US845860A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

' BESTAVNLABLE com No. 845,860. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907. w. H. DANA. k

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1903.

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WITNESSES //v VEN TOH BE$T AVAELABLE COP;

-N 4 o. PATENTD MAR. 5 1907.

N586 W.H.DANA.

VOTING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1903. i l

6 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

QL I I 1/ Ira/55207 an/W v F i 2. I m M g I L $207716g mp NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. ::v

BEST AVAKLABLE COP";

N01. 845,860. 'PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907,

' W. H. DANA.

VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

OFF|CES QUESTIONS i'Hl: Animals PEZERs'cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

BEST AVAILABLE COP".

110 845,860. YPATBNTED MAR.- 5, 1907.

w. H. DANA.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 6. 190a.

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mmms FETERs co, WASHINGTON, n. c

' BEST vAiLAi-BLE CO? :No. 845,860. PAIBNTED MAR..5, 190v.

WT H. DANA. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIOH FILED MAY e. 1903.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

BEST AVAMBLECQP No. 845.860. PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907 ;.w. H. DANA; VOTING MACHINE. I APPLICATION TILED MAY 6, 1903.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orrrcn.

WILLIAM H. DANA, .OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LEOPOLD RAUH, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed May 6, 1903. Serial No. 155,898.

To at 107mm it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM H. DANA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VotingMachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for registering mechanically the selection by voters of various candidates to be elected at any election in which all of the candidates of the various parties are presented to the voter under the Australian-ballot system, the voter registering his choice by the operation of keys or levers, one for each candidate.

In the construction of voting-machines adapted for use generally under the election laws of the various States and for all classes of elections where many tickets may be in the field, each containing a large num: er of names of candidates, many requirements are necessary, all of which I have endeavored to present in my novel construction of machine, the general principles and the various details of which will be hereinafter particularly pointed out and claimed. Someof these requirements are that the balloting must be in secret, and when a voter has made his selec tion and passed from the booth his vote must be recorded and all evidence of his choice must be destroyed. The voter must be al-' lowed to vote for straight tickets, split or scratched tickets, for candidates of his own selection whose names do not appear on any of the regular tickets. He must be allowed to vote on various questions submitted, and certain classes of voters, while they can enter the booth and operate the machine in secret, must it e excluded from voting for certain candidates for certain offices and from voting on certain questions. Provision must also be made to prevent voting for more than the Election-tickets often present forty or fifty names, and seven or more regular tickets are often in the field, so that economy of space is demanded that all parts of the machine may be within easy access of the voter.

The mechanica loperation must be exceedingly accurate and very little, if any, dependence should be placed on multiplicity of springs. Complication of parts must be avoided and the various mechanisms should be easily assembled and be readily accessible for setting up the multiple and exclusion devices and other parts before each election to conform to the arrangement of names on the b allots. Counting orregistering mechanism, inasmuch as there must be one counting device for each name on the tickets, must be so arranged as to be readily and quickly reset and the machine must be capable of being --prepared for any election by any ordinary mechanic. The keyboard or the front of the machine should be open to the inspection of the judges when not in use and at such times should be always locked, and it should he well-nigh impossible for any ignorant or dishonest voter to taniper with the machine or to blockits operation during the progress of any election.

- In constructing my machine in presenting the lists of candidates to the voters I have followed the more familiar arrangement of the Australian ballot in arranging the lists of candidates under each ticket in vertical rows, with the various offices for which the selec tion is to be made in horizontal rows, and I have divided the machine into three sections, one for the regular tickets, second for the question-voting, and third for the irregular voting. Separate mechanisms are employed for these three sections cooperating in certain respects.

