US660115A

US660115A - Voting-machine.

Info

Publication number: US660115A
Application number: US74062999A
Authority: US
Inventors: Syver Loe
Original assignee: AMERICAN VOTING MACHINE Co
Current assignee: AMERICAN VOTING MACHINE Co
Priority date: 1899-12-18
Filing date: 1899-12-18
Publication date: 1900-10-23
Anticipated expiration: 1917-10-23

Description

No. 660,|l5. Patented Oct. 23, |900.

S. LOE.

voTmG MACHINE.

(Application med me. 1a, 1899.)

(N9 Model.) s sheets-"Sheet l.

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WM mM l l f www1/22W Wpbwsse 5w/f Zaag No. 660315. Patented out. 23, |900. s. Los.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 18, 1899.) (llo Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 2.

STATE ALLoT g M we Nunn s Pa'mas no, PnoroLg-uo. wAswlNuTuN. o. cu

No. 660,5.- Patented Oct. 23,1900. S. LOE.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 18, 1899.)

9 sheets-sheet 3.

(No Model.)

we mams Firms nu, (mom-mun, wAsmNsTou. n c` No. 660,ll5. Patented Oct 23 I9 s.-Lo. 00'

VOTING MACHINE.

. (Application leq Dec. 18, 1899.) (No Model.) 9 Shecats--Shet 4.

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Patented oet. 2s, 1900. S. LOE.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application Med Dec. 18, 1899.)

9 Sheeiz--Sheet 5.

(in nodal.)

No. 600,115.. Patented oct. 23, |900. S. LOE.

I VOTING MACHINE.,

(Applicatonvled Dec'. 18, 1899.)

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No. 660,I|5. Patented Oct. 23, |900.

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VDTING MACHINE.

(Application med n. 1s, 1899,)

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No. sso,||5. Patented oct. 23, |900.

s. Los.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 18', 1899.)

9 Sheets--Sheet 8.

(lo Model.)

W///// z ///////7 y No. 660,5. Patented oct. 2s, |900. s, Los.

VOTING MACHINE.

(lpplicntion led Dac. 18, 1899.) (lo Modal.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 9..

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UNiTnD STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

SYVER LOE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,115, dated Octobei` 23, IQ.

Application tiled December 18, 1899. b'lal Nm 740,629. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it' may concern.-

Be it known that I, SYVER LOE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artlto which ro it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention relates to voting-machines, and has for its object to improve the construction of the same bythe production of a machine of small or reasonable cost the I5 operation of which may be readily understood by the voter, which will operate rapidly and accurately, and which, furthermore, will meetl all of the conditions of an election and will effectually prevent dishonest voting or zo tampering` with the machine.

To the above ends myinvention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

To better prepare the reader for the speciiic description to be hereinafter given, the following brief forecast of the general features of' the machine in its complete construction wili be given: The carrier or support for the various candidate-registers and other recording devices and their actuators is in the best form of the device in the nature of a rotary drum or cylinder which is mounted to rotate 011 a horizontal axis, al-

though it might be mounted to rotate on a vertical axis. The registers and their actuators are grouped and subgrouped inthe proper arrangement in a continuous circular series, and there must of course be one register and 4o actuator for each candidate represented on the ticket. There is provided also a register and actuator for each positive or negative answer to all questions submitted or voted upon, such as constitutional amendments,

and, further, other registers and actuators are provided for enabling the voting for independent candidates not represented on the ticket.

yMachines as hitherto constructed have embodied registers and actuators serving the above functions; but they have always been arranged in several independent series to make up a complete voting-machine adapted to register the votes of a national, State, county, and municipal election wherein several politicalpartiessuch as the Republican, Democratic, Populist, and Prohibition parties-are represented. As one of the salient features of my present machine Iassemble all of the registers and actuators in such rela- 6o' tion to each other and their support that they may be brought in the selected order of succession to the so-called voting point or position, and in connection with and for operation upon the entire series of actuators I providea singlekey key being used in the broadest possible sense) which is adapted to operate any and all of the actuators one at a time as they are brought into the proper relation thereto or in the voting position. 7o The key being a local key and the supporting cylinder or drum, with its registers and actuators, being movable with respect to the key enables the voter to stand in one posi- .tion While casting his entire vote; but nevertheless the construction above described might be reversed within the scope of my invention, which consists, broadly, in the arrangement whereby a single key is made to operate all of the register-actuators of the 8o complete machine.

As a means for limiting the number of votes cast for a particular office, or, in other words, the number of candidates voted for to fill a particular oiice, I employ a iieXible band or chain which is arranged with the proper normal slack to permit the operation of the proper n umber of register-actuato rs and then to become a stop to lock the rest of the actuators in their normal positions. Such flexi- 9o ble bands for the above purpose have hither- -to been employed, but as hitherto employed an independent section of chain has been used for each group or subgrou-p of registeractuators appropriated to a particular oiiice. As an improvement on this arrangement I employ in my present invention a single continuous flexible band or chain and providein connection therewith means for clamping the chain at various desired points between the zoo groups of mechanism or actuators appropriated to the various candidates for a particular office. This construction has the important advantage that one adjustment of the entire chain in a manner to behereinaf'ter specifically described serves to set the stop or limiting means for the entire machine.

The machine further comprises mechanism for casting or registering a total straight voteas, for example, to cast a straight Republican vote for the national, State, county, and municipal ticketby one action-and other mechanism by means of which the voter may register a partial straight v0te-as, for example, a straight Republican vote on the national ticket and a straight Democratic vote for the municipal ticket.

The machine further comprises mechanism for registering the number of votes cast,or, in other words,for registering the number of persons who have casttheir vote. Again, the machine comprises an independent-vote registering mechanism of novel construction. Also, this machine comprises other novel features of improvement, which will appear in the specitic description of the machine.

The machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure l is a plan view of the ticket or ballot strip, the same being shown in detached sections. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the ticket and a portion ot1 the drum or cylinder to which it is secured. Fig. 3 shows the complete machine in side elevation. Fig. t is a face view or end elevation of the complete machine, some parts being broken away. Fig. 5 is a detail showing the means for securing or clamping the ends of the flexible strap or stop-chain. Fig. G is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, with some parts broken away showing a portion of the' cylinder or drum. Fig. 7 is a detail in plan with some parts sectioned and others broken away, showing` a portion of the cylinder or drum and a lock-dog which cooperates therewith. Fig. 8 is a vertical section approximately on the line :t8 90S of Fig. Fig. 9 is a view corresponding closely to Fig. (5, but

with the drum in a slightly-different position and with parts of the drum broken away to show the independent-vote registering mechanism. Fig. lO is a transverse vertical section taken through a portion of the drum or rotary cylinder approximately on the line 0010 0010 ot' Fig. 9. Fig. ll is a transverse vertical section corresponding somewhat to Fig. l0, but with the drum or cylinder turned in position to show the independent-Vote registering device. Figs. 12 and 13 are vertical sections corresponding to Figs. l0 and ll, but illustrating different positions of the drinn or carrier, some parts beingbroken away. Fig. 14 is a detail showing a portion of the drum or cylinder, the same being viewed from the back or from a direction opposite that to which the machine is viewed in Fig. 4t; and Figs. l5 and 1G are detail views, in front elevation, showing portions of the flexible strap or stop-chain and devices of modified forni for sustaining the loop thereof.

The ballot-The complete printed ballot, which may be in sect-ions or in the form of a continuons paper strip, has printed thereon in the proper order the names of all the various party candidates for the various ofces and other indications of all matters to be voted upon on the several political, tickets-as, for example, the national, the Stato, the county, and the municipal, 'lhis of course provides for a complete election; but it will be understood that any one of the political tickets if not to be voted at a given election will be omitted. The complete bal lot is indicated by the character z/ in Fig. l, wherein the ticket is shown as broken into sections in order to show the same on the proper scale.

The drum and stqiports-rllhe rotary su pporting-drum (indicated as an entirety by the character o.) is, as shown, rigidlysecurcd on a sleeve or tubular shaft a', the rear end of which is loosely mounted in and projects through an open bearing in the rear bracket of a supporting-frame c. The forward end of the sleeve a is loosely mounted in the hub b of a vertical supporting-arm b', which isheld against rotation and secured to the forward bracket of the trame c by means of small bolts b2, passed through the said bracket and through lugs b3 of said arm. Mounted for vertical movements through the upper head'- ed portion b4 of the supporting-arm bis a depressible key d, which, as shown, is in the form of a headed plunger normally held upward by a spring d. Rigidly secured to the inner portion of the arm bis a protectingdisk or guard-head e, which has an inturned flange e, that closely engages the peripheral portion of the adjacent head of the drum or cylinder a, so as to prevent access to the register-actuators, to be hereinafter noted. The head b4 of the supporting-arm b/ is provided with a projection or stop b5, which normally engages a stop-lng u? on the drinn or cylinder d to limit the return movement of the said drum. The head b1 also has a pointer or finger 5l for a purpose which will hereinafter appeal'. The drum or cylinder d is normally yieldingly held with the stop dgengaging the stop b5, as just noted, this, as shown, being accomplished bya coiled spring b and a iexible connection or cord o7, the former of which is attached to the 'fixed supportingarm Z9 as a base of reaction, while the latter or other flexible connection is wound upon the hub a3 of the forward head of the drum or cylinder ct. Ot' course a weight or other suitable device might be employed in lieu of the spring and connection above described.

The complete ballot y when properly positioned is secured on the peripheral surface of the drum or cylinder aand nearly or quite surrounds the same, and it is thus held in position between annular retaining guides or flanges a4 on said drum by means of a strip to any particular candidate.

of celluloid or other suitable transparent material y', the edges of which are slipped under the said retaining-flanges a4.

For a purpose which will hereinafter appear the peripheral portion of the drum a bet-ween the annular guides a4 is made up of thin narrow strips or slats d5, that are detachably secured and readily removable from the drum. These strips or slats d5 are in width equal to the distance or space longitudinally of the ticket 'y taken up by or appropriated As shown, the said strips or slats d5 overlapannular peripheral sections 6n of the drum ct and are held in position by the retaining-lianges a4.

The forward head of the drum Ct is provided at its peripheral portion with a series of ratchet-notches d6 and with a single locknotch or deep depression a7. For cooperation with the notches a and d a spring-pressed latch or lock-dog f is mounted for sliding movements in the head b4 of the supportingarm b. The disposition or spacing of the notches d6 and a7 is such that as the cylinder ordrum a is moved step by step to bring one candidates name after the other to the voting point or position the spring-pressed latch or dog f will be successively engaged with the notches a6, and by the last possible step of movement of the drum (if this last step be given) said dog will be engaged with the lock-l notch ct7. The engagement of lthe latch or dog f with one of the notches d prevents only the return movement of the drum; but the en,- gagement of the said dog with the deep locknotch a7 locks the cylinder against movement in either direction until the said dog has been withdrawn from the said notch to release the cylinder. It will be understood that when the dog f is released from the lock-notch a7 the drum or cylinder d will be restored to its normal position by the spring h6.

