US688093A - Voting-machine. - Google Patents

Description

No. 688,093. Patented Dec. 3,l90l.

G. JOHNSON 6. J. E. HALLDIN. VOTING MACHINE.

A umim filed m 17, 1901.

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES //v VEN 70/?5 No. 688,093. Patantad One. 3, 190i.

6. JOHNSON 6|. J. E. HALLOIN.

VOTING MACHINE.

(Appliubion Mod July 1'7, 1901.) (No lludel.) 3 Shoots-Shoat 2.

5 R 2 Q n R I Q W M o N Mi N N W Ma TN MN. w o I we No. 688,093. Patented Dec. 3, IBM.

' G. JOHNSON &. J. E. HALLDIN.-

VOTING MACHINE.

Amman filed July 1-1, 1901.; (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A TTORN m: No"ms warms co, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. c

'ferent position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAF JOHNSON, OF PIGEONOOVE, AND JOHN ERIK IIALLDIN, OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,098, dated December 3, 190i.

Application filed July 17, 1901. Serial No. 68,598. (No mbdel.)

To ttZZ whm'n it may c0ncer'n:

Be it known that we, GUSTAF JOHNSON, a resident of Pigeoncove, in the county of Essex, and J OHN ERIK HALLDIN, a resident of South Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts,citizens of the United States, have invented new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved voting-machine arranged to enable each voter to readily manipulate the voting devices to properly cast the vote, to cause registration of the total votes cast for each candidate, amendment, or the like, and to prevent fraudulent voting.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation of the detail mechanism of the voting devices for one set of candidates. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a rear face View of the manually-controlled cam-wheel and adjacent parts. Fig. 5 is a like view of the same with the parts in a dif- Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the improvement on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a rear sectional face view of the manually-controlled cam-wheel and adjacent parts, the section being on the line 8 8 of Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of the friction device for the segmental arm actuated by the manually-controlled cam-wheel and spindle. Fig. 11 is asectional plan View of the improvement on the line 11 11 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 12 is a similar view'of the same on the line 12 12 of Fig. 2.

The voting-machine is mounted in a suitably-constructed closed casing A, provided at its front near the top with a heading A,

voted for.

indicating the names of the offices to be filled, and below the'.l1eading A are arranged vertical rows of spaced legends A indicating the names of the candidates for the corresponding offices named above in the heading A. At each legend A projects the forward end of a key-spindle 13, adapted to be engaged by a key 0 (see dotted lines in Fig. 10) in the hands of a voter, the arrangement being such that the voter can turn in each vertical row as many spindles as there are persons to be elected for the corresponding officesthat is, in the row for comptroller, for instance, a single voter can only turn one of the spindles, as only one comptroller is to be In case three co'uncilmen are to be elected, the voter can turn any three keyspindles, but no more, in the row under the heading Council. Then the voter has voted in the manner indicated, the attendant of the machine resets the same, so that the next voter can proceed in the same manner.

Each key-spindle B is mounted to turn in bearings in the front wall of the casing A, (see Figs. 10 and 11,) and the rear or inner end B of each spindle is connected with a registering device D (see Fig. 2) of any approved construction and arranged to register one vote for each half-turn given by a voter with the key to the corresponding key-spindle 13. Thus each key-spindle and the parts connected therewith form a single voting device presently to be described in detail, each voting device having the name of the candidate adjacent to the key-spindle, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1, and the several voting devices in each vertical row being governed by a setting device E, arranged in the casing A, (see Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7, and 12,) and the severalsetting devices in the casing being adapted to be reset by the attendant of the voting-machine on the turning of a crank-arm F, (see Fig. 1,) secured on the outer end of the shaft F, extending longitudinally in the casing A.

Each voting device is locked automatically against a second turning after the voter has given the key-spindle a half-turn, and if only a single candidate is to be voted for in any particular voting-row then the setting device for this row is so set that all the other voting devices in this particular row are locked after the voter has given one-half turn to a keyspindle in this row. If, however, several candidatessay threeare to be voted for in a particular row, then the setting device E for this row is set to allow the voter to turn any three of the key-spindles located in this row, and when the voter has turned the last of the three key-spindles the remaining voting devices in this row are all looked. It is expressly understood that each voting device is locked after its key-spindle has been given a half-turn, so that a voter cannot vote three times for one candidate.

