US749446A - Wltne - Google Patents

Description

BEST AVALABLE COPE PATBNTED JAN. l2, 1904.

J. MOTAMMANY.

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BEST AvAlLAeLE 00m PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904.

J. MGTAMMANY. VOTE COUNTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.18. 1897.

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BEST AVHAELE COW No. 749,446. PATENTED JAN. l2, 1904. J. MOTAMMANY. VOTE COUNTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD Nov.1 8, 1897.

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BEST AVALABLE COP` Nol 749,446.

PATENTED JAN. l2, 1904.

J. MCTAMMANY.

VOTE COUNTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 1a, 1897.

N0 MODEL.

BEST AVNLABLE @GPX No.`74`9,446. PATENTE!) JAN. l2, 1904.

J. MG'I'AMMANY.

'VOTE GOUNTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, 1897. H0 MODEL.

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EEST AVAILABLE com i UNITED STATES Patented January 12, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

.'IOIIN MCTAMMANY, OE SPENCER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To MCTAMMANY EALLOT COMPANY, OE PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OE MAINE.

VOTE-COUNTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,446, dated January 12, 1904.

` Application filed November 18, 1897. Serial No. 658,894. (No model.)

To aLl whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MOTAMMANY, a citizen of the'United States, and a resident of Spencer, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vote-Counting Machines, of which the following is a'speciication.

' This invention has relation to counting-ma- 1o chines as is exemplified by those employed for counting the number of perforations in a tally-sheet, the perforations in said sheet having been previously formed by suitable voting mechanism under the control of a voter.

I 5 The object of the present invention is to provide certain improvements in countingmachines of the character mentioned whereby the simultaneous operation of certain counters are prevented, so that if the machine be used 2o for counting votes and the record-sheet should contain two votes by the same voter for two or more candidates for the same office both votes would be nullified and his vote would not be counted.

2 5 The invention therefore consists in a counting-machine provided with means for disregarding and preventing the simultaneous actuation of certain counters, whereby two votes by a single voter for different candidates for the same of'tice will not be counted. It further consists in the improvements which 1 have illustrated upon the drawings and shall now proceed to describe, and point out more particularly in the appended claims.

3 5 Of the drawings, Figure l represents in plan view a machine embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the same on the line 40 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 represents in section a portion of the machine. Fig. 5 represents a partial section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 represents a tally-sheet. Fig. 7 illustrates in perspective the air-ducts and the valve mechanism. Fig. 8 represents in perspective a portion of one of the channel-boards, the lchannel therein, and a lportion of the operative mechanisms.

Fig. 9 represents a portion of Fig. 3 on a larger scale. Figs. l0 and 1l show one form of counter or tabulator which may be used.

Referring to the drawings, c represents a frame having bearings on which are j ournaled two rolls b b', said rolls being parallel with each other and arranged so that a tally-sheet c wound upon one roll can be unwound therefrom and wound upon the other roll, a portion of the sheet being stretched between the two rolls for cooperation with the mechanism hereinafter described. 6o

Means are provided for rotating one ofthe rolls Z) to unwind the sheet from it and wind it upon the other; the means shown consisting of a gear-wheel b2 upon the shaft of the roll L', which gear-wheel is driven by a pinion b3 65 on a shaft b4, mounted in suitable bearings upon the frame c. The shaft is driven by a belt-wheel b5, from which a crossed belt be eX- tends to a belt-wheel L7 on the crank-shaft d, to be hereinafter referred to. Clutch mechanism bx -is placed upon the shaft 114 to detach the belt-wheel from the shaft and permit the withdrawal of the tally-sheet from the roll o', the shaft b for the roll being extended and provided at its end with means for receiving a crank by which the said roll b may be rotated to unwind the tally-sheet from the winding-roll b.