Releasing device-The dog or latch f may be released, as above indicated, by an attendant or one of the judges of election, but not by the voter. This releasing device in the construction illustrated comprises the following details, which may nevertheless be considerably modified: The dog f is connect-ed by a small stem f to the upper end of a releasing-leverf2, which is .pivoted to the supporting-arm b at f3 and has its lower. end working through a slot bs in the hub b of said arm. Sliding in the rear end of the sleeve d is a grooved head f4., A small rod f5 extends through the grooved head f4 and through a perforation in the lower end of the trip-lever. As shown, this rod f5 is in two sections united bya transverse pin or boltf, adapted to move laterally in longitudinal slots b9, formed in the sleeve ct. The pin f6 subserves a purpose hereinafter to be noted. The forward end of the rod f5 is free to turn within the perforation in the lower end of the trip-lever Pivoted to a small bearingf7 on the rear bracket. of the su ortinfr-frame c is a shi PP a l per-leverfs, the upper end of which is pronged and is provided with the pins ff), that work in the groove of the sliding rotary head f". As shown, the lower end of the shipper-lever]OS is connected by a cord or eXible connection flo with the lower end of a hand-operated latchlever f, which cooperates with a latch-segment fw, being pivoted thereto at fw. The latch fm of the lever f is adapted to engage either of a pair of notches f in the segmental head of the bracket fw, to thereby secure the said lever in either of two extreme positions, for a purpose to be hereinafter specically stated after certain other parts controlled by the said lever have first been described. It may, however, be here further remarked that the lever fu and segment fm will be located at some distant point from the machine where it will be outI of the control of the voter and under control of some properly-authorized person, such as the judges of election.

In so me instances it may be desirable to reset the machine automatically, in which case the operating connections instead of extending to the hand-leverfl1 might be connected to the door of a voting-booth or to some other movable part, which would be necessarily moved either as the voter enters or leaves the votin g-booth.

Registers or recording-taZZ/ies.-W'ithin the annular space formed between the rear outer portion of the drum or cylinder a and the transverse interior partition '7"L and an annular section 8 is mounted a series of registers or tallies, each, as shown, made up of three Wheels g, directly secured to supporting plates or brackets g, the registers or tallies being located side by side and the peripheral shell of the drum a being perforated just above each wheel, as shown at as, to permit the wheels to be seen from the exterior of the machine. Of course the number of wheels in each register or tally may be varied as desi red. Furthermore, these tallies or registers may be of any suitable or well-known form provided with theordinary devices for carrying the tens from the units-wheel onto the wheels representing tens, hundreds, 85e. In the construction illustrated the units-wheels stand to the right as viewed in Figs. l0 and 1l, and each wheel is in the form of a ratchetwheel having the successive digits marked on the faces of the ratchet-teeth, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the total number of votes registered on any particular tally may be seen through the sight-openings a8.

Registeractuators-Fm each register or tally there is a register-actuator, which, as shown, comprises a lever t, pivoted to a lug t" on the rear head of the drum or cylinder Ct and provided with a spring-held pawl it?, which engages the teeth of the units member of the tally or register. The levers 7c normally extend approximately parallel to the axis of the drum d, and they project through and work in short radial slots ai), formed in the outer portions of the inner or forward head of the drum d. Each register-actuating lever 7o is IIO provided inward of the radial guide-slots c" with a pivoted depending latch or retainingpawl 7d", provided at its free end with a hook or shoulder 7a4 and connected by a coiled spring h5 with the peripheral portion of the drum or cylinder a, as best shown in Figs. l0 and 1l. The springs 7c5 are so disposed that theynormally hold the free ends or the latches or retaining-pawls 7a3 against an annular lock-flange am on the adjacent head of the drum c and the levers kin their extreme upper or outermost positions. The lock-shoul der 7s is so disposed that when the free end of a lever 7c is depressed or Aforced inward far enough to operate the corresponding tally or register it will engage under the annular lock- [lange d10, and thereby temporarily look the said lever in such position. The so-callcd annular lock-flange d10 might of course be sectioned or made up of annularly-spaced portions, and hence it will be understood that the expression annular lockdlange is used in a broad sense.

There are as many of the registers or tallies and cooperating actuators as there are can didates on the complete ticket or ballot, and, furthermore, there is a register and actuator appropriated to record positive and negative answers to all questions submitted to vote and also registers and actuators appropriated to each political party represented, enabling the voting of either complete straight ballots or partial straight ballots,7 such as straight national, State, county, and municipal votes. Otherwise, briefly stated, to vote a complete ballot, such as indicated in Fig. l, there must be as many registers or tallies and actuators appropriated to the complete straight-vote group as there are different political parties represented on the said ballot. The registers or tallies are located directly in line with the indicated candidate or particular'vote to which they are appropriated, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Attention is here called to the fact that in Fig. 2 the various offices and candidates are indicated as marked directly upon slats or sections a5, this being done simply to indicate the position which the ticket will occupy when properly positioned. Vhen the actuators or levers 7c are brought to the voting point or position, the free end ot' the particular actuatingdever will stand directly under the inner lower end of the key CZ and the pointer or finger 5b will stand in line with the name of the candidate or other form of vote which will be cast or recorded on the tally or registered by the de pression of said key.

Stop-chain or @meting-hemd. J ust inward of their free ends the actuating-levers 7s are provided with vertical lugs 796, between the upper ends of which antifriction-rollers 6k are mounted. The flexible limiting-band or stopchain is indicated as an entirety by the letter m. This iiexible band or chain on. is passed between the lugs 7s and under the rollers 6k of the actuating-levers 7.". and is also passed over fixed studs m, projected from the adjacent face of the forward head of the drum or cylinder et and located one between each lever 7c. At intervals the chain fm, is securely clamped to the face of the adjacent head ol the drum a by means of clamps m2, which arc adapted to be applied either as part of or as substitutes for the guide-studs m'. The clamps m2 are placed between the subgroups of the actuating-levers 7n, which subgroups may be varied in extent at will,butshould ofcourse comprise a number of levers equal to the number of candidates for a particular office. At its ends the chain or flexible band is adapted te be secured to the head of the drum d by a suitable clamp m3. In the normal position of the levers 7s each section of the chain is given its maximum amount of slack, and the slack given io a particular section of chain must be just suilicient to permit the maximum permissible n umher of actuating-levers to be dcpressed in succession. For example, thesection of the chain which controls or limits the operations of the four different party candidates for governor must have only su'l'licient slack to permit the depression of one lever,

forthe obvious reason that the voter is permitted to cast a vote Only'for one party to fill the office of governor. The chain must by the depression oi the one key, bedrawn taut, so that it will thereafter act as a stop to prevent the casting of another vote :li'or governor until the machine has been reset. As another illustration let us consider that section of chain which controls the registration of Votes for electors in an arrangement wherein, for instance, twenty candidates are represented with five electors to be properly voted. In this instance the chain must have su flicient slack to permit the depression in succession of five of the actuating-levers and then to act as a stop to prevent the depression of any other of the levers of that subgroup.

