US1088811A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. DEAN. VOTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1910.

Patented M3123, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. H. DEAN.

VOTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 11, 1910.

1,088,81 1 Patented Mar. 3, 1914. .a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a m II D COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH IO-,WASIHNUTON. D. c. I

J. H. DEAN. VOTING MACHINE.

JAMES H. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

EMPIRE VOTING MACHINE COIVIPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VOTING-MACHINE.

Original application filed October 30, 1905, Serial No.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914..

285,045. Divided and this application filed August 11, 1910. Serial No. 578,616.

1 0 all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, JAMES H. DEAN, a I citizen of the United States, and a resident l of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of l Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is a specification. l

The improvement relates to voting ma- 5 chines and seeks to provide a suitable construction which is provided with both ordinary and straight ticket keys, and in which provision is made for casting irregular ballots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which cannot be im properly manipulated.

The invention consists in the features of construction, combinations and arrangemcnts of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The machine in which these inventions are embodied is more fully illustrated in my application No. 285,045 of which this application is a division. Application 285,045 is now Patent 972,513, issued October 11, 1.910.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudiual section of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the unit frames or sections showing the intei locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine with the back cover-plate re moved. Fig. 4 is a view partially in section of the end portion of one of the machine units. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sections respectively on lines 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an end view of the machine with parts shown in section. Fig. 8 is a view of the ribbon-holder employed as part of the free ballot mechanism. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the grouping interlocking blocks.

The machine shown in the drawings, like that set forth in my priorPatent No. 636,730 of November 7, 1899, is made up of units or sections, each unit having counters for all of the candidates fora given ofiice. It is to be understood however that numerous fea tures of the present invention are not dependent on the sectional orfunit feature and may be applied to machines of other types. a

Th machine comprises a base section and a top section, with as many units interposed as are required for the number of ofiices to be filled at an election. The units each containing a group of counters for a single candidate are thus arranged in horizontal rows while the party tickets are arranged in vertical rows.

The frame of the machine is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises the base frame 1, the unit or section frames 2. the amendment sections 3, the straight ticket section a and the top section 5, together with a sheet metal back plate 6. The sections or unit frames may be held together in any suitable way, as by means of through bolts 7. Preferably also, the sections are provided with interlocking tongues and notches 8 and 9, as indicated. The machine as a whole is carried at a suitable height above the floor upon legs or supports 10, the upper portions only of which are shown in the drawings.

A short shaft 11 is journaled in vertical position upon the upper, central portion of the top frame 5 and a supporting arm 12 is centrally fixed to the upper projecting end of the shaft. The ends of the support or arm 12, extend beyond the ends of the machine and carries a laterally extending bow shaped rod from which hangs a curtain that forms the booth for the machine. The

arm 12 is provided with depending handles by which the booth may be rotated around the machine to alternately inclose and expose the face of the machine which carries the voting keys. The short shaft 11 extends through the cover plate of the top section 5 and it is journaled at its lower end in its bracket 16, that is held in place by bolts 17, below the top of the upper section 5 and, in the bracket 16, are arranged a ratchet wheel 18 and a sprocket 19 which are fixed to the shaft 11. A spring-held pawl 20 swiveled on one of the bolts 17, engages the teeth of the ratchet 18 and prevents the rotation of the shaft 11 and booth connected thereto in one direction. 7 I

A sprocket wheel journaled on a stud 22 at one end of the top section 5, is connected to the sprocket 19 by a chain 23. The lower face of the sprocket 21 is provideclwith a shoulder 'orkey 24, which is "adapted" to "fit a correspoinling key-way formed in a crown piece upon the upper end of the motor shaft 26. This shaft 26 is square as shown, and extends through all of the units or sections of the machine. \Vithin each unit section is arranged a sleeve 27 having a square hole to fit the motor shaft and each sleeve has an upper, lower and central flange as shown, forming grooves 28 within which are set the tappet pins 29 and 30.

