US939755A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. STACY a G. A. JULIUS.

i VOTING MACHINE; APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 26, 1906.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

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' G. STAGY & G. A. IULIUS.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1320.26, 1906.

Patented Nov'. 9, 1909.

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I I I I I I I I I I i E I I I I I I I I jZw/zfu aw ewa-c Iwgyer/mm'uls Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

G. S'IAUY & G. A. JULIUS.

G. STAGY & G. A. JULIUS. VOTING MACHINE. l APPLIGATION FILED 1136.29, 1906.

Patented N0v.9,19o9.

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ANDREW. s. GRAHAM co.. worunlwncmvnins, wAsniNcmn. n. c,

G. STAGY & G. A. JULIUS.

VOTING MACHINE. I

' APPLICATION FILED DEU. 26, 1906. 939,755. Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

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NTTE STATES vvPLALTNT i; FTQ.

GEORGE STACY AND GEORGE ALFRED JULIUS, OF PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Application filed. December 26, 1906. Serial No. 349,478.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE STACY and Gnoncn ALFRED JULIUs, citizens of Australia, and residing at Perth, Testern Australia, (and whose post-ofice address is 23 Ventnor avenue, Perth, aforesaid,) have invented an Improved Voting-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to voting machines; and the object thereof is to provide a machine of such class having novel means for registering in an accurate, secret and reliable manner, direct, preferential, multiple or variable value votes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of suoli class in a manner as hereinafter set forth whereby the manual operation thereof is reduced to a minimum, consequently preventing fraudulent operation and inaccuracies.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with means whereby the vote registered is unidentifiable, consequently insuring absolute secrecy, and7 owing to suoli arrangement no indication exists whereby it could be ascertained how an individual elector voted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a voting machine with novel means in a manner as hereinafter set forth as to enable a voter to express a first, second, and a third or further preference for any candidate, but the machine may be adapted to give a greater number of preferences for the voter by means of a multiple set of unit mechanisms without departing from the nature of the invention or altering its construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide the machine with means whereby illiterate persons may register votes without the assistance of any one at the polling booth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine having means whereby the arrangement of certain of the elements of the machine is such as to enable the blind voting, after being informed of the position of such elements by an ofcer in attendance at the polling booth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with adjustable means in a manner as hereinafter set forth whereby the voter is allowed to vote for one or any number of vacancies and said means being furthermore adapted to prevent the registering of a complete vote unless the voter votes for the full number of vacancies.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class referred to with means in a manner as hereinafter set forth for recording the total number of complete votes cast and to provide the machine with means for registering the total number of incomplete votes, the means for registering the complete votes being independent of the means for registering the incomplete votes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with novel means for obtaining an absolutely reliable check upon the number of votes registered for individual candidates, the total number of informal votes cast and the total number of persons admitted to vote.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the class referred to novel means whereby it will be impossible for an oflicer in charge of the polling booth to alter the value of a vote other than votes of a variable value or multiple votes, and furthermore to provide the machine with means which will prevent the voter from altering the number of the vote to be cast.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with means in a manner as hereinafter set forth for notifying an officer in attendance at the polling booth that an incomplete vote has been cast.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with novel means in a manner as hereinafter set forth for indicating to the voter the value of the vote cast and for returning said indicating means to normal position to destroy the indication upon the voter leaving the booth so as to insure absolute secrecy.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specically described and illustrated in the drawings wherein is shown the preferred construction of a voting machine in accordance with this invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

ln describingthe invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which- Figure l a sectional elevation of a machine in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is a plan; showing the arrangement of one of the voters-actiniting pull bars; Fig. 23 is a sectional elevation; -l is a similar view on line 3-l of Fig 5; Fig. 5 is a plan; Fig. (i is a` sectional detail of a portion of the counter selecting mechanism; Fig. 7 is a like view of a detail of the counter operating mechanism; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the controlling mechanism; Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing the incomplete and aggregate total gears carried by the spindle g; Fig. l() is a diagrammatic view showing` the bar arrester mechanism; Fig. ll is an elevation of the gate-operated controlling mechanism; Fig. l2 is a plan of a portion of the gateoperated mechanism.

A voting machine in accordance with this invention embodies in its general organization one or more voter-actuating pull bars for throwing into operation certain mechanisms of the machine for the purpose of registering a vote or votes; a bar-locking mechanism; a counter selecting mechanism for controlling the number of votes to be registered on the actuation of a bar by the voter; a counter operating mechanism; an indicator mechanism for indicating to the individual voter the value of the vote cast by him; a controlling mechanism for preventing the registering of votes until the voter has complied with all requirements and for controlling the number of bars to be actuated by the voter; a registering mechanism for incomplete votes; an incomplete vote indicating mechanism; a gate operated controlling mechanism for the machine to prevent fraudulent voting; mechanism for releasing the gate from open position and for resetting the machine when the gate is moved to closed position; mechanism for operating the total counter; mechanism for preventing locking of certain n'iechanisms of the machine during the return of the pull bar or bars to normal position; and means for varying the value of a vote.

Voter aofi/(Uffing [mail om 0r b/U's.-'l`hc function of such bars` which are operated by the voter, is to throw into operation certain mechanisms of the machine to register a vote whether the vote be. complete or incomplete. As shown, the machine is provided, by way of example, with three pull bars. This number can be increased ordiminished. The pull bars are indicated by the reference character a. .and each of the bars is positioned between a pair of flanged guide rollers c." and (i: at the front end of the machine. rlhe rear of the pull bar a is .era-nice character u,Y

supported in the machine frame l; at the back thereof'. The bar fi is prevented from turning by the guide strips as, positioned at each side of the bar a; and supported upon the base Z1 of the machine frame. Each of the bars i at the forward end thereof carries :i handle (it fixed to an inwardly extending sleeve ab which projects through an opening formed in the front o of the machine frame. rlhat portion of the bar c which is inelosed by the sleeve of is surrounded by a compression spring c, rlhe forward end thereof bears against a lixed collar a on the bar r4. and its rear end abuts against an internal shoulder ci formed on the sleeve u". The spring c. isset to such an initial tension that it will project the bar forwardly if the bar is free when the handle it is pulled; but if the bar fz is locked in a manner as hereinafter described the spring u is compressed when the handle is pulled until the tlange H2", formed on the inner end of the sleeve u* abuts against the inner face of the front o of the machine frame. 'l`he interposition of the spring M' in a manner as stated overcomes any extensive strain being placed upon the mechanism when a pull bar is actuated. Each of the pull bars is Virovided upon its inner end with a pair of butt'ers to assist in cushioning the outward, as well as the inward. movement of the bar. (lne of the bult'ers is indicated by the reference character u. and is positioned upon the inner terminal of the rod, the butter u" being arranged exteriorly of the back wall of the machine frame and on the forward movement of the bar; is adapted to engage an abutmentdish (121. lThe cushioning me,- dium employed is cork or other suitable material, the cork being indicated by the ref- 'l`he other butter is indicated` by the reference character al and is carried by the bar forwardlj..rr of the bach wall of the machine frame. thi the rearward movement of the bar the butter u is adapted to engage a boss a formed on the inner face of the bacli wall o. The cushioning or shochabsorbing material forming a part of the butter ul" is iiulicated by the reference character o and is of corl: or other suitable material. rl`he manner in which the pull bars are operatively connected with certain mechanisms of the machine so as to operate such mechanisms will be hereinafter referred to.

[i1/r Zoo/.ving nice/mn{sm/.'fhe function of the bar-locking mechanism is to lock the bars when in initial or actuated positions. The said mechanism comprises a pin c, .ixed in each bar frame and, :arried by the pin c is a stop arm l" and an operating lever c2. Attached to the upper end of the lever o2 is one end of the slide frame e, the other end of the frame c being supported by a tixed guide c" which is llt) CIK

a part of the bar frame b4. Each of the slide frames c3 carries a roller c5 and a wheel c, both of which are free to rotate about a vertically-extending axis 020. The movement of the slide frame c3 rearwardly is controlled by a stop c7 carried on the forward end of the frame c3 and adapted, during the rearward movement of the frame c35 to abut against the guide c't. The stop arm c and lever c2 are pivotally mounted upon the pin c and the said arm c and lever 02 are normally retained from movement upon the pin c through the medium of a locking lever cD which normally engages the stop arm c. The lever 0" is pivotally suspended from the pin 08 upon which is journaled the flanged roller c', the pin 0S being connected to the bar frame b4. Projecting` laterally from one side of the bar a is a trip pin c1 adapted to engage the lever o9, and7 carried by and projecting from the'under side of the pull bar o is a fixed steel strip 011. From suoli construction it is evident that when the bar c is pulled forwardly the pin 01 will engage the lever o and shift it clear of the stop arm c. By this time the inner end of the fixed strip 011 is beyond the outer end of the stop arm c. Therefore as the locking lever 09 slides off the stop arm c the slide frame c3 noves rearwardly until the stop c7 contacts with the guide c, thus shifting the lever c2 rearwardly and the free end of the arm o upwardly. The free end of the stop arm 0 is thus raised behind the inner end of the lock strip 011, thereby preventing the return of the pull bar c when the handle is released. The bar a is held in its outward position until such time as the slide frame c3 is `pulled back into the position as shown in Fig. l. Such action would depress the outer end of the arm c which frees it from the strip @11 and allows the pull bar c to return to its normal position.

