Patent GB-191504204-A (GB)
Title: An Apparatus for Voting and Counting Votes.
Inventor: VRIES CORNELIS DE
Filed: 1915-03-17
Abstract: 4204. Vries, C. de, Lange, P. de, and Buekers, J. F. March 17, 1914, [Convention date]. Voting-apparatus.-Balls inserted into holes corresponding in number to the candidates form couplings between a crank operated by the presiding officer and registering-devices for the candidates selected. The presiding officer delivers to the voter along a groove 6 a number of balls for insertion in holes 3, through which they fall into the slotted portions 10 of slides 9, but are supported by a plate 11. Outside the casing 1 and fixed on a spindle 13 is a crank 14 arranged to be turned by the presiding officer, and fitted preferably with a plunger 55 to spring into a hole in a plate 56; this crank is revolved once for each voter. A cam 15 on the spindle 13 engages the forked end 16 of a bell-crank lever 18, carrying opposite each slide 9 a projection 20, which, on being rocked, causes movement only of those slides opposite which balls have been dropped. Pivoted to each slide at 26 is a link 25 having a tooth 27 adapted to engage slots 23, Fig. 5, in a paper strip 22, wound otf a reel 21 and over a roller 24. The strip is numbered as shown, and the movement is such as to advance it one unit, in which position it is held by a pawl 30. The numbers thus registered by each strip are displayed through a slot 40 in the cover 2, which may, however, be covered and sealed. The strips 22, after passing the pawl 30, are cut off by shears 42, 43 operated from a cam on the spindle 13 by a lever 45. A shoulder 9<1> on each slide 9 engages a plate 32 on a spindle 31, which is accordingly rocked, against the action of a spring 33, when any slide is moved. The motion of the plate 32 serves to shift a register-strip in the column 34, in order to register the number of voters giving valid votes. Should a voter not wish to give the maximum number of valid votes, the balls that are left over are placed in holes 4, 5, where they are retained by levers 36 pivoted at 38 and adapted to be rocked on rotation of the spindle 13 by grooved cams 37. This allows the balls to fall into grooves 35 and thence to be returned to the presiding officer by a shoot 12. The balls placed in the holes 3 also fall into the shoot 12 from the edge of the plate 11. The bell-crank 18 is connected to a slide in the column 39, so that a register is kept in this column even if all the balls be inserted in the holes 4 or 5; this gives the total number of voters. Holes 49 in each slide 9 are in alinement with holes 48 in the case 1, so that the presiding officer can see right through to detect the presence of any foreign body in place of the balls. The aperture is, however, closed during voting by a rod 50 pivoted to a rocker 52 operated by a cam 51. A card 8, divided into columns as shown, bears the names and, if necessary, numbers of the candidates, and serves to cover any of the holes 3 not required. In use, the apparatus is mounted within a compartment which the voter enters at one side, and through the other side of which project the crank 14, grooves 6, shoot 12, and aperture 48.