The central unit frames or sections are preferably channel. or trough-like, that is to say, the bottoms of the sections are closed and their tops opened. On the bottom of each section is arranged to slide a bar 31 for operating the counter actuators of that section. it the top of the unit is arranged a longitudinally extending restoring bar 32 for locking the voting keys and for restoring them to normal position. At the end of the unit frame each of these bars is provided with a square head 33 which snugly fits between the front and back portions thereof and which is provided upon one side with a l hook 34cand on its opposite side with a.

shoulder 34 similar to that shown at left end of Fig. 2 in connection with the bar 31. The tappet pins 29 and sleeve 27. cooperate with the hooks 30 upon the motor 34 and f shoulders 34 to shift the actuating bar and 3 restoring bar back and forth. The motor shaft rotates in the direction of the arrow and it should be noted, that the tappet pin 29 for operating the actuator bar, is in advance of the pin 30. which operates the restoring bar.

Each of the o'tlice sections or units is preferably provided with six or seven counters or reg'sters. Each of the counters is provided with three dials 35 and each dial has ten figures which show through openings in the front plate of the unit frame as shown in Fig. 2 of Patent 9714.513. Each dial is a tached to a. sleeve 37 carrying; gears by which one revolution of the unit dial is connected to the tens dial so as to advance it one step and in like manner advance the l'mndreds dial when the tens dial has completed a revolution. The units and tons sleeves are provided with single actuator teeth 38 which cooperate with intermittent gears 39 on the tens and hundreds sleeves respectively. The tens and hundreds sleeves are provided with looking wheels 40 which cooperate with cylindrical surfaces 4L1 upon the tens and units sleeves respectively, and these surfaces are mutilated at points opposite the actuator teeth 38 so as to free the corresponding locking wheel 40 when the corresponding actuator tooth 38 is in engagement with the gear 39. This particular arrangement of operating gearing for the counter The units and hundreds sleeves 37 are mounted upon the forward reduced ends of cross studs while the tens sleeve is mounted upon the forward ends of the cross studs which are reduced at their extreme forward ends (see et). "ifhese studs are free to turn and are held in place by pins which are driven through the same. just inside of the back plate of the unit frame after the tll lS are inserted. The stud 42 upon which the unit sleeve is placed is provided. with a square part or key 4hupon which the unit sleeves 3T fit. The end of th s stud projects beyond the end of the face of the frame and is made square to receive a crank or tool by which the counter wheels. when rel ased from their actuator, mav be returned to zero.

'lhe several voting he 1 5 extend through openings in the front of the, unit frame and the rear ends are connected to U-shaped slides 443, each of which is freely mounted upon two of the pins The key-locking and restoringbar 32 (sec i and is provided with shoulders or lugs 56 on its front edge which cooperate with pins to normally hold the keys 4:) in locked position. Pins 57 extend through the slides 4A5 as shown. just behind the rear ends of the keys. As the voter approaches the macnine and the booth is turned to inclcse its face, as is shown in Patent No. 972,513, the pin 30 will engage the hook i-lt and shift the restoring bar to move the lugs 51 away from. pins 57, so that the keys may be moved to set the corresponding actuators. As "the voter retreats from the machine, the tappet 3O cooperates with the shoulder 34. to shift the restoring bar to the opposite direction and the cam-faces of the lugs 56 engage the pins 51 on the slides and force the keys and actuators hack to normal locked position.

It should be noted that the movement of the motor shaft 26 is always in the same direction inasmuch as the centrally mounted booth always revolves in one direction and can only revolve in one direction about the ma :hine. The actuator bar tappet 29 in advance of the restoring bar tappet 30 insures that the actuator bar w ll be operated first both when the voter advances to and when he retreats from the machine. If the restoring or locking bar were operated first as the voter approaches the machine, he could then push in one or more of the keys and actuators before the actuator-bar was shifted, so that, when this did occur. one or more of the counters would be moved back one number. Of course. the actuator-bar must be operated before the restoring bar as the voter leaves the machine, for otherwise the counters would not properly register the dials is set forthin prior application filed ballot cast.

by me No. Tet-2,031 December 80, 1899, and

need not be more fully here.