The position of the locking lever 09 with respect to the position of the loclr strip G11 carried by the bar 2 is such as not to release the end of the arm c until the strip 011 is well past the free end of the arm c', thus insuring the full upward travel of the free end of the arm c when so released and thereby causing such engagement between the free end of the arm c and the strip ou as to render an effective lock between said parts. rf he arm c is so positioned wit-h respect to the strip 011 that the upper surface of the arm c is arranged slightly below the lower surface of the strip 011 so that when the bar c is pulled outwardly there is no wear between the two surfaces. Projecting laterally from that side of the bar a. from which the pin el projects is a trip pin c, said pin being arranged forwardly of the lever 00 andthe function of the pin cl2 is to engage the lever c on the rearward movement of the bar a so as to return the locking lever c to its initial position, so that the lower end of said lever o0 will engage at its free end the upper face of the arm 0,there by maintaining said arm in its locked position.

The reference character cl3 denotes a tension-applying wheel which is journaled in the pull bar a upon a vertical axis am, the pull bar c being enlarged as at cy, and suoli enlargement is provided with an opening am in which is arranged the wheel cl3. There is a wheel cl3 arranged in each of the pull bars, the wheel cl3 being free to rotate upon its axis. At each side of each pull bar a is positioned a tension-applying wheel a which is free to rotate upon a vertically-extending pin a, the latter being fixed to the base of the machine frame. The wheels @14 are arranged forwardly of the wheels cl3. Traveling over and between the wheels am, al* is a link chain cl, more clearly shown in Fig. l0. One end of the chain el is fixedly secured to the base b of the main frame, while the other end of said chain Z is carried around and attached to a chain wheel cZ, the latter' being fixed to a rotatable spindle Z2 journaled in bearings G, b5 supported upon the base 7) of the machine frame. A rotative spring Z3 is so connect-ed to the chain wheel cl through the medium of the spindle Z2 as to maintain the tension in the chain CZ, thus always tending to keep it straight. When a bar a is pulled forwardly,the tensionapplying wheel L13 is moved forward between a pair of wheels a, thereby forming a loop in the chain CZ and drawing up the free end of the chain. This rotates the chain wheel d against the pull of the spring as. As each pull bar c is moved forwardly, it rotates the chain wheel d through a definite distance, but when the pull bars a are released by the withdrawal of the stop arm c, the action of the spring Z3 tends to straighten the chain (Z, thereby assisting in returning the pull bars c to their initial position.

As heretofore pointed out, each slide frame c3 carries a grooved wheel c and arranged at each side of each slide frame c3 is a grooved wheel e, rotatably mounted upon a vertically-extending pin c fixed to the bar frame bt. The grooved wheel c of one frame c associates with the two grooved wheels e, which are positioned one at each side of the slide frame. The function of such arrangement will be presently referred to. A flexible wire or chain e2 travels around the wheels e and c in an alternate member, as clearly shown in Fig. lO. One end of the wire c2 is fixed rigidly to the machine frame and the other end is attached to a grooved wheel c3 fixed upon the spindle et The spindle e* is carried by and is free to rotate in the spindle (Z2 of the chain wheel d. As before stated, one end of the rotative spring (/i is attached to the spindle (Z2, maintaining the tension upon the The other end oft" the spring` Z3 is attached to the spindle et in such a manner that con- Stant` tension maintained upon the wire 'l`hereliore. when any slide frame c released by the pullingt out oitl a bar u the wire (f2 pulls the corresponding wheel c, and hence the traine :i: attached thereto, toward the tixed wheels e and thus locks the pull bar in the out position. .its each iframe e is 'treed wheel e rotates through a tiXed angle, thereby winding` up the wire e2.

(fom/,fer autoriza/'q mce/zffnv'am.-'i`his mechanism tor controlling the number ot votes to be registered on the actuation of a pull bar by a voter and comprises a spindle j", which is journaled to freely rotate in bear! ings on each bar t ame The spindle 7 extends at right angles with respect to the line ot travel of the pull bars o and tixedl'v secured to said spindle above each pull bar. is a toothed segment j and upon the boss ot each segmenty f is carried an arm j which is tree to rotate on the said boss and carries the pins fi" and f5. Loosely mounted upon the pin is a pawl j which has the rollers fl and attached to the ends thereof. The pawl f is 'termed with a nose .750K which extends in the saine vertical plane as the toothed segment f. Mounted loosely upon the spindle f' above e; ch pull bar t is a cam disk f'f. The rollers and f bear upon the pei-ip rThe latter is tric,

hery ot the cam disk f. rotated about the spindle through the medium ot a pin fm, which is rigidly attached to tlr e top ot a pull bar and engages in a slotted arm f dependingY Atrom the cam disk j. lllhen the pull har n. is in its initial position. it the spindle j' is, rotated, carrying; with it the toothed segment j. the arm f2 is not shifted since the nose f ot the pawl f is held clear ot' the toothed segment 1 by meansl of the roller j". which rests upon the high portion ol. the cam disk ft); but it the pull bar o is drawn torwmfdly Vit rota es the e: in disk 7"" and prior to th v pull bar rcacniup; its extreme outward position. the. cam disk j litts the roller 7"" and at the same time allows the roller to move inwardly, there by throwing` the nose j ot the seggnient, f into engagement with whatever tooth ot5 the n ent V7i" the said nes-e may be opposite to. lt then the spindle j is rotated the oawl f and arm f2 are turned to the same extent.

O/a/m/'nf/ 'nier/rodent for Hee (mmh/r. lCarried b v the bearings g. which are attached to the 'trame Y; is a spindle o, and opposite each pull bar o. is a ratchet wheel (/2 coupled rigidly to a rear wheel f/f. the wheels` (/2 and o beingv carried by the spindle lo, but 't'ree to revolve upon it. rllhe toothed wheel 'r/i l`gears with the toothed wheel (/l c: 'ried by the spindle y otf a counter fj/5. Upon the common boss of the gear wheels thereby i g2 and [/t' is n'iounted chain d. boss.

a doubl `-arm lever g, to revolve upon said rthe lower arm ot the lever y carries a pin 'r/T, to which iS attached one end of a link ff", the other end ol the link y beine connected to the pin j" upon the arm j* which is mounted upon the boss oi the toothed segment f", the latter being' tiXed to the spindle The upper arm ot the lever y is provided with a pawl g, the. latter carrying at` each end a roller, the rollers being indicated by the reference characters (/1" and y, The nose o'l' the pawl y" is indicated by the re'terence clmracter ff and lies in the vertial plane in which the ratchet wheel '//2 extends. VVigidly secured to the spindle g at one side of each toothed wheel g is a cam disk y, the position ol. the disk being` such that the rollers gl" and 'rr/H will bear upon itsl periphery. When the disk f/f* is in the position shown in Fig. l the nose ((/SX ot' the pawl y is held clear ot the teeth oi the ratchet wheel (/2. lt, therefore, the arin f2 is rotated about the bor-1s ot' the seg'4 ment j, it moves the lever g about the boss ot the wheels g2 and y by means ot the link gs. The nose oit the pawl (/f is then drawn over one or more Vteeth of the ratchet wheel (/L. but held entirely clear ahove such teeth through the medium ot' the roller y/" which bears on the periphery ot thel cam disk ,fj/1L'. It, after the operation just mentioned. the spindle g is rotated, carrying' with it the cam disk gli, the roller y" is lifted. thereby throwing` the nose ot the pawl 'r/' into engagenient with a tooth ot the ratchet wheel gl and when this has occurred the return ot the arm j?, and. there'lfore. that ot the arm [/l to its initial position, moves the toothed wheel y: forwartfl through one or more teeth.y thereby operatinp the counter y". lli. hov.VA ever, the arm f2 is returned to its initial position prior to the rotation oli the shalit o. the pawl g does not engage with the teeth ot the ratchet (/2 and the counter is there'lore not moved.

rlo limit the backward .movement ol5 the lever fj, the adjustable stop gli; provided. the said stop being' carried by the back 'all and to prevent the backward movement of the atchetwheel (/2 a pawl f/l provided which .is also farried by the back i'all. rthe pawl yy prevents any bac iward movement ot the ratchet wheel ,f/g should the nonreturn movement in the counter Ytail to act.