While I have provided space in the general plan of the machine illustrated for the irregular-voting mechanism, I have omitted from the present application any illustration or description of this mechanism, deeming it best to make this feature of my machine the subject-matter of a separate application to be filed. I have also at the request of the Commissioner dividedout of the present application for the purpose of a divisional application the exclusion or limited franchise apparatus, and for the purpose of filing separate divisional applications I have also erased wedged between the key-levers, and'the'but tons are of suflicient diameter to cover the slots 0, through which the shanks pass, in

whatever position the lever may be in order that there may be no opportunity for any one to insert anything through the slots 0 to block the machine. The back of the plates M are provided with a slightly-diagonal groove f, one for each key, in which rides the bar g, attached to the shank of the .keylever. On the rear face of this guide-barf is secured a horizontally-disposed channel-bar h, which engages the central pin t on the longer toggle-lever 7' of the pair oi togglelevers k. The outer end of the toggle-lever j is mounted on a stud Z on the in side of the block R, while the smaller member 7c is pivoted on the stud m on a similar abutting block R, withits inner end coupled on the pin t. These blocks B, one "for each voting-lever,

are mounted to slide horizontally in the -chan' nel-bars L. In order to conveniently mount these sliding blocks R in the respective channels in the channel-b are L, the channel is cut away at one end, as shown at m in the upper corner of Fig. 8. Each of these blocks R is cut away at one end, as shown at n in Fig. 17 to allow for the passage of the pint on the toggle-lever 'j, and each row of sliding blocks is held normally with the sliding blocks abutting by securing the sliding block atone end of the row to the vertical plate I and .con-

necti'ng the sliding block at the other end'of the row to the fixed vertical plate I by a coiled'spring p, the coiled spring to allow the blocks to be separated,but returningthem to their normal position with their ends abutting when released. The free sliding block at the end of each row is provided with an abutment plate S, mounted on studs 1" 1, and these abutment-plates are provided with slots 8, as shown in Big. 16. T, Fig. 7, is a vertical bar secured to the top and bottom frame of the machine and running across these abutmerit plates Sand carrying pins t t,one for each'row of sliding blocks, the ends oi'the pins passing through the slots 8 in the abutment-plates. These slots 8 are of suflicient length to allow for the lateral movement of the row of sliding blocks suflicient to permit one set of toggle-levers Jr to be spread apart by the pulling down of the lever-key acting on the pin i, engaged by the channel-guide bar it on the key-lever but the slot is not sufiici'ently long to permit any other set of toggles in that particular row to be operated.

This construction forms what I have called the sliding blocks and preventing the operation of more than one voting-key in any horizontal row. It will be evident that the coiled springs which I have described as acting on the free end of the sliding blocks in each row will keep the voting-levers in their normal unvoted position, and when one lever is pulled down, unless i'ully voted, the spring will return the voting-lever; but when fully voted the central pin 01, upon which the two toggles are coupled, will be slightly below the pivot-studs n Z, and the voting levers will therefore be held down when fully voted. I

It is of course essential for a voting-machine that there should be a counter for each name, and it is also essential that the numbers required on the counters shall be in convenient position for taking off the number of votes registered for each candidate, and then ai'ter each election the counters may be conveniently reset to zero. As already stated, my tickets arev preferably arranged in vertical rows, and or each ticket I provide what I call a register-frame, which frame shall contain all or' the counters'for the candidates on the particular ticket. I- have illustrated only two tickets and thequestionvoting mechanism'in the drawings, and I there'jiore showthree counter-irames.- All of the counter-frames are alike, andua description' of one will apply to all; --The general principle of operation Lhave' adoptedis to rotate or move the actuating-pawls for'the 5 parts of the counting mechanism are shown in Figs.- 10 to. 14. The register-frame is made up of a topdisk B, 'earryinga hub= collar f and a bottom disk 0, also having a hub-collar g D is a vertical shaft connecting these two disks, secured by a pin h at the bottom and'screw-threaded at i at the top, upon which is mounted the nut" 7c; the nut being journaled in the collar 1, secured by a set-screw m to a stud E, secured to the top of the frame. By loosening the collar Z and sliding it up the register-frame, with its central shaft, can be readily disconnected from the machine, the collar 9 at the bottom b e' ing slotted, as shown at a in Fig. 4, to receive the tongue on a short shaft F, mounted in a yoke G, secured to the standard holding the shaft D. This shaft F carries the bevr eled gear H, which meshes with the gear L, secured on shaft D. As the shaft D will be rocked a quarter of a revolution by the raising and lowering of the lever C, holding the of the ratchet-wheels.

