US856997A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JUNE 1l, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. M. GUTTER & W. A. SUTPIN. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15, 1906.

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PATENTED JUNE 1l, 1,907.

W. M. CUTTER & W. A. SUTPIN. VOTING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Witnesses mdk UNITED` STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM M. CUTTER AND TvlVlLLlS A. SUTFIN, OF MARYSV ILLE, CALIFORNIA: SAID SUTFIN ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO SAID CUTTER.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented June 11, 190'?.

Originalapplication filed August 2, 1905, Serial N0 272,316. Divided and this application filed October l5, 1906. Serial No. 338.973.

To all whom, t may concer/1,: v

Be it known that we, WILLIAM M. GUTTER and TWILLIS A. SUTFIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Marysville, in the county of Yuba and State of California, have invented new and use'iul improvements in Voting-Machines, oi which the following is a speci'iication.

Our invention relates to voting machines and especially to interlocking mechanisms therefor. lts object is to provide means in a voting machine whereby the machine may be quickly changed 'from a single candidate machine to group-candidate machine, or vice versa 5 or from either a single-camlidate or group-candidate machine to a partly single and partly group-candidate machine and which will make it absolutely impossible for any one voter to vote more than once ior any one candidate, or more than once for any single-candidate o'l'lice, or for more than the proper number of candidates for any group of candidates.

The invention consists olf the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichl VFigure l. is a side elevation of our mechanism iior preventing the simultaneous actuation of any two keys in the machine. Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken through one oi the vertical locking-bars. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing the locking bars in position when being acted on by a key. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the group interlocking mechanism.

5 represents the voting keys generally arranged in vertical and horizontal rows: the vertical rows corresponding to the parties, Republican, Democratic, oto., and the horizontal rows corresponding to candidates or oilices, as mayor, city attorney, judges, etc. Each key has a stem 9 j ournaled to turn in a -liXed part B (Fig. 2) oi the machine, and each stem carries the arms or lugs 22-33 arranged approximately at right angles to each other.

.l7-l8 represent horizontal and vertical slidable locking bars disposed in suitable relation to the horizontal and vertical rows of voting keys so that on the turning of a key, its lug 22 will engage a lug or projection 23 on a corresponding vertical bar 18 to reciprocate the latter, and the lug 33 will engage a lug or projection 34 on a corresponding horizontal bar i7 to reciprocate it; the reciprocation oi' these two bars l7-l8 operating temporarily to lock every other key in the machine by the following means:

AA represents two tapes or ribbons of steel or other suitable, tough, vliexible material, each having one end fixedly secured to a respective anchorage 2. One of these tapes as A is arranged vertically and is adapted to pass between the pins or rollers 3 on the hori zontal bars l7 and between upper and lower 'liXed pins or rollers a, and are for the purpose of locking the horizontal bars 17; and the other tape A is arranged horizontally and is adapted to pass between the pins or rollers 3 on the vertical bars 1S and between the upper and lower ifxed pins or rollers Li, and is for the purpose of locking the vertical bars 1S. 6 is a weight secured to the vertical tape A and 6 is a similar weight secured. to the tape A. The function oi the weights is to maintain the tapes taut and to atl'ord stops to engage the stop pins SS and limit the movement of the tapes. The action of the weights 6 6 may be supplemented by the springs 7 7. The disposition of the pins or guides or obstructions SS with respect to the weights or stops 6-6 on the tapes is such that when a key stem 9 is turned in one direction or to the right as in voting, the inner pins 3-3 on the bars l7-l8 will press against their respective tapes, bend the same between the inner and outer iixed pins 444 and lift the weights until the latter engage the obstructions S48. This places the tapes on tension and and as they are non-stretching it is manifest that it would be impossible while the tapes are on tension to move any of the other bars 17e-1S; and as the keys cannot be turned into voting position without moving some of the bars 17418, it will be equally manifest that an absolute lock is provided against the simultaneous operation of two or more keys in the machine.