T limiting mechanism for preventing the voter from push ng n more than a cor tain number of the candidate keys, comprises a series of wedge-block separators controlled by the keys and grouping mechanism. Each of the candidate group sections or units is provided with a series of wedge-blocks 72 (see Fig. 2) which slide upon the bottom of the section in contact with the rear wall thereot. Each section has one more wedge-block than it has keys and the wedge-blocks are cut away at their for ward, adjacent edges to form spaces '73 which receive the separator pins 74. These separators are connected by links 7 to pins 57, extending through the slides lt) in rear of the keys 45. The cut-away portions of the blocks forming the spaces 7 3, are beveled or inclined at their rear ends so that the separators 7%, whenever the corresponding key is actuated, will be forced between the adjacent blocks to elongate the series of blocks. The connecting links 75 permit the movement of the blocks and separators 7st transversely of the keys without changing the relation between the separators and wedgeblocks. Obviously it is only necessary to limit the movement of the first and last blocks of any series of blocks in one or more of the candidate group sections to limit the number of keys which can be actuated. If the movement of the series of blocks is limited to one step, a. to the diameter of one oi the separators 7 4, one key only can be pushed in. If it is limited to two steps, two keys can be pushed in and so on.

In the arrangement shown, the center block of the series in each unit or section is fixed in position by pins or studs 77, (see Fig. 2). One end block is provided with a lug'78 which engages a notch in the end of a sliding bar 79. Bar 79 slides upon the bottom of the section between the front edges of the blocks 7 2 and the rear edge of the actuator rack-bar 31. The block at the other end of the section pivoted to the center of a horizontal link 80, which is slotted at its forward end to engage a pin 80' on the end of bar 79. The rear end of the link 80 projects through a slot in the rear wall of the section and is connected to the means by which the movement of the blocks is limited. If one or more of the separators to the left of the center fixed wedge-block are pushed in, the bar 79 will move the link 80 one or more steps in accordance with the number of separators so operated. If the separators at the right of the fixed block are pushed in, the right hand end block will move the link 80 one or more steps in accordance with the number of separators pushed in, and it would move the link in the same directlon as the latter is moved by the bar 79. By this arrangement the extent of movement of the individual blocks and separators transversely to-t'he keys, is considerably cut down.

For example, in Fig. 2 four separators are shown and if all are pushed in, the link 80 will be moved four steps, but no one block will have moved more than two steps. By r ason of this arrangement, the links or ar rows 75 which connect the separators with the keys and which compensate for the transverse movement of the separators relatively to the keys, can be much shorter than they would have to be it one of the blocks of the series moved as many steps as there were separators when all of the separators were pushed in. It will of course be understood, that unless the section is arranged in a multicandidate group, the movement of link 80 is limited to one step so that this arrangement is only of particular advantage when the section or unitis to be arranged in a multicandidate group. Br.U it is important that all of the sections should be so connected. that they can be placed or assembled with other of the units in a multicandidate group, as may be desired.

Each link 80 is connected to one of the limiting bars 81 Ofhtlle grouping mechanism, preferably by means of an adjustable connection comprising a link 82 which is pivoted to the rear end of the link 80 and which is provided with a slot arranged to receive a pin 83 connected to the ends of the sec tions of the limiting bar 81. An adjusting screw Sl: extends longitudinally through the link 82 and engages the cross-pin 83. Each bar 81. is as stated. preferably formed ol' St)2 l'2ll(:. sections which extend across the rear face of the machine and on opposite sides of a guide "frame 85 see Fig. 3, secured to, but spaced "from the rear face of the machine. This guide frame comprises the lnrrizontal bars 85 through which the sup-- porting screws 86 extend, and the pairs of vertical bars 87 secured to the ends of the horizontal bars Between the bars 85 are arranged the space or guide bars 88. which are narrower than the vertical bars 87 so that guide slots are formed to receive the overlapping limiting plates 89. These limiting plates are triangular in outline as shown. and are provided with squared ends which abut snugly against the guide bars 88 and the plates can therefore only shift in a vertical direction within the guide frame. Removable pins 90 extend through the bars 87 and limiting plates 89 and hold them in the position shown in Fig. The sections of each of the limiting bars 81 are connected by a cross-pin 91 which extends between two of the limiting plates and engages the inclined edge of the lowermost limiting plate.

