Patent GB-190628355-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Voting Machine
Inventor: STACY GEORGE
Filed: 1906-12-12
Granted: 1907-12-12
Abstract: 28,355. Stacy, G., and Julius, G. A. Dec. 12. Voting - apparatus; counting - apparatus. - Relates to apparatus for systems of voting in which the voter has either one or more votes of unit value, or one vote of variable value, or a preferential vote. Means are provided chiefly for (1) selecting the counter by the pull-bars, (2) indicating the value of the vote visibly, (3) controlling the number or value of votes allotted to each voter, (4) operating the counters by spring-controlled mechanism, (5) resetting the mechanism by the opening of the gate, and (6) recording informal votes, i.e. fewer votes than the number allowed. (1) Each pull-bar a, Fig. 1, has a spring cushion a<5> at the front end and cushions a<9>, a<10> at the back end. Each bar works on a guide a<3> and carries a wheel a<13> with its axis vertical. Wheels a<14> are mounted between every two bars a. The main operating-shaft f carries above each bar a a toothed sector f<1> fixed to it, an arm f loosely mounted and connected to the sector by a pin and slot, and a cam f<9> a slot in which engages with a pin f<10> carried by the bar a. A pawl with two rollers f<7> f<8> is pivoted to the arm f<2>, the rollers resting on the cam. Normally, the cam holds the pawl free from the sector so that the shaft f may rotate without actuating the arm f<2>; but when a bar is drawn out, the cam is turned and locks the pawl in engagement with the sector. (2) When an arm f is operated it turns the numeral sector h by means of the link h<3>, the value of the vote appearing in the window h<2> and depending on the angular rotation of the shaft f. (3) The wheels d<1>, e<3>, Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are mounted on the same spindle, and a coiled spring d<3> tends to rotate them in opposite directions. Above each bar is mounted a slotted slider c<3>, Fig. 1, pivoted to the free end of the lever c<2>, c<1>. Each slider carries a horizontal wheel c<6>, similar wheels e being mounted between, and in zigzag manner with the wheels e<6>. A flexible chain e<2>, Fig. 5, is threaded round these wheels, one end being fixed to the frame and the other to the wheel e<3>; the chain is kept in tension by the spring d'. When a bar a is pulled out, it runs between the fixed wheels a', a<2>; when the piece c<11> attached to the bar has passed the lever c<1>, the pin c'‹ pushes the lever c<9> out of engagement with the lever c' and the chain e<2> actuates the slider c<3>, the lever c<1> rising and locking the bar a in its "out" position. The wheel e<3> turning, the cam j, Fig. 4, turns with it and rotates the arm j<2> through an equal angle. For every bar pulled out, the arm j<2> advances through an equal angle. A pawl k<2> moving with the arm j<2> engages with a stepped cam k, thus preventing two bars from being withdrawn at the same time. A pawl j<7> is pivoted to an arm j<6> and engages with a ratchet j<12 >carried by the arm j<10>. A coiled spring m<1>, Fig. 5, tends to turn the spindle m, Figs. 4 and 5, aud arm j<10> in an anti-clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4, but is prevented by the pawl j<7>. The arm J<6> can be set in any position by adjusting the pivoted arm k<4>, Fig. 3. When the full number of bars allowed have been pulled out, a cam rotating with the arm j<2>, Fig. 4, raises the pawl j<7> and allows the spindle m to turn. The number of units of rotation of this spindle is determined by the arm m<12>, Fig. 3, set by the arm k<4> and link m<15>, engaging with the stepped surface m<2> on the spindle m. (4) and (5). On a shaft ,g are loosely mounted toothed wheels g<3>, with attached ratchet-wheels g<2>, Fig. 1, gearing with the toothed wheels g<4> of the counters g<5>. Next to each wheel g<2> is a cam rigidly attached to the spindle. An arm g<6> carries a pawl g<9> with rollers g<10>, g<11> bearing on the cam. For ordinary voting, the spindle f is coupled to the toothed sector j<12>, Fig. 4. When the latter is freed, the spindle m rotates the spindle f through the arm m<3> and link m<11>, and through the link g<8>, Fig. 1, moves the pawl g<9> over the teeth of the wheel g<2>. When the voter leaves, the gate turns a cam g<3>, Figs. 3 and 5, and arm t<9> thereby turning the shaft g by the link t<3>, Fig. 3. This turns the cam on the shaft 9 and locks the pawl and ratchet-wheel g<2>. The cam-surface q<7> then operates the slides s<5>, Fig. 5, and s<2>, Fig. 1, wedges on the latter resetting the slides C<3>. The chain d, threaded between the wheels a<13>, a<14> and attached to the spring-controlled wheel d' at one end, then by tension resets the bar a. The cam q<3>, Fig. 5, next operates a lever r<1>, and through the link m<18> resets the spindles m, f, the pawl g<9>, Fig. 1, then operating the counter. The officer in charge resets the spindle g by a lever t<5>, link p<8>, lever p<5>, link p<7>, and arm p<1>, Figs. 3 and 5. The cam-wheel q<3> is kept open by a pawl and ratchet until released by the officer, a spring connexion allowing the gate to be shut. When votes are of different value, the value is controlled by the officer, who alters the position of the arm m<12>, Fig. 3, by turning the spindle j<3>. In preferential voting, the spindle f is coupled to the arm j<2>, thereby operating the pawl g<9> simultaneously with pulling the bar, and as the bars are pulled in order of preference the number of votes recorded are according to preference. (6) If a vote is informal, the arm j<10> is not released, and when the voter operates the gate cam q<3>, the link r<10>, arm n<10>, link n<9>, and pawl n<6>, Fig. 4, record the informal vote on a counter operated by the wheels n<1>, n<2>, at the same time ringing the bell n<14>. For a proper vote, the rotation of the spindle m turns the cam n<3> by the link n', thereby lifting the pawl n<6> out of engagement with its ratchet-wheel. The arm n<10> also operates locks l<1>, v<4>. The number of operations of the gate cam q<3>, and hence the number of voters, is counted, the counter being actuated by the lever r', disk r<15>, link v<1>, and pawl v<3>. The settings and operations for the different systems of voting are described in detail in the Specification.