XVith the arrangement above described the subgroups may be increased and decreased in number at will to make them cor respond to the arrangement of the ballot, and usually one actuating-lever t' is taken out or rendered inoperative between each subgroup. From the above statements it is thought that the particular manner of adjusting the stop-chain or li miting-band for any subgroup or oiiices represented on the ballot will be readily understood. This summary statement may, however, be added: that any particular section of the chain appropriated to control the actuating-levers for an office wherein several candidates are represented, only one of which may be elected to a particular office, the said chain must control all of the levers of that subgroup and must permit the operation o'l' any selected one, but no more. On the other hand, sections of the chain which controls the actuatingdcvers appropriated to an o'lce to which several parties will be elected, such as judges or electors, must permit by their slack the registration TOO ITO

in any order of the maximum possible votes for that par: icular oftire.

Loop-retainers for stop-chams.-Since in all cases the sections of the chain must have some normal slack and in most cases must have sufficient slack to form a considerable loop, l provide what I term loop-retainers, which While they normally leave the chain with some slack retain the loop and prevent tangling of the chain and readily yield to permit the slack or loop of achain-section to be paid out as the actuating -levers are depressed in succession. The so-called loopretainers may take several forms; but the form illustrated in the main drawings is preferred. This preferred form consists of a yoke or bracket n, which straddles the chain and is provided with a roller n', which engages the upper surface thereof. A small stem or rod u2, attached to the yoke n, working through a guide n3 and connected by a spring n4 with the hub portion of the drum ct, normally holds the bracket n against, the guide n3, in which position the cooperating chain-section is left with considerable slack,

as shown at the left in Figs. 6 and fl. As the actuating levers are successively depressed the loop of the chain will be gradually taken up or paid out until the chain is drawn taut and becomes a stop to the rest of the levers of that particular group, at which time the roller n' and bracket n will be raised, as shown at the right in Figs. 6 and 9.

To set the stop-chain m for the arrangement of a complete ballot, such as illustrated, the ballot or ticket-strip is irst properly7 secured to the periphery of the drum, as alreadyindicated, and then bylneans of the key d the proper number of actuating-levers y7c for each subgroup are depressedin successionthat is, for the subgroups appropriated to offices to which but one candidate may be elected one lever is pressed downward, while with subgroups appropriated to offices to which several may be elected-sueli,'for example, as electors, with the permissible number of five to be elected-f1 ve of the said actuating -levers are depressed, and so on throughout the ballot. The said actuatinglevers when depressed will of course be temporarily locked inward bythe engagement of their latches or rctaining-pawls k3 with the annular lock-flange d10. Then while these levers are locked inward the chain' or band m is drawn taut from its ends, and its ends are then secu red by means of the clamp m3. Next the clam ps m2 are properly positioned between the various subgroups and are clamped upon the chain to rigidly secure it at such points. After the dogs or pawls k3 have been released, as presently to be described, from the lock-fiange d10 and the actuating-levers have been restored to their normal positions the machine will be ready for action and t-he stop-chain will be properly set to limit the number of possible votes which may be cast for any particular office. l head.

The register-actuatois are operated from the iight toward the left, and the slack or loop-retainers are located at the left of each subgroup. The depression of the iirst one or two keys of the group or subgroup appropriated to an office to which several candidates may be elected is effected by pulling on nearly or all of the entire subsection of the chain. Hence it is important for this reason also that t-he chain be not normally put under tension, inasmuch as to put the chain under tension would increase the friction unnecessarily at such a time. i

Trip for register-actuators. --'1`o sim ultaneously release all of the dogs or retainingpawls 7a3 from the lock-flange d10, I provide a tripping device, which is in the form ofa head or disk p, which, however, serves several other important functions, to be hereinafter noted.A This trip disk or head may of course take various forms; but, as shown, it is provided with a central hubp,which is mounted to slide on the hollow sleeve Ct/ and is subject to a spring p2, which normally holds the same in an inoperative position toward the extreme right, as shown by full lines in Figs. 10, 11., 12, and 13. The pin f6, heretofore noted as connecting the sections of the trip-rod and working in longitudinal slots b9 of the sleeve a', project-s at its ends through the hub p of the trip head or diskp, so that when the said tri p-rod f5 is drawn toward the left, as heretofore described, by means of the lever f and intermediate connections the said disk or head p will be drawn toward the left or into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 12 and 13. This movement of the head or disk, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 12, serves to release all of the depressed dogs or retaining-pawls 7c3 from the annular locki'lange d10.

Additional functions of actuatorMpBy reference to Fig. 13 it will be seen that the peripheral portion of thehead or disk p when moved into this dotted-line position stands directly in the inward lines of movement of the said dogs, so that it serves as a lock to prevent the depression or movement of any of the actuating-levers lt. This latter-noted function is important. The third function of the head or disk p is to operate the total-vote register, or, in other words, the register which records the number of persons who have voted.