The machine is provided with one more of the limiting plates 89 than it has candidate group sections, so that the pin 91 on each of the several limiting bars 81 which correspond in number to the candidate group sections, co'ciperates with two of the limiting plates. It the plates 89 on opposite sides of any one of the pins 91 are fixed in position, that pin will be arrested by engaging the lower edge of the plate above it when the space blocks and limiting bar 81 oi the corresponding unit or section, have been moved one step. When any of the candidate group sections or units are to be used for a single ol'lice, that is to represent there are several persons to be elected, and

such cc ditions necessitate multicandidate groims. T h at is, several of the othce rows or units must be coupled together to permit a voter to cast all oi his ballots for the candidates named in a. single row, or to vote the l ticket or otherwise cast his vote.

For this purpose, any of the limiting plates 89 may be unlocked by removing the pins 90. it the top and bottom plates alone are el d in position while the intermediate ates are unlocked, the whole machine will e thrown into a multicandidate group and 0 voter may push in as many keys as there we ollice units or ollice rows, and he may votes in a single row, vote or cut up his ballot in any Usually however, it is not whole machine as a hunch all of his 1 straight ticket desired manner. necessary to use the multicandidate group. Most of the units ordinarily will represent but a single otlioe and the limiting plates on either side of the or 's 81 corresponding to the single oi'lice groups, will he locked in place by the pins .IU. ll l'iole a few adjacent units or sections are thrown into a multicandidate group, the. limi ing plate below the bar 81 of the lower most section of the group and the plate above the bar Si o'r' the uppermost section of the group, will be locked while the intermediate plates are left free. The voter may then push in as many keys in the multicandidate group as there are sections or otiico rows thus arranged in the group, and these votes may he distrihuted within the multicandidate group in any desired manner.

To prevent. interference with the limitin and grouping mechanism and other parts on the rear face of the machine, these parts are inclcsed in a casing carried at its upper 'e on pins and secured in place at its rower edge by a. lock so that only the city clerk or other proper otiicialhaving the l l l l i l l i l l key to the lock 9%, can have access to the limiting mechanism for properly adjusting or setting the same prior to an election.

The sections of the limiting bars Sl extend on opposite sides of a pair of vertically disposed parallel movement bars 95 and 96. These bars are pivotally connected at their ends to links or hell levers 97 and 98. These links are carried intermediate their ends on pivots 99 and 10() which are mounted respectively in the sections 3 and 41; of the machine. The link 98 is fixed to the pivot 100 and the rear end of the latter is arranged opposite an opening in the coverplate 6 and has a squared portion adapted to receive a suitable key by which the judge of election may shift the bars 95 and 9h. liar 96 is ar 'filljittl to engage and cooperate with a series of pins .101 extending between the sections of the limiting bars 81 to lock the bars and space-blocks connected thereto against. movement with the bar 96 in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

l v v u I and with all of the pins 101 in pl ace, none 01' the voting keys can be pushed in. \Vhen special class electors are to vote for certain o'liices. the pins lOl ol the limiting bars 81, connected to the sections or units representthese ollices, are removed. hen a special class voter is to cast a ballot, the judge of election will shift the class-bar 96 into pcsition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, and this will lock all ot the keys of the machine except those representii'ig the ol'lices to which the special class elector is entitled to cast a ballot. The bar 90 is cut away or notched at its upper end so that the pivots at its ends may be brought in line above the pivots .l. and 100, and the weight of bar 95 will securely hold the bar 90 in this normal position. shown in full lines in Fig. 3 so that there no danger that it will he accidentally shifted to lock the machine.