rlhe tally-sheet c contains a record of certain items, as the votes of a number of voters, 8O the said record being made by perforating the sheet when the latter is in a voting or other machine having, for instance, a series of parallel rows of punches arranged to be moved by the voter. Each row of the punches is ar- 8 5 ranged to make a row of perforations across the tally-sheet and represents all the candidates of one political party. For example, the first row may represent the candidates of the Socialistic party, the next the candidates of the Populist party, and so on, there being as many rows as there are tickets or parties to be voted for, the number of tickets being five in the present case. y

The voting-machine is provided with shcetfeeding mechanism which moves the sheet lengthwise at right angles to the rows of punches after each voter has exercised his right, so that the perforations made by each voter are moved away from the punches before the next voter manipulates the punches. The punches of each row are arranged out of alinement With the'punches of the other rows, so that if'all the punches of the machine were pushed in by a voter the result would be the arrangement of holes shown in Fig. 6, each row -representing all the candidates of one party, while the perforations at the upper ends of the rows form a row that extends obliquely of the sheet, as indicated by the line of Fig. 6, the next lower perforations forming an oblique line y y, and so on across the sheet. All of the perforations in each oblique line represent votes for the same oiiice. For example, all the perforations on the line a: represent votes for the candidates of all of the parties for governor, the'perforations on the line y y representing votes for the candidates of all the parties or tickets for lieutenant-governor, and so on, the arrangement being such that 1f the sheet has been removed endwise after a voter has finished hisvote the next voter in repeating the same operation will make perforations along a line parallel with the lines 5v or y y, but separated therefrom, so that all the perforations that can be made in the sheet are distinct from each other, it being impossible for two perforations to be run into each other at any part of the sheet.

A voting-machinev adapted to be operated as above indicatedis represented in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, led July 11, 1896, Serial No. 598,863.

In case the voter votes properly-t'. e., for only one candidate for each oiiice-his record will not be as indicated in Fig. -that is to say, at no part of his record will there be two perforations in an oblique line. The presence of two or more perforations on one line indicates conclusively that a voter has voted for two candidates for one oflice, so that his vote, so far as that oiice is concerned, is void. The record made at the tally-sheet by a voter properly exercising his right would therefore never be as shown in Fig. 6 and would not show two perforations on any one of the lines there represented.

My invention is intended to count all of the votes or perforations that have been properly made and to throw out or nullify and not count either of the two votes that have been made by the same voter for two candidates for the same office after the tally-sheet has been removed from the voting-machine and applied to the rolls I) b. Y

c represents a suction box or chamber from which air is exhausted by a series of suctionbellows e', which are operated` by a crankshaft d, before referred to, and connectingrods e2. A regulating-bellows f is employed at the opposite end of the suction-box for,

BEST AVAILABLE coP.

maintaining a substantially constant vacuum in the suction-chamber e.

At g Q are indicated counters for tabulating the number of votes for each candidate for each oflice, each particular counter being actuated by a rod g onV a suction-bellows g?, communicating with a windway t, in turn communicating with the suction-box e. There are as many of these windways as there are oices and candidates for oilice. One of the counters is shown in position in Fig. 9 and is illustrated in Figs. l0 and ll. It may be briefly described as follows, though no claim is herein made thereto. g3 indicates a slide to which is attached the retracting-spring Q7. The Slide has a pin g4, adapted to be engaged by the linger g' on the bellows g2 and moved to cause the pawl g5 to rotate the ratchet lg6 on the arbor g8 one step. On the arbor is an index to coact with a graduated scale, neither of which is shown. The orifice leading from the bottom of the suction-duct into each of the windways is closed by a valve e', placed normally upon a centrally-pivoted lever c", and is held downward to close the said duct by a spring il. There being live candidates for each office, as governor, there are five of these valves closing live windways L. Placed upon the top of the suction-box between the rolls 7) b are mounted a series of five channel-boards j j, each containing a series of wind channels or ducts j', which correspond in number and arrangement to the perforations on the tallysheet represented in Fig. 6. The upper edges of the channel-boards are arranged to support a portion of the tally-sheet between the rolls b', the sheet being guided so that if punched, as represented in Fig. 6, and drawn over the 4channel-boards all the perforations on the sheet will coincide simultaneously with the chan-- nels j and air will be drawn simultaneously through all the channels to the'suction-box'e by the bellows e', the channels j" being connected with horizontal connecting-channels 7c, formed in the top of the suction-box e, and each of the channels /c being connected with the suction-box by four ports t'. The-hori-- Zontal channels t are parallel and each one communicatesby a vent k3 with the suction-chamber e. Thevent k3 is preferably formed by covering the opening 10 with a diaphragm 11 and perforating the same with an opening of minimum size, such as would be made with the finest needle, whereby said vent acts as a bleeder for the channel is. Any air which may leak into channel is exhausted through bleeder k3 into suction-box e, and as a result a substantial vacuum is normally maintained in said channellalas well as in the suc-5% tion-box. Rolls r r' are mounted in swinging IOO IIO

