US939929A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

G. STAGY @n G. JULIUS.

VOTING MACHINE.

l APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 21, 1907. 939,929, y Patente Nov. 9, i969.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

CU ai G. STAGY & G. A. JULIUS.

VOTING. MACHINE.

` APPLICATION FILED AUG; Z1 1907. 939,929.l 'A

3 SEEETSFSHEBT 2.

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

G. STAGY & G. A.' JULIUS. VOTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG, 21, 1907.

939,929. Patented N0v.9.19o9.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Zz e6 Se f 'jZWe/zonf @ew @ww/fa@ @we @ma :iz-Zaad waff UNITE erica GEORGE STACY AND GEORGE ALFRED JULIUS, OF PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA,

` AUSTRALIA.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Original application filed December 26, 1906, Serial No. 349,478.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE STACY and Gnonen ALFRED JULiUs, both subjects of the King oi Great `Britain, residing at Perth, in the State of Testern Australia and Commonwealth et Australia, have invented certain new and useful Lnprovements in improved Votiiig-iiiachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates tonew and useful improvements in locking and controlling devices for the operating bars of voting machilies.

One object of the invention is the provision of novel means for locking an operating bar in the out position, that is, in the position into which said bar is pulled in registering a vote.

A further object or" the invention is the provision of novel means whereby the number of bars to be manipulated by a single voter and consequently the number of votes to be registered can be regulated by the proper oiticer.

A further object of the invention is the provision of'novel means whereby the operating bars must be manipulated one at a time and whereby the simultaneous manipulation of two or more of said bars, which would vitiate the results recorded in the preferential system of voting, is positively prevented.

This present locking and controlling device is designed particularly for use in connection with the voting machine structure forming the subject mattei' of our co-pending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 349,478, filed December 26, 1906, of which this application is a division.

The use, construction and operation of our improved key arrester mechanism will now be explained in conjunction with the attached drawings and in which the machine as a whole is shown unlocked, that is ready to be operated.

In said drawings :-Figures 1 and 2 are respectively elevation and plan of the individual pull bar mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan Specification of Letters Patent.

` Dortino' Guide of. b C

Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

Divided and this application filed August Serial No. 389,467.

view of the control locking gear. Fig. lis a sectional view of the control gear spindle and as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the control gear showing the locking cams and chain wheels. F ig. G is a similar view of said gear but looking from the opposite side and also showing the locking arm. Fig. 7 is a view showing diagrammatically the arrangement of the parts of the present invention in an organized machine, the purpose of this view being to show the relationships between the mechanisms entering into the present organization.

Referring to these drawings the pin a which is xed in each bar frame al serves as the pivot for a bar stop a2 and operating lever a3. The lever a3, at its upper end has suitable connection with one end of a slide frame at the other end of which frame is supported by a fixed guide a5 .which is a portion of the main bar frame al.

As shown in Fig. l each slide frame a4 carries a roller a and wheel aT both of which are separately free to rotate about a vertical axis, and the movement of the slide frame is controlled by a stop as which comes against guide a5.

As hereinafter described each slide frame at is urged to move horizontally so as to bring the stop as into contact with the sup- This cannot happen until the lever a3 and the stop a2 which are rigidly connected together are allo-wed to turn about the pin a.

Upon the fixed pin a9 is carried a locking lever al@ which when in the position shown rests on top of one corner of the bar lock a2 and prevents its rising.

Then a pull bar Z) is pulled out, a pin all projecting from it comes against the edge of the lock lever a. causing it to rotate clear of the point of the lever a2. By this time the inner end of the fixed steel strip L12 carried by and projecting from the underside of the pull bar Z) is beyond the outer end of the lock a2. Therefore, as the lock lever am is moved ott the lock a2 the slide frame at moves over until the stop aR and the guide o5 come into contact thus rotating the lever a3 and consequently the loch a2 about the pin a. The point of the loch is thus raised behind the inner end of the loch strip a thereby preventing the return of the pull bar o when the handle is released. The bar Z1 is now held out until such time as t-he slide frame c" is pulled back into the lirst position as shown in Fig. 1, thereby depressing the outer end of the loch a2 which frees it from strip al: and allows the pull bar o to return to its original in position.