. described.

curtain, by means of these beveled gear, the register-frame for each ticket will be rotated about a quarter of a revolution. The individual counting mechanisms-one for each name on the ticket-are strung on the vertical shaft D. These counting mechanisms are mountedon and separated by the disk plates h I (Shown in perspective in Fig. 27.) These disk plates carry studs 0, which fit into corresponding recesses in the plate immediately above, and in addition to the clamping together accomplished by screwing up the nut-k on the shaft D rods 2) are also strung through the plates at the periphery and clamped by nuts to obtain a rigid frame. The counters are ratchet-wheels 1", Figs. 12 and 13three for each namecarrying numerals on the periphery and strung on the shaft N, running from the top to the bottom of the registerfran1e parallel to the central shaft D, each set of three counters being separated by the disk plates M These counters represent the units, tens, and hundredths wheels, and-the units and tens wheels have one tooth deeper than the normal teeth of the wheel, the depth of these teeth being shown at s t in Figs. 12 to 13. The count ers are actuated by the three-stepped pawl u, pivoted on one arm of a pawl-carrier 4), having a central hub to, strung on the shaft D. This pawl-carrier hasa segmental contact-plate y, which is actuated'by the voting-lever mechanism, as will be hereinafter af'is a flat spring secured to the pawl-carrier and bearing against a lip b at the rear end of the pawl '11, to keep this pawl in contact with the counting-wheels T. It will be evident that as the pawl-carrier is actuated the pawl u will advance the units.- wheel, which is the lowest of the three, until the deeptooth t is reached, when the middle step on the pawl u will be brought into play to advance the tens-wheel one tooth, and when the deeper teeth in both the units and tens wheel are together the hundredths wheel will be advanced one tooth, so that each counter consisting of three wheels will register to nine hundred and ninety-nine. As the actuating position of the pawl u is fixed, the movement of the pawl-carr1er will bend the spring a, so that when the pawl-carrier is released it will return to its normal position under the pressure of this spring. a isa spring-plate with three teeth secured to the lip a on one of the studs 0, which spring bears on the faces of the ratchet-teeth of the counters and prevents any back movement For the purpose of resetting the counters to zero 1 form a longitudinal groove (1 in the shaft N, running from top to bottom, so as to form a shoulder on this shaft. Then each ratchet-wheel is formed with an annular recess 6', leaving a hub portionf, which is slotted or opened at g. In this annularrecess in each ratchetwheel I mount the spring-band h with one end Z turned in through the slot 9 in the hub of the ratchet-wheel, so that it will engage in the longitudinal groove in the shaft N'.- The ratchet-wheels can turn in the proper direction, and the spring-shafts h slide out of the groove; but when the shaft N is turned by the thumb-nut P in the opposite direction the inwardly-projecting ends of the spring-bands h will catch against the shoulder formed by the longitudinal groove in the shaft N, so that the several ratchetwheels will be picked up by the shaft and rotate with it. The slots 9 are formed in the same position for each ratchet-wheel at the same number, and all of the ratchetwheels of all of the counters on the shaft will therefore with one rotation of the shaft by the thumb-nut P be returned to zero.

The register-frame, carrying the counting mechanisms, as above described, is located in such a position with reference to the votinglever mechanism that the pin m, Fig. 17,

on the toggle j will project within the regis-- ter-frame. When these pins m are raisedthat is, when the'voting-levers are in their normal position.the rotation ,of the register-frame by the beveled gearswill-not affect the counting mechanism; but when the register-frame is in the unlocked position, with 9 5 the booth closed and leyer 0 horizontal, the pullingdown of any of the voting-levers will bring the corresponding pins :m. on the toggle into the lower portion-of the'countingframe, and the rotation of the register-frame will cause all of the toggle-pins that are down to actuate the segmental contact-plates y of the counter pawl-carryingmechanism. The

' disk plates M each are formed-with a peripheral cam-shaped flange 12/ located in the pathway of the toggle-pins m" when the register-l'rame is rotated. These pins therefore ride back on the edge of this cam, rotating the pawl sufl'icient to advance, the. countingwheel one tooth, and then they are raised out of contact with the segment-plates y and rest on top of the flange. When the togglepins m rest on top of the flanges n, it is very evident that none of the voting-levers can be operated, and the machine will be securely locked. This is. the position the Totating register-frame takes when the lever C is raised. In order to prevent any person seeking to wreck the machinep.ushing the toggle-pins m down behind the segmentplates y-these segment-plates are made long enough to overlap or pass in behind the flanges on the disk plates M, as shown in Fig. 9.