Each of the several bars l7-1S is independently operable, and each is adapted to be maintained in a normal position of rest so as to be capable of reciprocatio'n in either direction: that is when a key is turned as before IOO described to the right as in voting, the horizontal bars are moved in and the vertical bars are moved downward, the lugs or arms 22-33 passing over their respective lugs or projections 23-34 as the key reaches the end of its movement, allowing the bars to ily back to normal.

Fig. 1 represents normal unvoted position. In Fig. 3 the full lines represent the intermediate position of the lugs 3,3*22 during the voting operation, and just as they are about to pass their projections Sil-23; while the dotted lines of lugs 233-22, Fig. 3, represent their full, voted position. In Fig. l, the lugs 32%*23 are shown at their limit of movement in one direction, and in Fig. 3 the dotted position of the lugs 3322, represent their limit of movement in the opposite direction. l/Vhen lugs 33-22 are at their limit of movement in either direction the tapes A-A are slack as shown in Fig. l. It is to be remembered that the sole function oi the tapes is to prevent the simultaneous operation of two or more keys. Other means will be shortly described by which it is made impossible to vote one key after another for the same oflice where only one candidate is to iill the oflice.

I It after voting, and with the lugs 33-22 in dotted line position Fig. 3 and the tapes slack, the key is turned back to initial position as occurs where the voter wishes to change his vote, the arms 22-33 engage the lugs or projections 23-34 to move the hars 17-18 in the opposite direction; the arms 22-33 passing the lugs or projections as the key approaches initial unvoted positions. rl`he latitude of movement allowed the bars and keys by the steel-tapes A-A and the arrangement of the projections 22S- 84 with respect to the arcs or' movement of the arms 22-33 are such as to permit of the foregoing described actions and to be productive of the desired results.

Having described the means for preventing the simultaneous actuation of any two keys, we will now explain the mechanism.

whereby a voter is prevented from voting for two candidates for one office where only one candidate is to be elected, or from voting more than thev correct number 'lor a groupcandidate oflice where there are to be a plurality of candidates elected to the same position.

First as to single-candidate voting: The keys representing the names of all the candidates of any one single-candidate office, as Mayen Assesson etc., are arranged in a horizontal line just as the keys of each party are arranged in vertical line, Each key-stem of a single candidate row carries in. addition to lugs 33-22 two pins 81`82 arranged substantially at right angles to one another, and one behind the other and adapted to engage opposite sides of a horizontal rockable angle har S3. This bar has notches 84 in. one edge disposed relative to pins The pins Si are so arranged with respect to the other 'llange of the angle bar that when any key is turned in a voting position, the pin S1 ol that key will press down on the angle bar and rock the latter to cause the notches 84 to engage all the pins 82 of the other keys in that row and lock all these other keys against turning. The angle-hars are counterweigh ted as shown at S3 to cause them to stand normally with their unnotched 'flange substantially horizontal and in the position to be engaged by the pins Sl when any key is turned into voting position. Turning a key in the direction ol the arrow Fig. 4 to register a vote, causes pin 81 (Figs. 2 and 4;) to hit the horizontal unnotched l[lange oi the angle h:- H3 to rock the same and cause the vertical pins 82 on all the other key stems to be caught in. the respective notches S4 in said bar S3. Ot course the pin 82 on the key stem voted moves ou t oll the way of engagement by the bar S3 belore the latter begins to rock. As there is one rock bar Sb for each single candidate oll'ice, it naturally Afollows that on turning a key ol' any candidate for that otl'ice all the other keys representing the same ollice are locked against movement and remain locked until the voted key is returned to initial position. lt has previous y been shown how two keys are prevented fromv simultaneous :wtuation by tapes A-Al so there is consequently no possible chance. of an elector` voting lor more than one candidate for any single candidate ollice. Nevertheless, il' it is desired to change the vote, the several keys are all released hy simply turning` back the voted ke)y into initial unvoted position; this allows the angle bar to rock and release the several pins S2.