Total-'note regt'ster.-In Fig. 12 the lever 7c', which actuates the so-called total-vote register, (not shown, but which is like the other registers,) is like all of the other actuatinglevers, except that it is not provided with the lugs 7c and roller 6k and is not subject to the action of the stop chain or band fm, but is, on the contrary, attached at its free end to alight connection r, which connection r is in turn connected to one arm of a bell-crank i", that works through a slot r2 in the forward head l of a drum a and is pivoted to lugs r3 on said The other arm of the bell-crank yr is IOO f into the position indicated by dotted lines, it

will not only release the dog 7c3' ot the totalvote register, but will permit its spring 765' to raise the actuating-lever 7c' of that registeractuator. In this manner the total-vote regist-er will be actuated. It will also be noted by reference to Fig. 12 that the shouldered lower end 7a4' of the pawl 7a3' is much shorter than the corresponding portion of the other pawls 7c3, so that when the parts occupy their dotted-line positions, as indicated in said Fig; l2, considerable clearance is lei't between the lower free end of the said pawl 7c3 and the-adjacent peripheral portion of the trip head or disk p. This clearance will permitI the disk jp to recede in under the lange al before the free end of the said pawl 75 has been moved radially inward far enough to engage the said disk4 Independent-@015e registers-ln each subgroup ot' actuators appropriated to the different offices one actuator and register is appropriated to the so-called independent vote, which permits the voter to vote for any person not on the ballot whom he may select. To make provision for thisindependent vote, the ticket'. or ballot is cut away or sectioned to expose the section or slat a5, which is marked Independent77 in Fig. 2, and this particular slat or section is cut away, as shown at 5 in said Fig. 2, so as to permit the voter to write the name of his independent candidate on a strip of paper which is supported below the slot. This strip of paper is in the construction illustrated normally wound on a roller s and is wound onto another roller s2, both of which rollers are suitably mounted in the lower portion of a bracket or traine s3, which is detachably secured to the inner partition-plate 7 of the drum ct by means of screws s4 or other suitable means. The paper strip s is passed over a transversely-extended platen or shelf 35, which is formed on the upper portion of the bracket or frame s3 just below the slot or opening 5 formed in the socalled independent slat or section a5. Normally the platen S5 is covered by the transverse por-tion of a U-shaped cut-off segment s, that embraces the sides of the frame s3 and is pivoted thereto at $7. A light spring SS connects a projecting lug` s of the segment s with the frame s3 and yieldingly holds said cut-oft' segment in its normal position. (Indicated by full lines in Fig. 9.) Obviously when the cut-oft' segment is in its normal position a pencil placed in the slot 5 of the strip a5 cannot reach the paper registeringstrip s, and hence the name of the independent candidate cannot under these conditions be written upon the said strip. The

.e eeo,115

roller s" is provided'at one end of its project.- ing shaft with a ratchet-wheel sl'l. Extending approximately parallel to and above the roller s2, being pivoted to the frame .s3 at s, is a pawl-lever s, yieldingly held upward by a spring 12S and provided at its tree end with a pivoted pawl or dog S13, the dei'iending free end of which stands directly over the teeth of the ratchet-whet-il Slo. Above the lever S12 the dog or pawl is provided with a flat and transversely-exten ded head SM, the outer portion ot' which normally stands directly under the free lower end of the latch or retainingpawl 7113 of the lever 7.a, whit-h operates the register or tally ap propriated to the independent candidate. This construction is best illustrated in Fig. lO. When the said actuatinglever 7.o is depressed, the tree end of its latch or pawl 7ns will engage the outer portion of the tlat head suol the pawl sl'g and will thereby force the pawl downward and cause the same to en gage the ratchet-wheel sw and move the paper strip s one step in advance. The so-called cnt-off segment s is connected by a light rod s with the free end ot' the pawl-lever .912. The rod sli is connected to one prong ot the segment s at a point eecentric to its pivot 37 and is connected to thc lever 512 by a slot-and-pin connection sl s". This arrangement is such that when the lever .S12 is depressed, as just indicated, the pin 51 will be first moved to the bottom of the slot sli and will then draw downward on the rod S15, and thereby move the cut-ofi' segment s into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, in which position the Irecording-strip is exposed to the open slot 5a of the independent section or slat Cf. Vhen the segment is thus moved, a projection 51S on the end of a latchlever s1", pivoted to lugs .520011 the frame s and subject to a spring S21, is thrown behind the adjacent prong or side of the said segmental cutoff segment 3"', and thereby ten'iporarily locks the same in its opened position. (Indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9.) The lower end of the lever S19 stands in position to bc engaged by the peripheral portion of the socalled trip head or disk Vp when the latter is moved from its normal into its dotted-line position., (indicated in Figs. l2 and 123,) so that the said movement ot' the trip head or disk will release the said cut-oft segment and permit the same to be returned to normal position by its spring As the pawl or dog el approaches the limit of its downward move` ment its flange s is thrown into contact with a light (iat spring .S22 ou the frame si", which throws the pawl into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. ll. This action is due to the fact that the spring s?? engages the downwardly-curved portion of the pawl-llange s below the pivotal axis of the said pawl. As

long as the lower end of the dog or retainingpawl 7e3 is held in engagement with the outer portion of the pawl-head s the dog s will be held in its operative position and against the movement just indicated as being im- ITO parted bythe sprint"r si?. 'lioivever..\vhen thedog 1:3 reaches the lower-most position and moved laterally into engagement with a locked flange ft its' tree lower end will be thrown clear of the flange S1250 that thedot; s and lever .552 may be restored to not :nal nositiou, the former by gravit-y being released from the spring .sii and the latter by its spring 1;". In such instances as where there are two independent voter. permissible in a particular subgroup one independent recording device s'nch as above indicated is'iuade to serve the purpose simply by providing the pawl-head s with' an extension-plate l-l", cs vshown by dotted lines in Fig. it, which,extension-plate 14 underlies or cooperates with the two adjamit pawls kiof the levers k, which are appropriated to such two independent votes. It is to permit. this independent voting for several independent candidates for a particular oice that the slot-and-pin connection si's is made between the rod s and the patri-lever s. The first of the two levers l: appropriated to the said two independent candidates being,r depressed will he locked down by its pan-1153, and the cut-off segment s \vill be locked in its open position, as already indicated, while the lever s and its paw) .s-S being released will be thrown back into normal positions, so that they 'may again, be depressed and the recording-strip s moved one step in advance bythe depression of the next or adjacent independent actuatinD-'lcver k and its retaining-pawtk.

