US594986A - de croes - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

0. DE CROES.

' VOTING MACHINE.

No. 594,986. Patented Dec, 7,1897.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. DE OROES. VOTING MACHINE.

No. 594,986. Patented Dec.7,1897.

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C. DE GROES.

VOTING MACHINE. No. 594,986. Patented 1160.7,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Erica.

CLEMENT DE OROES, OF IVESTPORT, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS KETCIIUM, OF SAME PLACE.

-VOTlNG-MACHINE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,986, dated December 7, 1897.

Application filed January 11, 1897. Serial No. 618,719. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT DE CRoEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVestport, in the county of Decatur and State 5 of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Register Voting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has reference to a novel construction in a machine for registering votes; and it consists in the features of construc- I tion hereinafter fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming-a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accord 2o ance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section. Fig. 4 is a front view with the front portion of the casing removed, and Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are fragmentary de- 2 5 tail views that will be understood in connection with the following description.

It will be understood, of course, that although in the accompanying drawings I have shown a machine capable of holding four tickets or ballots, with four names on each ballot, yet the machine can be increased in capacity to any desired number of ballots and with any number of names on each ballot, as is obvious. The machine is so constructed that an entire ticket can be voted for or different candidates may be selected from each ticket and voted for. The machine is also provided with devices so arranged that when a vote is first cast for the entire ticket another vote cannot be cast either for a ticket or for an individual candidate. The parts are also further arranged that if any particular candidate is selected and voted for the operation of the machine in registering this vote throws the parts into such a position that neither an entire ticket can be voted subsequently nor can another vote be cast for a candidate for the same office.

In said drawings the machine is shown as an entirety-that is to say, without the surrounding booth, although it is understood that each machine can have a booth which incloses the same, so that the vote can be cast secretly.

Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the casing of the machine, the front piece of which is provided with a plurality of upright guides 2 to receive pieces of glass 3, behind which the ticket is placed. These guides are formed between the strips 4, and these strips are provided with a plurality of openings 5 and a corresponding number of keyholes 6, set opposite each opening. The openings are to show the number of votes and are closed by means of the sliding plates '7, which, if found convenient, may be suitably locked in position, to be removed only by the judges of election or other persons in authority. The keyholes 6 are adapted to stand opposite the names of the different candidates upon the ticket exposed between the upright strips 4:. In the rear of the strips 4: are the posts 8, on the outer faces of which are a plurality of projections or heads 9 to receive and hold the key which is used to operate the machine.

I will now proceed to describe the devices for registering the different votes.

Adjacent to the post 8 are other posts 10, while in the rear of these posts 8 and 10 are other posts 11. Mounted upon the said posts above mentioned are the rollers 12, corresponding in number to the keyholes, and around which are trained the bands 13. These bands are provided with numbers running to any desired figure, and the band is adapted to be turned by the movement of the forward rollers. The said forward rollers 12 are provided at one end with the crown-wheels 1e, situated in position to be engaged by the blade of a key 15. Thus it is seen that when the key is inserted and turned the blade thereof will cause the adjacent roller to turn, and the parts are so arranged that when the key is moved past the crown-wheel the roller turns to an extent suflicient to move the band a space to bring the next succeeding number opposite the opening 5.

In front of the casing 1 is a movable platform 16, upon which the person must stand to register a vote-that is to say, this plat form is pivoted and is held normally in an elevated position by the spring 17. This platform is connected with the upright parts of the device, so that when it is lifted it moves the parts into such-a position that a key cannot be inserted within any of the keyholes for the purpose of registering a vote. In the particular construction illustrated said platform is provided with two rearwardly-extending arms 18, pivoted at their rear ends to the easing of the machine and connected by means of upwardly-extending rods or chains 19 with the pivoted lever 20 near the upper end of the casing. The forward ends of the pivoted lever 20 are forked or notched, as shown at 21, to receive the ends of the main operatingbar 22. The said bar 22 rests within the forks or notches of the lever and is capable of alongitudinal movement with relation thereto, as seen. The said main operating-bar 22 is employed for covering or protecting the pin 9, by which the entire ticket is registered or voted, and in the lower edge of said bar are a plurality of notches 23 to receive the blade of the key. The parts are so arranged, however, that when the platform is elevated the ends of the lever are depressed, and therefore the lower edge of the bar, or the portion adjacent this slot, rests upon the pin 9. To register this vote, it is necessary that the key should pass inward until it strikes against the post 8, and it is seen, therefore, that the edge of this bar resting upon the pin will prevent the insertion of the key far enough to allow the blade to reach the crown-wheel of the registering-roller. Itwill be seen also that upon depressing the platform the said bar 22 is raised so that the head or pin 9 is exposed to allow the key to be inserted, so that it can operate the crownavheel. In registering a vote for the entire ticket the key is turned to the left, and it first engages a tooth of the crownwheel, and then the key strikes the side of the notch 23 and moves the main operatingbar 22 to the left. This has the effect, as will be hereinafter explained, to close the remaining keyholes not only for the entire ticket, but for the individuals. To close the keyholes of the entire ticket by thus registering one vote, the said bar is provided with downwardly-extending fingers 2st on the side of the notch which when the bar is moved to the left, as shown, moves forward and stands next to the key, so that an attempt to rotate the key a second time or to insert it in any of the other keyholes for another attempt to rotate the same will be prevented by the contact of the blade of the key with this finger. It will be noted that it is also impossible to return the key to its first position and diminish the number registered, for in turning the key to the left the longitudinally-movable baris moved until the projections 31 of the frame 30 enter the notches or depressions in the longitudinal bar, which will be described hereinafter. The said operating-bar cannot be moved to its original position until the voter leaves the platform, since only the upward movement of the platform permits and causes the parts to return to their normal position. The said bar is returned to its normal position by means of a spring-pressed follower 25. This follower is set within a chamber 26 at one side of the easing and is provided with springs 27. .Vithin the casing is a bell-crank lever 28, having one end connected with the follower 25, while its other end is connected with the end of the lever 20. In this way it is seen that when the end of the lever is raised by the depression of the platform the follower is moved to the rear against the action of the spring 27. The main operating-bar is provided with a shoulder 29, situated within the path of the follower 25. It will be noticed, therefore, that when the bar is raised the said follower is moved to one side, and consequently that the bar is moved to the left by the key, and that when the platform is allowed to assume its normal position the return movement of the follower 25, by reason of the engagement between said follower and the shoulder 29, will move the upright bar to the right again, or to its normal posi tion.

