINGLE VOTE RECORDING DEVICE FOR EACH COLUMN FOR RECORDING UPON A RECORD MEDIUM THE SELECTING POSITIONS CHOSEN BY THE VOTER, SCANNING MEANS MOVABLE ALONG SAID COLUMNS AND INCLUDING A SCANNER ASSOCIATED WITH EACH COLUMN, MEANS FOR OPERATING EACH SCANNER WHENEVER IT ENCOUNTERS A SELECTOR IN A SELECTING POSITION TO RENDER THE RECORDING DEVICE OF THE ASSOCIATED COLUMN EFFECTIVE TO PRODUCE AN