In some instances the papel' recording-.strip .s may not be considered necessary, and it may be preferred simply to drop the slips of paper with the independent candidates name intothe machine.l In this case the strips and its feeding mechanism may be dispensed with and a box may be placed as a substitute therefor to receive the ballots or slips dropped through the slot opened by the socalled Wentott segment.

Total-sfraz'ght-rote 111ec7zanism-By the operation of the so-called total-straight-vote recording mechanism the voter, having first properly turned the drum a, as indicated by the pointer or finger 5" and the markings on the ballot-strip, may by one depression of the key d casta straight party vote for all fonrof the tickets represented at the election. For example, by the depression of the said key he may cast a straight Republican vote for the national, State, county, and municipal tickets, or if a less number of tickets were to be represented he could cast such a straight vote forall that were represented. This totalstraiglit.- vote recording mechanism isbest illustrated in Fin..` 13. The total straight. votes are indicated as the head ot' the ballotI or ticket y, and if there nrefour parties represeut'ed-such as Republican, Democratic, Iopnlist, and Prollibitiou-there must, of course, be four actuating-levers k, lock-dogs k3, and cot'nieratint.y registers appropriated,

one to each of the :said political parties,which spective markings on thc said ballot-strip.

l Under the free outer end of each of these` four "total-straight-vote actnatiugdevers k isa lock or tumbler which is pivoted tothe adjacent head of the drinn a at 'and is normally subject to a springfa, which vieldingly holds the free ond of the tumbler or dos` i upward against the under edge of the cope"atiug'le\er.`:. ln the fixed supporting-arm b' in line with the key d is a vertical slot P, into which the free end of the alined lock do: or tumbler is adapted to bo forced. 'lien the 'keg 1l is depressed onnone of the said four levi-rs fr, the cooperating lock dog or tumbler t will b'e forced into the slot. is, as shown by dotted lines lu Fig. 13, and as the said lever k will be locked downward by the .engagement of its dog .7:3 with the. lock-Harige ax0 the .said lock tumblcror dog twill beheld or locked within the said slot f* and tite en-V tire machine will he locked against rotation in either direction, so that no further vote eau be cast or registered nntil the parts of the machine have been restored to normal positions by the movement of the trip head or disk p, as already described.

Por!iol-sfr':IgM-role nechfl1u1 m--At the. head of each ti -.ket-to'wit, the State, county, cit-y, and national tickets-there are four spaces marked as indicated on Fig. l, and opposite each of these four spaces is a lever k and cooperating pawl k3 and register g, which are appropriated to a straight vote. for that ticket, thesame beinceitherRepublican, Democratic, Popnlist, or Prohibition, accordinty to the indication ofthe respective markings. XVhen one of the said markings-such, for instance, as the section marked Straight State ballot, Republican -is turned into line with the pointerh and the key d is depressed, a straight Republican vole will be recorded for the State ticket. This recording action is accomplished in this preferred construct-ion of the machine by the following mechanism, which is best illustrated in Fig. 14: Pivoted in radial line, one with each acmating-key of that groi'zp of actuators which is appropriated to the State ballots, pista piv oted stop u', the entire aeries being con. uected by links w and being pivoted at their inner ends at rc2 t-o the inner surface of the forward head of the drum a. A spring w, connected to one of the stops w, normally holds said stops w ont of line with the slots n, in which the lever k moves radially of the drum. Ilence iu the normal positiousof the stops tu any ofthe selected keys lc of the State group may be operated in the manner pre vionsly described. A stop-chain or exible band zr, which is secured at one end byaclamp wi and extends over guide studs or projee-tions nrs. on thcadjacent .head of the drum a, extends under each of the said four levers k, 'which are appropriated to the so-called partial independent vote mechanism, which inthe illustration at hand is assumed to he the siraight-tate-voting mechanism.

The free end of the stone-haiti irI is connected by a link nj or otherwise to the adjacent stop il'.. 'l'hearrangement issuchthattliedepres sion ol" any .of the said sti'aiglit-State\'ote aetnatiiig-levers l: will movc the series of stops Anf so that they will stand one in the path otcach ofthe individual actuating-levers r, and thus loch all of the said actuatinglevers ot the Siate group. This locking position of the series of 4stops il' is indicated by full lines in Fig. 14, and in t-l i is position the right-hand stop il.' is brought against, a stop pin or projection H'T on the drum-head, and by this stop the chainn' is held so that it acts as a' stop to the other three of the independentvote-regster actuating-levers. lt will also he noted hy reference to Fig. il that onen? the levers omit-ted or rendered inoperative nbetween the so-ealled lindependenL and individual actuating-levers oi' the State group. v

The drum o1' cylinder ri is preferably provided with a pluralit-ybf projecting handpiece-s n, hy means of which the drum may be moved from one desired voting p'ositiou to another. The actuatingli-vcrs I.' of the socalled partial-independent-vote" mechanisni are not subject to thc action of the stopcliai.: in.

Summary and 0/ie.-./d.mi..-'l`lie specific actionsot thc various deviceshave already been given, and the general operation of the nia' chine as an entirety will now be summed up bric-ily.