For straight-ticket voting, I provide as shown in Fig. 15. L" is a vertical bar guided by the slots f engaging screws 9, secured to the top and bottom of the frame, and this bar carries a series of arms h, one for each pin m onthe toggle-lever for each 845,860 BEST AVAlL/RBLE COP.

candidate, whilethis bar is operated by an arm 1, actuated by the pin m on the guide-bar n, which slides vertically in a suitable vertical groove in the rear of the voting-lever button p, opposite the name or ticket-emblem of each straight ticket. By pulling down these straight-ticket buttons the straight-ticket bar L thus operates all of the voting-levers in the selected vertical row. To vote for a straight ticket, with the exception of a few selected names from some other ticket, the straight-ticket key is voted, and for any selected horizontal row the voter returns the individual key-lever in the straight-ticket vertical row and votes the individual lever opposite the name or names selected in the other tickets. A spring 1", Fig. 9, secured to the bottom plate, bears against the lower end of the straight-ticket bar to return it to its normal position.

The operation of the machine has been rather fully described in connection with the description of the mechanism; but it may be well to briefly sum up the various functions. The voting-booth normally stands open, as shown in Fig. 1, and in this position the register-frames are all rotated by the shaft D, meshing through the beveled gears with the vertical shafts. upon which the registerframes are mounted, so that the flanges n on the division register-plates M are underneath the toggle-pins m on the toggle.- levers of all of the key-levers both for candidates and questions. When the voter enters the booth, he brings the operating-lever G into horizontal position and the curtain B drops of its own weight to conceal the voter. This movement of the lever C rotates all of the register-frames and carries the flanges m from under the toggle-pins, thus unlocking the machine. If the voter wishes to vote a straight ticket, he pulls down the straightticket button, which through the straight-v the toggle-pins in a position to contact with the pawl-carrier of the several counting mechanisms, so that as long as the voter remains in the booth, he can change his vote. In

order to leave the booth, the voter raises the.

lever C, which folds back the movable curtain, and this movement rotates all the register-frames and such votinglevers as have been operated register on their respective counters. For single-candidate oflices, which will appear in a single horizontal row, the abutment-plates for the sliding blocks of I toggle-levers in such row. key-plate M, the bar being actuated by the each row have been previously locked by the pins on the units-voting bar, so that there is room for the actuation of but a single pair of After the election is over a padlock is passed through the staple Z and the opening m in the outer end of the lever C, and the machine is thus locked for the time required by law to preserve a record for contests or otherwise, and the door P in the rear of the machine is then opened, which exposes through the glass window 0 the numbers on the counters in the registerframes. In order that there may be no confusion in taking off the vote, a plate M, Fig. 7, is provided on the registenframe, carrying a letter and number to indicate the candidate for whom the count on the regular counting device has been made, the numbers corresponding to the number of the horizontal rows on the front of the machine.

As has already been noted in connection with the description, the various parts are constructed so as to be readily and easily assembled in building the machine. The vertical bars forming the wall of the machine are merely screwed to the top and bottom frame, the channel bars carrying the sliding plates are screwed to the side walls of the frame, the sliding-plates are inserted into the channels in these plates, the key-plates carrying the keylevers, with the diagonal guide-bar and horizontal channel-bar, are screwed to place with the central toggle-pins engaging in these channel-b ars the units stopbar, with its stop-pins, is screwed to the top and bottom of the frame, while the several tickets when inserted in front cover up all the screws except those of the top and bottc1 m bars, by which bars they are clamped in ace. p The several register-frames are readily set up, the counters being strung on the counter shaft and the pawl-carriers with the pawls on the central shaft, with the division-plates between each three counting-wheels. The actuating-shaft D, with its beveled gear L, is mounted in place, and the register-frames are then easily secured in vertical position. The straight-ticket bar is mounted in vertical position. By rotating the shaft M, upon which. the counters are strung, by the thumbnut P, the counters in each register-frame are at once reset to zero, and the machine is ready for operation.