frame-bars r' Il" and operate to hold the'tally-` 1- material, adequate in cross-diameter to close the duct 7a2, anda diaphragm m2, of leather,

upon which the said disk is supported. A lever n is fulcrumed to the top of the suctionbox and is provided with a pin n', pressed against a button ma, secured to the under side of a diaphragm m2. On the end of the lever n is a valve 0, which closes the port la' /c is and the three ducts in alinement therewith. A spring n2 serves to hold the valve o normally against its seat. able guides, rests upon the end of the lever i', before described, and projects against the free ends of the lever n, so that if the said lever ny be depressed by the valve m it will raise the valve d and allow the air from the bellows g2 l to rush into the suction-box and move the iinger g to actuate the counter. The arrangement of channels and ducts in the top of the suction-box is clearly shown in Fig. 5, by which it will be seen that each channel la is provided with four ports ,Ic/,leading into the suction-box, and a fifth duct k2, arranged substantially below the channel j", and also a vent k3.

In practice there is a substantial vacuum maintained at all times in the suction-box e by the exhausting devices, the vents or bleeders 7c3 serving as exhausts for the channels 7c and the inlet-channels j", whereby the tallysheet is held closely against the top edges of the latter by the suction, the sheet being guided by the rollers 7'. During the transit of the tally-sheet when a perforation thereof comes into alinement with one of the channels j (for example, that one indicated by the atmospheric air will rush therein and from thence into the corresponding passage la, as indicated by the arrows z, Fig. 3. The vent 7c3 being too small to carry ofl:1 a substantial portion of the incoming air, the latter passes through port and exerts a pressure upon valve m and diaphragm m2, inflating the latter, and thereby causing the depression of lever n, as illustrated in Fig. 9. This action is due to the fact that there is a vacuum beneath said diaphragm and atmospheric pressure above the same. In moving to the limit of its action lever nI depresses pin p, and the latter being in engagement with the lever z" moves the latter so as to raise valve from the passage it, allowing the air from the bellows g2 to exhaust into the suction-box, as indicated by the arrows z', Fig. 9. 'Ihe entire operation just described is almost instantaneous, and as soon as the passage j is closed by the perforation of the tally-sheet leaving the same the levers n' and a" are returned to their normal positions by springs n2 and 2, respectively, while the 60 bellows g2 being open to the atmosphere will become inflated through the usual air-inlet with which it is provided. 'The area of the diaphragm m2 is large as compared to the area of each of the ports k', and hence said 65 diaphragm, being in direct line with the inlet,