'ihe voter having been given access to tite machine, which may he located in a booth or any other suitable place, by taking hold of the liandpiece o of the drinn or cylinder u may move the said drinn step by step from its normal position (indicated in Fig. 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow marked on said ligure, so as to bring the variouscandidates indicated on the ballot-st rip into line with the pointer or finger 5i, and by the depressions of the key (Z may register the votes for that candidate, or his answer to various proposed questions or other things submitted to votc. Each and every actuating-lacy la which is'tlins depressed will, as has already been stated, bc temporarily locked down hy the engagement of their pawls or dogs 7.-. wi th the annular retaining or loci; flange am; Also it will hereineinbcrcd that the registration of the propernumber of votes is properly limited hy the soealied lock-chain or flexible limiting-band in., which cooperates with the ei ds of the actuating-levers1:; when all of the votes to which the voter is I' '..itled ,have b ,en registered by the machine and the d ruin u has been turned toits extreme position away from normal, the spring lock-logj will, as ha. already been stated, enter the deep notch rfi' inA the drinn rl., and thereby lock the drum against movement in either direction, so that the inachine caunot he further manipulated b1, the voter. After the voter has left the machine the judge or attendant h v means of the lever `f" and connections therefrom to tite sireallcd trip head or disli4 p draws the sai-.l disk or head inte its dotted-liz'.i position, its' indicated iiiFigs.1iZaiid 13, and by thisactimi siinultancously releases :ill o f the lock pawls or dogs la; from the annular lock-flauge fil", and thereby permits the springs 1:" to restore all of the actuatiiig-levers to their normal. p0- sitions. This saine 'movement o the head oi' disk p and other connections, heretofore noted, it will be remembered, simultaneously with the releasing of the pawls/:fA withdraws the lorltlrlogf from the notch i7 and periaits t-liespring if toiotate the ilrnin or cylinder u backward to its normal position. Again, it will also be remembered that the above outward movement of the trip hea'd or disk ,1. acting on 'the bell-crank 1", as .shown in Fig. l2, serves to 4permit one of the movements of that particular aetnat'ingdever 1.1 which operates the so -called totahvotc register." lt will he here also undeistood that il in the operation of the iiiadiini` by the voter :in v one of the :ictiiatiiig-lc\ 'eis I.' appropriated .ithcso-called partiahstraight.- vote" mechanism, such as the mechanism for registering a straight State vote, for instance, has been depressed and locked dmvn by its dog 7.13, it willbe released hy the above movement of the trip head4 or disk 1f, which releases the other members of the depressed latch-dogs lr". When one of tht-st:- latter-noted levers (best ndieated'in Fig. 11;) has been released, the spring uf: will move the stops ir back into normal or operative positions, as partially indicated h v dotted iiues in Fig. larly called to the fact-that ifa total straight, vote has been registered, in which case the lock dog or tumbler i will 'ne held in the slot if ot' the arm or support b'by theengagemcnt of'thc dog k ot' the depressed cooperating lever .',the said lock-dog k3 will,by the movement of the trip head or disk p, as above de said lcverk and the said lock tumbler or dog t to be restored to normal positions by their respective springs.

In Figs. 15 and 14E modied forms of tlc srrcallcd loop-retainers for thc exible stop band oi' chain are illustrated. In Fig. 15 the numeral l indicates an eccentric pivoted at and pro'tjided with several perfora-` tions 3, in any one of which a. stop-pin 4 is adapted to be inserted. The 'inserted stop pin will normally be held against a. fixed stop 5 by means of a spring. 'When the slack of thc chain is taken up, the spring G will yield to permit the eccentric to assunte the position indicated bydottcd lines in Fig. 15, under which movement the said spring will wrap around the hub of .the eccentric. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1U the loop is maintained by a roller 7 on the free scribed, he released, and thereby permit the' too i 14. Attention 1s also here more particu-'tog t end of the arm S, which arm is pivoted at. 9' and is adapted to swing into the position indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 1G. With this arrangement also the chain normally has slack.

The purpose of the slats ot' the peripheral drum-sections a5 may be briefly stated as follows: In setting the machine for different elections the number ot' candidates in a particular subgroup or the number of offices in a particular group or on a particular ticket will vary. Hence under the different adjustments the so-called independent-vote registering mechanisms must be located at various different points not possible to determine in the construction of the machine and varying from time to time and for different elections or for different localities. The sections a5 are capable of all sorts of adjustments and rearrangelnents, so that the particular slats a5, having the slots 5a, may be located in the proper relation to the recording-strip s and platen 35 of the independentvote register.

In practice a band or covering (not shown) Would advisably be employed to cover the sight openings@8 to the various registers while the machine is in use at an election, so as to prevent the voters from keeping track of the number of votes recorded for any particular candidate. Also in practice a shield would advisably be employed to cover the socalled trip-lever f2.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. In a voting-machine, the combination with a single local key and a rotary support, of a circular series of registers and registeractuators carried by said rotary support, which registers and actuators are grouped to correspond to a plurality of political tickets, such as the State ticket, county ticket, the., each group including the registers and actuators appropriated to the candidates of the several political parties represented, and are subgrouped to correspond to the several different party candidates for the same ottices, substantially as described.

2. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of registers and register-actuators arranged in a single circular series and grouped to correspond to a plurality of political tickets, such as the State ticket, the county ticket, dac., each group including registers and actuators appropriated to the several political parties represented, and subgrouped to correspond to the several different party candidates for the same offices, a single key operative in succession on the said series of actuators, in the selected order, and a flexible limiting-band extended circumferentially of said circular series of actuators and secured between the subgroups for cooperation with said actuators to limit the number of actuators possible to be operated in the various subgroups, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a rotary drum or cylindrical support, of a plurality of registers, a corresponding plurality of register-actuators projecting through one head or end of the said drum or support, a relatively-fixed shield disk or head inclosing all of the said projecting portions ot the register-actuators, and a local key at the voting-point projecting Within said shield or head for operation in succession on said register-actuators, as they are brought to the voting-point, substantially as described.

4. The combination With a rotary drum or cylindrical support having an annular lock flange or shoulder, of a plurality of registers mounted in an annular series Within said drum, a plurality of register-actuators with latches for locking them when operated, to

said lock-ange, a protecting head or disk inclosing the key-engaging portions of said actuator, and a local key Working through said protecting head or disk for operation upon said actuators, one at a time, as they are brought to the voting-point, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the rotary drum or cylindrical support a having the annular lockflan ge am, of the plurality of registers, mounted in an annular series on said drum a, the plurality of actuating-levers 7s having pawls k3 and c1 cooperating, respectively, with said lock-fiange l0 and said registers, the springs 71:5 applied to said pawls k3, the protecting head or disk inclosing the ends of said levers la, and the single local key CZ operative on the levers 75, as they are brought to the voting position, substantially as described.

