Patent GB-1155254-A (GB)
Title: Voting Machine.
Inventor: MARTIN AFTON VIRGIL
IPC: G07C13/00
Filed: 1967-05-09
Abstract: 1,155,254. Voting apparatus. AVM CORP. 9 May, 1967, No. 21500/67. Heading G4T. A voting machine comprises a plurality of voting levers 125, a counter associated with each voting lever, and a control lever 115 operated by a voter on entering the voting machine to free the voting levers whereby selected ones may be moved from a non-voting to voting position and returned to its initial position on leaving the voting machine to register the votes on the appropriate counters and return the voting levers to their non-voting position. Operation of control lever 115 closes curtains behind a voter entering the voting machine and opens them on leaving. An interlock prevents a voter operating more than a predetermined number of voting levers in any group . Manifold record sheets are pressed against the counters at the start and finish of an election to obtain a record of votes cast. In addition, a voter may write-in the names of preferred candidates on a separate paper strip instead of operating the voting levers corresponding to listed candidates. The voting machine may be telescoped into a base 124 for transport and/or storage purposes, thereby concealing a control panel 102 under the control of an election official. Counters.-Each counter 130 consists of three order wheels 370 and transfer mechanisms 375, Fig. 11. An actuator 129 is moved transversely on a shaft 381 when the associated voting lever 125 is operated to engage a gear 378 driving the units wheel of the counter. The actuators are carried by members 394 suspended from a crossbar 391. Initial movement of the control lever 115 lowers the cross-bar 391 whereby movement of a voting lever positions the associated actuator in an operative position. Return movement of the control lever raises the cross-bar to stop the corresponding counter. Printing mechanism.-A set of manifold record sheets is suspended from pins 176 on member 140, Fig. 38. The set is retained in position by a cover sheet 200 fitted over pins 198 on uprights 196. A slidable frame 260 carrying pressure rollers 265 may be moved across the machine by turning handle 270 to press the record sheets against the counters. At the start of an election, the frame 260 is moved from right to left, as shown in Fig. 38, to obtain a first or zero reading. The frame engages a cam 192 in its left-hand position to lower the rack 140 and record sheets suspended therefrom. At the close of an election, the frame is returned to the right to obtain a second reading offset from the first. As the frame reaches its right-hand position, it engages cams 194, 196 to disengage the record sheets from pins 176 and return the member 140 to its initial position. The record sheets fall into a delivery shoot 210 and are removed by an election official. A proof sheet included in the manifold set, extends below the remaining record sheets and has a tear line below the pins 176. When the record sheets are lowered after the first reading has been recorded, the proof sheet extends into the delivery shoot and may be torn from the set. Write-in means.-Apertures 277 in the front panel are closed by shutters 280, 281, Figs. 3 and 21. On lifting a shutter, a paper strip 278 is exposed on which the name of a candidate may be written. As a shutter is lifted, it actuates a mechanism stepping the paper strip. A bar 356 co-operating with the upper edges 358 of the shutters is moved to its dotted line position on operation of the control lever to release the shutters. On returning the control lever to its initial position, the bar 356 is lowered to close the shutters. Interlock.-The voting levers and shutters are connected to flexible straps 286, 300, Fig. 28. Wedge members 290 releasably fastened to the straps move in an interlock channel 282. Rollers 302 movable in the channel are permitted a limited amount of travel according to the setting of pins 304 and spacers 306. By connecting the wedge members to suitable straps and adjusting the pins 304 and spacers 306, the number of votes which may be cast in any group is limited. The straps may carry auxiliary members cooperating with secondary interlock channels, Fig. 31 (not shown). A bar 360 passes through aligned apertures in the straps. On initial movement of the control lever 115, the bar 360 is lifted to free the voting levers. Return movement lowers the bar 360 to return the voting levers to their non-voting position. Straight party voting.-Control bars extending adjacent the rows of voting levers may be interconnected to appropriate voting levers by releasable pin fastening. A control bar may be moved lengthwise by a "party" lever to move all associated voting levers to a voting position. Control panel.-When a voter enters the machine, the election official operates a pushbutton 400 to unlock control lever 115. The voting machine may be used by two or more groups of voters simultaneously, each group being restricted to different rows of voting levers. The voting levers are connected to their control bars, as described above, and a cover fitted over the "party" levers to prevent operation thereof in a first arrangement, a stud (514) at one end of each control bar co-operates with a bank of latches (512), Fig. 70 (not shown). The latches are arranged on a frame (511) movable vertically by a handle (526) under the control of the election officer. According to the setting of latches (512) selected control bars are released for each setting of the handle (526). In addition, the handle (526) operates a cam plate moving selected punches to an operative position adjacent the paper strip. On writing-in a candidate the paper strip is punched to indicate the group to which the entry belongs. In a second arrangement, the control bars are connected by straps to wedges movable in an interlocked channel whereby movement of a group lever in one group locks the voting levers in the remaining groups against movement. Lever (590) moves a cam bar lengthwise to free selected voting levers (594) according to the qualifications of the voter. The voting levers (594) are arranged in pairs, only one of which may be operated at a time. Operation.-The various parts of the voting machine are driven directly by movement of control lever 115 co-operating with a fullstroke mechanism. Alternatively a control knob is moved back and forth to energize an electric motor driving the voting machine.