From the foregoing construction and arrange nent ot' parts it is evident thar the counter cannot be operated until the liollowing movements have all taken place in the order here iL'iven :h

l*`i.1'st.-'l`he complete pulling' t'orward ot' the pull bar o, thereby rotating the cam disk ff and engaging the nose of the pawl j with the toothed segment Secondrotation ol the shaft, j' which the latter beineY tree llO @sense is obtained in a manner as hereinafter described. The rotation of the shaft f will rotate the toothed segment f which in turn will move the arm f2 if the pull bar is out. The actuation of the arm f2 shifts the lever g and moves the pawl gn back over the teeth of the wheel g2.

Third-The rotation of the shaft g, thereby causing the engaging of the nose of the pawl g9 with the teeth of the wheel g2.

Fourth-The return of the spindle f and toothed segment f to its initial position which also returns the arm by means of the pin f1? which engages in the slot formed in the arm f2.

Fifth-The simultaneous returning of the lever g and pawl gf' to normal position by the link g8 and the rotation of the wheel g2 in a forward manner, thereby operating the counter through the medium of the toothed wheels g3 and gli.

Vote walt/.e indicating incG7LCm-iSm.-This mechanism is for indicating to the individual voter the value of the vote cast by him, and comprises an indicator element in the form of a wheel segment 7L, arranged at the forward portion of the machine frame and mounted upon a vertical pin 7L secured to a bar frame b4. There is an indicator element for each pull bar n. A portion of the periphery of the segment 7L is, when said segment is shifted, visible to the voter through the glass window 7b2 formed in the front wall of the machine frame. The segment 7i is coupled to the arm f2 by the link 71,3. One end of the link 7L3 is pivotally connected, as at 7.3X to the segment 7L, while the other end of the link 7b3 is loosely mounted upon the pin f5 carried bythe arm f2. By such arrangement it is evident that if the arm f2 is actuated the segment 7i will be revolved about the pin 7L. On the periphery of the wheel are arranged the iigures 0, l, 2, 3, etc. to indicate the value of the vote. lVhen the arm f2 is in normal position as shown in Figs. l and 2, the figure 0 is visible to the voter through the window 7b2. lf the arm f2 is rotated through the unit distance as hereinafter described, the rotation of the segment 71. renders a figure l visible. The next unit movement of the arm f2 will. cause the figure 2 to be visible through the window and so on. Vhen the arm f2 has returned to its normal position the segment 7i is also carried to such position and the figure 077 will again be visible through the opening lig.

Vote registering com/trolling mechanism.- This mechanism is adapted to control the operation of the machine to prevent the registering ot votes until the voter has complied with all requirements, and to control the number of bars to be actuated by the voter, and comprises a snail cam 7' attached to and rotating with the wheel e3 and upon the cam j bears a roller j which is carried by the arm j2. rThe snail cam is so proportioned that equal angular' movements of the wheel c3 produce equalangular movements of the arm about the spindle ja upon which the arm j2 is mounted. The spindle j is co-axial with the spindle but not directly connected thereto. `Whenever a pull bar is moved outwardly its corresponding slide frame c3 in locking the har out allows the spring cl3 to turn the wheelc"5 through a certain angle by letting out the wire or chain e2 to a certain extent. The pulling out of each and every pull bar similarly allows a deiinite angular movement of the wheel e which turns through an equal angle with each bar pulled out. i Therefore, as each bar is pulled outwardly, the arm i2 is also turned through a fixed angle, by means of the snail cam j and roller j bearing thereon.

As shown in Fig. 5 an arm jt, which is carried in a bearing in the support 57 coaxially with the spindle 7 and rigidly connected thereto, is caused to move with the arm j? through the medium of a thumb pin and by such an arrangement the spindle ,t is turned through a certain angle whenever a pull bar is drawn tight and then locked. This angle is termed the unit angle and is so arranged as to be exactly equal to the angular pitch of the teeth on the toothed segment j. 0n each side of the chain wheel CZ and rigidly attached thereto is a step cam .i and 7c, respectively, which rotate with the chain wheel d whenever a pull bar is drawn out. A pair of pawls 7c2 and 7e3 is so arranged as to engage with the steps on the cams ,le and 7:. The pawl 7c3 is attached to the spindle y and is controlled by the arm 7c4 which can be locked in any one of four or more positions through the medium of a spring-controlled pin 7i;5 carried by a fixed quadrant 7x6 on the support b5, the pin 7:5 engaging in the arm 794, a plurality of openings 7.1:4X being provided to receive the pin 755. `When the arm 7c4 is iixed in the first position the pawl 7c3 is so situated as to engage with the first step of the cam 7s. This will only allow the chain wheel clto revolve through the angle required when one pull bar is drawn out. When the arm 7.14 is fixed in the second position the pawl 7c3 will engage with the second step of the cam 7i, thus allowing the chain wheel d to be rotated to such an extent as will permit two bars being drawn out. By initially setting the arm 7a4, and therefore the pawl. 7e3, in the iirst, second, third or other position, the maximum number of pull bars to be operated can be absolutely controlled, the iirst position allowing one vote to be registered, the second two, the third three and so on.

The pawl 7l? is rigidly attached to the arm f2, the latter revolving freely upon the spindle j which is siilngorted by a bearing in the frame rllhe pawl 7a2 is so set relatively to the roller y" on the rin that it will engage with the first step on the lam i, when the wheel c3 and the roller j and arm j/"' are in the initial position-that is prior to the pulling out of the bar o. flu such position the pawl will allow one movement of the 'hain wheel and, therefore will only allow one bar u4 to be pulled out at a time7 but inimediately when a bar o is pulled out, the arm j: is turned through a unit angle by the rotation of the wheel e, as priwiously described, and this rotation is just snllieient to shift the pawl ZF so that it will now engage with the second step of the cam r, thereby a lowing a second bar to be pulled out, providing that the pawl 7e3 is set to allow of more than one vote to be registered. Un the complete pulling of the second bar, the pawl automatically lifts and allows for the polling of a third vote. The function of the pawl ./ig is to prevent the pulling of two handles simultaneously`r which as will he hereinafter referred to, would vitiate the sults registered in what may be termed the preferential system of votingr` the arrangement being suoli that the pu ling out of rthe first,v bar o frees the machine for the pulling ont of another bar o, which when carried out, frees the machine for another, and so on, always provided, however, that the fixed pawl 'P Vis set to allow the polling of additional votes,

Mounted in the supports and 7) is the spindle il, which farries an arm l having one end thereof so constructed that it 'an engage with the last step of the stepped cam 1 when the pull bars o are all in, and when so engaged prevents the pulling of any bar (i until a rotation of the shaft Z moves the arm l' out of engagement with the cam t in a manner as hereinafter referred to.

From the. foregoing it is evident that the two pawls Z1: and Z5, with their corres'ionding stepped cams 7.a* and 1 and the arm l', control every pull bar, no mattei' how many there may be. no other individual loci( of any lind being necessary to prevent the nulling of any bar a. lThis insures greaty simplicity` asy maintenance anil efficient ope ation.

Attached rigidly to the spindle j is an arm j carrying at its upper end a pawl The arm j is set, together with the pawl 1?. for a definite number of votes through the medium of the arm 1* and the pin h5. rlhe pawl j carries a roller j* which rests upon the periphery of a cani disk j attached to and rotating` with the arm j/L. Upon the boss of the arm j" and free to revolve upon it is an arm jl" provided at its upper end with a pin j which connects to the arm j a toothed gment The position of the segment j with respect to the nose of the pawl j? is such that the nose of the pawl engages with the teeth of the segment when so permitted by the roller j". A

Carried on bearings iu the supports and of is a spindle m, and rigidly attached thereto is one end of a rotative spring m. a stepped cam fm.: and a donbll-arm lever m. Loosely mounted upon the spindle fni/ is a spring barrel 'mit to which the other end of the spring m is attached and through the medium of the arm mf and bridge piece m the spring barrel m* is coupled to the arm mf, and upon the boss of said arm ai" is tixedly secured a segment my* and an arm fait. By such an arrangement the arm mi. bridge piece in, arm in?, segment ai* and arn` in" are free to revolve with the spring bar 'el ym* upon the spindle m.

conne ling link zal" rigidly couples the arm in, to a vertially-projectiug arm on the pawl ZF, hence the spring barrel m", toothed segmenty mi arm m, pawl arm and roller all move together. 'lhc di rectiou of windingl of spring nr with rclation to the spring barrel ai" is such that when so allowed, the roller j always pres. :y upon the periphery of the Isnail cam j attached to the wheel ff.

