US920101A - General-voting machine. - Google Patents

Description

B. WINSLOW. GENERAL VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 15, 1908.

- Patented Apr. 2'7, 1909.

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a citizen of the United U NITED STATES PATENT OFFHJE.

LENNA RYLAND WINSLOW,.OF GHIGAGO, ILLINOIS.

GENERAL-Vanna Machine.

Specification of lELetters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909.

Original application filed September 22, 1898, Serial No. 691,621. Divided and this applicationfiled July 15, 1908. Serial No. 448,688.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lanna It. Win snow, States, residing at Qhicago. in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a. new and useful General-Voting Machine, (Case C 1,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to voting machines, and particularly to ,tally or counter mechanism and related features of general voting mechanism disclosed in my oo-pendin application filed September 22, 1898, erial No. 691,621, of which this is a division, the particular object of the invention being the improvement of vote-counting mechanism and the means for preventing fraudulent manipulation of the counter-actuating means in the operation of the machine.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following descrip' tion, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacri ficing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a voting machine and booth constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the voting mechanism showing the casing sectioned on the line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the voting machine, proper, on line 3% of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal seciional view of the same, on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section viewed from the rear of one end of the voting machine. Fig. 6 is a perspective view also from the rear of the same. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section in the plane of the class interlocking bars on the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a front view in the nature of a diagram, of the voting machine casing. Fi 9 is a plan view of a portion of a guide For interlocking blocks to show the relation between the blocks and the cams carried by the voting keys or elements. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the same. Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 are vertical longitudinal sectional views of one of the counter or tally mechanisms showing different positions of the parts.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of one of the counter key inverted.

responding parts provided in its front wall or tally mechanisms. Fig. 16 is a detail view of a portion of a counter box showing an independent slide or keylocking latch or button. Fig. 17 is a detail view in perspective of the slide locking latch or button detached. 'Fig. '18 is an inverted plan view of one of the voting keys or elements showing the returning or' replacing rodand the adjacent portion'of the counter-actuating pawl in their proper positions with relation to the voting key. Fig. 19is a detail view of a portion of the replacing rod detached. Fig. 20 is a detail view of a portion of the coun ter-actuating pawl. Fig. 21 is a detail View of the connection between the straight ticket voting devices and the rock shaft of the resetting mechanism, the casing being sectionedon the line 21 21 of Fig. "4. Fig. 22 is a detail vertical section of one of the counter or tally mechanisms and the connections between the same and a voting key. Fig. 23 is .a plan view of the unit-disk operating pawl applied in operative ,position to the counter or tally mechanism. Fig. 24 is a dctai'l view of the amendment or proposition voting key locking devices. Fig. 25 isa detail view in perspective of the same. Fig. 26 is a detail view in perspective of a voting 27 is a similar view of Fig. 2S.is a side view of one ofthe straight ticket slides. Fig. 29 is a detail view of a door locking device and counter or tally mechanism. Fig. 30 is a de tail side view of a portion of the limiting devices.

Similar reference characters indicate corin all of the figures ofthe one of the spacers.

drawings.

Thecasing 1 of the voting mechanism is with aplurality of transparent panels 2, one/for each party for which votes areto be cast, and in rear of this front wall is arranged a plurality of vertical partitions3 connected by horizontal supporting rods 4. These rods support tally mechani us or counters for registering the number of votes cast, respectively, forthe several candidates for ofiice. Therefore, it will be sfiificientto explain that the box or shell 5 thereof is provided with perforated ears 6 toifit uponthe horizontal supporting rods 4 between the conti uous partitions '3, and thatthis box orshel? is provided in its front wallf, for exposure through the transparent panels 2, with inspection openings 8,

through each of which may be seen a nu moral or character of an index or dial 9. Any desired number of these dials may be employed to register a number of units, tens, hundreds, etc., the units dial being operatively connected with an operatin or units ratchet 14, which, however, is provided with half-step teeth, or twenty teeth to the circumference, for a purpose explained hereinafter, and t e dials of higher denomination being operatively connected successively with the units dial to provide for the proper communication of motion thereto.

The spindle of each of the dials 9 carries a mutilated or resetting ratchet 9 having a toothless or plain portion 9, and in con nection with said resetting ratchets is arranged a reciprocatory resetting frame 9" carrying a plurality of toothed arms 9 arranged respectively in operative relation with the ratchets 9, and of sufficiently yielding quality to adapt their toothed front ends to slip idly over the teeth of the ratchets 9" when the frame 9 is moved toward the front of the machine. This resetting frame is mounted upon parallel guide rods 9' extending forwardly from the rear Wall of the frame or casing of the.tally mechanism, and is further provided with an operating stem 9. terminating at its rear end 111 a head or button 9 Also, coiled upon the stem 9 within the casing of the tally mechanism and adapted to normall and yieldin ly hold the frame 9 in its a vanced or orward position, is a spring 9*. This combination of devices constitutes a resetting mechanism, whereby, previous to an election the several indicating dials 9 may be disposed with their zero characters opposite the inspection slots or openings of the front wall of the casing. To accomplish this adjustment of the dials the operating stem 9" of the resetting devices is drawn successively to the rear. At each rearward movement of the resetting frame, the pawls 9 engage teeth, respectively, of the ra-tchets 9, and turn them through one step, or an interval equal to the distance between two contiguous teeth of said ratchet. When each resettin ratchet has reached a position with the toot less or plain'portion thereof contiguous to the resetting arm or pawl 9 further operation of the resetting frame will not affect it, and when the ratchets are thus disposed, the dials 9 will expose the numerals 9 through the inspection openings. Therefore, after all of the tally mechanisms of the machine have been adjusted to expose the character 9 of each disk, a movement of the voting key will turn the units ratchet of. each tally mechanism through one step, and will set all of the dials of that tally mechanism at zero. In practice this final movement of the members of the tally mechanism to set the dials at zero is accomplished mal position.

by means of a straight ticket voting device hereinafter fully described.

