US3132798A - Counter perforator assembly - Google Patents

Description

May 12, 1964 L. L. JOHNSON ETAL 3,132,793

COUNTER PERFORATOR ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG! INVENTORS 11120 L JON/V504 BY RICHARD C. 646N159 A TTOR NEYS May 12, 1964 L. L. JOHNSON ETAL COUNTER PERFORATOR ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 23, 1960 INVENTOBS I. EONA 20 L. JOHNSON BIC/{419D 6 WAGNER May 12, 1964 L. JOHNSON ETAL 3,132,793

COUNTER PERFORATOR ASSEMBLY Filed March 23, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lz n III/III/ FIG. 7

V/////(///////////////(///I//l/////////// INVENTOB- LEONA/ 0 L. JOHNSON RICH/1B0 C- WAGNEB United States Patent 3,132,7S COUNTER PEF'LFQRATQR AdSEMBLY Leonard L. Johnson,Chicago, and Richard C. Wagner,

Riverside, ISL, assignors, by mesne assignments, to

Rockwell Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a

corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Mar. 23, 19nd, Ser. No. 17,661 12 Claims. (Cl. 235-'-5tl) This invention relates to voting tabulators, and more particularly to an improved tally or counter mechanism for use in voting machines and/or systems.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved unitized component for use in voting systems, which is adapted to receive separately channeled electrical impulses corresponding to voting actions at one or more associated voting stations, and to tally the votes automatically.

Another object is to provide an improved device as aforesaid employing counter wheels bearing legible digital indicia as well as binary coded indicia in conjunction with an improved record tape perforation arrangement.

Another object is to provide a mechanism as aforesaid embodying an improved counter wheel reset mechanism.

Another object is to provide an improved mechanism as aforesaid which is compact and relatively inexpensive to construct, and foolproof in operation; and which reveals thevoting result in visually readable form and also delivers the voting record in punched tape form for convenient transportation and reading at a central tabulating station.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the specification hereinafter describing in detail one example of a machine embodying the various features of the present invention which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the machine;

FIG; 2 is a right hand end view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a typical section of a perforated tape voting record as delivered :bythe machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a section taken along line 4a4a of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. -7 is a section taken along line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged scale elevation taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view through a typical counter wheel stack of the machine;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 111I of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged scale fragmentary sectional view showing a tape perforating operation upon the record tape by one of the coded counter wheels and the perforating platen.

As shown in the drawing herewith the invention is embodied in a counter mechanism housing comprising top and bottom horizontal frame plates 2@20 interconnected by a central vertical web plate 24 (FIG. 7). End plates 2628 complete the machine frame assembly. Intermediately of the end plates and against opposite sides of the web plate 24 are mounted pluralities of counter wheel stacks. In the drawing herewith there are illustrated two counter wheel banks, each comprising three counter wheel stacks, at eachside of the machine, thus providing a total of twelve stacks; but it will be understood that any other number ofstacks may be employed, depending upon the vote registering capacity desired for the machine.

The counter wheel stacks are enclosed within frameworks comprising spaced end plates 3tl-3233 which are interconnected by tie rods 34 which mount in brackets 35 held to the web plate 24 by means ofscrews 36. Counter wheel shafts as indicated at 4th are mounted between the frame plates 39-33 to rotatably support the counter or digit wheel assemblies, which may of course comprise any required number of wheels whereas in the drawing herewith four such wheelsare shown in each assembly as indicated at 42, 44, 46, 48. Thus as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, the wheels 42 are arranged to comprise the units wheels in each assembly; the other digit wheels thereof being connected therewith in conventional manner as through pinions (FIG. 9) carried by a cross shaft 52 and gears 51 rotatably mounted on the wheels 44, 46, 48, but normally locked thereto as will be explained hereinafter. The units wheel and pinion arrangements are such that when the units wheel makes a complete revolution it picks up through the transfer pinion and shifts the position of the next adjacent wheel to its next digital reading, and so on throughout the stack; in each case the wheel being stoppcd'in its proper registering position.