The function of the locking lever al@ is twofold. (l) 1t does not release the end of the lock until the strip 0.12 is well past the loch outward, thus insuring the full upward travel of the point of the loch when so released and thereby rendering the lock thoroughly sound and effective. ln the position shown the top surface of the lock at is held slightly below the lower surface of the strip am hence as the bar is pulled out there is no wear between the two surfaces.

The pin L13 carried by the bar Z) pushes the locking lever L10 back over the lock as the pull bar Z) returns to the in position; the parts am and al" are constructed of hardened steel to withstand wear. As best. shown in Fig. 2 each pull bar Z) carries a wheel b1 free to rotate on a vertical axis. Between each pull bar is a similar wheel b2 free to rotate upon a pin b3 which is rigidly held vertically in the main base frame o". A steel linh chain c is threaded between the wheels b1 and Z22 as shown in Fig. Q which shows the pull bar in the in position. One end of the chain c is connected in suitable manner to the main frame o* (such connection not being shown) while the other end is carried around and is attached to a chain wheel c1 (see Fig. 3) which is itself fixed on the spindle c2 carried in bearings in the frames c and et. A rotative spring c5 is so connected to this chain wheel c1 through its spindle c2 as to maintain a tension on the chain c thus always tending to keep it taut Then a bar is pulled ouh the corresponding wheel L] is moved forward between two guide wheels b2, thereby forming a loop in the chain c and drawing up the free end of the chain. This rotates the main chain wheel c1 against the tension of the spring c5. Each bar as it is pulled out rotates the wheel c1 through a definite disance, but when the pull bars are released by the withdrawal of the lock a2 the tension on the chain c causes it to be straightened out, thereby returning such pull bars as may have been pulled out to the in position.

As previously described, each slide frame at carries a grooved wheel ai and between each slide frame is a grooved wheel Z which is carried by a pin (Z1 fixed vertically main frame of the machine. and the otherv end is attached to a grooved wheel d which is fixed upon a spindle (Zt. This spindle d is carried by and is free to rotate in and coneentrifally with the spindle of of the chain wheel.

(lne end of the rotative spring ci is attached to the spindle c2 thereby maintaining a tension upon the chain fr as previously described; the other end of the spring ci is attached to the spindle Zt in such a manner that a constant tension is niaintained upon the steel wire (lf. Therefore, when any slide frame at is released by the pulling out of a pull bar o the wire Z2 pulls the corresponding wheel fr', and hence the frame c* attached thereto toward the fixed wheels (Z and thus through the connections described locks the pull bar l iu the t out position. .is each frame u" is freed, the wheel it rotates through a fixed angle, as it winds up the wire (I: to the allowed 7 extent. Attached to and rotatine' with the wheel du is a snail cam c upon which the roller cl carried by the arm @2 bears. This construction is shown in Figs, 3 and rlhis snail cam e.

so proportioned that equal angular movements of the wheel d produce equal angular movements of the arm c2 about the spindle c3 which is coaxial with the spindle ct but not directly connected thereto.

ll'heneve a pull bar is pulled out. the corresponding slide frame at in locking the ba or-t. allows the spring c to turn the wheel nl through a certain angle the wire or chain (Z2 being let out to a certain extent, and wound upon the wheel als. rlhe pulling of each and every pull bar similarly allows a definite angular movement of the wheel d which turns through an equal angle with each bar pulled out. Therefore, as each bar pulled. the arm @2 is also turned through a fixed angle by means of the. snail cam c and roller el bearing thereon.

.fis shown in Fig. 3 an arm c which is carried in a bearing in the frame c coaxially with the spindle e* and rigidly connected thereto is caused to move with the arm c2 by means of the thumb pin ci. Therefore, when cranica-ted in the manner shown, the spindle c is turned through a certain angle whena pull bar is drawn out and then locked. This angle termed herein the unit l angle, is .so arranged as to be exactly equal to the angular pitch of the teeth on the ratchet toothed segment f carried on spindle c". On each side of the chain w ieel r, and rigidly attached thereto, is a stepped cam f/ and (/1 respectively, which rotate with the chain wheel c1 whenever a cpull bar is drawn out. Two steel pawls g2 and g3 are so arranged as to engage with the steps on the cam g and g1 respectively.

