US713090A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7|3,090. V Pafentod Nov; n, I902.

A; 'J. GILLESPIE.

VOTING MACHINE,

A umi n M Feb. 24. 1900.,

(No Model.) 2 Sheds-Shoot l.

No. 713,090. Patented Nov. ll, I902.

A. J. GILLESPIE.

VOTING IAGHINE.

(Applicstion am Feb. 24, 1900.) (No Iodel.) 2 Sheets-Shoot 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ALFRED J. GILLESPIE, OF ROCHESTER, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD, VOTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW

YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEl/V YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,090, dated November 11, 1902.

Application filed February 24, 1900. Serial No. 6,387, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. GILLESPIE,0f Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the referencenumerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to voting-machines, particularly of that class contained in Letters Patent No. 628,905, dated July 11, 1899, in which the ballot-indicators or parts movable by the voter are adapted to be moved into cooperative relation with the registers or counters either singly or a number simultaneously to indicate a straight-ticket vote, and all of the registers whose indicators have been moved to voted position are subsequently operated, and has for its objects to provide additional means whereby after a voter has indicated a straight-ticket vote or one for all the party candidates he cannot indicate another straight-ticket vote, although he may indicate votes for individual candidates or split his ticket in any manner desired and permitted by the machine. In the machine shown in my prior patent referred to if the voter has indicated a straight-ticket ballot and has returned to normal position several, but not all, of the ballot-indicators he might attempt to indicate another straight-ticket ballot,and the whole strain tending to prevent this would come upon the interlocking mechanism between the separate indicators; and it is the object of my present invention to prevent this and to accomplish the looking or holding of the straight-ticket device nearer the point engaged by the voter, so as to prevent the possibility of injury to the interlocking mechanism between the separate indicators; and to this and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements in construction and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and the novel features pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the front plate or support of a votingmachine similar to the one shown in my prior patent, showing my present improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2, a rear view of the front plate or support and the operating parts thereon before the operation of any ballot-indicators; Figs. 3 and l, vertical sectional views showing the parts in two positions, taken on the line :2: w of Fig. 2.

Similar reference-numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

The general construction of the machine to which my inventions are to be applied is not essentially different from that shown in my prior patents, Nos. 728,792 and ($29,905,

before referred to.

Thefront plate of the machine (indicated by 2) is provided, as usual, upon its front side with tickets or placards containing the can did-ates names and arranged in vertical partylines, while the tickets for candidates for the same ofiice are arranged in the same horizontal lines, the ballot-indicators (one for each candidate) consisting of pointers 3 on studs 5, journaled in the front plate 2 and having upon their rear side plates 6, each provided with a finger '7 and shoulder or abutment 8, arranged to cooperate with register-actuators 80 of registers 81, mounted in a register-frame 82, movable relatively toward and from the ballot-support 2, all as indicated herein or in my prior patents, or these parts may be of any suitable description. Connected to each of the indicators is an interlocking strap or rod 13, provided at the outer end with the wedge or thickened portion 14, extending between channel-plates 17, the rods of the indicators for candidates for the same oflice be ing divided into groups by abutments 15, secured removably between the channel-plates by pins 16. The groups thus formed contain the interlocking rods of indicators devoted to different party candidates for the same office,

and only one indicator in the groups is per- 5 there are candidates to be voted for in each party. The indicators are capable of being moved into and out of cooperative relation with their registers, as shown in my prior patallel movement of the bar.

ent and in pending applications, without operating the registers. Each of the indicators is also provided with a shoulder or projection 9, with which is adapted to cooperate a movable bar 10, pivotally connected to an arm or link 11 at the upper end and to a corresponding link 11 at the lower end to produce a par- The upper arm 11 has connected to it an operating arm or handle 12 at the front ofthe machine, so that when said handle is moved down the bar 10 will be moved to the left, actuating the'indicators in the same vertical or party column to voted position. The handle 12 and bar 10, of course, move together and constitute what I term a straight-ticket member, meaning thereby a device which actuates, moves, or sets a plurality of indicators to voted position. The interlocking rods are provided with apertures 19, throughwhich passes the vertically-extendin g resetting-bar 20, and they are also provided with apertures 21, through which extends the bar 22, having at its upper end the shoulder or abutment 23 and the incline'24 and at .the lower end the slot 25. This bar 22 is adapted to be locked from movement and serves to secure and prevent the operation of any of the indicators until the devices for indicating a straight-ticket ballot have been operated, and said locking devices for the bar may consist of any suitable appliances, such as shown in my beforementioned patent or as shown in the accompanying drawings, the latter construction embodying a vertically-extending lockingrod 26, arranged behind the bar 22, having the lower end 27 bent outwardly and adapted to engage with a stationary abutment 28, arranged on the front plate 2. The upper end of said rod is connected to an arm 29 on a rock-shaft 30, journaled in brackets 31 in the casing. Also connected to the rock-shaft 30 and extending parallel therewith is a releasebar 32, passing over the upper ends'of the straight-ticket bars 10. The shaft 30 and connected parts are held normally in the position in Fig. 2 by a suitable spring 99 or by the weight of the locking-rod 26 or other means. The construction described is such that in normal position (shown in Fig. 2) the arm 29 and the projection 27 (the latter cooperating with the right-hand side of the ab utment 28) being in lowermost position prevent the operation of any of the indicators of the machine until one of the straight-ticket handles 12 is operated, in which event the release-rod 32 will be raised, rotating the shaft 30 and lifting the locking-rod 26, so that the interlocking rods of the indicators are released, and the further movement of the handle 12 of the member will carry all of the indicators in the party series to voted position.