.t connecting link ai couples the upper arm of thel lever la to the upper end of the arm j/'W which carries the toothed segment j. The spring m/ being coupled to the spindle m, rotates such spindle. as well as shifts the arm .iw-and segment j in a direction looking from the spring side when so allowed.

rllhe gene 'al operation of the controlling mechanism as follows: lt will be assinned that the machine is set to allow three candidates` to be voted for by each voter. The lever and pawl attached thereto are set in the third position-*that is, so that the end of the pawl ,/r will engage with the third step on the stepped fam lrior to the pullingl ont of a bar o the spindle m set hack to its extreme position iu a inanner as to be hereinafter referred to. The setting back of the spindle in carr es with u the arm j and the toothed segment f and these are retained in such )ositiou ao'aiust 7" the tension of the springI in, by means of die pawl jl upon the fixed arm j" which engages with the teeth in the segment y/"f attache/'i to the arm jm. Tae first bar a, is now pull-:fd outiand as it is locked outfhe wheel and hence th i arm j: with cam disk j" attached. rotates through a unit angle. and the pawl/'21sl simultaneously raised to allow the polliuj of the second vote. The second oar r/ is now pulled out such action shifting` the fam dislij and pawl f2 through a further unil angle and the machine freed for they pollingv of the third vote. lillhen the 4third har o is pulled out the third unit movement of the lam disk j" auses the raised portion of loo 'the periphery of the cani to overtake the roller 7'8 on the paivl jl, thereby lifting it. rlhis raises the nose of the paWl out of engagement With the tooth on the segment 7'12 which immediately rotates about the spindle j", being urged to do so by the spring fm through the spindle m, arm m and coupling link m11. The extent of the rotation of these last-named elements is governed by theistepped segment m2 which is rigidly attached to thespindle. '9a.

An arm m12 carried by the pin 192,1, and which is mounted in the support (9, is set to engage With any step of the segment m2 by means of the arm ml* and coupling link m15.. the arm ml* being set on the quadrant /bu ay the thumb pin mi. As shown in Fig. 23, the arm m12 is adjusted to engage with the third step on the segment 792,2, which when it is free, will revolve clockwise until its third step rests upon the top end of the arm m12.

The mechanism is so proportioned that the rotation of the segment m2 to the first step Will result in a rotation of the segment 7"2 about the spindle 7'3, through an angle equal to that previously defined as a unit angle when referring to the arm 7'2 and spindle 7". As set, therefore, the segment 7'12 Will rotate through an angle equal to three unit angles.

From the foregoing it is apparent that una full number of bars a is pulled out corresponding With the number to Which the machine is set, the cam disk 7'" Will not overtake the roller 7S, and therefore7 the paWl 7'T Will not be lifted and the segment 7'12 Will not be released, and hence the spindle m and segment m2 Will not be rotated. It is this movement which discriminates between complete and incomplete voting in all such cases Where a vote is incomplete unless the full number of vacancies is voted for.

Reg/ster mec/anima for incomplete '1902568.- The function of this mechanism is to register an incomplete vote Whenever the required number of candidates is not voted for and the said mechanism comprises a ratchet Wheel a and a gear Wheel n. each of Which is free to rotate upon the spindle g. The Wheel a is combined with the Wheel a and upon the common boss thereof a cam disk as is free to rotate. The gear Wheel a engages With a gear Wheel a2 fixed upon the shaft a of the counter of the incomplete vote registering mechanism. The cam disk as is connected to the upper end of the arm m3 by a coupling link n* so that when the arm m3 is shifted the cam disk is turned about the spindle g. The reference character a5 denotes an a'rm carried loosely by the spindle g and Which has attached to its upper end a pin a7 on which is mounted a paWl n. The nose of the pawl a6 lies in the same vertical plane as the ratchet Wheel a and the paivl a at its free end has attached thereto a roller as which rests on the periphery of the cam disk 71,3. The arm a5 is connected to an arm al@ fast upon the spindle Z by a link 1z0. The spindle Z is rotated in a manner as hereinafter described Whenever a voter leaves the machine. The spindle Z is rotated through a small. angle and carries with it the arm a5 and paWl a upon the spindle g.

If the voter leaves the machine Without registering the required number of votes7 the double-arm lever m3 remains in a set position and the rotation of the shaft Z shifts the arm a5 by means of the link af and thereby imparts an impulse to the ratchet Wheel fa. so that said Wheel will move a suflicient distance to actuate the spindle n of the counter of the incomplete registering mechanism, and an incomplete vote is thus registered. But if the voter does register the requisite number of votes the spindle m is rotated by the spring 791/, the latter being free to act ovving to the lifting of the paWl 7'7 out of engagement with the toothed segment 712 as previously described. This rotates the cam disk a3 by means of the link a, the paivl n@ being then lifted out of engagement With the ratchet Wheel a, since the roller as now rests upon the high portion of the cam disk and consequently the paWl n Will not operate the ratchet Wheel n so that the incomplete vote Will not be registered. rihe vmachine further comprises an alarm mechanism for indicating to an oflicer in charge of the booth that an incomplete vote has been polled and such mechanism consists of a paWl am engaging vvith the Wheel a and Which When actuated, lifts an arm am carrying a hammer am so that upon the return of the paWl n to normal the hammer am Will strike the bell a and indicate that an incomplete vote has been cast. The machine further comprises means whereby a too sudden rotation of the spindle m is prevented and such means consists of a dash pot a coupled to the portion Z9 of the machine frame and connected to the loWer arm of the lever m3 throughV the medium of t-he link m32 as clearly shown in Fig. t.

The spindle g is operated through the medium of an arm 79 rigidly attached thereto. The arm 79 may be coupled either to the arm 79 or to the arm 792 by means of athumb pin 793. The upper end of the arm 792 is connected to the pin on the stepped segment m2 through the medium of the slotted link 79h Then in the position shown in Fig. 3 the release of the spindle m and consequent clockwise rotation of the segment m2 is transmitted to the arm 792 through the link 794. the arm 792 being thereby rotated about the spindle g which will then be actuated if the arm 79 is coupled to the arm 792. as is not the case shown in Fig. The slot in the link 7J4 allows the segment m2 to he re-Set, that turned haelnvard without the rtw-setting' ot the horizontally-extending pin p is fixed in the. wall t) ol the lnntehine traine and upon said pin is pivoted a lever ,/f, the npper end ot which is attached to a slotted linlt /ff which eng'afes -af'ith a pin y2 in on the lower end ot the arni p2. vs'lfhen in the position shown in il the arni y# is ree to he rotated ahout the spindle yr/ through the in xdinin oit" the segment mg, rlhe pin p at the mw xr end oli' the arni p2 slides in the slot p2". As previou lv pointed out the segment im can he 'e-set without moving the arin p whieh ran. hov-.'ever. when re dnired, he itsel' re-set hy rotating' the lver /f ahout the pin In, Vlhe aetuation of the lever /f' is eti'eeted hy a coupling' rod, 2"3. in whien the latter is shitted i n i inauner will he hereinafter re terred to.

('f'mtf oit/wafer] fonroZl/nf/ wien/fwniam/.w The function ot "his ineeh: nisin is tor eontrollingy the niaenine to prevent i'raudulen .'otingg' and Alor relasing the grate fw troni open position so that it can heielof-ied. The said ineehanisin comprises a vertieally-extending pist f/ upon. w'hieh the votersr` Lgate swings. .lhe posti .is journaled 1n hearings '/j carried hv a portion tfo'ti the inaehine Vtraine and the has-e o oi" the traine. Fixed to the post and rotating' with it is a disk q whirh 'arries the inain ga te cani (/rn the latter having' three wort-ting' surliaees g", rj and ([7, respeetively. vertical spindle r is nionnted in hearings of and ow and rigidly attaehed to the spindle r is an arin 1^ rarrying` a. roller rg intermediate its ends and having` its lree end provided with a swivel ltnueltle joint r. The roller f2 hears against the sin 'taufe ff ot the eain q" and is held up against said surtaee hy the spring' r* one end of whieh rigidi)Y attached to the spindle l' therehy tending" to rotate the spindle in sneh direction as to hold the roller rl against the periphery ot the rain y". Carriedirtreely on the spindle m is an arni in which is eoupled to the arni r hy the eonneeting' linlt m15 attaehed to the swivel ltnneltle joint r" Front the 'foregoing it is evident that when the g'ate is opened the eain is rotated and daring' the niovenient ot the ('ani y* the surtaee rf t'hereol when it r\at'hes the roller r2 siiits the arin This in turn shifts the aria mf" s hout the spindle m and therehy resets the arin mfg and spindle m, it sueh should he required, h v in 5ans ot the pin ml whieh is earried hy 'the arin ni at its lower end and which hears against the edge o'l' the arin mf?. Then the votersr` gate is again elosed the 'ani o" is rotated haelt to its original position. tlierehy allowing' the arin 1", eonaeetiing link` nl and arm in to he returned to their initial positions hy ineans olI the springy r1; hnt as previously deserihed the arin m and spindle m are held set hy the pawl jT and link m11 until released hy the polling` oiitward ot the required nnniher o't hars .l.