The mechanism for all the operating parts can be gotten at separately for cleaning or otherwise, and the several register-frames can be easily removed when it is desired to store them between elections. The registering or counting portion of the voting-machine is of course one of the most important parts of the machine and should be kept in perfect order and condition, and it would be very proper after each election to remove from the machine the register-frames and counting mechanism and to wrap them up in flannel or otherwise and lay them away in boxes specially provided, and they can then be stored in any suitable safe for preservation. Other parts of the operating mechanism can also be readily removed for storage, leaving only the framework and less impor tant parts to be stored with the booth in such available places as there may be.

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

1. In a voting-machine, a series of keyplates one for each ticket, elongated slots therein, with key-levers mounted in said slots, said key-levers having enlarged buttonlike heads to cover the slots in the plate in any position of the key-levers, substantially as described.

2. In a voting-maehine, a series of keyplates, one for each ticket, with key-levers mounted in slots therein, grooves in the rear face of the key-plates, with bars on the keylevers riding in said grooves to guide the keylevers, an interlocking device to prevent simultaneous operation of more than the predetermined number of key-levers, and means for connecting the key-levers to said interlocking device to permit shifting thereof without disconnection, substantially as described.

In a voting-machine, a plurality of voting-keys, with individual counting devices for each k y, and a rotatable register-fran'ie upon which the individual counters are mounted, with means for rotating the register-frame to cause all operated voting-keys to actuate their respective counters, substantially as described.

i. In a voting-machine, a plurality of voting-keys and a rotatable cylindrical frame, with partitions for dividing same into uni't frames corresponding to the number of voting-keys for each ticket, a set of counters, with means for operating same, mounted in each unit-frame, and means for rotating the entire register-frame to cause all operated keys to actuate their respective counters, substantially as described.

5. In a voting-machine, a plurality of voting-lreys and a rotatable register-frame, a shaft longitudinally supported in said frame, with sets of counting-disks strung on said shaft, the sets separated from each other and forming individual counters for their respec tive voting-keys, and means for rotating the register-frame to cause all operated keys to actuate their respective counters, substan tially as described.

6. In. a votinganachine, a plurality of voting-keys and a rotatable cylindrical frame, with partitions for dividing same into unitframes, corresponding to the number of voting-keys for each tlclret, a shaft running longitudinally through said register-frame, with sets of counters strung on said shaft, one set for each unitframe, and means for rotating the register-frame to cause all operated keys to actuate their respective counters, substantially as described.

7. In a voting-machine, a plurality of voting-keys arranged in a row and a rotatable regis tor-frame, a shaft mounted in said frame with sets of counting-disks strung on said shaft so as to turn loosely thereon in one direction, the said of counters separated from each other and forming individual counters for their respective voting-levers and means for rotating the register frame to cause all operated. keys to actuate their respective counters, and an individual clutch interposed between. each counting-disk and the supporting-shaft to couple same to the shaft when turned in an opposite direction, whereby all the counters for the row of voting-levers may be simultaneously reset to Zero, substantially as described.

8. In a votinganachine, a plurality of vo ting-keys arranged in a row, a register-frame with. central shaft by which. said frame is retated, a second shaft in said frame parallel to the central shaft, with sets of counting-disks strung on said second shaft and separated from each other to form irulividual counters for their respective voting-levers, actuating devices for the counters strung on the co" tral. shaft, one for each individual set of counters, and means for rotating said. registerframe to cause all operated voting-levers to operate tneir respective counter-acttui-ting devices, substantially as described.

9. In a voting-machine, a plurality of voiing-lies arranged. in a row, a register-frame with central shaft by \vli' :h said frame is retated, a second shaft in said frame ')arallel to the central shaft with sets of counting-disks strung on said second shaft and separated from each other to form imlividual. counters for their respective voting-levers, pawl-carriers one for each individual set of counters strung on the central shaft with pawls tbere n, one for each carrier, to eng e said counters, with intermediate meenanism interposed between the pa \rl-ca'rricrs and votinglevers normally inoperative but arranged to be set by the operation of the hey-levers, and means for rotating the register-frame to cause said intermediate n'ieehanism set by the operatiin of the l v-levers to actuate their respective pear -carriers to register the key movements, substantially dcscrib .:d.

10. In a votingmachine, a cylindrical frame with. counti g mechanisms mounted thereon, and means for rotatir said frame to actuate the counters, said cylindrical franne having hub portions at each. erd andv means for removably securing said hubs to said ro- 845,860 BEST AVAiLABLE COP.

tatable mechanism, whereby the frame and counting mechanism may be readily removed from the, machine, substantially as described.