The general construction and operation of the parts just described are substantially the same as those contained in my Patent No. 628,905, and the difierences in the details form the subject-matter of other applications now pending, and therefore I do not claim the same herein nor desire to be understood as abandoning or relinquishing my right to claim said details or any of the parts of the machine not claimed herein, as the illustra tion of such parts is merely to show the operation of my present invention. 32 also operates a catch release-rod 100, which cooperates with and controls the operation of a barrier or arm or other means adapted to be actuated by the voter; but this specific connection is not essential to the present invention, and such an arrangement is fully disclosed in Patent No. 628,905.

The locking device for the straight-ticket mechanism and which constitutes an interlocking mechanism between the straightticket membersembodies a movable part,preferably in the form of a plate 40, pivoted loosely at its upper end above the straightticket bars 10as, for instance, by studs 41- and is further provided with one or more shoulders or projections 42, preferably formed by turning in fingers cut from the plate, as shown, and resting against the front plate 2 of the machine when the release-bar 32 is raised or when the parts are in normal position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, abutting against the release-bar 32, which controls the indicator-locking mechanism. The upperedge of the shoulder or arm 42 is inclined somewhat, so that when the bar 32 is moved downward by gravity, springs, or otherwise the lockingplate 40 will be turned outward to the posi-,

tion shown in Fig. 3. Each of the straightticket bars 10 is provided with the stud or projection 44, adapted to contact with the lower edge of the locking plate or wing 40 when thelatter is in its locking position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thereby preventing the upward movement of any straight-ticket bar. With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the release-bar 32 resting upon the top of the straight-ticket bars and the bar 22 locked, preventing the separate operation of single-ballot indicators,the voter by operating astraight-ticket handle 12 moves the bar 10 to the left, raising the bar 32, unlocking the bar 22, and drawing the interlocking rods of the indicators in that particular party-line to the left, as will be understood. The upward movement of the release-bar 32 swings or rather allows the locking-plat'e 40 to swing forward toward the front plate 2, bringing the lower edge of said plate 40 above the projections 44 of all of the straight-ticket bars, excepting the one which has been operated by the voter, (this of course being behind the wing or plate,) and when he releases the straight-ticket handle the latter will return to normal position by the weight of the bar 10 or otherwise, if desired, and the plate 40 will move back to the posi- The bar 4 IIO tion shown in Fig. 4, thereby eifectually preventing the subsequent operation of any other straight-ticket member, as any attempt to operate one would be resisted by the plate 40. The bar 32 is maintained above the shoulder of the projection 42 by the engagement of the arm 29 with the upper end of the bar 22 or the lower end 27 of the locking-rod 26 with the abutment 28, or both, and therefore maintains the position shown in Fig. 4; but when the indicators are returned to normal position (after the actuation of the counters in any suitable way) by the movement of the resetting-bar to the right the bar 32 moves downward and engaging the incline on the arm 42 of the plate swings the latter outward to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby releasing the straight-ticket levers and permitting the subsequent operation of the machine in the manner described.

