US622514A - Ments - Google Patents

Description

No. 622,5!4. Patented Apr. 4, |899. 0. M. MYERS.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application Bled July 5, 1894.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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' No. 622,5I4. Patented AprI 4', |899.

0. M. MYERS. VOTING MACHINE.

(Appucmon mea .my 5, 1894.) (No Model.) 42 Sheets-SheetZ.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR M. MYERS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO JOHN E. DURAND AND CHARLES R. BARBER, OF SAME PLACE.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 622,514, dated April 4, 1 899.

Application filed July 5, 1894.` Serial No. 516,581. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

l3e it known that I, OSCAR M. MYERS, of Rochester, inthe county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and l. do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had t the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specifica- Io tion, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provide a voting-machine by the use of which a voter may indicate his preference for any I of a number of candidates nominated for an oiiice, but which prevents his voting for more than one candidate for the same oitice or more thanonce for the same candidate, and also aty the same time that his preference is indizo cated one vote is counted for the candidate,`

and after he leaves the proximity of the machine the latter may be returned to normal position ready for the next voter without the possibility of such next voter ascertaining z 5 howthe previous one voted; and to these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations of parts, all aswill be hereinafterfully described, -and the novel features pointed out 3o in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention, a portion of the casing being removed to show the parts; Fig. 2, a

g5 vertical section of the same;.Fig. 3, a horizontal section on the line a: of Fig. 2; Fig.

et, a section on the line y y of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged view of a portion of the front of a machine; Fig. 6, a horizontal sectional 4o view on the line .z of Fig. 2; Fig. 7, a face view of one of the counters and wheel-locking devices; Fig. S, a section on the line a b of Fig. 4, showing in dotted lines the counter-key actuated and locked; Fig. 9, a sectional view showing a counter-key actuated and locked.

Similar reference-numerals in the several :lign res indicate similar parts.

The main casing 1 ot the machine is preferahly constructed of sheetmetal having a series of apertures at the front or, if desired and as shown, one continuous vertically-extending aperture, through which the cards containing the names of the various candidates may be viewed. Located within the 5 5 casing, and preferably at top and bottom thereof, are frames 2, in which are mounted the ends of a vertically-extending'shaft 3, and to the upper and lower portions of this shaft are secured what I term master- 6o wheels 4, the peripheries of which extend outside of the casing a short distance, the upper one above the aperture through which the indicating-cards may be viewed. To the upper one of these master-wheels is secured a pulley 5, from which extends a cord 6, connected to a suitable weight 7, arranged within the casing and adapted when the shaft is disconnected to turn it in one direction, and also connected to said wheel or shaft is 7o a ratchet-wheel 8, with which engages a pawl 9, moved. in engagement by a spring 10 and adapted to prevent the backward rotation of said shaft and Wheels. Mounted upon the shaft are a series of collars 11, and supported upon these and loosely encircling the shaft a series of Wheels or rotary supports 12, each constructed, preferably, of sheet met-al and having the beaded periphery, as shown, which projects through the front of the casing, and 8o each wheel is provided with downwardly-extending ears 13, to which are bolted ballot-indicating devices,preferably mechanical counters 14, substantially such as are shown in Letters Patent No. 494,588, granted April 4, 1893, to Jacob Il. Myers, said counters .being so disposed relative to the casing that as the wheel is rotated the counter will be substantially parallel with the front of the casin g and may be viewed through the aperture therein. 9o These counters embody a suitable casing con- 'tainingI a train of numbered wheels, the lirst ber of counters maybe applied to the wheels IOO wheel 12, with which cooperates a suitable re- 12, six being shown in the drawings, with a blank space upon which no counter is located, but upon which the name of the ollice to which the wheel is denoted appears prominently.