A counter stack as illustrated herein, is provided for each voting lever (or other control) at the associated voting panel or panels, and each stack is arranged to be selectively powered by its own solenoid as indicated at 55 (FIG. 9) through a suitable power source as indicated at 56. Thus, each impulse received by the solenoid causes its armature 58 to shift, thereby depressing pin 59 against a compression spring60. This carries along a segmental wheel 62 so that its rim portion 64 engages a pinion 65 carried by the frame piece 30. Thus, the stack is positioned to register a vote. An intermediate gear 66 interengages the pinion 65 and a toothed gear 68 rotatable on the units wheel 42 but normally locked thereto, as willbe explained. Therefore, when the main operating lever at the voting panel is shifted to non-voting position, such as by opening of the secrecy curtain, it simultaneously causes a solenoid 70 (FIG. 7) to rotate crank arms 72. through gears 73 thereby lifting strap-s 74 through links 76; thereby obtaining simultaneous actuation of the lift.

straps 740i all of the counter banks. Each strap 74 is carried by a series of guide yokes 78 (FIGS. 7, 9) which are rotatably mounted upon the corresponding of the pins 59 and have laterally extending fingers 79 engaging the wheels 62. Hence, each actuation of the strap 74 partly I rotates all of the wheels 62. However, because only those Wheels which have been previously shifted into engagements with their pinions 65 are coupled to their counter wheel stacks, only those stacks will thereby register a vote. Such operation of the main operating lever simultaneously returns each voting lever (or other control) to its non-voting position, thereby interrupting its control of the associated solenoid 55 and permitting the spring 60 to return the wheels 62 to non-registering position.

When it is required to reset the counters to zero preceding any voting period, the machine custodian resets the machine by. inserting a key into the key hole 80 (FIG. 7) and turning the key to lift a crank 81 and link 82 coupled to a reset and detent bar 84 up to the broken line position thereof shown in FIG. 7. This raises the bar 84 relative to the counter wheel shafts 4d, and through means of cam portionsfiti on the bar displaces the shafits toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 8, 9, 10. This action displaces integral split ring portions 825 cara o ried by the shafts from their normal positions as shown by solid lines in FIG. 10 toward the right and to their broken line positions therein.

Normally, the rings 82 maintain detent discs 91) (FIGv 11) in locking positions in registering recesses 91 formed in the inner peripheries of the gears 51, 6%; the discs 91) being caged within shoulder portions 92 formed integrally with wheel hub portions 94 which are keyed to the wheels 42, 4-4, 46, 48. However, when the shafts 41) are displaced to move the rings 38 toward the right, the discs are thereby released to cam inwardly against the action of leaf springs 96 out of locking engagements with the gears. This releases the counter wheels from their gears at, as

The custodian then turns the reset crank 97 (FIG. 1) through one full revolution thus causing the coupled chain 98 to turn a bottom sprocket 99 which drives two reset gears 1013-11111 carrying a rack pinions 162-102 (FIG. 7) thereby operating to draw down corresponding reset racks 1041ti4. This motion of the racks drives gears 105 to rotate each wheel shaft 40 (FIG. 8). As each shaft rotates it picks up the springs 106 (FIG. 11) which are nested in the wheel hubs 94 and the wheels, by means of the undercut portion 107 on the shaft, and returns all wheels within the stacks to their zero reading positions. The custodian then returns the key to lower the bar 34 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 7, thereby causing the bar to pull the shafts out again by means of the cam portions 86, thus locking the split rings 88 and discs 90 in counter wheel holding positions as illustrated in FIGS. 10, 11.

The record tape is then threaded through the machine, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The machine is then locked in voting condition which releases an interlock permitting the record taking platen to move. The custodian then cranks the platen to move from the starting end of the machine to the other, thereby pressing the record tape strands against the zero readings of the counter wheels. Then, after the expiration of the voting period the .custodian again cranks the platen to move in reverse direction over the tape strands, thereby printing the voting tally in code upon the tape.