11. In a voting-machine, a cylindrical frame, with counting mechanisms mounted thereon, shaft and gearing for rotating said frame, hub portions at each end of said frame, with ton gue-and-groove connection at one end and collar and set-screw connection at the other with said rotating shaft, whereby the rotatable frame may be readily connected to and disconnected from said geardriven shaft, substantially as described.

12. In a voting-machine, a cylindrical register frame for holding the counting mechanisms, said frame consisting of end disks and central shaft with intermediate disk plates strung on said shaft, each intermediate disk provided with lugs to fit into the adjoining disk and subdivide the main frame into unit-frames, substantially as described.

13. In a voting-machine, a plurality of key-levers, with individual counting devices for each lever, and a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted, an operating-lever outside the voting-machine, and connecting mechanism intermediate said lever and register-frame, whereby the movement of the booth-lever will rotate said register-frame to cause all cperated key-levers to actuate their respective counters, substantially as described.

141. In a voting-machine, a plurality of votinglevers with individual counting devices for each key-lever, and a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted, said register-frame carrying cam-plates one for each. individual counting device, with means for rotating said registerframe to cause all operated key-levers to actuate their respective counters and to contact with said cam-plates to be returned to their normal position, substantially as de scribed.

15. In a voting-machine, a plurality of key-levers, with individual counting devices for each lever, and a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted, a booth within which the voting machine is mounted, a lever closing the entrance to said booth, and'connecting mechanism intermediate said lever and register frame, whereby the movement of the booth.- lever will rotate said register-frame to cause all operated key-levers to actuate their respective counters, substantially as described.

16. In a voting-machine, a plurality of voting-levers, with individual counting devices for each key-lever, and a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted said register-frame carrying cam-plates one for each individual counting device, a booth within which the voting-machine is mounted, a lever closing the entrance to said booth, and connecting mechanism intermediate said lever and register-frame, whereby the movement of the booth-lever will rotate said register-frame to cause all operated key-levers to actuate their respective counters, substantially as described.

17. In avoting-machine, a plurality of keylevers, with individual counting devices for each key-lever, and a rotatable registerframe upon which the individual counters are mounted, said register-frame carrying camplates one for each key-lever, an operatinglever outside the voting-machine and connecting mechanism intermediate said lever and registenframc, said cam-pl ates normally in the pathway of said key-levers to lock same from operation when said operating-lever is in one position, but removed therefrom by the rotation of the register-frame when the lever is operated to permit operation of the key-levers, substantially as described.

18. In a voting-machine, a plurality of keylevers, with individual counting devices for each keylever, and a rotatable registerframe, upon which the individual counters are mounted, said register-frame carrying cam-plates, one for each key-lever, a booth within which the votin g-machine is mounted, a lever closing the entrance to said booth and connecting mechanism intermediate said lever and register-frame, said cam-plates normally in the pathway of said key-levers, to lock same from operation when the operatinglever is raised to open the booth and when lowered to close the booth said cam-plates being removed to permit operation of the key-levers, substantially as described.

19. In a voting-machine, a plurality of keylevers, with individual counting devices for each key, a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted, said frame carrying plates to block the movement of the keys, and means for rotating said frame to release the keys for operation, substantially as described.

20. In a voting-machine, a plurality of key levers, with individual counting devices for each key, a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted, said frame carrying cam-plates to return to their normal position all operated keys and to block the movement, of all the keys, with means for rotating said frame in both directions to release the keys for operation when rotated in one direction and to return all operated keys and block the movement of all keys when rotated in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

21. In a voting-machin'e, a plurality of voting-levers, with individual counting devices for each key-lever, and a rotatable register-frame upon which the individual counters are mounted, said register-frame carrying Q) Bel-5,860

earn-plates to return to their normal position I keys and block the movement of all keys all operated keys and to block The movement of all the keys, and an operating-lever outside the voting-machine, and cornice-ting ineelianisin for rotating said frame in both directions to release the keys for operation when rotated in one direction and to return all operated lwhen rota-ted in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

l VILLIAM H. DANA. \Vitnesses Q L. JAMES,

\ NELLIE MGGRATH.

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