17 indicates a spring, one end of which is connected to the wheel 12 and the other to the collar 11 on the shaft, or, if desired, directly to the shaft, as shown, the tendency of said spring being to rotate the wheels to the left, Fig. 3, and above each of the counterslides 15 an aperture 1S is provided in the tainer or pawl 19, pivoted to the casing, said pawl preventing the backward rotation of the wheels, but permitting them to move freely to the right, as in Fig. 2. The master-wheels 4 are connected by a rod or bar 20, termed a coupler, which is adapted to cooperate with a lug or projection 21, arranged on the periphery of each of the wheels 12, so that by the rotation oi' the master-wheels to the right the wheels or supports 12,1naybe carried around together and the corresponding counters of each of them brought in line with the aperture in the front of the main casing, the master-wheels and shaft being retained by the pawl 9 andthe individual wheels 12 retained by the dogs 19 on the casing, which, as stated, cooperate with the apertures in the wheels resting on the counter-slide 15, although the wheels may be rotated singly to the right against the tension of their springs 17, and when so rotated will be retained and prevented from backward rotation by the retainers or dogs 19. At the side of the aperture in the front easing are arranged a series of counter-actuators or ballot push -keys, such as shown in the patent to Myers before referred to, one key being arranged in the plane of the slides 15 of each wheel and each key embodying a suitable easing 25, a movable bar 2G, having its inner end pointed or beveled, shown, and provided with an aperture 27 and also with a suitable retracting-spring 2S, adapted to hold the key projected outward, as shown at the upper portion of Fig. l, with its beveled cud out of contact with the counter-slide. rlhe face of each of the counter- Casin gs is provided with a series of apertures 29, through which the numbers on the wheels can be viewed, and is also provided with four or more lugs 30 for retaining in place a suitable card 31, adapted to cover the apertures in the counters and to contain the name ot the candidate to whom the cou nter is devoted, so that the voter can ascertain to whom the counter opposite the aperture in the casing applies, but cannot see the number of votes recorded. Arranged at the side of the aperture in the main casing is a bar 32, having secured to it a number of small lframes 33 for containing glass covers 3l, serving to permit the counter-casings to be viewed through the aperture, but preventing access to them, said bar being removably secured to the casing, so that when it is desired to permit access to the front of the counters, the removal of the cards, and an inspection of the wheels of the counter this maybe readily accomplished by taking ott the frame after the close of the polls.

The operation of the counters and pushkeys is as follows: Vhen one of the counters is opposite the aperture in the main casing and a counter-actuating key 2G is pushed in, its beveled end operating between the lug 1G and the counter-slide 15 will move said slide a short distance, operating the units-wheel the space oli' one tooth, indicating one vote on the counter. At the same time the dog or retainer 19, which has been resting upon the top of the counter-slide, drops down into the aperture 27 in the key and retains it, locking the wheel from rotation and preventing the out-ward movementof the push-key. The retaining-dogs 19 of all of the push-keys are adapted to be operated vertically to release the wheels and keys by lugs or pins on a vertically-moving bar or rod 3G, secured to the main casing and connected to a lever S7, which may be actuated by a pull 3S or by a suitable door or barrier moved when the voter leaves the vicinity of the main casing. The end of this lever is adapted to engage alever or link 39, pivoted to the casing and connected by a link or thrust bar l0 with the pawl 9, which retains the main shaft or master-wheel connected to it, so that when the key-retaining dogs are released the springs 17 on the wheels or supports 12 may turn said wheels backward until the lugs 21 engage the coupling-rod 20, and the pawl 9 being simultane- IOO ously released will allow the master-wheels and main shaft to be returned to normal position by means of the weight 7 or equivalent device. lVhen the keys are released, they will be returned to normal position by the springs 2S, as will be understood.

The wheels 12, carrying the counters, may be as many in number as there are offices to be filled, and the counters upon cach of them are devoted to all the candidates nominated by the various parties for the saine ol'lice, the counters for candidates for the same olice being located the saine relative distance from the lugs or stops 21 or the blank space on the wheel-that is to say, taking the wheel at the top it may be devoted to the candidates for the office of governor, the first counter tothe left of the stop 21 is devoted tothe candidate for the Democratic party, the next one to the Republican candidate, the third to the Labor, and the fourth to the Prohibition, and so on.

Vhen the machine is in normal position or ready for operation, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, with all of thelugs 21 on the wheels in contact with the coupling-rod 20, none of the counters being in line with the apertures in the main casing; but each of the wheels 12 at this point may havea card upon it indicating the ollice for which the candidates whose naines are on said wheel are nominated. If a voter desires to vote a straight party-ticket-say Democratic-he grasps the ITO IZO

periphery of the master-wheel 4; and rotates it to the right, turning (through the coupler) all of the wheels 12 such a distance as will bring the iirst counters on the wheels 12 in line with the apertures, and he then presses in the push-knobs in succession, beginning at the top, the iirst knob in line counting one vote for the candidate whose name is opposite the aperture in the main casing and locking that wheel, as before described, t-he pushkey itself being locked, thereby preventing the voting for any other candidate on the wheel and preventing the registration of more than o'ne vote for a candidate. By pressing in thesecond knob he will lock the second wheel, counting a vote in the same manner; but if he should desire to vote for the third candidate, who is a Republican, it is simply necessary for him to grasp the periphery of this wheel to move it to the right until the next counter appears, and this without moving the other wheels. Then he presses in the push-key, counting one vote and locking this wheel as before, and proceeds to vote for the other candidates, either of the same or a different party, by rotating the respective wheels until the appropriate counter is brought in line, and if he has voted for one candidate foreach oiiice when 11e has iinished all of the wheels will be locked. IIe then leaves the vicinity of the machine, and the lever 37 is operated either by the person in charge ofthe machine or automatically by the operation of the exit-door or barrier, said lever through the. means described releasing the wheels 12 and thev keys allowing the sprin gs 17 to rotate the wheels until their lugs are in contact with the coupler 20, and also through the link 40 and pawl 9 releasing the main shaft and coupler and allowing the weight 7 toreturn the shaft and all the counter-wheels 12 to normal positionf-that is, as shown in Fig. 2-with the stops 21 against a suitable buffer 50 and none of the counters visible through the aperture inthe casing.