The record tape mounting and perforating arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 16, 12, 13. The tape supply is in the form of a coil 11% carried by a spool 112 mounted to idle upon a support shaft 114 (FIGS. 1, 2). The record tape issues from the supply spool in the form of a first strand 115 passing around a roller 116 and thence along one side of the machine in superposition against the top row of counter wheels exposed at that side of the machine. From thence it threads around another roll 117 located at the opposite end of the machine from whence it slopes downwardly across that end of the machine and thence around a roller 118 at the opposite side of the machine. The record tape then trains successively in the form of strands 120, 122, 124, around the machine over rollers 126, 127, 128, 129, 136, 131, 132 respectively; the tape strands in all cases being thereby positioned to lie against otherwise exposed portions of the counter wheels of the machine. From the roller 132; the tape issues as indicated at to pass around a direction change roll 134 from whence it passes into the tape pulling'and cut off unit which is designated generally by the numeral 135.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, the unit 135 comprises a housing which mounts a hand crank 136 which drives through means of gears a pair of pinch rolls 138-138 which are thereby driven to pull the record tape through the unit. An idler roll 139 stabilizes the tape and guides it into the pinch rolls. The pinch rolls may be rubbercovered or otherwise treated to give them suitable friction characteristics.

As stated above, when the voting period terminates the custodian prints readings of the counter stacks on the tape. This is done by manual rotation of the crank 146 which turns shaft 114 and through sprocket 142 drives endless chain 146. The chain 146 trains around idler sprockets 148, 149, 156, 151 disposed at the four corners of the machine base 22, and intermediately thereof the chain 146 is fastened to the bottom ends of the platens which are designated at 152, 154. At their top and bottom ends the platens carry slide blocks 156 which slide on stationary rails 15%; the chain 146 being attached to the bottom slide blocks to cause the platens to be displaced. The platens also carry keyed gears 159 which mesh with stationary racks 169 which act to force the platens to roll as the chain 146 displaces them from end to end of the machine. As the platens roll from one end of the machine to the other the rubber-coated faces 162 thereof press against the tape and thrust it against the soft rubber faces 1% of the counter wheels (FIGS. 10, 12, 13).

As shown in FIGS. 12, 13, the counter wheels are socketed to receive in fixed relation therein corresponding cylindrical punches 165, the outer ends of which are normaily flush with the outer faces of the counter wheels. However, when the tape is pressed against the wheels by the platens, the punches penetrate and perforate the tape. The punches are positioned on the wheels so as to produce perforations in the tape at positions on the tape corresponding to a predetermined code, whereby subsequent decoding or reading of the tape will provide tabulations of the final digit settings of each counter stack. Thus, for example, FIG. 3 shows a section of the tape as punched against the top counter stack when reading as shown in FIG. 8. The letter A and adjacent digits 1, 2 are printed on the tape by means of a transfer, such as by interposed carbon paper, from the corresponding raised indicia carried by a stationary code block unit 166 (FIG. 8). The code unit 166 also carries raised punches as indicated 167 which perforate the tape as indicated at 168 (FIG. 3). Tape positional registry devices for use during subsequent read-out or decoding by machine are provided in the form of tape perforations indicated at 169 (FIG. 3) which are formed in the tape by punches 1690 (FIG. 8).

Thus the indicia at the left hand end of the tape fragment of FIG. 3 identifies the tape as carrying a record of the vote tally fora particular candidate, or proposition, or the like; and may also carry indicia identifying the precinct at which the vote is recorded. The numerals and perforations across the top of the tape provide both visible and coded indications of the accumulated total of votes cast for the aforesaid candidate. The perforations 169 are used as guides for proper positioning of the tape in the read out machine.

As explained hereinabove, rotation of the hand crank 136 causes the record tape to pass through the unit. One of the pinch rolls 133 is keyed to a spur gear 170 (FIG. 6) meshing with a gear 172 which drives a pinion 174. Another portion of pinion 1'74 meshes with and drives a gear 175 carrying a cam plate 176; the inner face of which (FIG. 4a) is concentrically recessed as indicated at 178 and provided with a semi-circular boss 179 thereby defining an arcuately shaped cam track 180 therebetween. A shear blade 182 is pivotally mounted as indicated at 184 on the housing block 186 and is furnished with a cushion spring 188 bearing against a fixed post 189 to cushion the blade chopping action as will be explained hereinafter. The free end of the blade is engaged by a tension spring 190 secured to a post 191 carried to rotate with the cam 176.

