Patent GB-406060-A (GB)
Abstract: 406,060. Voting-apparatus. THOMPSON, M. F., 4605, Davidson Drive, Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S.A. Aug. 30, 1932, No. 24239. [Class 106 (iv).] In an electrical vote indicating and recording apparatus, selectively operable switches controlling the voting circuits are normally mechanically locked against operation, and when unlocked electromagnetically from a control station any switch operated is locked in the operated position and causes the other switches to be locked against operation. A voter may remove his vote indication by operating a correcting switch, which electromagnetically releases the operated voting switch, at any time before the operation of a master switch at the control station which locks the voting switches at all the voting stations, subsequent operation of another switch causing a carriage to move over a record card and perforate or otherwise record on the card the votes of all stations. Setting up a vote. At each voting station is a cylindrical casing a<3> carrying slidably mounted voting switches S<1>, S2, S<3>, Figs. 4, 5, a rotary correcting switch S', and a locking switch N. Each voting switch comprises a plunger 85, mounted in bearing discs 82, 88, and carrying a conical projection 96 and an insulated cylindrical portion 91 having a conducting ring 90. Normally, a detent plate 97 biased by a spring 99 locks the voting switches against depression, but when the master switch S<5> at the central station is closed, a solenoid 105 is energised over a circuit including brushes 91 and the rings 90 of switches S<1>, S<2>, S<3> in series with brushes 125 of the locking switch N, causing a pin 103 to rock plate 97 to the unlocked position. A voting switch S<1>, for example, may now be depressed. The projection 96 thereof passes through a hole 98 in the detent plate and the solenoid circuit being broken at the ring 90, the detent plate is retracted by spring 99 to lock the depressed switch. The keys S<2>, S<3> , are also locked against depression by members 100, 101 rocked to the locking position by the projection 96 during depression of S<1>. The locking switch N comprises a key operated tumbler lock embodying diametral conductors 122, 124 mounted in a cylindrical insulator 121 adapted to short-circuit brushes 123, 125 respectively, the lock being rotated to the operative position shown when voting is to commence. The correcting switch S<4> comprises a cylindrical insulator 109 carrying diametral conductors 110, 112. Normally, the conductor 110 connects the brushes 111 together. Should a voter wish to alter his vote he momentarily rotates the knob 114 through ninety degrees against the action of a return spring 1081 whereupon conductor 112 connects brushes 113 together and a reset magnet 104 is energized over the circuit F, 113, 112, 113, 123, 122, 123, G, causing a pin 102 to unlock the detent plate 97 to release the depressed key. A set-up vote is indicated on indicators X, Y, Z, (actuated in circuits including brushes 92 and the rings 90), corresponding respectively to switches S<1>, S2, S<3>, and may be altered, as described above, only up to the time where the switch S<5> is opened at the central station prior to taking a record. After recording, a switch S<6> is closed to energize the reset magnets 104 at all the voting stations. Recording. The record card, Fig. 21, is inserted between a platen 147, Fig. 17, and a framework 142, 143, 144, in which are mounted plungers 145 the rows of which, Fig. 16, correspond to the various voting stations. Above the frame plate 143 are carriages K, K<1>, adapted to be reciprocated along screws 153. The screws for each carriage are rotated in opposite directions through gearing 154, 155, 156 from any source of power, for example, a motor o, Fig. 20, and each carriage is clutched to one or the other of these screws by the rocking of a pin 164. In the normal position shown in Fig. 16, the carriage K<1> is locked by a dog 163 engaging a catch 168 thereon, and carriage K<1> is similarly locked bya dog 170<1>. To take a record, a switch S<7>, Fig. 20, is momentarily depressed energizing relays 196, 200 in series. Relay 196 locks by way of resistance 204, and rocks a sprung lever 195 to close the circuit of motor o. Relay 200 rocks a shaft 167 which through links 166, 165, rocks the dog 163 to release the catch 168 and move the pin 164 to the right. The carriage K is clutched to a screw 153 and driven thereby until the catch 169 on the carriage rocks a dog 170 to the left, the edge 171 of the latter rocking the pin 164 back to its neutral position bringing the carriage to rest with the dog 170 holding the catch 169. As carriage K comes to rest a cam lever 176 thereon rocks the dog 170<1> through a lever system whereupon the carriage K<1> is released and driven in a manner similar to K, until it is stopped and locked by dog 163<1>. At the next recording operation the carriages are released and driven in the same manner, by closing switch S' but move in the reverse directions. The relay 200 is de-energized at contacts 198, 199, soon after carriage K begins to move to allow the dogs 163, 170 to be normalised by a spring 175, and as carriage K<1> comes to rest it momentarily closes contacts 198<1>, 199<1>, to energize a relay 202 which breaks the circuit of relay 196 to stop the motor o. The plungers 145, Fig. 17, are depressed to perforate the record card during the traverse of the carriages K, K<1>, by rods 188 depressed by arms 187, when corresponding solenoids 183, 184, .. are energized. Corresponding to each row of plungers 145 is a row of four contacts 192, Figs. 4, 16, 17, the appropriate one of which is energized in parallel with the corresponding vote indicator X, Y, Z, the fourth contact of a row being energized when no vote is indicated. Current is led to the solenoids by brushes 193 and 191 the latter engaging a contact strip 190, the appropriate solenoids being energized as the brushes engage the corresponding contacts 192.