The voting devices are all alike in construction, and hence it suffices to describe but one in detail.

On each key-spindle Bis formed or secured a wheel B having two oppositely-arranged cam-lugs B projecting from the face of the wheel B and on the periphery of the latter are arranged locking-teeth B standing approximately opposite each other and at right angles to the lugs 13*. (See Figs. 2, t, 5, and 11.) Next to the wheel B is secured or formed on the spindle a mutilated gear-wheel B The cam-lugs B are adapted to engage and impart a swinging motion to an arm G, secured on a vertically-disposed shaft G, journaled in suitable bearings within the casing A, and on the lower end of the said shaft G is secured an arm G adapted to engage a pin G projecting transversely from an arm G, depending from and secured on a horizontally-extending shaft 11, journaled in suitable bearings in the casing A. (See Figs. 2 and 12.)

On the shaft 11 is secured an arm H, carrying a spring-pressed pawl H in mesh with a ratchet-wheel H having its hub I1 mounted to rotate loosely on the shaft H, the said hub H carrying a beveled pinion H in mesh with a beveled gear-wheel I, secured on a shaft I, journaled in suitable bearings carried by the main casing A. A spring I is coiled on the shaft I, and one end of the spring is secured to the shaft and the other end to the bearing for the same, so that when the pawl H releases the ratchet-wheel H as hereinafter more fully described, the shaft 1 is turned in the reverse direction to bring a stop I on the face of the wheel I back against the projecting end of the shaft H. (See Fig. 2.)

On the shaft I is looselyfulcrumed an arm 1*, adapted to be secured to the Wheel I bya clamping-plate I fastened by a set-screw I to the arm I near the free end thereof. The arm I is adapted to engage an arm J, pressed on by a spring J and secured on a longitudinally-extending shaft J journaled in suitable bearings in the casing A, and on the said shaft J is secured an upwardly-extending arm J having a beveled end adapted to engage the lower end of a link K, pivotally connected with the several locking-arms K, adapted to engage the uppermost of the teeth 13 to lock the key-spindle against turning.

(See Fig. 5.) Each of the arms K is fulcrulned on the pivot L of a segmental gearwheel L, adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear-wheel B, (see Fig. 8,) so that when the spindle Bis given a half-turn the mutilated gear-wheel imparts an upward swinging motion to the segmental gear-wheel L.

The free end of the segmental gear-wheel L is formed with an extension-arm L adapted to engage a pin 0 in a bar 0, mounted to slide vertically in suitable bearings on the inner face of the front of the casing A, as is plainly shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7. The lower end of the bar 0 is formed with a slot 0 engaged by the free end of an arm 0 fastened on the shaft F, so that when the latter is turned by the attendant of the machine turning the crank-arm F then the arm O in swinging downward pulls the bar 0 back into alowermost position, thereby causing the bar 0 to impart a downward swinging or return motion to the arm L at the time the teeth of the mutilated gear-wheel B are out of mesh with the teeth of the segmental gear-wheel L. On the segmental gear-wheel L is arranged a pin or lug L adapted to engage a lockingarm K fulcrumed at K on the casing and pressed in an upward direction by a spring K to normally hold the arm K in looking engagement with the lowermost tooth B to prevent turning of the key spindle. (See Fig. 5.) When the segmental gear-wheel L is swung upward by the turning of the keyspindle and the mutilated gear-\vl1eell3 ,tl1en the pin L moves away from the arm K and the free end thereof now rises on the pe ripheral face of the cam-wheel B until the half-turn of the spindle is completed, after which the arm K snaps up into engagement with the tooth B now moving into a lowermost position. During the upward swinging of the segmental gear-wheel L the bar 0 is moved upward by the extension-arm L pushing on the pin 0. The segmental gear-wheel, and by it the arm K is held in a lowermost position by a friction-arm L (see Fig. 10,) pivoted at L on the adjacent bearing for the bar 0, the said friction-arm being pressed in contact with the face of the segmental gearwheel L by a spring L so that when the gearwheel L is in a lowermost position and the pin L has swung the arm K in a like position then these two parts-the segmental gearwheel L and the arm IQ-remain in this position even if the bar 0 should move upward when another key-spindle B in the same row is turned; but when the key-spindle is turned with the parts in the position described the mutilated gear-wheel B imparts an upward swinging motion to the arm L and as soon as the pin L moves away from the arm K the spring K swings the arm K upward to engage it with the tooth B moving into a lowermost position, to prevent this key-spindle from being turned a second time by the same voter.