The blade is held by the pivot 184 to move only in vertical directions as viewed in FIG. 4a. Thus upon rotation of the cam 176 in clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 4a the spring 190 rotating with the cam will draw first upon the blade 182 to bias it upwardly against the curved side of the boss 179 whereby the end of the blade 182 travels through the cam track 130 until such time as the cam has rotated 180 whereupon the blade slips off the boss 179 and Snaps upwardly along the flat side of the boss 1'79 in response to the pull of the spring 190. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, this upward snap of the .3 blade 182 draws it by the tape exit slot 194 to sever the tape 125 at that point. Similarly, further rotation-of the cam 176 will initially cause the blade to be held in its uppermost position until finally-it is released to snap back down under the pull of the spring past the tape cxit'to again sever the tape. A tape diverter as illustrated at 195 is fixed to the blade to move therewith and includes opposite iiange portions 196 disposed to guide the issuing tape alternately to a chute 197 delivering the tape to a position openly accessible for visual reading, whereas when the blade is in its up position the diverter causes the tape to issue through a chute 198 into a closed box'199 which may be subsequently opened only by the machine custodian for ofiicial recording purposes.

Thus, when the machine is'set-up by the custodian in the condition illustrated herein, the custodian may first transport the platens to traverse thetapes over the counter wheels to take initial or zero readings thereof. After the platens are so moved the custodian rotates cranks 1'36 so as to draw the marked tape oif the machine through the open chute 1%7, and at the end of the unreeling operation the blade severs the tape so that the custodian can withdraw and examine it. He then returns the platens by turning crank 14% and thereby again prints the zero reading upon another section of tape. Again he turns crank 136 to unreel the marked tape section which in this case is guided by the diverter 195 to travel into the closed box 199; a fresh section of tape having been drawn into the machine from the reel 1E2. At the end of this operation the blade 182 severs the tape as hereinabove described. The machine is then ready to register voting tallies in the form of impulses received by solenoid 55, which are registered and progressively totaled on the counter wheel stacks as shown in FIG. 9. At the end of the voting period the custodian turns crank 140 to transport the platens across the tapes. This prints and marks the tape with the total voting tallies along wih the candidate identification (FIG. 3) and read-out guide perforations. He then turns crank 136 to withdraw the tape through the open slot 197 for visual inspection purposes; the blade having again severed the tape as explained hereinabove. He then again turns crank 140 to return the platens whereby a new section of tape is printed and marked with the same totals and guide indicia. He then turns crank 136 to cause this section of tape to be delivered into the closed box 199 and cut off automatically as explained above. The locked box 199 may then be delivered to the appropriate election officials for the oflicial recording, either by visual reading of the arabic indicia or by decoding through a conventional punched tape read-out device. Or, the tape may be read out visually and thenthe coded information thereon transmitted to a remotely located central tabulating facility to be combined with returns from other precincts.

To insure proper sequential operation of the machine, suitable interlock means are preferably employed. For example, as indicated at 200 (FIGS. 1, 2) cam blocks are carried at each side of the machine by the chain 146 for alternate displacements into upwardly camming positions against a bell crank 202 pivoted to the cut off housing 186 as indicated at 2.04. The crank 2M carriesa nub 2% which engages recesses at 90 intervals peripherally of the hub of the crank A spring 2% biases the crank towards nub engaging position. The parts are so arranged that the crank 136 is normally locked against rotation, but when the platens are moved to either end of the machine so as to clear the tape, one of the cams 2&0 will actuate the bell crank 262 to release the handle 1% so that the custodian may then withdraw tape sections as explained hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses't'rom the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a tape, said machine comprising a rectangularly shaped base frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks mounted upon said frame to extend in parallel horizontally disposed relation with the counter wheels thereof disposed to project laterally outwardly their digital indicia peripheral portions, a counter Wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel stacks and responsive to voting pulses to enter vote entries into the corresponding counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational displacements of saidcounter wheels, a tally recording tape training around said frame so as to thread first alongside one stack of tally wheels and then alongside another stack and so on around said machine progressively from one vertical end toward the other thereof and thence through a nip roller device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a