Means are provided for controlling the casting of tree ballots for irregular candidates whose names are not on the machine. Such. means consists of devices by which a tree ballot may he so marked as to indicate the oliices for which the elector has a right to cast a tree ballot. That is to say, the free ballot so marked as to identify those oilices tor which the voter has not cast a hallct for one of the regular candidates (hose names appear upon the face of the machine. These devices are so connected to the limiting mechanism that this object is attained. Preferably, printers bearing identifying numerals, names or other marks corresponding to the several o'l'lices are employed. "rhese printers are actuated by suitable keys and their operation is controlled by the locking and limiting mechanisms.

Each of the sections or units is provided at its end with a plate 103 which is riveted thereto and which is provided on its inner face with a cut-away space 101 and on its outer face with a clip 105. The plates 103 are of the same width as the separate sections of the machine and when the sections are set one upon the other, the cutaway spaces 10-1 form a continuous slot which receives a holder 106. This holder is provided on its upper end with an out-turned clip 107, which supports the holder in place. A plate 108 having prongs on its upper edge, is secured to the inner face of the holder 100, and the wires 109 secured to and depending from the holder, are provided on its lower ends with prongs. An inking ribbon 110 is stretched between the prongs of the plate 108 and the prongs on the lower ends of the wires 109 are so held in place within the cut-away spaces 104. The free ballot is placed by the voter within the clip 105 and each section or unit is provided with a printing plunger or head 111 arranged to shift through openings 112 in the end of the section and in the plate 10", and thus force the inking ribbon 110 against the free ballot to impress the identifying number or other mark upon the free ballot. Each of the printing heads bears its own particular identifying number, name or ether mark which corresponds to the candidate represented by the unit or section in which the plunger is mounted. The plunger is carried in a block 113 arranged be tween a pair of plates 11 1 which are secured to the bottom of the section in front of the end of the actuatmr-bar 31. The front edge of the actuatm-bar 31 engages the rear plate 11% so that the end of the bar is guided by the plate.

The counter at the extreme right hand end of the section registers the number of times that the free ballot printer is operated, and is in all respects similar to the counting mechanism previously described, except that a rocking-key 115 (see Fig. 4) is employed instead of a. push key. This rocking key is mounted upon the cross-pin 42 and is arranged to operate the cam 60 thereon to move the slide 46, actuator 47 and separator 71 connected thereto. The cam and pin in the other counting mechanism are connected to the straight ticket bars which are not employed in the free ballot mechanism. The pin 15, which carries the actuator 17 of the free ballot register, does not extend through the front of the casing to form a push key as in the other counting mechanisms.

The pin or rock shaft 12 of the free ballot mechanism carries an actuating shifter for the printer in the form ofacylindrical piece l j if I t I t g l 116 (see Figs. st, 5 and 6), having a slot 117 1 in one side and a projecting V-shaped piece 117 which in normal position engages the bottom of the section or unit and limits the movement of the printer actuator in one direction. A slide 118 shifting longitudinally between the plates 111, carries a cross-pin 119 upon which is mounted an arm 120. ine end of the arm is connected by a pair of links 121 to the end of the reciprocating printer head 111. and the other end extends within the slot 117 of the shifter 116 above an abutment 122 at the lower end of the slot. The sliding block 118 carries a pin 1 23, to which is pivoted a bellcrank 121. One arm of the bell-crank is slotted at its end to engage a pin 125 on the end of the restoring-bar The other arm of the belllever 12-1- is provided with a cam-shaped slot 120, which engages a pin 127 on a plate 128, which is secured in fixed position to the plates 11%. The cross-pin 119, which carries the shifter 120 in the slide 118, projects through guide slots 129 in the sides of the plates 111 (see Fig. 6). The shifter 120 is provided on its lower edge with a lug 180 which is arranged to engage a fixed cross-pin 131 extending between the plates 114.