Projeeting upwardlyv troni the hase o ol the niaehine traine is a spindle r whit'h has attached to its upper end a eurvilinear arin r the arul VT heine' shaped so as to elear the support o7. 'l`he 'tree end ot the arin ri is provided with a roller rf" and a swivel linueltle ljoint rt. The roller r" hears against the, sur'laee y ot the 'ani r/'t and is pressed against such sur't'aee h j a spring' r" attached rigidly to the lower end oil the spindle W. .fr 'oupling' linhV 1^" eonnerts the. arin 1'7 througg'h the swivel Iioint 1" Vto the arni n whieh is rigidly attaened to the spindle l as heretofore pointed out. it is evident, therefore, that when the voters" `ate is open d the 'ain (/t is rotated, therehy allowing the spring 1"" to rotate the arni yrT as the raised portion o't: the surtaee q is withdrawn Ytroni the roller The shitting ot the arin ,"7 rotates the spindle Z hy means ot the lint; 1"" thereby operating the lot'liinp; arnt l and also the ineoniplete vote-(hunting meehanisni.

Supported upon the portion lf oiI the nan ehine Vtraine near the hase o is a stud s' earryinig a vertie'L ily-extending' aria s", 'the latter heine; eoupled at i s upper end through the medinin ot' a linl- ,si to a slide har if. The slide har s2 is thrwided through the slide traine rt tor each pull har n. and hears against roller /f earried hy eaeh slide, 'traine f-i". lVhen in the position shown in Fig'. the Iraps in the slide har si will allow any or all ot' the trames rf" to niove itori'ard upon the drawing' ol" corresponding' pull hars fr'.

y the position ot the slide har s! heine' that as shown in Fie'. 2 when the voters gate is elosed. Attaehed to the arin s a slide har a 'arrying' a roller s whieh woilis in the rant slot f/T 'lfoi'nied in the Cani 1]". rThe inner end ol: the slide arni si' guided hy the hoss ot the dis'ltY f/i. and :'.s the voters" `fate is opened a'tter a voter has registered a vote` the tensione-nt rotation ot the `e'atie eani y during' a eertain period ot its revolution. inoves the slide a rui si hy means ot the roller s hearing' against the walls ot' the eani slot (/T ot' the rain The. slide har s2 is therehjvv inoved through the traine w, any ol the latter that may previously have heen rel ased heine' therehy returned to the out position7 then heine' eoupled hy the wedged surfaces a on the slide har .S2 engaging! with the roller e5 on eaeh tra nie e.

lloosely mounted upon a vertically-extending' spindle secured in tne hase ol the inat'hine is' a quadrant provided with a pair ol pins., one olf which indi )ated hy the reference eharaet'er am", and has attached thereto one end o'l" a linlt t2. The other end ot the link iff is connected to the arni s hy means ot' the swivel knuckle joint "1. The

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other pin carried by the qu-adrant t is indicated by the reference character 2521 and is attached by the link 253 to the lower arm of the lever jvinounted on the spindle Q. By such arrangement it is evident that when the voters gate is opened the movement of the arm s shifts the quadrant t about the spindle thereby actuating the arm 7i about the spindle g and with it also the arm 79 and spindle Q coupled thereto, if the thumb pin p3 is in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5, that is coupling the arms 79 and 79. When the thumb pin is so placed as to couple the arm '79 tothe arm 772 the movement of the lever 79 that accompanies the opening of the gate is inoperative, that is, it does not rotate the spindle Q.

The relative position of the cam surfaces Q5, Q0 and Q7 upon the disk Q1 and the roller operated by such surfaces, are such that the opening of the voters gate produces the various movements in the following order First-A rotation of about 15 causes the operation of the arm 717 and roller rs upon the surface Q0 thereby rotating the spindle Z and operating the incomplete counter gear and the main bar lock lever Z.

Second-A subsequent rotation of about operates the slide arm 85 and the arm s as well as the slide bar s2, thereby re-setting any of the slide frames c3 which require resetting and furthermore rotating the lever 72 about the spindle IQ.

Third-A further rotation of 150 operates the arm 1 by means of the roller r2 on the cam surface Q5, thereby actuating the arm m11 about the spindle m and thus resetting the arm m3 and the spindle fm, whenever a complete vote has been cast.

Fourth-Any further movement of the gate is inoperative so far as the various cams are concerned; but the machine is so set relative to the walls of the polling booth that sufficient width is not available between the end of the gate and the wall of the booth to allow a person to pass out until the gate has rotated 55 required to operate the machine. By suitably placing the cam surfaces on the cam Q* the minimum gate opening can be made larger or smaller as desired.

The machine further comprises a mechanism to prevent a person after casting a vote from opening` the gate for the purpose of re-setting the machine so as to cast a fraudulent vote. Such mechanism comprises a disk r11 rotating freely upon thespindle r, and the boss of which passes through a bearing Z210 and carries at its upper end a pawl 7112 which engages with ratchet teeth cut in the periphery of the gate disk Q3. The outer end of the spring 111 is attached to a pin on the disk r11 thereby holding the point of the pawl 1112 in engagement with the teeth of the disk Q3. The ratchet teeth have an angular pitch of about 8 and the direction of the teeth is such that as the voters gate is opened, thereby rotating the gate disk Q3, this disk is prevented from returning, until the pawl 1112 is lifted out of engagement. A. heavy spring Qs attached to' the gate post Q2 by the disk Q9 is so set that it will return the gate post and hence the gate to the closed position when the pawl T12 is drawn out of engagement with the ratchet teeth on the disk Q3. In the position shown in Fig. 5, that is with the gate closed, and the gate cam disk also in the corresponding position, a projection on the outer spring barrel Q11 engages with the inner spring barrel 80 Q10 in such a manner that as the gate is opened the post Q2 and disk and cam attached thereto are forcibly rotated. lf, however, the gate is again closed by the voter, the inner barrel Q10 is rotated free g5 from the outer barrel Q11 and the gate post Q2 is prevented from following, by the engagement of the pawl 1112, with the teeth formed on the disk Q11. A spring Q12 couples the inner and outer spring barrels Q10 and 90 Q11 in such a manner that the gate always tends to occupy a position corresponding with the position of the gate post and disk, except when pulled back out of such position. The function of the spring and the spring barrels is to prevent a voter straining the gate post by closing the gate when not permitted by an officer 1n charge at the booth and the manner in which the closing of the gate is permitted by such officer will be hereinafter referred to.