In order to hold the bar 22 locked positively at all times when the resetting-bar is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and thereby alford additional security, I pivot at the upper and lower ends of the said bar 22 catch-links, consisting of plates 50, provided with apertures through which the bar passes and locked to move with the latter by small lockingpieces 51, which, however, do not prevent a pivotal movement of the latches on the bar. These catches are provided with inclined shoulders or lugs 52 on their under sides, adapted to engage with studs or projections 53 on the main frame to prevent movement to the left, Fig. 2, but permitted to slide over the studs 53 when moved to the right and become automatically engaged therewith. The left ends of the catches are slotted for the passage of the resetting-bar 20, said slots being long enough to permit a movement of the bar 20 t0 the left to the position in dotted lines, Fig. 2, without operating the bar 22; but when the bar 20 is moved to the right to the position shown in full lines to return the indicator interlocking rods 13 to normal position the bar 22 will be moved by it. The resetting-bar 20 is provided with the inclined shoulders or surfaces 54, operating to raise the link-catches to the position in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and thereby release the latter from the studs 53, so that the bar 22 may be moved by the ballot-indicators in the manner described. The bar 201's shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, in the position occupied by the parts when ready for voting and in full lines in the position when resetting and when the barrier or cover is away from the front of the machine, as shown in my prior patent, permitting inspection of the indicators, but preventing their operation.

It is sometimes desirable to provide an alarm mechanism to indicate to persons beside the voter when a straight-ticket indicator has been operated and the indicators released and, further, to provide two alarms, one operated when he first starts the operation of said indicator and the other when he has completed the operation in order to prevent the possibility of his operating said indicator far enough to release the individualcandidate indicators without notifying the otficers. Although under normal circumstances this is impossible with the present construction, still if there are voting means on the machine for persons having a limited franchise only this alarm mechanism would be a valuable feature, as it would prevent their indicating unauthorized votes without notice, so that their registration might be prevented. This present alarm consists of two spring-arms 55 56, adapted to normally lie against one end of the machine-casing and to be drawn away from and allowed to snap against said end successively, or, if desired, a bell could be employed, which would be struck by the arms. These spring-arms are preferably formed of a single piece of spring-wire secured by bands 57 to the casing, and their movable ends are arranged one over the other, a link 58 being pivoted to the arm 55 and a link 59 to the arm 56. Both of the links 58 and 59 are provided with apertures for the passage of the resetting-bar 20, which latter is cut away at the front side to form a recessed or reduced portion 60. The lower link 59 is the longer and is provided with a doubled end 61, resting normally upon the movable release-arm 29, and the shorter link 58 has the curved end bearing upon the link 59 just forward of the slot.

When the machine is ready for operation by the voter, the operating parts are, as stated, in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, both of the links 58 and 59 being in engagement with the resetting-bar 20 below the recess 60 and the spring-arms 55 and 56 held under tension thereby, so that when a straightticket member is operated the arm 29 raises the links, first causing the disengagement of link 58 from the shoulder on the resetting-bar and allowing it to be snapped back against the casing and then as the upward movement of the arm 29 is continued to cause the release of the link 59 in a similar manner and sound the second alarm, so that the ofiicers and the voter as well may know when the indicating operation has been completed, the position of the links after operation being shown in dot-and-dash lines. W'hen the resetting-bar 20 is moved outward to reset the indicators, the links 58 and 59 not being held up by the arm 29 drop down and engage the bar below the cut-away portion 60.

By the employment of the means for locking and preventing the operation of the straight ticket members after one has been operated and by means separate from the interlocking mechanism between separate indicators there is less liability of injury to the machine by an attempt on the part of an unruly or ignorant voter to operate a straight-ticket member after one has been operated to release the indicators.

I prefer that the movement of the straight- ICC ticket member shall control the operation of the movable arm or barrier, which causes the registration of the votes and permits the voter in all of the operative parts of a voting-machine.

I do not claim in this application, broadly, a single or double alarm mechanism adapted to be operated when one or more ballot-indicators are moved to voted position, nor an alarm mechanism arranged for operation by the indicator-resetting devices, as this subject-matter is claimed in a pending application, while in the present arrangement the alarm is set for operation by the resetting devices and is released and allowed to operate when the indicators are unlocked.

I claim as my invention-.

1. In a voting-machine, the combination of a plurality of ballot-indicators movable into and out of voted position without finally registering a vote, interlocking devices for preventing the operation of more than a predetermined number, a plurality of straightticket members and locking devices for preventing the subsequent operation of any of the straight-ticket members after one has been operated.

2. In a voting-machine, the combination of a plurality of ballot-indicators, interlocking devices for preventing the operation of more than a predetermined number, a plurality of straight-ticket members, locking devices for preventing the operation of the ballot-indicators adapted to be released by the movement of a straight-ticket member, and a looking device separate from the interlocking devices between the indicators for preventing the movement of more than one straightticket member.

3. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of series of ballot-indicators, interlocking devices between indicators in the same series for preventing the operation of more than a predetermined number,

- straight-ticket members for simultaneously each adapted to move a number of indicators to voted position, and retaining devices adapted to prevent the operation of the other members when one has been operated, but not interfering with the independent movements of the indicators.

5. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators movable into and out of voted position without registering a vote, of a series of movable members each adapted to move a number of indicators to voted position, a retaining devicefor looking the other members when one has been operated and without regard to the position of the indicators, and locking devices for retaining the indicators and adapted to be released operation of more than one member, and a locking device for holding the indicators adapted to be released by the operation of one of the movable members.

7.. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a locking device for retaining the indicators, and a movable releasing-bar connected thereto, of a plurality of movable members, each adapted to move several of the indicators and actuating the releasing-bar, a locking plate or wing cooperating with the members to lock them from operation and controlled by the movement of the releasing-bar.

8. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of series of ballot-indicators, interlocking devices for preventing the operation of more than a predetermined number in each series, a locking device for preventing the operation of the indicators, a movable releasing-bar connected thereto, of a plurality of movable straight-ticket members each adapted to move several of the indicators and actuating the releasing-bar, a locking plate or wing cooperating with the members to lock them and controlled by the movement of the releasing-bar.

9. In a Voting-machine, the combination with the ballot-indicators, locking devices therefor, the straight-ticket members, and the locking plate or wing adapted to engage them, of the indicator release-bar actuated bythe straight-ticket members and controlling the locking-plate.

10. In a voting-machine, the combination with the ballot-indicators, locking devices therefor, the movable straight-ticket members, and the releasing-bar controlling the indicator-locking devices, and adapted to be operated by the straight-ticket members, of the locking plate or wing engaging the members to lock them having the projection engaged by the releasing-bar.

11. In a voting-machine, the combination with the ballot-indicators, locking devices therefor, the movable straight-ticket members, and the releasing-bar controlling the indicator-locking devices and adapted to be operated by the straight-ticket members, of the locking plate or wing extending in the path of movement of the straight-ticket members and adapted to engage them when one is moved, said plate being held normally out of engagement with the members by the release-bar.

12. In a voting-machine, the combination with ballot-indicators, a locking device therefor, the movable straight-ticket members, and a releasing-bar controlling the locking device and operated by the members, of the lockingplate extending in the path of movement of the members and adapted to engage them antomatically when one is operated, said plate being held out of engagement with members by the release-bar.

13. In a voting-machine, the combination with movable straight-ticket members, and the locking-plate movable into their path of movement, and having the projection thereon,of the bar actuated by the movement of any of the members engaging the projection on the lockingplate and controlling the movement of the latter.

14. In a voting-machine, the combination with the movable straight-ticket members, and the locking-plate movable automatically into engagement with the members, and having the projection, of the bar engaging the projection on the plate, and holding the latter out of engagement with the members, said bar being operated to release the plate by the movement of any of the members.

15. In a voting-machine, the combination with the straightticket members, and the pivoted gravitating plate adapted to engage them and having the projection, of the movable bar extending over the members and adapted to engage the projection on the locking-plate, and means for returning the bar to disengage the plate from the members.

16. In a voting-machine, the combination with a support, the straight-ticket members, the plate 40 pivoted on the support above the members and having the arm 42, of the movable bar 32 behind the plate adapted to engage the arm 42 and the members.

17. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar or member operated by said indicators, and a catch for holding said bar, of means for resetting the indicators and operating the catch to release it.

18. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar or member operated by said indicators when moved to voted position, and a catch for bolding said bar, of a movable indicatorresetting bar operating when moved in one direction to reset the indicators and when moved in the other direction to disengage the catch.

19. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar or member operated by said indicators when moved to voted position, and an automatic catch for holding said bar, a movable indicator-resetting bar operating when moved to reset the indicators and when moved in the other direction to disengage the catch.

20. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar or member operated by said indicators when moved to voted position, and catches at each end of the bar for holding it, of a resettingbar operating to reset the indicators when moved in one direction and to release the catches when moved in the other direction.

21. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar or member operated by said indicators when moved in one direction, means for operating a plurality of indicators, locking devices for holding the bar adapted to be released by the operation of a plurality of indicators and additional locking devices for preventing the operation of the bar, of indicator-resetting devices operating when moved in one direction to reset the indicators and cooperating with the last-mentioned locking devices to release them when moved in the opposite direction.

22. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar or member operated by said indicators when moved to voted position, and a catch for holding said bar, of a movable indicator-resetting device cooperating with the indicators to reset them and movable out of engagement therewith, said resetting device releasing the holding-catch when moved out of engagement with the indicators.

23. In a Voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar operated thereby, the catches carried on the bar and projections engaged thereby, of theindicater-resetting bar engaging the indicators to reset them and operating the first-mentioned bar when moved in one direction and cooperating with the catches to release them when moved in the other direction.

24. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar operated thereby, the catch-links on the bar and projections engaged thereby, of the indicatorresetting bar engaging the links and indicators to reset them when moved in one direction and movable freely of the bar in the other direction, but operating to disengage the catches from the projections.

25. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, the bar operated by the indicators, locking devices for the bar, means for operating a plurality of indicators cooperating with the said locking devices to release the bar, of the slotted link, catches connected to the first bar, the projections with which the catches cooperate, the indicator-resetting bar cooperating with indicators and with the links to operate the first-mentioned bar when moved in one direction, and movable freely of the links, but operating to release them from the projections when moved in the other direction.

26. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, the bar operated by the indicators, and the linkcatches carriedthereby, and the stationary projections with which the catches engage, of the indicator-resetting bar having the inclines thereon cooperating with the catches when moved in one direction.

27. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, a bar operated by the indicators, a locking device therefor, and means for releasing said locking device, of an indicator-resetting bar, two alarm devices set by the operation of the bar in one direction and released successively by the release of the locking device for the firstmentioned bar.

*28. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of ballot-indicators, and a straight-ticket-operatin g device for moving a plurality of said indicators to voted position, of an indicator-resetting device, two alarm mechanisms cooperating directly with the resetting device and set for operation by the movement of the latter, and connections between said alarms and the straight-ticket-opcrating device for releasing them successively by the operation of the latter.

29. In a voting-machine, the combination with movable ballot-indicators and a straightticket-operating device, of an indicator-resetting device, an automatic alarm mechanism adapted to be set by the operation of the resetting device, and released by the movement of the straight-ticket-operating device.

30. In a voting-machine, the combination with movable ballot-ind icators, the indicatorresetting bar, the link moved in one direction by the bar, the spring for operating it in the other direction, and means for releasing the link from the bar.

31. In a voting-machine, the combination with the movable ballot-indicators, the indicator-resetting bar, the two links moved in one direction by the bar, springs for operating them in the opposite direction, and means for releasing said links successively.

32. In a voting-machine, the combination with the bar having the shoulder, alarm devices embodying the two links operable automatically in one direction to sound the alarms, and adapted to engage the bar, and means {or releasing said links successively from the war.

33. In a voting-machine, the combination with the resetting-bar, and two automaticallyoperating alarm mechanisms set for operation by the movement of the bar in one direction, and means for eleasing said alarms successively by the operation of a single part.

34. In a voting-machine, the combination with the resetting-bar having the shoulder, the links 58 and 59 of difierent lengths, the springs for operating them, and means for operating the links to release them in succes sion from the bar.

35. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of series of ballot-indicators, interlocking devices for preventing the operation of more than a predetermined number, straight-ticket-indicating devices capable of beingactuated and returned, and means other than the above-mentioned interlocking devices for preventing the subsequent operation of any straight-ticket device after one has been actuated and returned.

- .36. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of grouped ballot-indicators, interlocking devices between indicators in the groups, straight-ticket-operating devices for actuating a plurality of indicators, locking devices for the indicators released by the operation of the straight-ticket devices, interlocking means between the straight-ticket devices for preventing the operation of more than a single one of them.

37. In a voting-machine, the combination with a plurality of grouped ballot-indicators movable into and out of voted position, interlocking devices between indicators in the groups, a series of members for operating a plurality of indicators, locking devices for the indicators released by the operation of the last-mentioned members, and interlocking mechanism between the members separate from the interlocking devices for the indicators for preventing the single operation of more than a single member.

38. In a voting-machine, the combination with movable ballot-indicators, a straightticket-operating device, a movable lock for said device, means for releasing said lock and an alarm mechanism adapted to be sounded when said lock is released and before the indicators are operated.

39. The combination in a voting-machine of a plurality of indicators, a locking-bar therefor, a plurality of means for holding said bar locked, means for successively releasing said locking means to unlock said indicators.

40. The combination in a voting-machine, of a plurality of indicators, registers therefor, means to operate the registers, means to reset the indicators when moved in one direction, means to hold said indicators locked until said means for operating the registers has reached a predetermined point in its movement in the reverse direction.

41. The combination in a voting-machine, of indicators, operating mechanism for the machine causing the resetting of said indicators when moved in one direction, means for holding said indicators locked until said operating mechanism for the machine has reached a predetermined point in its movement in the reverse direction.

42. The combination in a voting-machine, of indicators, means operating when moved in one direction to reset said indicators, means for holding said indicators locked until said resetting means has reached a predetermined point in its movement in the reverse IO direction.

43. The combination in a voting-machine,

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