It is understood that the upper arms K are held normally out of engagement with the uppermost teeth 13, owing to the position of the arms J relative to the link K; but when the arm I is carried around by the gearwheel I to impart a downward swinging motion to the arm J against the tension of the spring J the shaft J is turned and the arm J moves away from under the link K, so that the latter and the arms K move downward by their own gravity to engage the arms K with the uppermost teeth B" to look all the spindles against turning. Now the arm I is set on the wheel I in such a manner that, according to the number of candidates to be elected for office, the said arm will sooner or later swing the arm J downward to release the link K for the arms K to engage the teeth B as above explained. Thus the arm I is set on the wheel I to press the arm J downward as soon as a single key-spindle B has been given a half-turn and a corresponding cam-lug B has turned the shaft G, which by the intermediate mechanism above described turns the gear-wheel I the desired distance for the arm I to press the arm J The proportion of the parts is such that the wheel I is turned the distance between two teeth at each half-turn given to a key-spindle in the vertical row of voting devices.

If the voter is entitled to turn but one keyspindle in a vertical row, the arm I is set so that it depresses the arm J as soon as a single key-spindle is given a half-turn; but if the voter is entitled to turn three key-spindles in one vertical row the arm I is set on the wheel I so that after the third spindle is turned the arm I will press the arm J to lock the several voting devices to prevent further turning of any key-spindle in the vertical row.

In order to reset the setting devices E and the voting devices,the shaft F is provided with an arm P, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 6,) adapted to engage a lever P having two inclines P P of which the incline P is adapted to engage a pin H on the pawl Hiand the incline P is adapted to engage a pin H on the spring-pressed dog H normally holding the ratchet-wheel H against return movement. Now when the attendant of the machine turns the shaft F the arm P imparts a swinging motion to the lever P, so that the inclines P and P by engaging the pins H and H cause the pawl 1-1 and the dog H to swing out of mesh with the ratchetwheel H to allow the spring I to turn the wheel I to the starting-point, with the pin 1 abutting against the shaft H, as previously mentioned and shown in Fig. 2. During the return movement of the wheel I the arm I moves upward away from the arm J, so that the spring J thereof turns the shaft J in the opposite direction, and the arm J now pushes the link K upward to swing the locking-arms K out of locking engagement with the uppermost teeth B The turning of the shaft F also causes the arm 0 to impart a downward swinging motion to the bar 0, so that the segmental gear-wheels L are swung downward and the arms K are moved out of engagement with the lowermost teeth B". The machine is now reset for the next voter. A spring II presses on an arm 11, held on the shaft H, to return the latter after the same is turned by the arm G, as previously explained.

The operation is as follows: Before sealing the machine on election day the several arms I of the setting device are adjusted on the wheels I according to the number of times a Voter is entitled to vote for a corresponding number of candidates in a particular row for a certain office. Thus for the mayoralty contest the setting device E for the vertical row of voting devices pertaining to this setting device is set to cause the arm I to press the arm J as soon as a single key-spindle has been turned half-way around by a voter. The setting device E for the voting devices under the heading Council is set so that the arm I presses the arm J as soon as, say, three keyspindles have been turned half-way around, and in a similar manner the other setting devices are adjusted to conform to the conditions. Now when themachine is set and a voter turns a key-spindle half-way around in the direction of the arrow a (see Fig. 2) by the use of a key 0 then the lowermost camlug 13 engages the corresponding arm G to turn the shaft G for imparting a turning motion to the wheel I to turn the latter the distanee between two teeth. At the same time the mutilated gear-wheel B engages the segmental gear-wheel L and swings the same upward to push the bar 0 in a like direction and to release the lock-arm K When the halfrevolution of the spindle has been made, the lock-arm K by its spring K snaps in on the lowermost teeth B to lock this key-spindle against further turning. If the voter is entitled to turn several key-spindles in this vertical row to which the first one belongs, then the same operation is repeated as above describedthat is, the shaft G is again turned and likewise the gear-wheel Iand the second key-spindle is finally locked against further turning. If the voteris entitled to turn three spindles, he turns another one, and in doing so the wheel I is again turned; but this time the arm I is moved into engagement with the arm J and presses the same downward, so that the arm J has moved from under the link K, and the latter and the lockarms K are now free to move downward to engage all the lock-arms K with the corresponding uppermost teeth B of the several key-spindles of that particular row. Thus the voter cannot turn another spindle in this row. \Vhen the voter has finally actuated all the key-spindles he is entitled to in the several rows, then the attendant of the machine causes a turning of the shaft F, so that the arm J moves back to its normal position, and. in doing so it moves the link K upward,