The units ratchet is adapted to receive a ste )-by-step rotary movement from a slide 15, mounted for forward and rearward movement in the box or shell of the tally mechanism, and extending through a suitable opening in the front wall of the casing to form a projection or button 16 having a reduced neck 16 said. button and slide combining to form a voting key.

The means whereby motion is communicated from the slides of the voting keys to the units ratchet 1. L consist, in the construction illustrated, of a pivotal pawl 17 fulcrumed upon the arbor 18 of the units ratchet and carrying a spring-pressed tooth 19 for engagement with the teeth of said ratchet. This pawl is arranged in the path of a pin 20 on the slide 15 whereby at the re pression of each key the pawl is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 to turn the units ratchet through a distance equal to one full step, or the interval between alternate teeth thereof. The re turn of the pawl to its normal position, and hence engagement of the tooth 19 with a succeeding tooth of the ratchet, may be accomplished by means of a siring 21 which is detachably secured, as by astening screws 22, to the wall or shell of the tally mechanism, and bears terminally against a tail or extension 21 of the pawl 17. As above indicated, this return spring 21 may be used to yieldingly hold the pawl 17 in its normal position, and return it to such position after displacement by means of the voting slide, but, preferably, said spring is used only in connection with cumulative voting, as hereinafter more fully explained. I prefer for general votin. and other class voting there in the votes or each candidate need not be split, or where the operating ratchet of the units dial should be moved at each operation through a full step, to employ positive means for returning the pawl 17 to its nor- Therefore, in the construction illustrated, I provide said pawl with a dependin pin 17 b which is engaged with a slot 17 o a replacin rod 17 the latter being disposed paralle with and below the plane of the voting slide, and being arranged at its rear end approximately in the vertical plane of the rear end of said voting slide, for engagement by a replacing frame hereinafter described. In operation this replacing rod is repressed rearwardly simultaneously with the voting slide, whereby the operating pawl 17 is returned to its normal position simultaneously with the slide, but, after the operation of the slide, remains in the advanced position until the slide is returned.

As above described, the voting slide is provided with a pin or projection 20 for enthe slide. Said latch is preferably pivoted in contact with the front or inner surface of the rear wall of the box or shell, and the spindle thereof projects through the wall to the rear side where it is fitted with a head having a transverse kerf or key-seat 31, with which a key may be engaged to turn the latch into or out of operation with the slide, as may be required by the conditions of the election.

After a voter has cast his votes for the several candidates, and before the following voter is allowed access to the machine, it is necessary to return the slides to their normal or extended positions, and in order to accomplish this I employ a replacer, consisting of a frame 36 having vertical bars which are adapted to bear against the pro jecting rear ends of the slides, and by movement toward the front of the machine, advance all of the slides simultaneously, this frame being supported by upper and lower swinging arms 37 and 38, of which the former are carried by a rock shaft 39 with which is connected operating means, hereinafter explained, for throwing the replacing frame. In order, however, to prepare the slides for this shifting or replacing movement, it is necessary to release them from the pawls 31, to attain which I provide a trip or releasing frame, comprising upper and lower horizon tal bars 41 connecting a plurality of vertical or uprights bars 42, which carry pairs of spaced lugs 43 and 43 between which the tails 31 of the pawls 31 are adapted to be arranged. This trip frame is supported at its upper end by means of rocking levers 44, Fig. 3, while the lower extremities of the upright bars 42 are fitted in suitable fixed guides 45, see Figs. 3 and 4. The rear ends of the rocking levers are bifurcated to form upper and lower arms 44 and 44 between which are arranged cams 46 on the rockshaft 39, whereby, as the rock-shaft is turned to actuate the replacing frame, the releasing frame is either elevated or depressed. Said cams are provided with upper cam faces 46 and lower cam faces 46*, and when the rock shaft is turned to depress the replacing frame, or swing it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 the upper cam surfaces 46 engage the upper arm 44 of the bifurcation, and, by elevating the rear ends of the rocking levers 44, depress the releasing frame to correspondingly depress the tails of the locking pawls 31 and remove their engaging extremities from contact with the ratchet teeth or shoulders of the slides; whereas when the rock shaft is turned in the opposite direction, to return the replacing frame to its normal position, the lower cam face 46 comes in contact with the lower arm 44 of the bifurcation, and depresses the rear end of the rocking lever to elevate the releasing frame, and thereby return it to its normal position. The continued movement of the replacing frame, after the slides have been returned to their normal positions, brings the same into contact with an arm 47 on the knocker 48 of an alarm mechanisin, which includes a gong 49, see Fig. 3.

The column of tally mecl'ianisms at the right of the machine to the voter is designed for voting upon constitutional and other amendments, and upon propositions, etc., as indicated above, said mechanisms being arranged preferably in pairs, to provide for voting for and against an amendment, or for voting for contradictory or opposing amendments. Hence, it is necessary to provide locking devices for preventing the operation of more than one of a pair of tally mechanisms which relate to the same or opposing amendments, and as the tally mechanisms relating to the same proposition are arranged in a vertical plane, the slides 15 thereof are preferably arranged in operative relation with a locking bolt 26* and have upper and lower cam faces 29 adapted to coact with shoulders 30 on the bolt, to provide for locking one slide against repression when the companion slide has been operated.