It will be seen that yit is impossible for a succeeding voter to note how hispredeeessor has voted, as the lever or equivalent device 37 is operated and the wheels released before he is permitted to enter the inclosure where the machine is located.

Then the polls are closed, it is only necessary to remove `the bar 32, to which the glass covers o f the casing are attached, when access may be had to the face of the counters,

and by rotating the master-wheels bring the party candidates in line with the apertures, remove the cards from the face of the counters, and transcribe the numbers on the counter wheels to suitable books, the masterwheels being moved to bring the next partys candidates in line, and so on.

I prefer to employ the ballot-indicators in the form of mechanical counters such as de scribed and shown herein; but it is obvious that other forms could be employed, if desired, and that other forms of counter-actuators than those shown could be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention" l. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing and a wheel or rotary support therein having a series of counters thereon, of a movable counter-actuator on the casing and a retainer for holding the same when operated, thereby arresting the further rotation of the wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing, and two or more wheels or rotary supports therein, each having a series of counters thereon, the counters on each wheel being devoted to candidates for the same oftice, of a movable counter-actuator on the casing arranged to engage and actuate a counter on the wheel, and retaining devices for holding said actuator when moved, thereby arresting the further rotation of the wheel,

lsubstantially as described.

3. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing, a wheel or rotary support, a series of counters thereon, and means for movn ing said wheel in one direction, of a movable counter-actuator on the casin g, and a retainer therefor adapted to hold it when moved to actuate a counter and thereby arrest the further movement of the wheel, and releasing devices for disengaging said retainer, substantially as described.

4. In a voting-machine, the combination with a easing, two or more wheels or rotary supports therein, each havingaseries of counters thereon devoted to candidates for the same office, and means for moving said wheels in one direction, of movable counter-actuators, one foreach wheel, retainers for hold ing them when actuated, and a releasing device operating to release all said retainers at once, substantially as described.

5. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing having an aperture, and a series of wheels or rotary supports therein, each having a series of counters thereon directly visible through the apertures, ratchet devices for preventing movement of the wheels in one direction, and means for actuating the counter that is visible when in juxtaposition with the aperture, substantially as described.

6. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing having an aperture, a rotary shaft in the casin g, two or more wheels rotatable on the shaft and independently of it having a series of counters near its periphery, elastic connections between the wheels and the shaft, a motor device (as a Weight) for ro,- tatin g the shaft in one direction, and a ratchet and pawl for retaining it, of counter-actuators on the casing, one for each wheel engaging the counter and locking the wheel, and retainers therefor, a coupling device ou the shaft for causing lthe rotation of all the wheels, and connections between the retainers for the counteiactuators and the pawl retaining the shaft, substantially as described.

IOO

'IIO

7. In a voting-machine, the combination With a casing having an aperture, a rotary wheel having a series of counters thereon arranged in the casing, and means for automatically rotating said wheel in one direction, a catch for preventing the backward rotation of the Wheel, and a counter-actuator capable of being operated when the counter is in juxtaposition With the aperture in the casin g, substantially as described.

8. In a voting-machine, the combination with the shaft, means for rotating said shaft in one direction, and retaining devices therefor, of a series et wheels, loose on the shaft and connected to it by elastic connections, a series of counters on each Wheel, a coupler connected to the shaft adapted to engage all the Wheels When moved in one direction and cause their simultaneous movement, and counter-actuators operating to lock a Wheel from rotation when one of the counters upon it is moved, and releasing devices for the counter-actuator, substantially as described.

In a voting-machine, the combination with a support automatically movable in one direction, and a series of counters thereon, of a retainer for holding said support from backward movement, a movable counter-actuator, and retaining devices for holding and locking it to the support when moved, substantially as described.

l0. In a voting-machine, the combination ivith a support, automatically movable in one direction, and a series of counters thereon, of a movable counter-actuator, a retainer engaging the support and preventing its bach- Ward movement, and also engaging the counter-actuator when operated, thereby locking the actuator and preventing the movement of the support in either direction, substantially as described.