As the elector enters the booth, the looking or restoring bar 32 is shifted to the left, as described, to release the slides and keys of the several registering mechanisms including that belonging to the free ballot devices. At the same time the bell-lever 124 is shifted about its pivot. During this shift the camslot 126 of the bell-lever cooperates with the fixed pin 127 to move the pivot pin 123, slide 118 and arm 120 toward the right or toward the printing head 111 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. If the elector desires to cast a ballot for an irregular candidate for any office, he will operate the free ballot key corresponding to that cflice. This will turn the shifter 116 toward the left and the engagement of the abutment 122 thereon with the end of the arm 120 will project the printing head 111 and the free ballot within the clips 105 will be thus printed with an identifying mark representing the office for which the elector has a right to vote. The operation of course shifts the separator connected to the free ballot mechanism between the wedge-blocks of the limiting mechanism so that the elector cannot cast another vote for the same oflice by operating any of the regular keys. Of course, the free ballot mechanism may be arranged in a multicandidate group and then the elector may cast as many ballots either regular or irregular, as there are oflice rows or sections arranged in the group. hen in multicandi date group the ballots which are to be marked by the printing mechanism should be of a size suflicient to fit within the clips 105 connected to all of the units or sections in the rou 3. here the sections re )resent. :1

single candidates only small clips may be employed. After the free ballots have thus been printed wlth an identifymg number or other mark, the elector may write thereon the name of the irregular candidate for whom he desires to cast a ballot and the ballot is then placed within a suitable box. It will be understood of course, that no free ballots will be counted unless they have been properly marked with the printing mechanism.

As the printer is operated. by the engagement of the abutment 122 with the tail of the arm 120. the toggle formed by the shifter 120 and the links 121 is moved past its line of centers and the movement of the shifter 116 is arrested by the engagement of the abutment 117 thereon with the lower edge of the arm 120. By this movement of the parts 120 and 121 past their line of centers, the printing head is projected and then withdrawn. It is obvious however, that it cannot again be operated by any further manipulation. of the key or actuator 110. As the operator leaves the booth, the restoring bar 32 is shifted toward the right and bell-lever 12a is swung back about the pin 123 so that the cam 126 and pin 127 cooperate to move the slide and shifter back toward the left. This move ment brings the lug 130 on the shifter into engagement with the fixed pin 131 so that the shifter is turned from its lowermost position into which it has been moved by the shifter 116 back to its uppermost normal position shown in Fig. 5. During this restoring movement of the shifter, the printing head 111. of course projected toward the right and withdrawn, but it is not projected enough to again mark a ballot, since, during this restoring movement, the pivot 119 of the shifter is at the inner end of the slot 129 and the slide 118 and arm are drawn away from the right hand end of the section or unit. The parts are so arranged that it is only when the pin 119 and shifter 120 are in their extreme, outermost position that the printing head will be projected far enough by the shift of the toggle members 120 and 121 past the line of centers to mark the ballot.

What I claim as my invention is 1. in voting machines, the combination with the series of counters, the series of limiting blocks therefor and separators cooperating with said blocks, of connections between the end blocks of the series, one of the intermediate blocks being held against movement.

2. In voting machines, the combination with the oflice group of registering devices, of a series of limiting blocks and separators cooperating therewith and a connecting link between the end blocks of the series, one of the intermediate blocks being fixed in position.

l 3. In voting machines, the combination with the office group of voting mechanisms and with the series of limiting blocks and separators therefor, one of the intermediate blocks being fixed in position, of an arm pivoted. to one of the end blocks of the series. a bar connecting said arm with the other end block of the series and means for limiting the movement of said arm.

t. In voting machines. the combination with the otlice groups of counters, limiting blocks and separators therefor, of a set of limiting blocks connected to the groups of blocks by bars, a set of devices for limiting the movement of said bars and means for releasably holding said limiting devices in position.