The pawl g3 is attached to the spindle e3 and both are controlled by the arm g4, which can be locked in any one of four or more positions by means ofthe spring pin g5 in the fixed quadrant Q6 on the frame 03. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) When the arm g4 is fixed in the first position the pawl g3 is so situated as to engage with the first step of the cam 'rr/1. This will only allow the chain wheel c1 to revolve through the angle required when one pull bar is drawn out. In the second position of the arm g4 the pawl g3 will engage with the second step of the cam g1 thus allowing the chain wheel o1 to be rotated to such an extent as will permit two pull bars being drawn out By initially setting the arm g* and, therefore, the pawl in the first, second, third, or other position, the maximum number of pull bars to be operated can be absolutely'controlled, the first position allowing one vote to be recorded the second two, the third three, and so on. The pawl g2 is rigidly attached to the roller arm c2 and revolves with it freely about the spindle e3 and is further guided and supported by a bearing` .in the frame 0 4. The pawl g2 is so set relatively to the roller o1 on the arm e2 that it will engage -with the first step on the cam g when the wheel cl3 and roller and arm c2 are in the initial position, that is prior to any pull bar being drawn out. In this position, the pawl g2 will only allow one move- -ment of the chain wheel c and, therefore,

will only allow one bar to be pulled out. But immediately a bar is pulled out, the arm e2 is turned through a unit angle by the rotation of the wheel Z3 as previously described, and this rotation is just suflicient to shift the pawl g2 so that it will now engage with the second step of the cam g thereby allowing a second bar to be pulled provided that g3 is set to allow more than one vote. Similarly, on the complete pulling of a second bar, the pawl g2 automatically lifts and allows a third vote.

The function of the pawl g2 is to prevent the pulling of two handles simultaneously which, would vitiate the results recorded in the preferential system of voting, the arrangement being such that the pulling of the first handle frees the machine for the pulling of another, which when carried out frees it for another, and so on; always provided that the fixed pawl g3 is set to allow the additional votes.

As shown in Fig. G the spindle 7L, carried in bearings and free to rotate in the frames c3 and e carries an arm h1 with an end so formed that it can engage with the last step of the stepped cam g1 when the pull bars are all in and when so engaged, thereby prevents the pulling of any bar until a rotation of the shaft 7i moves the arm h1 out of engagement with g1.

From the preceding it is seen that two pawls g2 and g3 with their corresponding stepped cams g and g1 and the arm k1 entirely control every pull bar, no matter how many there may be, no otherI individual lock of any kind being required to prevent the pulling of any pull bar. This insures great simplicity, easy maintenance, and efficient operation. This arm /tl is made to engage with cam g1 by spindle L being rotated by arm 72,2 which is connected to the cam of the voters entry gate by means of the rod h3.

`What weclaim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a voting machine, a plurality of operating bars, means to lock each bar in its operative position, an element operated by each bar as it is moved to operative position, to move through a unit distance, means to engage said element at the completion of its movement through the unit distance and to prevent further movement thereof and means operable subsequent to the operative movement of a bar to move said engaging means to a position permitting of a further movement of the element through a unit distance upon the next operative movement of another bar.

2. In a voting machine, a plurality of operating bars, means to lock each bar in its operative position, an element operated by each bar as it is moved to operative position, to move through a unit distance, means to engage said element at the completion of its movement through the unit distance and to prevent further movement thereof and means operable automatically by a locking means subsequent to the operative movement of the bar controlled by said locking means to move said engaging means to a position permitting of a further movement of the element through a unit distance upon the next operative movement of another bar.

3. In voting machines, in combination, an axially movable operating bar formed with a projection, a pivoted locking member movable to operatively engage said projection at the completion of the operative movement of the bar, a pivoted stop normally engaging the locking member to hold the same inactive, a pin provided on the bar to engage said stop and to move the same out of engagement with said locking member, and means for moving said locking member into operative position upon the disengagement of said stop therefrom.