I will now proceed to describe the devices for registering the individual vote upon each ticket.

Mounted in upright guides just behind the front piece of the casing and behind the bar 22 is a rectangular form 30. This frame extends from the bottom almost to the top of the machine and is provided at its upper corners with forward projections 31, that normally rest upon the upper edge of the operating-bar 22. In this way it seen that when the operating-bar is raised this frame is raised likewise. There is a depression or notch 32 in the upper edge of the main operating-bar adjacent the point upon which these projections rest to allow the frame to fall when the bar 22 is moved longitudinally that is to say, when the bar and the frame are in an elevated position. The sides of the frame are provided with guides to receive a plurality of longitudinally-movable bars 33. These bars 33 are situated opposite each set of rollers and are movable in an upright direction with the frame,while they are adapted to be moved longitudinally by the key. Each one of the bars is provided with a notch 3t and is situated opposite the head or pin 9 for the keys. hen the frame is at the lower limit of its movement, the said bars stand opposite the ends of the pins to prevent the insertion of the keys; but when the frame is raised by the operating-bar all of these bars 33 are raised also and the ends of the hem s of pins 9 are exposed, so that the key can be inserted to be turned and cause the rotation of the adjacent roller and the longitudinal movement of the bar Itis noted, of course, that in this position the follower 25 is contracted, so that the bar 33 can move longitudinally. It is obvious, further, that the longitudinal movement of the bar 33 moves the other notches 34 of said bars into position, so that one side of the same will stand in the path of the blade of the key to prevent the insertion and turning of the key in any one of the keyholes for moving this bar. The movement of any one of the bars 33 serves, further, to prevent the insertion of the key in any of the keyholes for moving the main operating-bar 22. This construction comprises a sliding plate 35 at the upper end of the easing, which is provided witha slot 36, having a finger 37. This plate 35 is provided with a downwardly-projecting arm 38, that lies flat against the end piece of the frame 30, and when the follower is retracted by the depression of the platform it is seen that this arm 36 is moved by the longitudinal movement of the bar 33, and consequently slides the plate 35 to one side and brings the finger 37 across the keyhole. It is obvious that the other bars 33 can be moved by the key by the insertion thereof in any of the keyholes for this purpose. The said main operating-bar 22, the frame 30, and the sliding plate 35 all move by gravity, it being noted that in a larger machine they possess sufficient weight to carry out this operation.

I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the machine is used to register votes.

