US512994A - Voting-machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. H; SCOTFORD.

VOTING MACHINE.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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A TTOHNE YSA (No Model.) 2 Sheets- Sheet 2. J. SCOTFORD.

VOTING MACHINE.

No. 512,994. Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. SCOTFORD, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 512,994, dated January 16, 1894. Application tiled April 2l, 1893. Serial No. 471,282. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. SCOTFORD, of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State ofOregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement in VoteRegistering Maphines, of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention is an improved vote numbering, registering and indicating device, the object of my invention being to provide a machine which will accurately count and register each vote for each candidate so that when the polls are closed, the aggregate vote for each candidate will appear registered in a definite manner thus obviating the necessity of counting the vote.

The machine is intended to be used in connection with the system known as the Australian system and will tend to give freedom and honesty to the ballot.

With these objects in View my invention consists broadly of a cylinder adapted to carry a ballot, a contact wheel, a numbering and registering device, an electric magnet for operating the same, and electrical connections between the said magnet and cylinder, whereby when the cylinder is revolved with a ballot thereon the numbering and registering device will be operated to count and print the vote.

My invention consists also in certain details of construction and combination of parts all of which will be fully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forminga part of this speciication, Figure lis a perspective view. Fig. 2 is aview illustrating the electrical connections between the cylinder and registering device. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the registering and printing mechanism. Fig. 4 is an end view of the cylinder.. Fig. 5 is a view ofaportion of the ballot and Fig. 6 a view of the switch board.

In constructing my improved machine I employ a suitable cabinet or frame A having an upper case a and a lower case a. Between these cases a and a the cabinet is open as shown and at said open portion is journaled a cylinder B said cylinder being mounted upon a shaft 7) which is jonrnaled only at its right hand end. This cylinder B is of nonconducting material such as gutta-percha or ebonite, andhas its outer surface covered by a series of longitudinal metallic strips b. A series of pins b2 passes through the strips b into the interior ot' the cylinder, said pins being arranged in spiral order as shown and for a purpose hereinafter explained. Above the cylinder B and contacting therewith is a pressure roller C and at one end of said roller is arranged a metallic contact wheel C which is adapted to contact with the metallic strips b upon the surface ot the cylinder B. The inner ends of the pins b2 contact with the conductor wires c as shown in Fig. 2 said wires being arranged in a switch board c2 (Fig. (i) located in the cylinder B, and the spiral arrangement of said pins gives ample room for such connections and prevents any entanglement. The contact wheel C is connected with a conductor wire c' said wires being connected with a battery B thus making a complete electric circuit whenever the wheel C contacts with one of the metallic strips which is in connection with one of the wires c.

D indicates the ballot which consists ot' a strip of paper with the names of the candi dates printed thereon, the names being spaced with reference to the metallic strips o so that when the ballot is placed upon the cylinder each name will rest upon a certain one of these strips. Two holes CZ (Z are punched in the top of the ballot, by means of which it is fastened to the cylinder, said holes fitting over two pins d d attached to the cylinder.

In preparing the ballot for voting, the voter punches a hole E opposite the name of each candidate he wishes to vote for. Those candidates he does not wish to vote forhe leaves the paper opposite the naine untouched. The ballot thus prepared issecured upon the cylinder and the cylinder revolved. As it revolves the contact Wheel C will contact with a metallic strip b Wherever there is a perforation E thus closing the electric circuit. Connected with each conductor wire c is an independent numbering and registering deviceF and these devices F are marked according to the strip b with which they are connected so that it one candidates name, John Doe, is

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printed to contact with one particular strip the device F connected with said .strip will bear the name of John Doe also so that every vote cast for each candidate will be counted. The numbering and registering device conslsts ofan electric magnet f, the armature f of Whlch is connected with the escapemen-tllever of aspring clock mechanism f 2 which drives a numbering wheelfs, said numbering wheel belngof theusualconstruction. Thenumbering Wheel f 3 contacts with an ink ribbon f 4, and` the same train of gearing that drives thewheel, f4 also drives the spoolf5 carrying a narrow' stripof paper f6, upon which is printed thevote counted upon the wheel f3, a printing harnmer f7 being connected with the armature of -thelllrlagnet for this purposeso thatafter the :Wheelj' `hasbeen operated by closing thecirfcuit, the .halninenwill press the papery against the wheel `when the circuit is broken, thus printing `,the .number upon the -paperstrip .G-indicates alguidevfor yholding the paper ballot uponthe cylinder and H indicates a: strlpper kwhich .strips the :ballot from the ,cyli.ndel'gand vguides itinto theglovver case,-W.here vthey ymay lbe ,counted ifgso desired, after the ,t lpolls -havcclosedfor the ypurpose of verifying t the registering device.

T-he upper case is provided ywith a .glass door through which can Kloe seen the variousl votesfor the `diierent candidates. A

,Having th'us described myin-vention, what lclaim -asnew, and desiretosecure by Letters Patent, Ais` l. Ina device of vthe character described,` the combination witha cylinder andcontact .wheel ofthe .batteryand circuit and .the comblnednum'beringand registering device .ar-'

ranged within said circuit and operated by the opening and closing of :said circuity substantially as described.

2. In a device ofthe character described, the combination with a cylinder having a series of metallic strips of a contact Wheel, conductor wiresconnectedwith the cylinder and wheel, the battery and numbering, registering and printing devices arranged in the circuit substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a cylinder having a series of metallic strips,`the pins passing into the interior lof lthe cylinder, the conductor Wires arranged in a switch board to contact with said pinsan d l.the .contact ivvheel, conductor Wires and zbattery fall `arranged -substantiallyas shown anddescribed.

4. In adevice `of the character described,

thefcom-bination with an electriccircuit-and magnet of an escapement leverfconnected with the armature and a clock mechanism, ,the number wheel, paper strips .and .printing ,ham-mer al1.arrangedsubstantiallyasshown and described.

,5. IV-n La ldevice of :the vcharacter vdescribed .the combination with la cylinder oftwo studs secured therein and adapted vto tholdfthe .bal-

lot, la curved kguide-plate located above the cylinder and adj ac entgtheretojtofholdthe:bal-

i lot down, and a curved .stripping plate v.ar-

ranged kbeneath the ,-cylindexitostrip :the fbal# lot from the cylinder.substantiallyas 1 shown -rotin 151. .,scorfnenfo.

,andvdescribed Aviitnesses: y

0. 1i. BROWN, .CHAs E. WILBER.

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