A vertical pin p, mounted in suitessi AVAILABLE com is depressed and engages pin p, raising the valve z', whereby air enters the suction-box and temporarily destroys the vacuum therein. This operation is instantaneous and takes place before anypressure from the air-entering passage j" can exert itself on the top faces of the valves 0 along channel Hence it will be readily seen that the pressure of springs n2 is quite sucient to hold levers n in place against the pressure of air through ports It" and will only allow said levers to yield under the expansion of their respective diaphragms. It will also be noted that the tally-sheet in its movement will almost immediately close the inlet to channel rc, and any air that remains in channel It after the operation of the counting mechanism will be exhausted through the bleeder k3, whereby the vacuum in said channel c will be again established; but if a voter should have inadvertently or maliciously voted for two candidates for the same oiiice the tally-sheet will cause two perforations to come simultaneously opposite two of the channels f-for example, those indicated by :c and Fig. 7. As the air simultaneously rushes into both of these channels j" in the manner heretofore described, the diaphragms m2 beneath each of said channels are inflated and their respective levers n depressed. The depression of the lever n of the channel causes valve o to uncover' the port 1' of the channel 1, connected with the inlet ac', and simultaneously therewith the port it" of inlet .fr is uncovered in the same manner. The effect of uncovering both of said ports is to open the two channels to the vacuum of the suction-box, thus immediately exhausting the air from said channels L' and equalizing the pressure on both diaphragms m2, whereupon the springs n2 will return levers n to their normal positions. It will be observed that levers 1t are free to move a certain extent before engaging pins p. The slightest movement, however, of each lever uncovers the ports It" of the other adjacent channels Z5, with the result that said levers are returned to their normal positions, as just described, said return being accomplished before they can engage the pins y). Under these circumstances the valve z' is not opened, and hence the counters will not be operated.

In the description which I have given of the machine I have referred to only one group of counters and one group of channels in the boards j in order to more clearly explain the operation of the machine, and in view of the fact that the great political parties in the United States are ive in number I have described each group of channels as being numerically equal thereto, or one channel for each candidate for the same oihce, as governor, lieutenant-governor, &c. but it will be understood that there are as many groups of channels as there are parties to be voted for, and hence each group is entirely independent of the oth- IOO IOS

l D 4 l 749,446 @esaminare COA ers. The first channels in the boards constitute the first group, and the pneumatically-actuated counters which correspond thereto are automatically prevented from operating when any two of the channels are simultaneously opened. The second channels in therespective boards constitute the second group, and their counters are unaffected by the mechanism which prevents the actuation of the counters of the iirst group, there being of course an independent similar mechanismA for said second group. The other groups are similarly constituted, and consequently the counters of the several groups may be simultaneously actuated, although those of each group are prevented from so doing. Therefore when the tally sheet is drawn through the machine the votes for all the candidates for different oiices are counted, and the result can be ascertained immediately from the counters.

The machine may be run at a high speed, and the votes which were properly cast will be counted, while those that are void will be automatically rejected. I

It is evident that the machine as described may be varied greatly without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. rlhe valves and the pneumatic actuators may be replaced by others of different construction, 'and they may be augmented by secondary pneumatic actuators, as shown in my Patent No. 550,054, dated November 19, 1895. Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. A vote-counting machine having pneumatic provisions for automatically preventing the counting of two or more votes cast by the same voter for different candidates for the same oice.

2. A vote-counting machine provided with same oiflce.

' 5. A vote-counting machine having counting mechanism, a pneumatic device for operating said mechanism once for each vote, and pneumatically-operated means for preventing the operation of said pneumatic device when-two votes are simultaneously presented.

6. A countingmachine having counting mechanism, pneumatically-actuated devices for actuating said mechanism, and provisions for automatically preventing the simultaneous operation of .more than one of said devices.

7. A counting-machine, having a plurality of counting mechanism, an actuator for each mechanism, and pneumatic devices for automatically preventing the simultaneous operation of more than one of said counting mechanisms.

8. A counting-machine having mechanism for successively and continuously counting a plurality of votes or other items, and means for automatically preventing the simultaneous counting of two or more votes or items without stopping the machine.

9. A counting-machine having means for feeding a sheet having the votes or items indicated thereon, a plurality of counters for successively counting said votes or items, and means for automatically rendering any two or more of said counters inoperative to prevent the simultaneous count of certain votes or items without interrupting the feeding of the sheet.