platen movably. mounted uponsaid frame for displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller-means aligned in rolling registry against the strands of said tape when mounted against said counter wheels, and means causing transport of said platen soasto traverse the horizontal extents of said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack.

2. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses from the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a tape, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks comprising counter wheels and intermediate transfer pinions mounted upon "said frame to extend in parallel relation with the counter wheels thereof disposed to project laterally outwardly their digital indicia peripheral portions, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel from one vertical end toward the other thereof and thence through a nip roller device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame for'displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller means aligned in rolling registry against the strands of said tapewhen mountedagainst said counter wheels,

and means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse the horizontal extents of said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter Wheel stack, each counter wheel stack having'in addition an indexing marking device operable to orient said tape impressions for decoding purposes.

3. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses from the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a tape, said machine comprising a frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks mounted upon said frame to extend in parallel relation with the counter wheels thereof disposed'to project laterally outwardly their digital indicia peripheral portions, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel stacks and responsive to voting input pulses to enter vote entries into the corresponding counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in-said stack by progressive rotational displacements of said counter wheels, a tally recording tape training around said frame so as to thread first alongside one stack of tally wheels and then alongside another stack and so on around said machine and thence through a device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame for displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller means aligned in rolling registry against the strands of said tape when mounted against said counter wheels, means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack, each counterwheel stack having in addition an identification signal punch device extending into pressure bearing relation against each tape strand whereby displacement of said platen also presses said tape against said punches to mark therein indicia identifying the subject of the voting total impressions thereon.

4. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses from the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a punched tape, said machine comprising a rectangularly shaped base frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks each comprising a shaft carrying counter wheels and intermediate transfer pinions mounted upon said frame to extend in parallel horizontally disposed relation with the counter Wheels thereof disposed to project laterally outwardly their digital indicia peripheral portions, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel stacks and responsive to voting input pulses to feed vote entries into its counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational displacements of said counter wheels, a tally recording tape training from a supply reel around guide pulley devices disposed at the four outside corners of said frame so as to thread first alongside one stack of tally wheels and then alongside another and so on around said machine progressively from one vertical end toward the other thereof and thence through a nip roller device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame for displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller means aligned in rolling registry against the vertically successive strands of said tape when mounted against said counter wheels, and means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse the horizontal extents of said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack.

5. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses from the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a punched tape, said machine comprising a rectangularly shaped base frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks mounted upon said frame to extend in parallel horizontally disposed relation with the counter wheels thereof disposed to project laterally outwardly their digital indicia peripheral portions, a counter Wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel stacks and responsive to voting input pulses to enter vote entries into its counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational adjustments of said counter wheels, a tally recording tape training from a supply reel around guide pulley devices disposed at the four outside corners of said frame so as to thread first alongside one stack of tally wheels and then alongside another and so on around said machine progressively from one Vertical end toward the other thereof and thence through a nip roller device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame for displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller peripheral portions aligned in rolling registry against the vertically successive strands of said tape when mounted against said counter Wheels, and means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse the horizontal extents of said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack, each counter Wheel stack having in addition an identification signal device extending into pressure bearing relation against the corresponding tape strand whereby displacement of said platen also impresses upon said tape indicia identifying the subject of the voting total impressions thereon.

6. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a voting source and to record and accumulate the impulses from the source and to present the totals on a punched tape, said machine comprising a base frame, a counter wheel stack mounted upon said frame disposed to project laterally outwardly the digital indicial peripheral portions of said Wheels, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to said counter wheel stack and responsive to voting input pulses to enter vote entries into the counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational adjustments of said counter wheels, a tally recording tape training from a supply reel around guide pulley devices disposed so as to thread around said machine and thence through a nip roller device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame, said platen having a roller aligned in rolling registry against the strand of said tape when mounted against said counter wheels, and means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse said tape strand while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack, each counter wheel stack having in addition an identification signal device extending into pressure bearing relation against the tape strand whereby displacement of said platen also impresses upon said tape indicia identifying the subject of the voting total impressions thereon.

7. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses from the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a tape, said machine comprising a base frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks mounted upon said frame to extend in parallel horizontally disposed relation with the counter wheels thereof disposed to project laterally outwardly their digital indicia peripheral portions, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel stacks and responsive to voting input pulses to enter vote entries into its counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational adjustments of said counter wheels, a tally recording tape training from a supply reel around guide pulley devices disposed so as to thread first alongside one stack of tally wheels and then alongside another and so on around said machine progressively from one vertical end toward the other thereof and thence through a device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame, said platen having rollers aligned in rolling registry against the vertically successive strands of said tape when mounted against said counter wheels, and means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse the horizontal extents of said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack.

8. An improved voting tally machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses from a plurality of sources and to separately record and accumulate the impulses from the respective sources and to present the respective totals on a tape, said machine comprising a base frame, a plurality of counter wheel stacks mounted upon said frame to extend in parallel relation, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to each of said counter wheel stacks and responsive to voting input pulses to enter vote entries into its counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational adjustments of said counter wheels, 2. tally recording tape training around said machine so as to thread first alongside one stack of the tally wheels and then alongside another stack and so on around said machine progressively from one end toward the other thereof and thence through a device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, a platen movably mounted upon said frame for displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller means aligned in rolling registry against the successive strands of said tape when mounted against said counter wheels, means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse the horizontal extents of said tape strands while pressing the tape against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by each counter wheel stack, and means operable manually to take zero readings of said tape and to cut off said tape subsequent thereto while dispensing said tape cut off portion in one direction and to thereupon present fresh tape surfaces to said counter wheels for vote tally printing and operable subsequent thereto to displace the vote printed tape from the machine and to cut it free and dispense it in another direction.

9. An improved voting tmly machine adapted to receive vote entering impulses and to present the respective totals on a punched tape, said machine comprising a base frame, a counter Wheel stack mounted upon said frame, a counter wheel actuator operably connected to said counter wheel stack and responsive to voting input pulses to enter vote entries into the counter wheel stack and operable to progressively accumulate vote tallies in said stack by progressive rotational adjustments of said counter Wheels, a tally recording tape training from a supply reel around guide pulley devices disposed at the four outside corners of said frame so as to thread alongside said stack of tally wheels and thence through a nip roller device operable to transport said tape from said machine subsequent to a voting period, and thence into a tape receiving casing, a platen movably mounted upon said frame for displacement from one end thereof to another, said platen having roller means aligned in rolling registry against said tape when mounted against said counter Wheels, and means causing transport of said platen so as to traverse the extent of said tape pressing against said counter wheels to thereby receive impressions upon said tape providing readings of the voting totals accumulated by the counter wheel stack, and means for first taking an impression of the starting readings of said counter Wheels upon a section of said tape and cutting it free and dispensing it through one opening in said casing for examination and then displacing another portion of the tape into reading position for subsequent printing thereon of a voting tally and then cutting loose the second portion of tape and dispensing it through another opening in said machine casing.

10. In a voting tally machine comprising, in combination,

a supporting frame,

a bank of counter wheels mounted on opposite sides of said frame, each such bank including a plurality of counter wheel stacks, each stack comprising a plurality of interconnected counter wheels and the counter wheel stacks of each banl; being in laterally spaced relation to each other.

a plurality of guide rollers mounted on each side of said frame with there being a pair of such rollers aligned with the opposite ends of each stack of counter wheels,

a record tape supply spool mounted on said frame in alignment with that pair of guide rollers associated with the first stack of counter wheels on one side of the machine,

record tape transport means aligned with that pair of guide rollers associated with the last stack of counter wheels on the opposite side of the machine, whereby successive strands of record tape issued from the supply spool and trained about said guide rollers cumulatively overlie all of the counter wheel stacks in each bank.

stationary code block mounted at one end of each counter wheel stack and read-out perforating means paralleling each counter wheel stack.