so as to swing the locking-arms K out of engagement With the uppermost teeth B The turning of the shaft F also causes the arms 0 to slide the bar 0 downward to swing the segmental gear-wheel L into a lowermost position, the said gear-wheels in doing so swingin g the spring-pressed arms K out of en gagement with the lowermost teeth B", so that the several parts are reset, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A voting-machine, comprising a plurality of manually-controlled key-spindles, located one above the other, a registering device for each key-spindle and operated thereby, a vertical shaft, means for operating the vertical shaft from the key-spindles, a setting device, and mechanism for operating the setting device from the vertical shaft, as set forth.

2. A voting-machine, comprising a plurality of manually-controlled key-spindles, a registering device for each key-spindle and operated thereby, cams on the spindles, a vertical shaft provided with arms projecting into the path of the cams on the key-spindle, asetting device, and means for operating the setting device from the said shaft, as set forth.

3. Avoting-machinecomprisingaplurality of manually-controlled key-spindles having cam-wheels located one above the other, a shaft having a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, said arms being adapted to be engaged by the cam-wheels to turn the said shaft and a setting device actuated from the said shaft and controlling the locking and unlocking of the said cam-wheels, as set forth.

4. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of manually-controlled key-spindles having cam-wheels located one above the other, a shaft having a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, a setting device actuated from the said shaft and controlling the locking and unlocking of the said cam-wheels, and a looking device controlled from said setting device to lock the cam-wheels against rotation, as set forth.

5. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of manually-controlled key-spindles having cam-wheels located one above the other, a shaft having a plurality of arms, one for each cam-Wheel, a setting device actuated from the said shaft and controlling the locking and unlocking of the said cam-Wheels, a locking device controlled from said resetting device to lock the cam-wheels against rotation, and a resetting device under the control of the attendant and arranged to release the said looking device and the said setting device, as set forth.

to engage the free end of the said segmental gear-wheel to reset the latter for engagement by the mutilated gear-wheel at the next turning thereof, as set forth.

7. A voting-machine comprising a manually-controlled mutilated gear-wheel mounted to turn, a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the said mutilated gear-wheel to impart a swinging motion to the same, a resetting-bar mounted to slide and adapted to engage the free end of the said segmental gearwheel to reset the latter for engagement by the mutilated gear-wheel at the next turning thereof,and a spring-pressed locking-arm con trolled by the said segmental gear-Wheel and adapted to engage and lock the said segmental gear-wheel against turning, as set forth.

8. A voting-machine comprising a manually-controlled mutilated gear-wheel mounted to turn, a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the said mutilated gear-Wheel to impart a swinging motion to the same, a resetting-bar mounted to slide and adapted to engage the free end of the said segmental gearwheel to reset the latter for engagement by the mutilated gear-wheel at the next turning thereof, a spring-pressed locking-arm controlled by the said segmental gear-wheel and adapted to engage and lock the said segmental gear-wheel against turning, and a friction device to hold the said segmental gear-wheel in either an uppermost or a lowermost position, as set forth.

9. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of manually-controlled cam-wheels mounted to turn, locking devices for the cam-wheels, a shaft carrying a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, to turn the shaft on turning a cam-wheel, and a setting device adapted to be set to a given number of votes, the setting device controlling the said locking device to lock the cam-wheels, as set forth.

10. A voting-machine comprising a plurality of key-spindles, each formed with a mutilated gear-wheel, a locking and cam wheel, a shaft carrying a plurality of arms, one for each cam-wheel, a setting device actuated from the said shaft, locking-arms for engaging the locking-wheel, one of the lockingarms being controlled from the said setting device, segmental gear-wheels adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear-wheels, each segmental gear-wheel controlling the other of the locking-arms, and a resetting-bar for resetting the said segmental gear-wheels and the locking-arms controlled thereby, and a resetting device under the control of the at tendant for resetting the said setting device and the said bar, as set forth.