' 10. A counting-machine having means for feeding a perforated sheet, a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters controlled by the perforations in the sheet, and mechanism for automatically preventing the simultaneous operation of two or more of said counters.

ll. A counting-machine having means for feeding a perforated sheet, a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters controlled by the perforations in the sheet, and mechanism for automatically preventing the simultaneous operation of two or more of said counters, said mechanism being independent of said sheetfeeding means.

l2. A counting-machine having a series of counters, a series of air-ducts, normally closed by a perforated sheet except when a perforation therein is in alinement with one of the said ducts, a suction-chamber, a series of airoperated devices, each adapted to actuate one of the counters when its corresponding airduct is open, and means for destroying the vacuum in the suction-chamber when two of the said ducts are simultaneously open.

13. A counting-machine having a series of air-ducts, each normally closed by a perforated sheet, except when a perforation in the latter registers therewith, a series of air-operated counters, one for each air-duct, and means for preventing the operation of said counters when4 two or more of said ducts are open.

14. A counting-machine having a suctionchamber, a series of counters, pneumaticallyoperated devices each communicating by an air-duct with said suction-chamber for actuating one of said counters, a valve for closing IOO IIO

15. A counting-machine comprising a mechanism for counting the votes, and automatic mechanism operating without stopping the machine to prevent the tabulating of two or more votes cast by the same voter for different candidates for the same ofiice.

16. A counting-machine comprising a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters, a duct leading to each of said counters, a channel-board having a channel corresponding to each duct, a Wind-chamber between the ducts and the channels, a valve interposed between l each duct and the wind-chamber, and means operable by the passage of air through one channel for opening the valve for the corresponding duct, and simultaneously connecting the other channels with the wind-chamber.

17.* A counting-machine comprising a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters, a duct leading to each of said counters, a channel-board having a channel corresponding to each duct, a Wind-chamber between the ducts and the channels a valve interposed between each duct and the wind-chamber, a pneumatic actuator in each channel, a valve between each channel and the Wind chamber, and means whereby the passage of air through one channel opens the valve for the corresponding duct,

anld also opens the valves for the other channe s.

18. A counting-machine having a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters, a plurality of channel-boards having channels corresponding to said counters, said channel-boards being graduated in height with thetallest in the center, and means for drawing a perforated sheet over the edges of the said boards.

19. A counting-machine having a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters, a plurality of channel-boards having channels corresponding to said counters, said channel-boards being graduated in height with the tallest in the center, means for drawing a perforated sheet over the edges of the said boards, and means for holding the sheet against the said boards.

BEST VlLBLE CCPE 20. A counting-machine, comprising counters pneumatic devices for actuating said counters, bellows, sheet-feeding means, power devices for actuating said bellows, and sheetfeeding means, and. mechanism for automatically preventing the simultaneous actuation of two or more counters.

21. A counting-machine having a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters, a plurality of channel-boards having channels corresponding to said counters, means for passing a sheet over said boards, and a frame for holding said sheet against said boards.

22. A counting-machine having a plurality of pneumatically-actuated counters, a plurality of channel-boards having channels corre- .sponding to said counters, means for passing a sheet over said boards, and hinged frames carrying rolls for holding said sheet against said boards.

23. A counting-machine comprising a plurality of groups of counters, each group representing all the candidates for one oflice, or a set of items, a group of actuators for each group of counters, whereby counters in the several groups may be operated simultaneously, and mechanism for each group of counters for preventing the simultaneous actuation of more than one counter therein.

24. A counting-machine comprising a plurality of groups of counters, each group representing all the candidates for one oice, or a set of items, a group of actuators for each group of counters, whereby counters in the several groups may be operated simultaneously, and mechanism for each group of counters for preventing the simultaneous actuation of more than one counter therein, in combination with means for feeding a sheet in operative relation to said actuators, said sheet having perforations for the'several groups thereof.

25. A vote-counting machine having means for automatically preventing the counting of two or more votes cast by the same voter for different candidates for the same oice, said means being entirely pneumatic in principle.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses, this 27 th day of October, A. D. 1897.

JOHN MCTAMMANY.

Witnesses:

MARCUS B. MAY, C. F. BROWN.

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