UO'IUWOZZz'nQ mechanism for opening cmd closing the gata-This mechanism comprises arms 5 and 150 fixed to the spindle t and having bosses on the outer ends thereof in which are arranged trunnions carrying a freely rotatable sleeve t7. The spindle t has also Xedly secured thereto an arm t0 having the outer end thereof provided with a pin to which is attached a link ps, the latter being connected to the lever 795 on the frame Fixedly attached to the spindle is an arm t0 which extends underneath the gate disk Q3 and carries at its outer end a roller 10. The spring 2511 is attached to the 115 spindle t and the function thereof tends to rotate said spindle. The roller 2510 of the arm t0 lies inside an annular ring Q3X which projects from the lower face of the gate disk Q3. The ring Q8x is formed with a 120 pair of gaps each of which when it comes opposite the roller 10 will allow it, and the arm t0, to be moved outward, the roller 10 passing through the gap until it lies outside of the ring Q31. The gaps in the ring Q01, are so located that one comes opposite the roller 10 when the gate is fully closed, and the other when the gate has been opened to the extent required to perform the registering and rie-setting operations previously described. Bearing against the side or edge ees-),755

bringing the roller 10 to the outside posiof the arm t is a roller rw carried by a pin tion., lifting the pawl w12, and thus allowing at the end of the pawl i212, and these parts are so proportioned that when the roller Z510 on the arm 25" lies inside of the annular ring y the pawl rw will engage with the teeth formed in the periphery of the disk gli; but when the spindle t is rotateth bringing the roller 251" outside of the ring QH, then the pawl 1M is held out of engagement with the teeth on the disk gg.

rlhe operation of the foregoing arrangement of parts is as follows -lt will be assumed that the gate is fully opened, after a roter has left the machine. rlhen if the pivoted sleeve t7 is pressed horizontally toward the machine in a manner to be hereinafter described, the spindle t is rotated in a clockwise direction. rilhis brings the roller if to the outside of the annular ring on the disk Q3, through the wide gap and lifts the pawl r out of engagement with the teeth on the disk g3 thereby allo ving the gate to be closed by the spring g5. its it closes, the rotation of the disk Q brings the annular ring inside of the roller z510, thereby preventing the return of that roller and therefore of the pawl w12 and spindle t to their initial positions until the gate is fully closed; then the springs '11 and rt return the spindle t and pawl im to their normal positions, being allowed to do so by the roller im passing through the narrow gap in the annular ring to the inside position. rEhe rotation of the spindle t by pressinginward of the sleeve tl, also pulls the connecting link ps, thereby rotating the arm yf about the pin p and thus through the slotted link 22T, re-setting the arm about the spindle f/ as previously described.

From the foregoing it will be seen that;

Firstwfifter a voter has pulled a bar or bars a, and starts to leave the booth the gate is immediately opened to a v ry small extent. The pawl i112 engages with the tooth on the disk Q3 and prevents backward rotation of the disk, although the gate may again be pulled shut by the roter.

Second-ll7hen the gate starts to open the narrow gap in the annular ring on the disk Q" mores past the roller 10, thereby locking the roller and the spindle t in the inner position; and until the gate has been fully opened, itis impossible to more the spindle t by pressure on the sleeve t7, and therefore the pawl r1: cannot be lifted. out of engagement with the teeth on the periphery of the disk y. rihis insures the complete opening' of the gate and thereby the complete registering and resetting of the machine, but the gate can be again freed to close after another incoming voter.

Third-After the gate has been fully opened and the sleeve if pressed, thereby the gate to close again behind another roten' the rotation of the disk g" brings the annular ring inside of the roller 0", thus holding the roller in the out position and thereby holding the pawl r out of engagement with the teeth on the disk y until the gate is fully closed. This prevents the gate from being checked before it is completely closed and furthermore insures a perfect unlocking of the mechanism .for the incoming voter.

ris previously described the rotation of the spindle m and the parts attached thereto, is limited by the arm m13, the point of which engag with the step onv the stepped segnient m2, the position of the arm m being determined by toe position of the arm m, which can either be locked iu one of certain positions to the quadrant La by means of the thumb pin m1 or can be locked by means of the same thumb pin mi to the free arm mf, which rotates about the same center as the arm mu, but is not attached thereto other than by the thumb pin mf".

Sliding in a fixed bearing on the portion 22S of the machine frame is the bar m21, which is attached to the arm ma" by a .link in* in such a manner that Awhen the arm m2" is rotated the bar mf slides horizontally in its bearing. -When the bar m is locked the arm m20 cannot be moyed. Attached to the upper end of the spindle fr and rotating with it is a disk r to which is attached one end of a locking bar o a projection upon the under side of which engages with triangular notches cut in the surface of the bar m9". W'hen the voters7 gate is closed the arin fr is in lthe in position shown in Fig. l2 and in that position the locking bar o is held in engagement with the slide bar mf, thereby preventing such bar m21 from being moved, thus locking the arm m2 and also the arms m and m12 if attached thereto. But when the voters7 gate is opened the arm fr is rotated in a clockwise direction previously described thereby rotating the disk r1; and drawing the lcck bar o out of engagementwith the notches in the bar @21, thus freeing that bar and all the elements attached thereto. The arm m20 can then be set in any desired position and when the gate is again closed the arm mf" is locked in that position and cannot be moycd until the gate is opened.

ilfcc/ztmsm for opcrzlfaf/ /ic Zot/ll t`f(J//.i'if1c/^.'l`liis niechanisni eoniprisesa pin carried by the disk if and to which is attached a connecting link t, the other end of the link o being connected to an arm o2 carrying a pawl o. rlhe latter ei'igages with a. toothed ratchet wheel attached to the spindle of the total counter. lllhenerer the Voters gate is closed after an ingoing Voter the consequent rotation of the spindle r and disk w15 moves the unit wheel of the total counter forward one division, thus registering the number of votes cast. is the voter leaves the machine, the rotation of the disk rw draws the pawl v3 back into the initial position, so that the mechanism is set for the incoming voter.

rlhe machine further comprises a mechanism for preventing the locking of certain mechanisms of the machine during the return of the pull bars to normal position after a vote has been registered. Said mechanism embodies an arm n* having a tooth adapted to engage with the teeth on the ment m8. The toothed arm o* is withdrawn when the pull bars are returned to the in position by means of the toggle connection if" to the lever Z. When the toothed segment ms is locked the link m1, pawl 7b2, arm jt and other elements attached thereto are locked until the pull. bars are. shifted to their initial positions.

The mechanism operated by an officer in charge of the booth to allow of the closing of the gate comprises a flexible shaft a' which will transmit both a thrust and a turning movement. The operating handle of the shaft would be located on the officers table 5 or other convenient place within reach in such a manner that, when a thrust is Igiven., the movement is transmitted through the flexible shaft to the sleeve Z7 carried by the arms t5 and t on the spindle and when a turning movement is made the arm m20 is rotated. rThe extent of the turning movement is shown by a pointer on a dial attached to the handle of the flexible. shaft m and the thrust and turning movements are so interlocked that having once pushed the sleeve t? inward, no turning movement is possible until the said sleeve is again returned to its out position.

The means whereby the value of the vote can when registered, be varied by the oliicer in charge of the booth comprises the flexible shaft or spindle having the squared end thereof engaging in arm m20 so that when the spindle m is rotated motion is transmitted to arm mM by pin m1, therefrom to arm m12 through link m15, thus determining the extent of rotation of the spindle m by its engagement with the stepped segment mi.

Vlfhe operation of the machine will be set forth in connection with the registering of one vote having a unit value, the casting of two votes each having a unit value, the casting of one vote having a variable value and preferential vote.

The operation of Zie machine in connection with the casting 0f one not@ having o unit wahre-lt will be assumed that the spindle f is coupled to the toothed segment i12 and therefore to arm jlo, thence through link m11-, arm m3, spindle m, to stepped segment m2 and spring m; arm 79 coupled to arm j) and therefore to spindle g; arm m looked at quadrant Z1 in first position so that arm m12 will engage with the first step on the segment m2,' arm 7u* held by pin h5, thereby retaining pawl k3 and arm 7.1 in the first position, i. e. so that pawl k3 engages with the first step on the cam .7.2 and therefore allows one vote only. lt will be assumed that a voter has just left the machine and another is about to enter to cast his vote. rilhe otlicer in charge of the booth presses the sleeve l inwardly through the medium of the spindle 03, thereby rotating the spindle t and bringing the arm Z9 and roller im outward through the gap in the annular ring on disk Q3, thus lifting the pawl W12 and allowing the gate to be closed by the spring gs. ris the gate closes the arm r first returns to its in position, the arm a is drawn inward, thus withdrawing the bar 32 and simultaneously rotating the quadrant t on the spindle thas rotating the spindle g by means of the connecting link t3, arm 7) and arm j?. This rotation of the spindle g brings the camdisk 912 into such position that the pawls g are held out of engagement with the ratchet wheels g2. Finally just before the gate closes, the arm rl is operated by the cam surface g thereby rotating the spindle Z and thus withdrawing the arm Z out of engagement with the stepped segment 7c and unlocking the pull bars. The voter can now pull one bar a out. lWhen the bar a is locked out it causes the rotation of the wheel e3 through a unit distance thereby lifting the arm jg and freeing the segment j and arm jl@ since the arm j is set in the first position. The spring m then rotates the spindle m through unit angle since the segment m2 comes into contact with the arm m12. rIhe rotation of the spindle m shifts the arm jm through the medium of the arm m3 and link m11. '.l he spindle is thus rotated through a unit angle since it is coupled to the arms j and jl. The rotation of the spindle ,f actnates the arm f2 which corresponds with the pull bar which has been turned out as previously7 described. rll'herefore by means of the link jfs the corresponding pawl gg is drawn back over one tooth of the ratchet wheel g2 and also the wheel segment 7L is shifted by the link 71.3 thereby exposing the indicating number l77 to the voter through the window. lt being impossible to draw out a second pull bar, the voter leaves the machine and as he opens the gate the following operations take place:

The rotation of the gate first allows the return of the arm rl thereby throwing` the arm Z against the periphery of the segment 7c. The arm s is next moved outward thereby sliding the bar s2 through the frame C3, thus witlidrawing the particular frame c3 which corresponds to the pull bar that has been orawn out and allows that bar to be returned to its in position by the chain /Z and ehain wheels d andv spring of". ldvhen the chain wheel J is back to its initial position the arm Z springs into place and locks chain wheel (7 so that the pull bar cannot be drawn out. The movement of the arm s also rotates the spindle f'/ by means of the link t2, loose quadrant z, link t, arm 7) and arm y). Such rotation of the spindle f/ throws the pawls g into engagement with the wheels g/L. A, further opening of the gate shiftsl the arm fr thereby 're-setting the arin m3 and spindle m by means of the link m1 and arni Inl. as previously described. tluch action shifts the arm jl and segmenti j back, thereby returning the spindle to its initial position and this also returns the arm f2 corresponding with the bar n, that has been pulled and hence also shifts the arm g coupled thereto` which in turn moves the corresponding counter forward one unit by means of the pawl (/9 and wheels (/2, and gf, and thus registers the vote. rlhe inachine is now in the saine condition as it was when the voter entered and lis then set ready for the next voter.

The oporaton 0] Hi@ nwo/ine yw/zm/v (1f/.wfiuf/ we 'rotes eac/z, 711105114/ o inrit y'M7/le is folofwsf-1`he maehine is set in the same manner as that referred to in connection with the casting of a single vote, except that the pin 1 is set to hold the arm and hence the pawl 7a3 and arm j are moved to the second position, thus allowing the pull bars to be drawn out and registering a n incomplete vote if the voter leaves the maehine without pulling two bars. In such ease since the arm j is not released until both bars have been pulled out, the spindle j' is not rotated and therefore no indication shows in the front of the machine until the full voting power has been exercised. lllhen both bars have been pulled out a number indicating l l shows above each of the two bars. Similarly the mechanism may be set for allowing three, tour or more to be voted for out of any number of candidates. By such an arrangement failure to exercise the full voting power results in the registering of an informal vote sinee, unless the required number of pull bars is drawn out in each case, the arm j is not released. ln such cases7 therefore, nothing is registered by the bars that may have been drawn out. In eertain places failure to exercise the full vriting power does not render the lincomplete vote legally informal and in suoli cases the machine can be so set that for each bar pulled the vole is registered whether the whole number of pull bars are pulled or not.

The operazz'on of t/e mac/Line n connection with the casting of a. vote Lcwz'f/ig a 'varila/Ze lvalue-The machine is set in the same manner as that referred to for the Casting of a single vote having a unit value with the exception that the thunib pin m1 is set so as to couple the arms 'mf-0 and m14. The ollicer in charge of the booth by means of the flexible shaft a', the squared end of which lits the opening in the boss of the arm m2, can therefore set the arms m20 and mm, and consequently the arm m12 in any position, thus allowing the segn'ient m2 and spindle fm/ to be rotated to any desired extent and thereby give each vote value of l., 2, 3 or L as required. To prevent fraud on the part of the oticer in charge of the polling` booth, the setting of the arm m2 by the rotation of the `flexible shaft can only be performed prior to the .freeing of the gate after the entering voter. Thus, if a voter is entitled to a vote having a value of 3, the ol'licer in charge of the polling booth sets his handle to in the presence of the voter and the examiners at the booth and thus frees the gate by pressing the sleeve 157 inwardly through the .medium of the flexible shaft ai. By moving the sleeve 25T in the manner as stated it locks the shaft c from turning in its handle and thereby prevents alteration of the vote value while the voter is in the voting booth. Further as the gate closes the rotation of the spindle i centers and locks the bar m21 in its proper position by means of the lock bar o and its wedge-shaped projection. Unless the gate is again opened it is not possible for the ol'licer in charge of the booth to alter the voting value, and furthermore the voter by means of the windows a? .in the front of the machine, is able to see the value of the vote registered, thus checking the setting of the machine. rl`he arm mdv with locking bars m and 'u are required only in those systems of voting in which the voting value of a voter is variable.

Tft@ operation- 07 the iufm/rino Us applied to lln'efm'outi(l votiva/ Mln this connection one candidate is to be elected of a number standing and a voter is allowed to express, say by way of example three preferences, which would be registered as follows: The first preference is determined by the first handle pulled out and will receive a vote having a value of t 3 a second preference on. the second bar being pulled at a value of 2, and the third preference on the third bar pulled at a value of l Having pulled out the three bars it is impossible to draw out any other and failure to pull the required number of handles .in this case thus registers au incomplete vote and does not add anything to any eandidates total. The machine is set as follows: A thumb pin in the outer opening of arm j", eouples the spindle to the cam roller 7'2 and thereby also to the pawl 7a2. The thumb pin is so set that the arm p2 is coupled to the arm y.) and thereby to the spindle g. The thumb pin m10 is so set asA to lock the arm m in the last position of the quadrant Ze thereby allowing the stepped segment m2 to be rotated to the maximum angle and the spring pin IE5 is set to hold the arm ,7.04 and which retains the pawl k3 and arm j in the required position to allow the necessary number of preferences, 'Z'. c. in the third opening to meet the example above quoted for three preferences-that is to say to allow only three bars 0, to be pulled outwardly. Tt will be assumed that a voter has just left the machine and that another is about to enter in order to cast his vote. The oiiicer in charge of the booth frees the gate w by pressing` the sleeve t7 inwardly thereby rotating the spindle t. Tn addition to the operation before described as accompanying the rotation of the spindle t the spindle g is simultaneously rotated by means of the arm ZS, link p8, arm p5, slotted link 294, arm p and arm 2). This rotation of the spindle g lifts all the operating pawls g out of engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheels g2 by means of the cam disk g1g. The movements of the arms S', e" and @7 occur in the same manner as thatI set forth in connection with the operation of the machine when casting a single vote and during the closing of the gate. The voter now exercises a first preference by pulling the lirst bar a. As the bar a. is pulled out it throws into eugagement the corresponding pawl f and toothed segment 7; and when the bar is locked by the frames c3 the consequent unit rotation of the wheel e3 and also the arm j?,

causes the actuation of the spindle f thereby shifting the arm f2 corresponding to the pull bar a that has been pulled through the unitangle. This operates the pawl gf attached thereto and also registers one on the indicator segment ZL. The second preference is now exercised by pulling` the second bar a. The consequent further unit rotation of the spindle f moves the second preference arm f2 and pawl g" through a unit angle, and the rst preference arm f2 and pawl g9 through another unit angle. Hence the wheel segments ZL will now show the number 2 for the first preference and the number l for the second preference. The third bar CZ is now pulled out and the iirst preference will show 3, the second 2 7 and the third l Assuming that the machine is set to allow of the pulling outwardly of three bars a only. The pawl j? will have been lifted, thereby releasing the arm jm and allowing the spring m to rotate the spindle m to the extent allowed by the segment m2. This also rotates the spindle g by means of the link 04, arm p2 and arm p attached thereto and thereby throws all the pawls gf into engagement with the corresponding ratchet wheels g2. The pawl 7e3 prevents further bars being pulled outwardly. The voter now leaves the machine and as he opens the gate the following operations occur:

First. The arm 1 is released, thereby allowing the spring 1" to rotate the spindle Z and shift the arm Z until it comes into contact with the periphery of the segment 7c and by means of the toggle movement of the arm Zit locks the segment m8 in the position at which it is then standing, as well as locking the pawl 7a2, cam roller jg and spindle recond. The movement of the arm s releases such pull bars a as may have been drawn and allows them to be returned to the in posit-ion by the rotation of the wheel CZ caused by the spring d3. As soon as all of the bars are in their initial positions, as well as the wheel cZ the point of the arm Z is released by the segment la and the said arm is actuated by the spring r, arm r7 and link r1". This withdraws the toothed arm @t out of engagement with the segment m8 and allows the spring m to rotate the arm m9 and hence also the pawl L2, arm jg and spindle f, back to the initial position. The rotation of the spindle f operates the arms f2 and pawls g9 and registers the required vote on the counters. Third. The further opening of the gate fw rotates the spindle m and arm j2 as hereinbefore described. The machine is now in the same condition as when the voter entered.

that we claim is- 1. In a voting machine the combination with a pull bar provided with a pair of pins and a locking strip, of a locking mechanism for the bar, said mechanism comprising a slide frame, a lever connected therewith, a pivoted locking arm adapted to engage the locking strip when the bar is pulled outwardly, and a lever engaging said arm for maintaining it out of engagement with the locking strip when the bar is pulled inwardly, said last-mentioned lever adapted to be shifted in alternate directions by said pins, when the bar is pulled outwardly and forced inwardly.