There the vote is for group-candidates as judges, supervisors, alderman, &c., the following checking n'ieans are employed: lli, say, live judges were to be elected, the live candidates of each party would he arranged in their proper vertica, party-column and all the candidates ot all the parties tor thisI group-ollice would be arranged in horizontal lines. Instead ot now using an angle bar lock as 83, which prevents two camlidates in the same horizontal row being voted lor, we employ a straight horizontal sliding bar as S5 for each horizontal row oli the group. Each bar S5 is supported to slide in suitable guides on the back oli the trame ol the machine and is connected at one end to a short rockable L-shaped lever SG. The bar is movable in either direction by means ol.l an arm S7 on the key stem, which engages a pin 8S on the bar. The lt-lever 86 is iulclulned to a hxed part ol: the machine at 8.() and the ends ot the horizontal arms ol the leverengage beneath stops 9() on respective slidingdogs 91,-92. A spring 93 assisted by grav- IOO IOS

ity, normally holds the dogs down with both of them resting on the lever 86 and tending to keep vertical the slotted arm which is connected to bar S5. Consequently when any key of this horizontal series is turned down to vote, the pin S7 will engage lng S8 to reciprocate bar S5 to the left, rock lever S6 and lift dog Q1; before however the key is turned its Vfull distance, the pin 87 will slip oil of lug S8, the bar will fly back to normal position and dog 91 will drop. lf the same key is then turned back, the bar will be moved in the opposite direction, and dog Q2 lifted; each complete movement in either direction of a key causing the bar 'lirst to be engaged and then to be released. `When dog 91 is lifted it causes a pivoted part 93 to engage a tooth of a live pointed star wheel 94 'to turn the same one step in one direction. Likewise when the dog 92 lifts, it causes a pivoted member 95 to engage the opposite side of the star wheel to turn it in the opposite direction. There is no movement ofthe star wheel when either dog drops. The star wheel is provided with a pinion 96 engaging a sliding rack 97 having any desired number of teeth. This rack is raised one tooth space at each actuation of dog 91 and is dropped one tooth space at each actuation of dog 92; obviously an actuation of dog 92 can only succeed an actuation of dog 91. T ie rack 97 is adapted to be set for a single-candidate or for any desired number of candidates represented by the total number of 'the group. The rack is set by interposing a suitable stop in the path of the rack. This stop is here shown as a block 9S adjustable in guide 99 in which 'the rack slides. The rack is perforated at 100 to receive a screw 101. by which the rack is held in position. The perforaticns 10() are spaced correspondingly with the rack movement so that if the rack is to be set for live judges, the number in vthe group, the screw 101 is engaged in the fifth hole from the bottom. Tf desired the stop member 98 may carrT a bell 1,02. When the .rack is raised its permitted distance, a part 103 strikes the bell to warn the voter.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Vilith the front door fully opened the entire machine is reset in readiness 'for a voter. The voter expres es his choice for a candidate on any of the tickets by 'turning to the right a 'trifle over a quarter of a circle the key of that particular candidate; this operation is repeated for the other candidates of his choice until he has voted for as many as 'the law allows him to vote for, or as he may wish to vote for, and within the legal limit of the time. Should he desire to change any vo so cast by him, all he has to do is 'to turn back the key, as far as it will go, of Vthe candidate whose vote he wishes to alter. This change of votes may go on as long as he is allowed to remain at the machine, and at the saine time, when he is Vtli'oiigh only a sii'iglo C andidate for a single-candidate ollic'e will be vo ted for, and no more than the co ct numb: of votes will be cast for any group-candidate ol'lice.