5. In voting machines. the combination with the office groups of counters and limiting mechanisms for each group, of a set of bars connected to the limiting mechanisms of the several groups, a set of overlapping limiting plates cooperating with said bars and means for removably holding said plates in position.

(5. in voting machines, the combination with the o'liice groups of counters and limiting mechanisms for each group, of a set of bars connected to the limiting mechanisms of the several groups, a series of overlapping sliding plates cooperating with said bars to limit the movement thereof, and removable pins for holding said plates in position.

T. in voting machines, the combination with the ofiice groups of counters and limiting mechanisms for each group, of a set of bars connected to the limiting mechanisms of the several groups, a series of overlapping, sliding plates each having one inclined edge and one straight edge, pins on the ends of said bars between the inclined edge of one plate and the straight edge of the next adjacent plate and removable means for holding said plates in position.

8. in voting machines, the combination with the oflice groups of voting mechanisms and with the limiting blocks and separators therefor, of a set of limiting bars, adjustable connections between said bars and the separate groups of limiting blocks, a series of overlapping sliding plates, a frame wherein said plates are mounted, pins on said bars engaging said plates and removable means for holding said plates in posir1011.

9. In voting machines, the combination with. the oflice groups of voting devices and limiting mechanism therefor, l of a frame fixed to the machine casing, a series of overlapping sliding plates carried in said frame. releasable means for holding said plates in position. a set of limiting bars each comprising two sections extending on opposite sides of said frame, pins extending between the sections of said bars and between the plates in said frame, and connections between the opposite ends of said bars and the limiting mechanism of the several groups of voting devices.

10. In voting machines, the combination with the office groups of voting devices, of limiting mechanism for each of said groups comprising a series of blocks, the central one of which is fixed in position, an arm pivoted to one of the end blocks of the series, a link connecting said arm with the other end block of the series, a series of limiting bars connected to said arms, a set of overlapping sliding plates cooperating with said bars to limit the movement thereof and releasable means for holding said plates in position.

11. In voting machines, the combination with a series of unit frames or sections connected to form the frame of the machine, of an ofiice group of voting mechanisms mounted in each of said frames, limiting mechanism in each of said unit frames, a set of limiting bars arranged outside of said frames and connected to the separate limiting mechanisms thereof, of a set of devices cooperating with said bars to limit the movement thereof, a casing arranged over said limiting bars and devices and a lock for holding said casing in position.

12. In voting machines, the combination with the office groups of voting devices and with limiting mechanisms therefor, of a set of bars connected to said limiting mechanisms, means for limiting the movement of said bars, a series of removable pins on said bars arranged in line, and a parallel move ment bar shiftable into and out of engagement with said pins.

13. In voting machines, the combination with the oflice groups of voting devices and with the limiting mechanisms therefor, of a parallel movement bar, a series of bars con-- nected to said limiting mechanisms, each comprising separate sections extending on opposite sides of said parallel movement bar, means for limiting the movement of said set of bars and a series of removable pins connecting the sections of said bars and cooperating with said parallel movement bar to lock out certain of the office groups of voting devices.

14. In voting machines, the combination with the office group of voting devices and limiting mechanism therefor, of a printer in said group for marking independent ballots with an identification character corresponding to the group and a key-actuated shifter rapable of operating said printer once only for each operation of the machine, said shifter being connected to the limiting mechanism.

15. In voting machines, the combination with the oflice group of voting devices and limiting mechanism therefor, of a printing head or plunger associated with said group of voting devices and a key-actuated shifter arranged to advance and retract said print ing plunger, said shifter being capable of operating said plunger once only for each operation of the machine.

