US582153A

US582153A - Combination ballot box and register

Info

Publication number: US582153A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1914-05-04

Description

(No Model.)

F. M. BENNETT.

COMBINATION BALLOT BOX AND REGISTER. No. 582,153.

Patented May 4,1897.

' UNITED SrA'rEs PATENT @EEicE. I

FRANCIS M. BENNETT, OE NElV SITE, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EMILY CAVXESS, OF ELMA, MISSISSIPPI.

COMBINATEUN BALLQT 80X AND REGESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,153, dated May 1897.

Application filed October 24, 1896. Serial No. (309,913. (No modelf;

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, FRANCIS M. BENNETT, residing at New Site, in the county of Prentiss and State of Mississippi, have in ven ted anew and Improved Combination Ballot Box and Register, of which the following is a specification.

This lllVOlltlOll is a ballot-box register, the object being to provide an automatic registerin g mechanism in connection with a ballotbox, so that each and every ballot will be properly registered, so that an absolutely accurate count is insured.

Another object is to provide a combination ballot box and register in which the registering mechanism is arranged in the cover of the box, so that the said mechanism will not be disturbed when the box is opened.

Another object is to provide a combination ballot box and register in which the registering takes place simultaneously with the depositing of the ballot, and one in which it is impossible to deposit a vote without registering.

With these various objects in view my invention consists of a box having a cover provided with an opening, a pair of contactingrolls journaled between the sides of the cover and below the opening, a movable ribbon or tape, and a registering-pencil adapted to be pressed against the ribbon or tape, said ribbon or tape being moved as the ballot is passed between the rolls, said rolls being revolved to pass the ballot. The invention consists also in certain details of construction and novelties of combination, all of which will be fully described, and hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view or my combination ballot box and register. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig.

is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig.

I11 carrying out my invention I employ a box A, having a cover 13 hinged thereto, said cover having an opening 0 in the top thereof and journa-led between the sides of the cover, and beneath the opening are the contactingrolls D and E, the roll D being positively o journaled, while the roll E is j ournaled in a slot F and held in close contact with the roll D by means of spring-arms G, fixed upon the inner sides of the cover and hearing at their full ends upon the journals of the roll E. It will thus be understood that the rolls are normally in contact, but when a ballot is introduced between them the roll E moves away from the roll D, the slot and springs permitting such movement.

A ribbon or tape II is rolled upon a shaft I, said shaft being prevented from turning backward by means of a pawl or ratchet I and 1 The ribbon or tape II is then passed around a guide-roll K, up along the side of a transverse partition Ii, over a guide-roll M, and is then attached to a winding-shaft N. An operating-gear O is mounted upon the end of the shaft N and is provided with an operating-handle P, said gear meshing with a gear It, mounted upon the end of the roll D, so that when the shaft N is revolved the rolls D and E will also be revolved. Thus when a ballot is introduced between the rolls D and E the gears are revolved, thus drawing the ballot down between the rolls and moving the tape or ribbon along, and in order to make a recording impression upon the said tape or ribbon I employ a pencil S, which is supported in a pendent support T, said pencil having a head V, which is curved to bear against the roll E, and between the support T and head V is a spring which normally holds the point of pencil away from the tape or ribbon, but when a ballot is introduced and passed between the rolls 1) and E the roll E is forced back and the point of the pencil is brought into contact with the ribbon or tape, the said ribbon or tape passing between the pencil and partition, so that a rigid back is provided. Thus as the ballot is deposited and the ribbon or tape wound on the shaft N an impression is registered upon the said ribbon or tape, and as this occurs as each ballot is deposited it is clear that the impressions on the ribbon or tape must be equal to the number of votes polled.

A pawl-and-ratchet mechanism prevents the backward movement of the shaft N, and thus maintains the ribbon or tape in ataut condition.

A guard X is arranged beneath the rolls D and E and across the ribbon or tape to prevent the ballots coming in contact with the said ribbon or tape, said ballots falling down into the box, from which they can be removed by the proper officer who holds the key to the box, it being of course understood the cover is kept locked during the balloting.

In operation the ballot is placed between the rolls and the gear revolved to draw the ballot into the box, and the insertion and passage of the ballot moves the roll E back, which forces the pencil against the ribbon or tape, and as the said ribbon or tape is being moved along a mark will be produced upon the same, and as a mark is made as each ballot is deposited it is clear that the number of marks must correspond with the number of ballots polled.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, and efficient constrnction of ballot-box and register, and one in which the ballot will not interfere with the registering mechanism, inasmuch as the said mechanism is contained wholly Within the cover of the box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a ballot-box provided with a suitable opening, the combination of a pair of rolls located beneath said opening, one of which is movably journaled, a pencil located in the rear of said roll and adapted to be operated by the said roll when it is moved, a ribbon or tape carried by a roll j ournaled in the ballotbox and adapted to pass in front of the penoil, a roll on which the said tape or ribbon is wound, and suitable mechanism for simultaneously operating the pair of rolls and the ribbon or tape rolls, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a ballot-box provided with a suitable opening the combination of a pair of rolls journaled beneath said opening and having one of them movable in its bearing, a suitable support within the box, a pencil working in said support and provided with a head which bears against the movable roll, a roll carrying a ribbon or tapejonrnalod in said ballot-box, a second roll journaled within the box on which said tape or ribbon is wound, suitable guide-rolls intermediate these rolls for passing the ribbon or tape in front of the pencil, and suitable mechanism for simultaneously operating the pair of rolls and the tapo-rolls when a ballot is inserted in the box, substantially as shown and described.

FRANCIS M. lll lNNl l'Pl.

Witnesses:

W. POYALL, R. ll. ((min'xs.