In connection with the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, I have also shown straight ticket voting devices, consisting of an actuating rod 50, arranged contiguous to each vertical series of voting keys, and attached at its upper end to an operating lever 51 terminally provided with a loosely attached handle 52, and attached at its lower end to a link 53. Each operating pawl is provided with an extension 17", Fig. 20, projecting beyond the contiguous slide 15 in the path of the actuating rod 50, whereby, when said rod is actuated by the operation of the voting lever 51, all of the pawls 17, in the vertical series contiguous to said rod, are swung upon their fulcrums to advance the units ratchet one full step, but in order that one or more tally mechanisms of a vertical series may be disconnected from the straight ticket voting devices, for a purpose which will be understood as the invention is more fully disclosed, said extension is preferably of foldable or displaceable construction, or is foldably mounted upon the body portion of the pawl, as by a hinge 17 to adapt it to be dropped out of, or removed from the path of, the actuating rod 50. The inner end of the foldable section or extension 17 is fiatfaced, with its sides arranged in perpendicular planes, and in operative relation with these faces is a holding spring 17, whereby the extension is held either in the normal extended position ind1cated in full lines in Fig. 20, or in the folded position, indicated in dotted lines in the same figure, said dotted line position indicating that in which the excameos tension is arranged when out of the path of the operating 'rod of the straight ticket voting device.

The means for registering the number of straight tickets voted, consists of a slide 15, similar in construction to the slides15 and 15, with the exception that it does not project beyond the face of the casing to form a key; and a tally mechanism or counter actuated by said slide and constructed as those which are used in connection with the slides hereinbefore described. This straight ticket slide is provided with a plurality of lateral pins 54, 54 between which the actuating rod 50 is arranged, to provide for communicating rearward motion from the-actuating rod tothe slide 15". An opaque shield 55 is preferably arranged between the front faces of the tally boxes and the contiguous front wall or transparent panels of the casin said shield being provided at intervals'wit openings 55 spaced apart to suit the intervals between the telly boxes, and having their body'port-ions normally arranged out of registration with the inspection openings thereof. These openings 55" are of L-shape, with their long arms or body portions arranged horizontally, and of a length suiiicient to expose all of the inspection openings in the front wall of 'atally box, while the short upwardly extending arms of said openings in *the shield extend a suliicient distance above the body portions or long arms thereof to permanently expose the inspection openings of thennits dials of the several tally mechnnisms. Thus, when the shield is in its depressed or normal position, all of the inspec- -tion openings, with through which the units mechanisms are exposed, are conceal while the units dials of the tally mechanisms 'are permanently visible to who has operated a key, that his vote has been tallied. When it is desired to expose all of the dials of the exception of thosel dials of the tag,

indicate to a voter,

the tally mechanisms, to i show the whole number of votes cast for the l diiierent candidates, and thereby disclose, the result of the election, this shield is shifted, to cause registration of the trans verse or long'arrns of its openings with the openings in the telly boxes, by meansof a shifting lever 56, ex-posed outside of the easing, and having its spindles 56* provided with an arm 57 which is terminally attached to 'the shield.

In order to count the number of voters who he ve access to the voting machine, and

who are an posed to have cast votes for candidates iiir the several offices, I employ a voter counting 'devic'eincluding a suitable tally mechanism 59, not shown in detail in the drawings, which is laced inan'ezepossd position at the top of t ecasin where the irmaiber is permanently expose and actuated by the replacing devices, or those total number of first votes cast by side and #621,511,

means which are employed for returning the voting keys to their normal positions after each voter has left the booth. In the construction illustrated, connection is estab lished between the tally mechanism 59 and the 'rock shaiit 39 by means of a slide 64, which is connected by means of a link 65 with an arm 66 carried by the rock shaft. twill be seen that each operation of the replacing frame, necessary to rearrange the slides aitereach voter has left the machine, will be accompanied by the operation of the slide 64, and hence by correspondin adjustment of the tally mechanism 59, W iether a voter, after gaining access to the machine, has cast a vote, or not. Furthermore, I have found in practice that it is necessary to employ means, which are independent of the replacing mechanism, for registering the number of actual voters, or, in other words, to provide means for registering the parties having access to the machine, so that the oiiicers of he election can tell from the out- Whether a vote has been cast, or not. To accomplish this, I employ the voter counting and indicating devices described and shown in general features in my former patents #611,403, dated September 27, 1898 dated March 21, 1899, the latter remaining exposed throughout the time that the occupant of the booth is casting votes subsequent to the first one cast by "him. It is unnecessary to describe and show in detail these devices, but in order that theoperation of these parts in connection with the others forming the subject- 'matter of the present invention may be understood, it will be suflicient to explain that, contiguous to each horizontal series of movable parts or slides 15 is arranged a rock shaft '70 mounted in suitable bearings depending from the nndersides of the ides QT, and each provided with a plurality of ears 72 which are arranged respectively in the paths of the slides 15, orthe cam blocks 29 thereof, whereby therepression of a slide in either horizontal series, including that in which the straight ticket votin slides are "arran ed, will operate one of the rock shafts. ertically disposed, contiguous to the vertical plane of the rock shafts, is a plunger 73 having projections 74 arranged in the paths of 'the crank arms 75 on the several shafts, whereby the movement of either rock shaft will cause its crank arm to apply upward pressure to the correspondin-g projection 74, and thus raise the plunger. 'Qperatively connected with this plunger is "a display plate 7 6 adapted to normally occupy a position within the casing, and adapted :to be extended-through a slot 77in fihe'tcp thereof. This display plate is carried by a lever 78 iuicru'med upon a stationary "bracket "(9 projecting from a fixed bar 80, and having a sliding connection at an intermediate point with the plunger. Each elevation of the plunger causes the extension of the display plate, which, constituting a vote indicator, is dis layed 8X- teriorly of the casing, to the pub ic, said indicator, however, being non-distinctive, in that it does not disclose for whom or for what ofllce a vote has been cast. Connection is established between the amendment voting devices, and said display plate by means of swinging arms 83 pivoted to said fixed bar 80 and resting upon the upper sides of the slides 15*, said arms 83 being also connected with the )lunger 73. The cam faces at the upper si es of the amendment voting slides come in contact with and raise the swinging arms when the slides are repressed.