As we have seen, the turning of a regular key operates the horizontal and vertical locking bars 17-18 to prevent the simultaneous actuation of any two regulz r keys, and the angular locking bar S3 Fig. 4 prevents more than one single-candidate key in the same horizontal row being voted by the same voter. i

YWith the group-candidate-vo ting the sliding bar 85 permits the voter to vote a mixed ticket and to vote two or more candidates of di'li'erent parties, which candidates may be represented by keys in the same horizontal line; but it is to le understood that while the bar S5 allows two keys in the same horizontal line to be voted, vthey must be voted successively since the front bars 17418 as we have seen prevent their simultaneous actuation. At the same time the rack 97 and the stop 9S will pre ent him from voting for more than the correct number in. the group. The bars 83-55 are easily interchangeable to permit the machine being changed from a single-candidate mafhine 'to a group-candidate machine, or vice versa: or from either a singleor group-candidate machine to a paJtly single-c andidate and partly group-candidate machine.

This application is a division of our original application for voting machines liled August 2, 1905, Serial No. 272,316.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters lDa-tent, isi

1. Tn a voting machine, the combination. of voting mechanisms arranged in series vertically according to the political al'liliation of the candidates represented by said mechanisms and arranged horizontally according to the O'Hices to be voted for, and means to prevent the simultaneous operation of any two candidate voting mechanisms in the same horizontal row, said last-named moans including vertical and horizontal sliding hars having a limited movement in two directions from an intermediate normal position ol rest.

2. Tn a voting machine, the combination of voting mechanisms arranged in series vertically according to the political al liliation of the candidates represented by said mechananisms and arranged horizontally according to the o'l'lices to be voted for, means to prevent the simultaneous operation of any two candidate voting mechanisms in the same horizontal row, said last-named means including vertical and horizontal sliding bars, and flexible tapes acted on by said bars.

3. ln a voting machine, the combination IOO IIO

ot voting keys arranged in series vertically according to the political alliliation olt the candidate represented by said keys and arrangedhorizontally according to the ollices to be voted lior, means to 'prevent the simultaneous operation ol. angT two candidate voting keys in the same horizontal row, nd means to prevent the simultaneous operation of more than one key in the same vertical series, said last-named me ans comprising slidable bars engagcable by the keys and operable in either direction bythe keys, and bendable stops ojjierable on by the bars.

4t. ln a voting machine, the combination of voting mechanisms arranged vertically in series according to the political alliliation oil.i the candidates represented by said voting mechanisms and horizontally according to the respective ollices to bc voted tor, and means normally preventing the sinniltaneous actuation ol more than one mechanism in the same horizontal or in the same vertical series, said last-named means including respective horizontal and vertical sliding bars and bendable stops engageable by the bars.

5. In a voting machine, the combination olt a plurality of voting keys arranged in line, and means to prevent the operation oll more than one of said ke in said. line, said means including a roekable notched angle bar.

6. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of voting keys ar anged in line, said keys having rotatable stems, and means to prevent the operation ot more than one of said voting keys, said means including a rockable notched angle bar and projections on the stem cngageable in thc notches in said angle bar and means to rock said bar on the operation ot any key stem.

.7. ln a voting machine, the conibination ol' a plurality ot voting keys arrai'iged in. line,lsaid keys having rotatable stems, and means to prevent thel operation ot more than one ol said .means including a rockalide notched angle bar, projections on the key stems to rock the bar and other projections on the stems engageal'ile with notches in the angle bar.

S. ln a voting' machine, group-voting mechanism including keys having stems, and means to prevent the operation ot a greater number ot keys in the group than thc number of candidates to he voted l'or in said group, said means including a toothed rackbar operable one step at each actuation ol a key, and an adjustable stop in the path ol said rack-bar, a pinion engaging the teeth in the rack-bar and mechanism to rotate the pinion in either direction.