16. In voting machines, the combination with the ofiice group of voting devices and limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocating printing head or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a l eyactuated shifter arranged to advance and retract said printing plunger, said shifter being capable of operating said plunger once only for each operation of the machine and means for restoring the operative relation between said shifter and said plunger.

17. In voting machines, the combination with the office group of voting devices and limiting mechanism therefor of a reciprocating printing head or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a keycontrolled shifter operable once only for each operation of the machine to advance and retract said printer, a holder for the free ballot, a shifting bar arranged to advance and retract said printer to and from said holder and to restore the same into operative relation with said shifter.

18. In voting machines, the combination with the otlice group of voting devices and with the limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocatin printing head or plunger associated witi said group of voting devices for marking independent ballots, a holder for the independent ballot, a key-controlled shifter operable once only for each operation of the machine to advance and retract said printing head or plunger, a movable device for advancing or retracting sa l printing head or plunger to and from saic. holder as the voter advances and retreats from the machine and for restoring said printer into operative relation with said shifter, and connections between said keycontrolled shifter and the limiting mechanism.

19. In. voting machines, the combination with the office group of voting devices and with the limiting mechanism therefor, of a shifting printer for ma king independent ballots, a pivoted arm connected to said printer and a shifter engaging said arm to move it past its central position and advance and retract said printer.

20. In voting machines, the combination with the o'liice group of voting devices, and the limiting mechanism therefor, of a shifting print-ing head or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a pivoted arm, a link connecting said arm to said plunger, a shifter arranged to engage said arm to move the same past its central position and advance and retract said printing head or plunger and means for restoring said arm into operative relation with said shifter.

21. In voting machines, the combination with the oliice group of voting devices, and the limiting mechanism tiierei'ior, of a shifting printing head or plunger associated with said group of voting devices, a pivoted arm, a link connecting said arm to said plunger, a shifter arranged to engage said arm to move the same past its central position and advance and retract said printing head or plunger, a holder for the independent ballot and means tor advancing and retracting said plunger to and from said holder as the voter advances to and retreats from the machine, said means being also arranged to restore said arm into operative relation with said shifter.

23. in voting machines, the combination with the oilice group of voting devices and the limiting mechanism therefor, ot a reciprocating head or plungeixlfor marking independent ballots associated with said group of voting devices, a shitting slide, an arm pivoted on said slide, link coin'iecting said arm with said printing head or plunger, a shifter arranged to engage said arm to move the saint: past its central position and advance and retract said plunger and means for moving said slide to restore said arm into operative relation with said shifter.

In voting machines, the combination with the otlice group of voting devices and the limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocating printing head or plunger for marking independent ballots associated with said group of voting devices, a shifting slide, an arm pivoted on said slide, a link connecting said arm with plunger, a shifter arranged to engage said (lltl printing head or arm to move the same past its central position and advance and retract said plunger, means tor moving said slide and a fixed stop z'irranged to engage said arm as it is shifted with said slide and restore it into operative relation with said shifter.

24:. in voting machines, the con'ibination with the o'llice group of voting devices and the limiting mechanism therefor, of a reciprocating printing head or plunger for marking independent ballots associated with said group oi? voting devices, a shitting slide, an arm pivoted on said slide, a link connecting said arm with said printing head or plunger, a shifter arranged to engage said arm to move the same past its central position and advance and retract said plunger, a holder for the independent ballot, means For shiilting said slide to and from said holder as the voter advances to and retreats from the machine and a. lixed stop arranged to engage said arm as it is moved with said slide to restore the arm into operative rela tion with said shifter.

In voting machines, the combination with a. series of unit trames titted together, of an ol'l'ice group of voting mechanisms carried by each frame, a printing head for marking independent ballots associated with each group of voting mechanisms, plates iixed to the ends (it said ilirames having cut a\va spares forming a. continuous slot, a ribbon holder arranged within said SlOL and clips fixed to said plates for holding the independent ballot.

JAMES H. DEAN.

ll'itnesses Haney L. (liner, KATHARINE Gunmen.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C."

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