In certain classes of voting hereinafter described, wherein the voting slide is with drawn after castin a vote, and hence cannot be relied on to %old the rock shaft in that position necessary to maintain the plunger 73 in its elevated position, it is necessary to provide auxiliary means for holding said plunger, and in the construction illustrated, said means consist of a spring holding tongue 7 3 arranged in operative engagement with a series of notches or seats 73 formed in the plunger, preferably near its lower end. As the plunger is elevated, the tongue 73* slips from one notch or seat to the other, and as the plunger and attachments are light, I have found that a device constructed as described will efficiently hold them in their adjusted positions.

The vote counting devices above referred to, include a counter or tall mechanism 84, which may he of any suita le construction, and which is connected with the plun er 73 by means of an arm 87, whereby sai tally mechanism is actuated to, cause an advance step of its ratchet for each elevation of the plunger, but receives no motion from the succeeding operations of voting keys repressed by a voter after the repression of the rst key.

ond operation under the conditions above mentioned, by the actuation of the replacing devices. The means whereby the return of the plunger is positively accomplished include a foot 93 on the lower end of the plunger, arranged in the path of the replacing rame, said foot being hinged, and being adapted to be withdrawn from the path of the replacin frame, when the mechanism connected With the plunger is not required, by means of a hand-wheel 97 connected with the foot by a wire or rod 94.

In the general ticket voting where each political party has a single candidate for a given oflice, the mechanism thus far described is adequate for ordinary purposes,

The plunger is returned to its normal position, in preparation for a sec- I I I but it is well known that in class votin or in voting for a number of candidates I or a similar ofllce, as for presidential electors, constables, and the like, each voter has the privilege of selecting from all of the parties, that is, of casting a specified number of votes, corresponding with the number of representatives, such as electors, or constabios, and choosing one or more candidates from each of two or more party tickets. It is therefore necessary to provide means for varying the adjustment of the parts of the mechanism and limiting the number of votes which may be cast between two successive operations of the replacing mechanism. In the same way, it is desirable to provide means for controlling the number of votes cast in minority representation voting where the number of candidates put in the field by each political party is in excess of the numher of candidates to be elected, as when three candidates have been nominated, and but two are to receive office; and in addition to this it is desirable, and necessary in some States, to provide for casting a cumulative vote, wherein the voter is entitled to casta certain number of votes, corresponding With the nimiber of candidates in a iven group, but is also entitled to cast the W iole number of votes for a single candidate, or to split his vote, as he may elect, as, for instance, where three candidates have been nominated by each political party, and three are to be elected, thus allowing the voter to cast three votes, each voter is entitled to cast one vote for each of three candidates, or three votes for a single candidate, or one and a half votes for each of two candidates, or two votes for one candidate and one for another.

The means whereby votes may be cast and controlled under these several conditions from essential features of my invention as covered and claimed in the application filed and numbered as hereinabove recited, but to a full understanding of the operation of the general voting mechanism it is essential that a general description thereof should be included herein as. follows:

The main interlocking block guides 27 are carried by the releasing frame, comprising the uprights 42 and connectin bars 41, said guides eing fitted to slide orwardly and rearwardly in ways 101 projecting rearwardly from the uprights 42, and, therefore, being capable of two positions, which will be referred to hereinafter as front and rear. In order that the guides may be fixed in either of their adjusted positions I provide them with rearwardly extending tongues 102, each provided with front and rear perforations 103, for enga ement by a spring actuated pin 104 of whic the s ring arm 104 is attached to the releasing rame above the uide. Obviously, the engagement of sai locking pin with the rear pertheir rear positions, and under these circumstances, the repression of a voting key will cause the cam 29 to pass between the contiguous ends of the blocks 26 and separate them, said cam, however, remaining between the separated extremities of the block and thus looking all of the remaining slides in the same horizontal or single candidate Between said cam 29 and the contiguous body portion of the slide, however, is formed a space or recess 105, of a width approximately equal to the guide, and adapted to receive the contiguous ends of the locking blocks, and when the guides 27 are in their front positions, the repression of a voting key to the limit of its rearward movement, which is indicated by the engagement of the locking ront notch 33, causes t e alinement of the recess 105 with the locking blocks, and hence a llows the endwise movement of the latter, and, therefore,'the subsequent operation of another voting key in the same horizontal series. Obviously, however, the separation or spreading of the above-described locking blocks of the main interlocking mechanism by the cam of a repressed voting key will prevent the simultaneous operation of two keys in the same horizontal series, but it is also desirable to prevent the simultaneous series.

operation of two voting keys in different horizontal series and in the same or different vertical series of a group and the means 1 which I have devised for accomplishingthis object consists of a secondary interlocking mechanism and includes a vertical guide 106 in which is arranged a series of secondary locking members, or blocks 107 for vertical Sl1dlfl1g=ln0V6n1QIIt,S2tid guide being provided 3 at its opposite sides with alined vertical slots 108 connected in series by reduced throats 109, at opposite sides of which are disposed sto s or ears 109. Connected to the termina' :main interlocking block 26", by means of a stem 110, is a spacer 111, which is pivoted to said stem for vertical swingin movement, and projects through one of the openings or slots 108 of the vertical guide 106 to normally rest upon the upper edges of the ears 109 at the lower end of said slot. The spacer which rests for sliding movement upon the ears is thereby limited in downward swinging movement, and the superjacent locking block 107 rests upon and is supported by the spacer. Each spacer is provi ed with a cam-faced enlargement 113, normally arranged outside of the= uide 106, but adapted, when the locking olts are moved by the repression pawl 31 with the rtopass into said guide and thereby elevate the superjacent block 107. 1.11 connection with the locking bl'ock I arrange fastenhng devices for securing it in either a depressed or an elevated position, and, in. the construction illustrated, said means include locking pins 114 carried by s ring shanks 115 and adapted to engage either of a pair of upper and lower sockets 116 in the contiguous block. When the locking pin is engaged with the upper socket of a secondary interlocking block, thus preventing the upward movement of the latter, the series of locking main interlocking blocks in the corresponding single candidate series are locked against end-wise movement, and hence the counters, which are arranged in operative relation with said single candidate series of main blocks, are cut out, or locked against operation. When it is undesirable to secure a secondary block in either its elevated or depressed position, the locking in 1141 may be turned to one side, as shown in Fig. 5, by reason of the pivotal connection of its spring shank with the guide, to occupy a position at the edge of the guide, and hence out of the path of the block.