9. in a voting machine, a group-voting mechanism including keys having stems, and means to prevent the operation ol.I a greater number ol" keys in the group than the number ot candidates to be voted tor in. said liey, said bar engageable group, said means including a toothed rackbar operable one step at each actuation ol a key, and an adjustable stop in the path ot said rack-bar, a pinion engaging the teeth in the rack-bar and sliding dogs operating on.

opposite sides ol said. pinion to rotate the' said group, said means including a sliding bar reciprocal by said key stems a -L lever engaged by said sliding bar, a slidingl rackbar, coniiections between the lever and said sliding rackoar to reciprocate the latter, and a stop interposable in the path ot said rack bar.

il. ln a voting machine, group-voting mechanism including keys having stems, and means to prevent the operation ot a gratter number cl" keys in the grmip than the number ot candidates to be voted lier in said group, said rmeans including a sliding bar operable by the key stems, sliding-dogs, connections between the sliding-'bar and said dogs to operate the latter alternately, a sliding rack-bar, connections between the dogs and. the rack-bar to reciprocate the latter, and stop means interjwsahle inthe path olIV the rack-bar.

l2. ln a voting machine, group-voting mechanism including keys having stems, means to prevent the operation olE a greater number oli keys in the group than the number ot candidates to be voted Ylor in said group, said means including a sliding bar operable by the key stems, sliding dogs, connections between the sliding-bar and said dogs to operate the latter alternately, a sliding rack-har, connections between the dogs and the rack-bar to reciprocate the latter, stop means interposable in the path ot the rack-bar, and means independent ol said operating means 'for the rack-har to return the rack-bar to its normal position.

13. ln a voting machine, group-voting mechanism, including a key, a rockablc 1 shaped lever, a sliding bar operable by the vv'itii said L lever, dogs actuated by said L lever, and a device operated by the dogs to limit the number to be voted tor in a group.

14;. ln a voting machine, group-voting mechanism, including a rockable L lever, means to rock said. lever, a pair ol dogs operable by said lever, a rack having an adjustable stop to limit the nui'nber which can be voted lier in a group, and connections betvveen the rack and said. dogs to actuate the rack.

l5. ln a voting' machine, group-voting mechanism inc-hiding a rockable lever, .means to rock said lever, a pair ol' dogs operable by IOO said lever, arack having an adjustable stop to limit the number Which can be voted for in a group, connections between the rack and said dogs to aC-tuate the rack in one direction when one dog is operated, and to actuate the rack in an opposite direction when the other dog is operated.

16. In a voting` machine, group-mech anism including a sliding-bar, means to reciprocate the bar, a rockable lever engageable by said bar, independently operable dogs actuated by said lever, a pinion engage able by Asaid dogs, one dog turning the pinion in one direction and. the other turning it the other Way, a rack engageable by the pinion, and means carried by the rack to limit the number which can be voted for in any one group.

17. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality of voting keys having rotatable stems, means to prevent the simultaneous actuation of tWo or more keys, said means including slidable locking bars, some of said locking bars arranged transversely to the other locking bars, means on the key-stems to operate the locking bars, said locking bars mounted for reciprocation in either direction, means 'for holding said bars in operable position relative to the key stems, and suitable stop means operable by said bars.

1S. In a voting machine, the combination of a plurality ol' voting keys having rotatable stems, means to prevent the simultaneous actuation of two or more keys, said means including slidable looking bars, some of said locking bars arranged transversely to the other locking bars, means on the key stems to operate the locking bars, said locking bars mounted for reciprocation in either direction, and means Vfor holding said bars in operable position relative to the key stems and suitable stop means operable by said bars, said last-named means including flexible tapes engageable by the bars.

19. In a voting machine, the combination ol a plurality of keys, and means to prevent the simultaneous actuation ol a plurality olt said keys, said means comprising horizontal and vertical sliding bars, connections between the bars and. keys 'whereby on the actuation of a key, a corresponding horizontal and a corresponding vert-ical bar are reciprocated, and. bendable stop devices engageable by said bars.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence ol two subscribing Witnesses.

VUQLAM M. CUTTE l ILLIS A. SUTFIN.

Witnesses:

EDW. F. HEison, ALvrN LONG.

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