4L. In voting machines, in combination, independently movable operating bars, and regulatable means for permitting of the operation of a selected number of said bars and for preventing the movement of other bars beyond the determined selected number, and comprising a movable stepped cam, operative connections between said cam and each bar, for causing operative movement of the former upon operative movement of the latter, a stop pawl having movement to engage an7 selected step of said cam, and means for locking said stop pawl at selected positions with relation to said stepped cam.

5. In voting machines, in combination, independently movable operating bars and means for permitting of the operation of but one bar at a time and for preventing the operation of two or more of said bars simultaneously, said means comprising a movable stepped cam, a snail cam movable through an ano-le corresponding to the angle of movement of the stepped cam, a pawl arranged to engage the successive steps of the stepped cam and provided with an arm engaging the snail cam, operative connections between the stepped cam and each operating bar for causing operative movement of the former upon operative movement of the latter and means for causing operative movement of the snail cam at the completion of the operative movement of each operating bar.

6. In voting machines, in combination, .independently movable operating bars and means for permitting of the operation ot but one bar at a time and for preventing the operation of two or more of said bars simultaneously, said means comprising a movable stepped cam, a snail cam movable through an angle corresponding to the angle of movement of the stepped cam, a pawl arranged to engage the successive steps of the .stepped cam and provided with an arm engaging the snail cam, operative connections between the stepped cam and each operating bar for causing operative movement of the former upon operative movement of the latter and means for causing operative movement of the snail cam at the completion of the operative movement of each operating bar and comprising an operating lever for each bar, detent means for normally holding each operating lever inactive, means associated with each bar and having operation upon operative movement of said bar for disengaging said detent means, operative connections between said snail cam and each operating` lever, and means for causing operation of said connections to move said snail cam upon the release of each operating lever by its detent means.

7. In voting machines, in combination, independently movable ope lating bars, a stepped cam, a pawl to engage the successive steps of said cam and to prevent further movement thereof, means for establishing an engagement between said pawl and said cam upon operation of one of said bars, and means having operation after the completion of the operative movement of an operating bar to cause a change in the relative positions of said pawl and said cam, whereby said pawl will engage the step of said cam next in order of succession upon next su cessive operative movement of another operating bar.

8. In voting machines, in combination, independentl)7 movable operating bars, a stepped cam, a pawl to engage the successive steps of said cam and to prevent further movement thereof, means having operation upon operative movement of any one operating bar for moving said cam until engaged by said pawl, and means having operation after the completion of the operative movement of an operating bar to shift said pawl to a position to engage the step of said cam next in order of succession upon further operative movement of said cam.

9. In voting machines in combination, independently movable operating bars, a stepped car, a snail cam, spring means for causing movement of said snail cam, operative connections between said stepped cam and each operating bar for causing` operative movement of the former upon operative movement of the latter, a connection between said stepped cam and said spring means wherebj,7 operative movement of the former stores power in the latter, mains holding said snail cam normally against movement and having operation to permit of movement of the snail cam upon the completion of the operative movement of an operating bar, a movable pawl to engage the successive steps of said stepped cam, and means controlled by said snail cam and associated with said pawl to effect movement thereof.

10. In voting machines, in combination, independently movable operating bars, a wheel, connections between said wheel and each operating bar for causing operative movement of the former upon operative movement of the latter, a stepped cam located on each side of said wheel and movable therewith, a pawl for engagement with one cam, means to hold said pawl in a selected adjustable position to permit of a determinate degree of movement of the cam controlled thereby, a second pawl arranged to engage the successive steps of the other cam. and means for shifting said second pawl and having operation at the completion of the operative movement of an oper'- ating` bar.

ll. In a voting' machine, the combination with a plurality of pull bars and locking means for each pull bar and operable iiidividuallw7 to hold the same against movement from its operative position, of means for regulating the number of pull bars to be actuated.

l2. In a voting machine, the combination with a plurality of pull bars, of means to lock each pull bar individually in its operative position, and means common to all of the pull bars to lock them as a series in their inoperative positions.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of two subscribing 1o Witnesses.

GEORGE STACY. GEORGE ALFRED JULIUS.

Vitnesses RICHARD SPARROW, Ross EAST.

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