Mounted for sliding adjustment upon each spacer is a filling block 1117, actuated by a feed screw 118, of which the terminal head 119 projects into an end compartment of the casing, where it is accessible by opening a door 120 formed in the end wall of the casing. This filling block may be guided in any suitable manner upon the spacer, as by means of a pin 121, operated in a longitudinal slot 122, and by the operation of the feed-screw, which is terminally swiveled in the filling block, the latter may be adjust- .ed'to occupy a position above the upper end of the next lower secondary block of the series. Hence, in order to prevent the operation of :two or more votin keys in the same or different vertical series, the u permost secondary locking block is elevate and secured in that position by the engagement of the pin 11 1 with the lower socket 116, and the filling blocks, each of which is equal in thickness to the interval between the up per end of a locking block and the under surface of the superjacent spacer, are and j'usted to arrange them within the guide. Each locking block when'the fillers are displaced, or outside of the guide is capable of of a voting key,

movement, independently of the superja-- cent spacer, equal to'the thickness of acam 113, but when the filling blocks are adjusted in the paths of the locking blocks, as above indicated, the only unfilled interval within the guide is that between the uppermost spacer and the lower end of the uppermost locking block. Hence, if'endwise movement is imparted to'the'anain interlocking blocksof-the up rmostsries, the cam 113 of that series wi lipass under the lower end 'ofthe uppermost secondary tirely filling the uide and looking out the cams of all the ot er single candidate series in that grou In the same way, if the main locking bloc s of a lower series receive endwise movement by the actuation of a voting key, the cam on the spacer of that series will pass into the vertical guide 106, and will elevateallof the secondary locking blocks above the plane of said operated spacer, with the exception of the uppermost locking block, which, as above described, is secured in position to limit the throw of the lower looking blocks. Obviously, this movement of the secondary locking blocks will cause an upward swinging movement of all the spacers above that which receives the endwise movement.

In connection with class voting, which will be explained more in detail hereinafter, it is necessary not onl that voting keys in the same, but also in ifi'erent single candidate series, shall be capable of successive operation, and in order that after the movement of a voting key, the spacer should re ceive a reverse endWise movement to withdraw the cam 113 thereof from the block guide 106, I employ yielding means, such as springs 123, for maintainin the terminal main locking blocks 26, an the spacer in their normal positions with the enlargements 113 outside of the guide. This sprin is introduced between one end of the terminal locking block and the conti uous end wall of the guide 27. Assuming, or example, that it is desired to arrange the machine to vote for presidential electors, of which there are three to be designated, the locking block uides 27 in three horizontal series are adusted to their front positions, whereby when a voting key is repressed its cam 29 Wlll pass between and beyond the main locking blocks to release the latter for subsequent endwise movement by another votin key in the same horizontal series, thus ena ling a voter to vote for electors of different political parties, and when the names of the selected electors are in the same horizontal lane or single candidate series. The operatlon of a ey in any vertical or horizontal series, of the three horizontal series which are thus arranged in combination or grouped prevents the simultaneous operation of any other key in the combinatlon, by reason of the main interlockin blocks and secondar interlocking blocks hereinbefore describe but after the complete repression of said key, any other key in the combination may be operated, as may be selected by the voter. Obviously, the same voting key cannot be operated a second time, for the reason that when repressed it is locked by means of the contiguous pawl 31. It is necessary, however, 1n this connection, to provide means for limiting the number of votes which may be interlocking block, thus enseries of openings 127 in the guide,

employ limitmg mechanism having a limitin mounted to slide in a suitable guid a 125, and a stop arranged in the path of the limiting bar, and referably consisting of a pin 126 adapted or engagement with either of a the pin being preferably threaded into said openings, together with certain connections be tween the several voting keys in the horizontal series which are used in combination. The connection which is established between the voting keys and the limiting slide con sists in the construction illustrated of a series of shafts 128, one for each single candidate series of voting keys, except the slides of the straight ticket devices, and mounted in 'suitable bearings upon the rear edges of the partitions 3, each shaft carryin a gear 129 meshin with rack teeth 130 on the front side of the ar or slide 124 and also havin a ratchet Wheel 131 for each voting key in t at series. The voting keys are provided, in

ratchets 131, with position to engage the a voting key is respring pawls 132, and, as pressed, the contiguous ratchet Wheel receives movement through one step, equal to the distance between contiguous teeth, thus imparting a corresponding movement to the limiting bar, and as all of the shafts of the combined single candidate series of voting keys are connected with the same limiting bar, it will be seen that if the movement of the limiting bar is limited by the stop to three steps, only three voting keys can be operated before the limiting bar is brought into contact with the stop, and that subsequent to such contact, all of the voting keys in the said combined or grouped single candidate series will be locked against move ment.

In addition to the rack 130 with which the limiting bar is provided, a corrugated or round-toothed holding rack 133 is employed, for engagement by a holding pawl or brake spring 13 1 earned by the guide, said pawl being adapted to slip from one depression to the next of the hmiting bar, as the latter is advanced by the positive movement of the gears through which motion is communicated from the voting keys and frictionally hold said bar in its adjusted positions.