11. A voting-machine having a setting device comprising a gear-wheel adapted to be intermittently turned from the voting devices, an arm held adjustably on the said gear-wheel, and a device for resetting the voting devices and controlled by the said arm, as set forth.

12. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, and a mutilated gear- Wheel thereon, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear, a manually-operated shaft, and a connection between the said shaft and the segmental gear-wheel, as set forth.

13. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, and a mutilated gear- Wheel thereon, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear, and provided with an extension, a sliding bar provided with a projection for engaging the extension of the segmental gear-wheel, a manually-operated shaft, and a connection between the shaft and the sliding bar, as set forth.

14. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a toothed wheel on the key-spindle, and a mutilated gear-wheel also on the said spindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear and provided with a lateral projection, a manually-operated shaft, a connection between the shaft and the segmental gear-wheel for operating the latter from the former, and a spring-pressed arm adapted to engage a tooth of the said wheel and engaged by the projection of the segmental gear to cause it to move downward in unison therewith, as set forth.

15. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a wheel mounted thereon and provided with oppositely-arranged teeth, and a mutilated gear-wheel also on the spindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear, means for swinging the segmental gear downward when the mutilated gear is out of mesh therewith, pivoted arms adapted to engage the teeth of the said wheel to lock the spindle, one of the arms being spring-pressed and in engagement with the segmental gear-wheel, and means for operating the other arm to disengage it from said wheel, as set forth.

16. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a wheel on the spindle and provided with oppositely-arranged teeth, and a mutilated gear-wheel also on the spindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the mutilated gear and provided with a laterally projecting pin, means for swinging the segmental gear downward when the mutilated gear is out of mesh therewith, a pivoted arm adapted to engage a tooth of the said wheel, means for operating the arm to disengage it from the said wheel, and a pivoted and spring-pressed arm also adapted to engage a tooth of the said wheel, said arm being engaged by the pin of the segmental gear,

' as set forth.

17. In a voting-machine, the combination with a keyspindle, a wheel on the spindle,and

provided with oppositely-arranged teeth, and a mutilated gear also on the spindle, of a segmental gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by the m ntilated gear, a manually-operated shaft, a connection between the shaft and the segmental gear-wheel for operating the latter from the former, pivoted arms adapted to engage the teeth of the said wheel, one of the arms being spring-pressed and in engagement with the segmental gear-wheel, a setting de vice, means for operating one of the pivoted arms from the setting device, and means for operating the setting device from the keyspindle, as set forth.

18. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a vertical shaft, and means for operating the said shaft from the key-spindle, of a horizontal shaft, a connection between the horizontal and vertical shafts to operate the former from the latter, a ratchetwheel loosely mounted on the horizontal shaft and carrying a bevel gear-wheel, a springpressed horizontal shaft provided with a bevel gear-wheel meshing with the gear-wheel of the first horizontal shaft, an arm secured to the first horizontal shaft and carrying a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, and means for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet-wheel, as set forth.

19. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a toothed wheel thereon, and a pivoted arm for engaging the wheel to lock the spindle, of a shaft, means for operating it from the spindle, a rock-shaft operated from the first shaft, and means for operating the pivoted arm to disengage it from the said wheel from the rock-shaft,as set forth.

20. In a voting-machine, the combination with a key-spindle, a toothed wheel thereon, and a pivoted arm for engaging the wheel to lock the spindle, of a horizontal shaft, means for operating it from the key-spindle, a ratchetwheel loose on the shaft and carrying a bevelpinion, an arm secured to the shaft and carrying a pawl engaging the ratchet-wheel, a spring-pressed shaft carrying a bevel gearwheel meshing with the said pinion, an arm adjustably secured to the gear-wheel, a rockshaft provided with an arm adapted to be engaged by the arm carried by the gear-wheel, and means for operating the arm that engages the toothed wheel of the spindle from the rock-shaft, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAF JOHNSON. JOHN ERIK HALLDIN. \Vitnesses:

DAVID J OHNSON, DENNIS J. lVIAI-IONEY.

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