11. In a voting-machine, the combination with a movable support, and a series of counters thereon, a movable counter-actuator, a paivl or retainer engaging the support and preventing movement in one direction, and also engaging the actuator When moved, to lock it, whereby when the counter is actuated the actuator and support are both locked,sub stantially as described.

l2. In a voting-machine, the combination with the movable support, and a series of counters thereon, each embodying a movable abutment, of a pawl or retainer engaging the support and resting on the abutment, a counter-actuator adapted to engage the abutment and move it and become engaged by the retainer, thereby locking the support and actuator, substantially as described.

lil. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing, a series of wheels or supports therein, each having a stop, and a series of counters thereon, the counters on each support being devoted to candidates for the same office, and the counters on each support devoted to candidates of the same party being located the same relative distance from the stop on the support, of a coupling device for engaging all the stops and moving the supports together, counter-actuators on the casing, one for each support, and retainers for lookin g the actuators to the support when actuated, substantially as described.

ll. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing, a series of wheels or supports therein, independently and automatically movable in one direction, a stop on each support, a series of counters on each support, the counters on each support being devoted to candidates tor the same oi'lice and the counters on each support devoted to candidates of the same party being located the same relative distance from the stop on the support, ot an automatically-movable coupler for engaging all the stops and moving the supports together, a retaining device, as a pawl, for said coupler, counter-actuators on the casing, one

for each support, retainers for locking the counter-actuators to the support when operated, and connections between them and the coupler-retainer, whereby they may be simultaneously operated and all the supports and counter-actuators released at a single operation, substantially as described.

l5. In a voting-machine, the combination with a wheel, a series of counters thereon, each counter having a slide or abutment, counting-Wheels and apertures for inspecting them, and a removable cover or card for concealin g said apertures, of a relatively stationary push-key adapted to engage any ot the counter-slides, and a retainer therefor, subw stantially as described.

IG. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing having an aperture therein, a series of Wheels or supports in said casing, each having counters thereon, a series of counter-actuators on the casing, one for each support, a retainer for each actuator, and a transparent cover for the casing-aperture, substantially as described.

17. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing, a series of wheels therein having their peripheries projecting, a series ot counters on each of said wheels, a counteractuator for each Wheel, and a retaining device therefor, springs for rotating the wheels, a coupler for alining and rotating the Wheels simultaneously, and a motor and retainer therefor, and connections between the counter-actuator retainers and the coupler-retainer for releasing the actuators and coupler together, substantially as described.

1S. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing, a series of wheels therein having their peripheries projecting, springs for rotating said Wheels in one direction and rtainers or pawls cooperating with the Wheels, a series of ballot-indicating devices on each Wheel, of a movable coupler adapted to engage all ot the Wheels, actuated from the exterior of the casing, a motor for actuating it in one direction, and a retainer or pawl coperating with said coupler, and a series of aetuators, one for each wheel, coperatingwith the ballot-indicating devices and locking the Wheels from rotation when moved, substantially as described.

19. In a voting-machine, the combination with the casing having an aperture, and a series of movable supports or Wheels therein, each having a series of baIlot-indicating devices, of a movable coupler for simultaneously moving all of said supports to bring a line of counters in juxtaposition with the aperture in the casing, substantially as described. 4

20. In a voting-machine, the combination with the casing having an aperture, and a series of independently-movable supports or wheels therein, each having a series of ballotindicating devices thereon, of a movable coup- 1er for simultaneously moving all of said supports to bring a line of counters in juxtaposition with the aperture in the casing, sub stantially as described.

21. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing having an aperture, of a rotary support therein having a series of counters thereon, said counters being capable of actuation When in a predetermined position relative to the aperture in the casing, devices for preventing the rotation of said support in one direction, and devices for preventing the complete rotation of said support to bring a counter a second time in operative position, substantiall57 as described.

22. In a votingqnachine, the combination With a casing,a rotarysupport therein and a se. ries of counters on said support, of a counteractuator adapted to actuate any of the counters on the support, ratchet devices for preventing the backward rotation of said support, and devices for preventing a complete rotation of said Asupport to bring a counter a second time in operative position, substantially as described.

23. In a voting-machine, the combination with a casing and a movable support therein, and a series of counters on said support, a counter-actuator adapted to actuate any of the counters on the support, and means for preventing a second operation of a counter by the actuator, an operating device for moving the support in one direction, ratchet mechanism for preventing the movement of the support by said last-mentioned device, and a movable memberfor releasing the support and permitting its return to normal position by the operating device, substantially as described.

OSCAR M. MYERS.

Witnesses: A

JACOB l-I. MYERS, FREDERICK F. CHUncI-L

Images