From the above description it will beseen that when votes are to be cast for presidential electors, constables, or other ofiicers voted for under the same conditions, a number of single candidate series of voting keys and counters corresponding with the number of oflicers which are to be elected, and corresponding with the number of votes to which each voter is entitled, are connected or grouped by disposing the limiting bar 124 in engagement with the terminal gears 129 of said series, the number of series thus connected being immaterial so far as the rel suiting operation of the mechanism is concerned. As this number varies, the length of the connecting means may be correspondl ingly varied, as by substituti other limiting bars. The guide 125 whic 1 1 prefer to use in this connection, is preferably of sectional construction, with its separable alined members 125 and 125 connected by an adjusting bar 135, see Fig. 7, attached to the lower section, and provided with a plurality of openings 136 for engagement with a stud 137 on the upper section, and held in place thereon by means of a thumb nut 138. If it is desired to connect the horizontal series A, B and (I for combination or group voting, the guides 27 are arranged in their front position, as hereinbefore explained, a limiting bar 124 of the desired length is introduced for engagement with the gears 129, and the stop pin 126 is arranged in the third opening 127 of the guide or is arranged at such a point as to allow a movement of the limiting bar through three steps before coming in contactwith the pin and the filling blocks of series A and B are adjusted into the guide 106. Therefore, a voter gaining access to the machine is enabled to operate any three voting keys in the three single candidate series arranged in the group or connected by the limiting bar, whether those keys are arranged in the same or different horizontal or vertical series, although he can operate only one key at a time. When the third key has been operated, the limiting bar will be in contact with the stop-pimand all of the keys in said connected or combined horizontal series constituting a group will be locked against movement. in order to return the parts of the grouping devices to their normal positions, in preparation for a succeeding voter, l employ a plunger 13'9 mounted in suitable guides 140, and connected by an arm 141 and a link 142 with the rock shaft 39, said plunger carrying a shifting arm 143, pref erably mounted for adjustment, and secured in place by means of a set screw 144i, and being adapted to engage a stud 145 projecting from the limiting bar. Hence, when l the rock shaft 39 is turned to actuate the rel leasing and replacing frame, the plunger 139 is depressed to bring its shitting arm 143 into contact withthe stud 145, and thus correspondingly depress the limiting bar-, after which the return movement of the 1 rock shaft 39 replaces the lunger in its ele- 1 vated position. i Obvious y, any desired number of connecting devices, consisting of the limiting bar audits attachments, may be used, to suit the be elected. and in Figs. 5 and 6 I have y shown two sets of horizontal series con heated for combination or group voting,

different oliicers who are to 1 l onging to the series namely, the series A, B, G and the series D,

, There is also a system of group voting,

followed under certain circumstances, known as minority representation voting, wherein the number of oflicers to be elected is less than the number of candidates placed in the lield by each political party, as when three candidates have been nominated and but two can be elected, each voter being entitled to cast only two votes for any selecte two of these candidates. The mechanism above described, however, is adapted for controlling this operation, simply by arranging the stoppin 126 so as to allow only a number of steps corresponding with the number of votes which each voter is entitled to .cast, this pin being arranged in the path of the limiting bar by which the voting de vices of the combined series are connected. For instance, if each political party has three candidates in the field for a certain office, and only two of those candidates can be elected, three of the single candidate series of voting devices are connected by a limiting bar 124, but the stop-pin 126 is arranged to allow only two steps of the bar. In addition to the above, the tally mechanism 0. erating levers 17 must be disconnecte .or thrown out of operative relation with the straight ticket voting rods 50 by breaking the joints of said pawls, or depressing the extensions 17* thereof, as hereinbefore ex- -lained. This, obviously, does not interere in any way with the operation of the straight ticket voting levers in the ordinary process of casting strai ht ticket votes for candidates for those 0 'ces wherefor only one candidate is nominated and which are not grouped, but after casting a straight ticket vote for those candidates which come under the general voting system it is necessary to select sentation candidates those which are to receive the votes. In other words, in minority representation voting the operation can be accomplished only by the manual pressure of the individual voting keys. They cannot be included in a straight ticket vote.

The uppermost series of slides is that designed for registering the number of straight tickets, as in my former patents above mentioned. In this connection I use slides l5 constructed precisely as the votin keys, includin a cam-faced block 29", and with the projecting neck and butexception that the ton are omitted, w iereby the front end of 1 the slide is, ermanently located in rear of the front we 1 of the casing. The guide 27, which is used in connection with the straight ticket voting slides, remains permanently fixed in its rear position, irrespective of the articular adjustments of those guides behaving i-ndividual votfrom the minority repreing keys, for the obvious reason that after the operation of a strai ht voting lever, thus casting votes for all t 1e nominated candidates of a party, no subsequent operation of any one of the remaining voting keys of the machine other than those relatin to minority representation, is permissib e.