2. Tn a voting machine, the combination with a pull bar provided with a pair of pins and a locking strip, of a lock mechanism for the bar, said mechanism comprising a slide frame, a lever connected therewith, a pivoted locking arm adapted to engage the locking strip when the bar is pulled outwardly, and a lever engaging said arm for maintaining it out of engagement with the locking strip when the bar is pulled inwardly, said last-mentioned lever adapted to be shifted in alternate directions by said pins, when the bar is pulled outwardly and forced inwardly, combined with means for shitting said trame, causing thereby the os* cillating of the lever connected therewith and the shifting oi the locking arm.

8. A voting machine comprising the combination with a pull bar, of means :tor locking said bar when pulled outwardly, said means comprising a locking arm engaging with the bar for retaining it in out position, a slide trame connected with and adapted to shift said bar, a flexible member engaging with the trame for shitting it, and means tor drawing the tiexible member7 causing thereby the shitting of the trame.

1l. ln a voting machine, the combination With a pull bar carrying a locking strip7 of a locking arm adapted to engage with said strip to lock the bar in an out position, a retaining arm for maintaining said locking arm in an inoperative position until said strip has cleared the locking arm, means 'or shitting said retaining arm, said shifting means being arranged in such relation with respect to said retaining arm that the said arm vvill not be actuated until the strip has cleared the locking arm, and means Ytor actuating the locking arm When released.

ln a voting machine, the combination With a voters actuating pull bar, of means for deterniining the number of votes regis tered on the pull of said bar, said mains comprising a spindle, a cam carried thereby and provided with an arm7 a pin and slot connection betiveen said arm anc said bar, a slotted paul-carrying member mounted upon the spindle, a paivl connected to said inember and provided with rollers adapted to engage With the periphery oi the cam, and a toothed segment supported by the spindle and adapted to be engaged by the paxvl.

(3. votii'ig n'iachine comprising a pull bar and means for determining the selected value of the vote recorded on the actuation ot the bar, Said means comprising a toothed segment, a pawl provided with a roller at each end, and a cam of variable ratio upon which travels the rollers carried by the paivl.

T. A voting` machine comprising a counter selecting mechanism for the purpose set 'forth` and a counter operating mechanism operatively connected with said counter selecting nechanism, said counter operating mechanism comprising a shaft, a cam and a ratchet wheel, and a toothed Wheel mounted upon said shaft, said toothed Wheel being adapted to engage with and operate the spindle of a counter, a double-armed lever mounted upon the shaft and carrying a pawl proviffled with a pair of rollers adapted to enga gc the periphery oit the cam, means tor limiting the movement of said double-armed lever, and means for controlling the movement of said ratchet wheel.

8. A voting machine comprising the combination with a counter selecting mechanism 'for the purpose set forth, oit means whereby the value ot' the vote cast is indicated to the voter, said means being operatively connect.- ed vvith said counter selecting ineens and consisting` ot' a shitable segment provided wwith tignres adapted to be exposed, and a link connected ivith said segment for actuating it, said link operativelyr connected vwith the counter selecting mechanism.

t). er voting machine coniprising a vote regimering controlling mechanisn'i, said mechanism embodying means vvhereby a vote is not registered until the voter has complied with all requirements, said means embodying a spindle, a second spindle arranged eoaXially therewith, an arm carried by the tirst mentioned spindle and provided with a roller, a rotative element carrying a cani adapted to be engaged by said roller, a cam mounted upon said lirst mentioned spindle and carrying a pavvl provided with a roller, a toothed segment mounted upon the first mentioned spindle and adapted to be engaged by said paul, and a shi'litable arm mounted upon said .first mentioned spindle.

lO. it voting' machine comprising a voters actuating pull bar7 a counter selecting mechanism oilieratively connected therewith, a counter operating mechanism operatively comiected with said selecting mechanism, a vote counter controlling mechanism operatively connected `vitli said selecting` mechanism, and a counter mechanism tor incomplete votes operatively connected with said controlling mechanism.

ll. fr voting' machine comprising a votcrs actuating pull bar, a counter selecting mechanism operativelyY connected to the bar, a counter operating niechanisni operatively connected with said selecting .meclianisnn and a mechanism ttor indi ating to the individual voter the value ot the vote cast and operative connections bctuecn said indicating mechanism and said selecting mechanism.

A voting machine comprising a vtoi-mal vote registering and controllingl mechanism, a registering nieehanism operativelj,v connected with said controlling mechanism itor registering incomplete votes, and au incomplctc Vote-indicating mechanism connected rfith said registering mechanism 'for incom plete votes.

1&3. it voting machine comprising a plurality of voter-actuating pull bars, a counter selecting mechanism mierativel;Y connected with each ot said bars, a counter operating mechanism operative connected with each ot said selecting mechanisms. and a vote registering and controlling mechanism embodying means for controlling the number ot bars to be actuated by the voter.

liet. A voting machine comprising an cntrance gate, registering mechanism, mechanism for locking the gate in open position, mechanism tor releasing the gate from the locking mechanism, mechanism for moving the gate to closed position and mechanism tor resetting the registering mechanism when the gate is moved to closed position.

15. A voting machine comprising registering counters, a plurality of pull bars operatively connected with the counters, means tor controlling the number ot bars to be actuated., means tor preventing the registering by the counters unless the predetermined number ot pull bars has been actuated and means operative upon the actuation ot the predetermined number ot pull bars for Vautomatically actuating the counters.

1G. A voting machine comprising registering counters, a plurality of pull hars operatively connected with the counters, means for controlling the number ot' bars to be actuated, means for preventing the registering loy the counters unless the predetermined number ot pull bars has been actuated, an incomplete vote registering mechanism, and means for operating said incomplete vote registering mechanism when the predetermined number ot pull hars has not been actuated.

17. A voting machine comprising a pull bar, means engaging therewith for locking it in an out position, a counter selecting mechanism operatively connected to the har, a counter operating mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a vote registering controlling mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a gate operated controlling mechanism operatively connected with said vot-e registering controlling mechanism, and mechanism operatively connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism for releasing the gate from open posit-ion and for re-setting the machine when the gate is moved to closed position.

1S. A voting machine comprising a pull har, means engaging therewith for locking it in an out position, a counter selecting mechanism operatively connected to the bar, a counter operating mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a vote registering controlling mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a gate operated controlling mechanism operatively connected with said vote registering controlling mechanism, mechanism operatively connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism for releasing the gate from open position and t'or re-setting the machine when the gate is moved to closed position, and mechanism connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism for operating the total counter of the machine.

19. A voting machine comprising a pull har, means engaging therewith tor locking it in an out position, a counter selecting mechanism operatively connected to the bar, a counter operating mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a vote registering controlling mechanism operatively connectedwith said selecting mechanism, a gate operated controlling` mechanism operatively connected with said vote registering controlling mechanism, mechanism operatively connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism. for releasing the gate from open position and for resetting the machine when the gate is moved to closed position, and mechanism tor varying the value or" a vote.

20. A voting machine comprising a pull har, means engaging therewith for locking it in an out position, a counter selecting nechanism operatively connected to the har, a counter operating mechanism operatively connected with said selecting`l mechanism, a vote registering controlling mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a gate operated controlling mechanism operatively connected with said vote registering controlling mechanism, mechanism operatively connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism for releasing the gate from open position and for re-setting the machine when the gate is moved to closed position, and means operatively connected with said selecting mechanism tor indicating to the individual voter the value of the vote cast.

21. A voting machine comprising a pull bar, means engaging therewith for locking it in an out position, a counter selecting mechanism operatively connected to the bar, a counter operating mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a vote registering controlling mechanism operatively connected with said selecting mechanism, a gate operated controlling mechanism operatively connected with said vote registering controlling mechanism, mechanism operatively connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism for releasing the gate from open position and for re-setting the machine when the gate is moved to closed position, and means actuated prior to the entrance of the voter for varying the value of the vote to be registered by the voter.

22. A voting machine comprising means for registering votes, pull bars for actuating said means, a gate operated controlling mechanisin operatively connected with said means, a gate, and mechanism operatively connected with the gate operated controlling mechanism or releasing the gate from open position and for re-setting said means when the gate is moved to closed position.

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