12. A votin" tally machine comprising, in combination, a supporting frame,

a plurality of longitudinally extending counter wheel stacks at opposite sides or" said frame in which said stacks are vertically spaced to provide banks of counter wheels on opposite sides of said frame,

40 means for supportingrecord tape in spirally wound fashion in covering relation to all of said counter wheel stacks,

a platen roller mounted on each of the opposite sides of said frame,

means for translating each platen roller along the lengths of said stacks in pressure-bearing engagement thereagainst,

and means for driving record tape to issue a length thereof, Wound as aforesaid, from said machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,459 Lambert Aug. 25, 1896 676,456 Bolfing June 18, 1901 968,070 Necomb Aug. 23, 1910 1,085,186 Yoe Jan. 27, 1914 1,134,724 Butler Apr. 6, 1915 2,271,958 Shoup Feb. 3, 1942 2,550,950 Young May 1, 1951 2,787,414 Swanson Apr. 2, 1957 2,816,001 Hallden Dec. 10, 1957 2,846,145 Van Veen Aug. 5, 1958 2,928,707 Grimm Mar. 15, 1960 2,943,786 Swanson July 5, 1960 11. In a machine as defined in claim 10 including a

Claims (1)

1. 6. AN IMPROVED VOTING TALLY MACHINE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE VOTE ENTERING IMPULSES FROM A VOTING SOURCE AND TO RECORD AND ACCUMULATE THE IMPULSES FROM THE SOURCE AND TO PRESENT THE TOTALS ON A PUNCHED TAPE, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A BASE FRAME, A COUNTER WHEEL STACK MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME DISPOSED TO PROJECT LATERALLY OUTWARDLY THE DIGITAL INDICIAL PERIPHERAL PORTIONS OF SAID WHEELS, A COUNTER WHEEL ACTUATOR OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID COUNTER WHEEL STACK AND RESPONSIVE TO VOTING INPUT PULSES TO ENTER VOTE ENTRIES INTO THE COUNTER WHEEL STACK AND OPERABLE TO PROGRESSIVELY ACCUMULATE VOTE TALLIES IN STACK BY PROGRESSIVE ROTATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS OF SAID COUNTER WHEELS, A TALLY RECORDING TAPE TRAINING FROM A SUPPLY REEL AROUND GUIDE PULLEY DEVICES DISPOSED SO AS TO THREAD AROUND SAID MACHINE AND THENCE THROUGH A NIP ROLLER DEVICE OPERABLE TO TRANSPORT SAID TAPE FROM SAID MACHINE SUBSEQUENT TO A VOTING PERIOD, A PLATEN MOVABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME, SAID PLATEN HAVING A ROLLER ALIGNED IN ROLLING REGISTRY AGAINST THE STRAND OF SAID TAPE WHEN MOUNTED AGAINST SAID COUNTER WHEELS, AND MEANS CAUSING TRANSPORT OF SAID PLATEN SO AS TO TRAVERSE SAID TAPE STRAND WHILE PRESSING THE TAPE AGAINST SAID COUNTER WHEELS TO THEREBY RECEIVE IMPRESSIONS UPON SAID TAPE PROVIDING READINGS OF THE VOTING TOTALS ACCUMULATED BY EACH COUNTER WHEEL STACK EACH COUNTER WHEEL STACK HAVING IN ADDITION AN IDENTIFICATION SIGNAL DEVICE EXTENDING INTO PRESSURE BEARING RELATION AGAINST THE TAPE STRAND WHEREBY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PLATEN ALSO IMPRESSES UPON SAID TAPE INDICIA IDENTIFYING THE SUBJECT OF THE VOTING TOTAL IMPRESSIONS THEREON.

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