The straight ticket voting levers 51 are loosely mounted upon a rock-shaft 146 with their rear or inner arms arranged in the planes of return arms 147 carried by said rock-shaft, the normal position of said returning arms being approximately horizontal, or at the end of the swinging movement of a voting lever. In the construction illustrated, no means are employed for yieldingly holding, or returning to its normal po sition, the voting lever, but in place thereof the returning arms 147 are arranged in such position as to practically limit the operative movement of a voting lever, and by means of an arm 148 on the rock shaft 146, a link 149, and an arm 150 on the rock shaft 39 motion is communicated from said rock shaft 39, at each operation of the re lacing and releasing frames, to the rock sha t 146, to depress the returning arms 147 and consequently return the votin illustrated in Fig. 6. It will be seen that in this, as in other parts of the apparatus, it hasbeen my aim to employ positive means for returning the various parts of the mechanism to their normal positions, whereby if the returning means, after having moved the parts to said normal positions, are allowed to retain their adjusted positions, they will serve as locks to hold the various parts of the mechanism against operation until after the returning means have been replaced, as by the return of the rock shaft 39 to its normal position with the replacing frame 36 removed from contact with the rear ends of the voting keys. For instance, the return of the parts to their normal positions through out the mechanism is accomplished by turning the rock shaft 39 in one direction, and.

if the rock shaft is allowed to remain in that position, wherein the replacing frame is in contact with the rear ends of the voting keys, the latter will be positively locked a ainst repression, and at the same time the imiting bar 124 will be locked in its depressed position, and the voting levers 51 will be locked in their normal positions. The advantage of this arrangement will appear hereinafter. Obviously, the tally mechanisms which are arranged in connection with the slides 15 of the straight'ticket voting devices register the number of straight tickets which are voted. It is also desirable, in this connection, to provide means for preventing the operation of the straight ticket voting lever after any voting key has been operated, or'to prevent the operation of a voting key after any straight ticket lever levers to their normal ositions l f I r l has been actuated, except in minority representation voting, or where the number to be voted for is less than the number of candidates of each political party, and hence I provide a locking rack 151, preferably mounted contiguous to the guide 106, for cooperation with the cam-faced blocks 113 of the spacers, said rack, which consists of a frame having a plurality of openings 152 through which said blocks 113 are adapted to pass, being further provided with removable rest pins 153 for respective contact with the cam faces of the blocks 113. Hence, when a combination or group of horizontal series of voting keys has been established by the use of the limiting bar 124, as hereinbeiore explained, and it is desired to allow a voter the privilege of operating all of the keys in a single vertical column or series of those which are arranged in combination by a single operation, or by the operation of the straight ticket voting lever, the pins 153 of the locking rack are inserted in operative relation with the cams belonging to the spacers of the combined horizontal series.

The cam 113 of the uppermost series of slides, or that series employed in connection with the straight ticket tally mechanisms, is inverted, to arrange the cam-face on the lower side of the spacer, and hence if a straight ticket is voted by the operation of a voting lever, the main locking blocks of the straight ticket tally mechanisms receive a longitudinal impulse which causes the cam 113 to pass overthe uppermost transverse pin 153, and thus lock the rack 151 in its depressed position, and hence, with the remaining pins 153 thereof in such positions as to prevent the subsequent operation of the locking blocks of any of the combined horizontal series of devices. ()n the other hand, if any voting key is operated, the cam 113 belonging to that horizontal series of main locking blocks receives a longitudinal impulse which raises the locking rack and thereby brings its uppermost transverse pin 153 into the path of the cam block 113 of the straight ticket voting mechanism, and thus prevents the subsequent operation of the straight ticket voting. lever by preventing the longitudinal movement of the looking block of said straight ticket voting mechanisms' In order to maintain the locking rack in its elevated position after having been actuated by the operation of a voting key in one of the combined series, I employ a holding pawl 154 actuated by a spring 155 and adapted to engage a notch 156 in the locking slide or rack, the tendency of this pawl being such as to engage the notch of the rack when the latter is elevated sufficiently to allow one of the cams 113 to pass under thecontiguous transverse pin 153. The release of the locking rack when the releasing and replacing frames are operated,

is accomplished by means of an arm 156 carried by the u ,permost horizontal bar 41 of the releasing rame. In order to prepare the mechanism for, or such of the series of voting devices as are to be used in connection with, minority representation voting, it

is also necessary to remove from the locking rack those transverse ins 153 which are in operative relation with the main looking blocks of said series of voting devices. In other words, if three horizontal series of voting devices are to be used in minority representation voting, the pins 153, which are in operative relation With the voting keys of said series, must be displaced.

There is another class of group voting, known as cumulative wherein each voter is entitled to cast a certain number of votes, such as three, for either or all of the three candidates placed in the field by each party, the number of ofiicers to be elected being the same as the number placed in the field by each party, or three, but the voter being entitled to cast one vote for each of three candidates, or all three votes for one candidate, or being entitled to split his vote by giving one and one half to each of two of these candidates. In order to adapt the mechanism for thus distributing three votes, or any other selected number, it is necessary to provide for successive operation of the same voting key. To accomplish this I employ the above described lower lugs 43 on the vertical bars 42 of the releasing frame, the tails of the locking pawls 31, belonging to the three horizontal series of voting devices, as D, E, F selected for voting under the cumulative system, bein engaged imder said lugs 13 and thereby eld out of operative relation with the voting slides of those horizontal series. To prevent more than one of the slides in the series D, E, F, from being operated at one time, the uppermost secondary locking block 107 of said series is secured in its elevated position as shown in Fig. 5, the filling blocks 117 of series D and E being adjusted in the guide 106, and the guides 27 are arranged in their rear positions to prevent a plurality of slides in the same horizontal or single candidate series from being operated simultaneously, and also to prevent the expansion or return of the main locking blocks into the recesses 105 of the slides. The limiting slide by which the three horizontal series selected for cumulative voting are connected, is then limited by means of the pin 126 to a movement of six steps, each step representing one-half vote, which, of course, will be understood, and may be suitably explained upon the face of the machine for the instruction of voters. With this arrangement a voting he in either of the three connected heriaonta series maybe repressed and withdrawn any desired number chime limited to six, to enable the voter to cast six half votes, or three votes, for a si le candidate, further operation being checks by the stopping of the limiting slide. On the other ml, each of three voting slides may be represented and withdrawn twice, to cast one whole vote for each of three candidates, or each of two voting keys may be operated three times to cast three half votes or one and one-half votes for each of two candidates. When the mechanism is adjusted for cumulative voting, the pawl actuating s rings 21 must be used, in order to return 1; e pawl after each operation, to enable the voter to withdraw and again advance the voting key a number of times which is limited by the mechanism provided for that purpose; but under ordinary circumstances, these springs 21 should be placed in position only in connection with those parts of the apparatus which are designed to be used in cumulative voting. Otherwise, the sprin should be omitted, and it will be understood that the detachable means whereby the springs are secured in place provides for their adjustment or removal with facility.