The different tickets exposed are marked a, Z), c, and d, beginning from the left. If the voter desires to vote any one of the tickets in its entirety, he steps upon the platform, which raises the lever 20 and retracts the follower 25. The upward movement of the operating-bar caused by the elevation of the levers raises the frame 30, and thus all the keyholes are open for the reception of the key. The voter then places the key, for instance, in the upper keyhole at the left of ticket a and turns the key to the left. This has the effect of turning the roller a sufficient distance to bring the next number upon the band in position behind the opening 5, while at the same time it strikes against the side of the notch 23 in the bar 22 and moves this bar to the left. The movement of the bar to the left carries the shoulders 29 of the bar 22 from beneath the projections 31 of the rectangular frame, and this allows this rectangular frame to fall, which has the effect of moving the bars 33, carried thereby, over the end of the heads of pins 9. The voter then withdraws the key, and it is obvious that he cannot place it in any other keyhole of the machine, since he is prevented from turning it within an upper keyhole by reason of the fingers 24 of the bar 22 and by reason of the fact that the bars 33 stand over the end of the heads of pins 9 in their keyholes. lVhen the voter steps off the platform, the latter rises and permits the bar 22 to fall, while it allows the follower to move back in place. The follower consequently engages the shoulder 29 of the bar 22 and moves it to the rightto bring the upper edge thereof below the projections 31 of the frame 30. If the voter does not care to vote the straight ticket, as it is called, but, for instance, should desire to vote for one candidate upon each of these tickets, providing, of course, that none of the different candidates are for the same office, he does not place the key in the upper keyhole, but will proceed in the following manner. .Ve will suppose he desires to vote for the first candidate in ticket 0, the second in. ticket I), the third in ticket 0, and the fourth in ticket (I. He first places the key in the second keyhole adjacent ticket a, and by turning the key to the left he turns the roller and the band and then moves the upper bar 33 to the left. This not only has the effect of moving the bars to the left, so that the notches 34: therein prevent the turning of the key within the keyhole, so that the candidates for the same office on the other tickets cannot be voted for, but the movement of this bar longitudinally moves the arm 38 and sliding plate 35 to the left and moves the finger 37 of the sliding plate across the upper keyhole, and this prevents the insertion of the key therein. Then the voter may remove the key and vote for any other candidate in the other tickets by inserting the key respectivelyin the third, fourth, and fifthkeyholes opposite tickets 1), c, and d. It will be seen, further, that the stops upon the posts 8 and 10 prevent the upward movement of the bars 33 and also that when the voter steps off the platform the returning follower strikes against the arm 38 and moves the bars to their longitudinal position. It is noted, of course, that when the lower keyholes are used the operating-bar 22 is not used.

The casing can be locked in such a manner that it is inaccessible except to authorized persons and can be made to accommodate any number of tickets or candidates upon each ticket, as found most convenient.

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

1. In a registering-machine, a casing having openings and keyholes therein, a longitudinallysliding bar situated adjacent said keyhole, notches and fingers at the lower edge of said bar, and a movable platform in front of said casing and connected with said bar for moving the same.

2. In a registering-machine, a casing hav ing a front piece provided with a plurality of keyholes and openings, rollers situated adjacent said keyholes and provided with bands and toothed wheels, longitudinally-movable bars situated adjacent said keyholes, heads or pins opposite said keyhole and a movable platform connected with said operating-bars for elevating the same.

3. In a registering machine, a casing provided with a plurality of keyholes and open ings, rollers situated adjacent said keyholes and provided with bands and toothed wheels, longitudinally-movable bars situated adjacent said keyholes and provided with notches 5s ees at their lower edges, heads or pins situated opposite said keyholes, and a movable platform connected with said operating-bars for raising the same.

4. In a registering-machine, a casing pro vided with a plurality of kcyholes and openings, rollers situated adjacent said keyholes and provided with bands and toothed wheels, a main operating-bar situated adjacent the upper set of keyholes and provided adjacent said keyholes with notches and fingers, aconnection between said main operating-bar and a plurality of operating-bars for raising the latter by the movement of the former, and a movable platform connected with said operating-bar for raising the same.

5. In a registering-machine, a casing provided with a plurality of keyholes and openings, rollers situated adjacent said keyholes and provided with bands and toothed wheels, at longitudinally-movable main operating-bar situated adjacent to the upper sets of keyholes and provided with notches adjacent said keyholes, depressions in the upper edge of said main operating-bar, a movable platform connected with said operating-bar for raising the same, a frame having projections resting upon the upper edge of said main operating-bar adjacent said depressions, a plurality of guides situated in said frame and provided with notches adjacent the lower sets of keyholes and heads or pins opposite said keyholes.

G. In a registering-machine, a casing pro vided with a plurality of keyholes and openings, heads or pins opposite said keyholes, a longitudinally-movable main operatingbar adjacent the upper sets of keyholes and provided with depressions in its upper edge and with a shoulder and notches in its lower edge, a movable spring-pressed platform in front of said casing connected with said main operating-bar for lifting the same, and a springpressed follower for moving said operatingbar longitudinally, connected with said movable platform.

7. In a registering-machine, acasing provided with a plurality of keyholes, heads or pins opposite said keyholes, a longitudinallymovable operating-bar adjacent the upper sets of keyholes and provided with notches at its lower edge adjacent said keyhole, a movable spring-pressed platform for lifting said operatirig-platform, a plurality of longitudinally-movable bars carried by a frame connected with said operating-bar, notches in said bars situated adjacent the lower sets of keyholes, a sliding plate situated adjacent said operating-bar and provided with fingers adjacent said notches therein, a donuiwardlyextending arm upon said sliding plate situated over the end of said frame and over the ends of said bars, and a spring-pressed follower situated opposite the said arm and a shoulder on said operating-bar and connected with said movable platform.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

CLEMENT DE CROES.

-fv'itnessesc Fnsros GIDDINGS, SANFORD GRAYSON.

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