.6. In a voting-machine, the combination with a rotary drum, of a series of registers mounted in a circular series thereon, a corresponding series of register-actuating levers projecting through one end or vhead of said drum or support, a disk or head inclosing the projecting portions of said actuating-levers, a pawl or dog, mounted in said head or disk and operating on said drum or support to permit the step-by-step movement thereof, and a local key Working through said head or disk for action on the said register-actuators in succession as they are brought to the votingpoint, substantially as described.

7. In a voting-machine, the combination with a rotary drum or support and a local key, of a series of registers and register-actuators, carried by said drum,in circular arrangement, latches for holding said actuators locked after operation, a pawl or dog operating on said drinn to prevent return movements thereof, a yielding device putting said drum under strain to return to normal position, and trip mechanism for releasing said actuator-latches and said ratchet pawl or dog, substantially as described.

S. In a voting-machine, the combination with a rotary drum or support, of a series of registers ,and register-actuators, said actuators having a series of latches, of a relatively- -fixed head or disk cutting ott access to said register-actuators, a single local key workin g through said head for action in succession IOO upon said register-actuators, a device with which said actuator-latches are engageable to hold said actuators in their operated positions, and means for simultaneously, or by a single action, releasing all of said actuators, substantially as described.

9. In a voting-machine, the combination with a local key and a rotary drum or support, of a series of registers and register-actuators mounted on said drum in a circular series, an annular lock iiange or shoulder on said drum or support, latches on said register-actuators engageable With said annular lock-flange to hold said actuators in their operated positions, and a circular head or trip disk movable to A release the engaged latches from said lockflange, substantially as described.

10. In a voting-machine, the combination with several groups of registers and registeractuators, ot a single flexible limiting-band or stop-chain cooperating with said actuators of the several groups, and securing devices applicable to thechain or band at any of several diierent points, whereby the chain may lirst be properly adjusted and then secured at the various points between the groups, substantially as described.

11. In a voting-machine, the combination with a drum or cylindrical support and a single operating-key, of a series of registers and register-actuators in circular arrangement on said drum, a iiexible limiting-band or stopchain cooperating with the entire series of actuators, and clamps or fastenings for securing the ends and intermediate portions of the said band or chain, substantially as described.

12. In a voting-machine, the combination with a local key and a rotary drum or support, of a circularly-arran ged series of registers and register-actuatinglevers on said drum,latches for locking down the actuator, when operated, a trip for releasing said latches, a flexible limiting-band or stop-chain running over suitable guides on said drum, and cooperating with said actuating-levers, and means for securing said stop band or chain at its ends and intermediate portions, substantially as described.

13. In a voting-machine, the combination with a series of registers and register-actuators, of a flexible limiting-band or stop-chain working over suitable guides and secured at intervals as a means for limiting the number of actuators possible to operate in a particular group or subgroup, and a yielding loopretainer subject to a stop that normally holds the said retainer in position to maintain the loop of said chain but which prevents said retainer from normally putting said chain under tension, whereby said chain is' normally loose but is put under tension by the said loop-retainers as it is drawn taut, substantially as described.

14. In a voting-machine, the combination with a rotary drum or support, of a series of tion, which lock is actuated by or with the actuator for the straight-voterecorder, substantially as described.

15. In a voting-machine, the combination with a rotary drum or support, of a series of registers and register actuators mounted thereon and appropriated individually to the candidates, of a protecting head or disk inclosing said actuators, a local key working through said head or disk for action in succession upon said actuators, and a straightvote recording device comprisin a register, a register-actuator and alock, which lock is engageable with said head when actuated by the said straight-vote-register actuator, to lock the entire drum or carrier against rotation, substantially as described.

16. In a voting-machine, the combination with mechanism for recording individually votes for candidates represented on the ballot, of a straight-vote recording mechanism, comprising a register, the register-actuating lever c, having the spring-held latch 7.53, and the lock dog or tumbler t, subject to the actuating-lever 7a and adapted to be thereby forced into engagement with a cooperating detent, to lock the machine, substantially as described.

17. In a voting-machine, the combination with a group of registers and actuators and means for limiting the number of actuators possible to be operated, of an independent- Vote registering 4.mechanism comprising two or more of the actuators of said group, and a single or common independent-vote limiting device operated by the said two or more actuators appropriated to the independentvote registering mechanism, substantially as described.

18. In a voting-machine, the combination with a group ot' registers and actuators and means for limiting the number of actuators possible to be operated, of an independentvote registering mechanism, comprising two or more of the actuators of said group, a recording-strip, a cut-oit movable to a'tt'ord access to said recording-strip, a latch for holdingsaid cut-oitn in its opened position, a trip for said latch, a pawl-and-ratchet feed device for said recording-strip, which device is subject to the action of the two independent actuators, and is adapted to be given its second movement While said cut-ott is held open, substantially as described.

19. In a voting-machine, the combination with a drum or cylinder having detachable or adjustable peripheral sections, of a series of registers and register-actuators spaced to correspond to the detachable peripheral scctions of the drum, and detachable and ad- IOS ITO

of said releasing device, substantially as described.

2l. In a voting-machine, the combination with a rotary drum or carrier and a single local key, of a plurality of registers and register-actuators mounted in circular arrangement on said rotary support, latches for securing said actuators in their operated positions, a common trip device for releasing all of said latches, and a total-vote recording device comprising a register, a spring-held lever and a part subject to the action of the releasing device, having connections tothe said total-vote recorder, and operating substantially as described.

22. In a voting-machine, the combination with a drum or cylindrical support, of a series of registers and register-actuating levers in circular arrangement on said drum, a series of latches cooperating with an annular fiange to hold said levers in operated positions, a reciprocating trip or releasing head for said latches, and a total-vote recorder having a part subject to the action of said trip or releasing head, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

SYVER LOE.

Witnesses:

J'As. F. WILLIAMSON, MABEL M. McGRoRY.