In the above description it has been set forth that the ways 101 in which the main block guides 27 are mounted for forward and rearward adjustment are carried by the releasing frame, and the object of this arrangement will be understood when it is explained that the longitudinal expansion or return movement of the locking blocks 26 into the recesses 105 of the slides, when the guides 22' are arranged in their front positions, is such as to lock the slides against forward movement or retraction when encountered by the replacing frame, thus rendering it necessary to withdraw the locking block guides downwardly or transversely with relationto the paths of movement of the voting keys when it is desired to return the operative parts of the mechanism to their normal. positions. Hence, when the releasing frame is depressed, by the operation of the rock shaft 39, to disengage the pawls 31 from the voting keys, the locking blocks 26 are simultaneously withdrawn from the planes of the keys to leave the latter free for movement by the replacing frame. In order that the movement of the voting keys may be smooth and uniform, I preferably extend the blades 157 thereof to form lateral flanges 158, which rest upon and slightly overlap the contiguous extremities of the blocks 26 as the cams 29 pass between said blocks. The blades 157 extend to the rear a sufiicient distance to allow the replacing frame, while in contact therewith, to move forward a sufiicient distance to replace all of the voting keys without coming in contact with contiguous portions of @the machine.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided interlocking grouping mechanism for use in connection with voting elements and counters arranged in single candidate series, said grouping mechanism being common to a plurality of single candidate series, and consistin of a series of movable members, pre erably blocks, arranged for relative longitudinal movement, cams actuated by the voting elements for moving or separating the movable members, and movable group-definin means consisting of filling blocks, the cs1- tions of which determine the number 0 single candidate series which are to be arranged in a group. When these group-defining elements are displaced or removed or withdrawn from the guide or from the paths of movement of the movable members of the grouping mechanism the spaces between adjacent movable members are approximately equal to the depths of the cams on the spacers to permit free independent movement of the blocks or in other words when the filling block carried by a particular spacer, as, for instance, that belonging to the series G in Fig. 5 of the drawing is withdrawn or displaced from the paths of the blocks, the block which is operatively related, and may be said to belong, to series D is free to move vertically a distance equal to the depth of the cam of series D, whereby motion cannot be communicated by the bloc I or series D to the movable members of the series thereabove; whereas when the filling block of a particular single candidate series is advanced or adjusted in the paths of the movable members so as to occupy a position in the guide, the space between the s acer which carries said block and the next ower block is fully occupied, and, therefore, any

movement of the lower block will be communicated through the fillin block and spacer to the movable block w ich rests on said spacer.

By adjusting a number of the filling blocks into the paths of the interlocking blocks, any desired number of the interlocking blocks may be combined to form a group and thus group the single candidate series for the pur oses hereinbefore specifically set forth. fii other words, to combine a series of interlocking blocks to form a cup it is only necessary to adjust the lling blocks into the aths of the interlocking blocks, and to de ne or separate the groups it is only necessary to arrange the fillin block of the lowermost or terminal spacer o a given group so as to occupy a position out of the paths of the interlocking block so as to permit the next lower interlocking block to o erate without affecting the interlocking bloclis arranged thereahove. This is true whether the interlocking block belonging to the uppermost single candidate series of a group is adjusted upward and locked in its raised position as indicated in the series A and D of figure or not. Under any circumstances the above described arrangement prevents the simultaneous operation of two or more keys either in' the same or diiferent single candidate series which are grouped as above described, because the unoccupied space in the series of rouped secondary interlocking blocks is on y suflicient to receive one cam. However, in order to prevent the further elevation of the uppermost interlocking block of a group, without depending upon the interlocking rack 151, I prefer, as indicated in Fig. 5, to lock the uppermost interlocking block of a group in its elevated osition whereby this elevated and secured block forms a stop to prevent the introduction of more than one cam 113 into the guide at one time.

In order that the operation of the rock shaft 39 may be controlled automatically to replace the parts of the mechanism after the conclusion of the operations of each voter, 1 have found it desirable to employ a booth which, however, forms the subjectmatter of another copending application filed of even date herewith, and numbered 288,7 35, but of which a brief description will be necessary to a full comprehension of the present invention. The booth is provided with an entrance and exit opening fitted with a turn-stile or double door having an open-work entrance leaf 173 and an exit leaf 174 of closed construction, said leaves being arranged approximately perpendicular to each other and being adapted to swing simultaneously and in a common direction as the voter enters or leaves the booth. As he enters he carries the entrance leaf with him and closes the exit leaf behind him, thus concealing his operations from the outside. On the other hand, when the voter leaves the booth he carries the exit leaf outwardly and thereby closes the entrance leaf to give the spectators an unobstructed view of the interior of the booth. The connected leaves are mounted upon a spindle 17 5 having an upper crank arm 176 connected by a pitman 177 with a bell crank lever 178, which in turn is connected by the link 179 with an arm 180 on the rock shaft 39.

As there is a liability of an attempt being made to tamper with the tally mechanisms of a voting machine between the times of the election and the official counting, I have devised means, in connection with the rear door 201 of the voting machine casing, for detecting such an attempt. This means consists of the connection between a lock bolt 202, arranged in a suitable casing 203 which is riveted to the inner surface of the door 201, and a tally mechanism 204, preferably havin a plurality of dials, from four'u where y, at each'retraction of the lock-b0 t, the units dial of the tally mechanism will be

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