Improvements in Voting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1895-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Voting Machines.
I, ADRIAN O. ABBOTT, Manufacturer, and Member of the Michigan State
Legislature, residing at Hudson, in the County of Lenawee and State of Michigan,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The subject of the present invention is a voting machine constructed for use in
recording, registering or otherwise indicating a vote where candidates for a number
of different offices are to be simultaneously voted for, and the invention has for
its object to provide means whereby the operation may be performed with greater
convenience, and certainty, and secured with less possibility of improper or
unlawful voting. My present invention has relation to the machine heretofore
patented by John Liddle, as a communication from me No. 3733, dated 21st
February, 1895, which employs a number of independently movable slides each
representing one of the several offices to be voted for and containing the names
of all the candidates for said offices, together with means in connection with each
name for recording or registering one vote for that name; the recording or
registering devices are only operative when in the voting space; and the slides
are independently movable so as to bring any one of its contained names together
with its recording or registering mechanism into this voting space.at will; meaus
located at the voting space is adapted to simultaneously actuate all the individual
recording or registering devices of the respective slides which may be there
associated, by the voter in arranging his ballot preliminary to casting the
same.
My present invention consists in combining with the above features of
construction, means for justifying the positions of the slides; means whereby the
recording or registering of the vote is actuated by the movement of the justifying
device; means whereby the apparatus is returned to normal position automatically
by the exit of each voter, so that it is in readiness for the succeeding voter and
the vote of his predecessor has been obscured; means whereby in printing or
recording a vote, the vote printed is presented to the view of the voter, severed
from the paper stock of which the ballot formed part, and deposited in the ballot
box; and means whereby, in offices where two or more candidates have to be
voted for, this may be done, without opportunity for casting more than one vote
for the single individuals; and various details of construction to be hereinafter
fully described whereby the apparatus is adapted to effectually perform its various
functions.
As the above mentioned functions may for the most part, be performed both by
machines employing recording mechanism which prints the ballot and means for
severing and depositing the ballot or by machines employing registering mechanisms
which keep a tally of the whole number of votes cast for each individual, 1 will
proceed to describe two machines thus distinguished, yet both embodying the
general principles, of my present invention.
A machine embodying some or all of the features of my present invention, and
employing recording mechanism, is illustrated on Sheets 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings wherein,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a plan, a side elevation, and a vertical section,
the section being taken on the line 3-3, Figs. 1 and 2.

page_text: Figure 4 shows an elevation of one end of the machine, on a smaller scale,
and
Figures 5 and 6 are elevations on the same scale, of the opposite end of the
machine, illustrating respectively the positions of the parts before and after the
voter has printed his ticket.
This form of my invention employs the mounting 1 carrying side-bars 2 and
having drop frame 3 on which are mounted slides 4 and which is pivoted at one
end 5 while its other end is held normally in elevation by pawl 6 pivoted at 7 on
frame 1. Slides 4 are mounted between guide-bars 8 and adapted to be moved by
up-turned ends 9. Each contains upon its upper face, the name of an office and all
candidates for that office while on its under face it carries printing forms
corresponding in matter and position to the inscription on its face. Slides 4 have
notches 10 which, when said slide is in the voting space 11, receive pins 12 of
justifying har 13. By a transverse movement, the justifying har brings the slides
into accurate voting position by its pins entering into notches 10. After this takes
place frame 3 drops and the vote is printed upon paper provided in a manner
hereinafter described. To thus drop the frame, justifying bar 13 is connected
through lever 14 fulcrumed at 15, with the rod 17 engaging the pawl 6 which,
when released allows the frame to fall. The vote being printed, the frame is
returned to normal position by hand lever 18 fulcrumed at 19 and engaging the
frame by elbow 20. It is preferable to arrange the names of candidates on the
slides representing the different offices in the same order according to parties, so
that when all the slides occupy corresponding positions, all the candidates of any
one party will appear in a straight line transversely across the slides. It then
becomes necessary when a straight party ticket is to be voted, to simply move all
the slides together and uniformly, to the voting space. The vote can then be
made much more quickly. The slides may be thus simultaneously moved to voting
position by means of slide bar 21 on rod 22 carrying arm 23 which engages all the
slides, said bar being movable by handle 24. The same movement may be performed
if it is desired to vote any considerable portion of a ticket, for after the slides are
arranged with all the candidates of a party in line, those slides containing candidates
which it is desired to change, can be independently moved. 25 represents a returning
arm likewise mounted on bar 22 and under control of handle 26 for simultaneously
returning all slides to normal position.
27 represents inking rollers mounted in adjustable brackets 29 held by screws 29.
By bringing slides 4 into voting position, their printing faces pass over rollers 27
and are thus supplied with ink. 30 is a paper web supplied from roller 31 mounted
in brackets 32 and passing over the platen 33 where the imprint is received by the
dropping of frame 3. 34, 35 are feed rollers, the latter being mounted in
brackets 36 attached at 37 to one of the side-bars 2 of the frame and operating to
bind down upon roller 34 as roller 34 is turned to feed the paper. The turning of
roller 34 is accomplished through any suitable means such as crank 38 mounted on
shaft 39. As the paper is fed forward by the rollers the ballot just printed is
exhibited at 40 in front of a glass panel 41 after which it is severed by knife 43
carried on lever 44, pivoted at 45 and having cam 46 engaging lever 47 pivoted
at 48 and projecting at 49 across the exit passage of the machine. When the
knife severs the ballot, radial slot 42 in feed roller 34 registers with the knife.
50 is a yielding presser block on lever 44 for holding paper 30 firmly on feed
roller 34 as the ballot is cut. When the lever 47 is released, the ballot is dropped
into a chute 1 and passes through opening 51 into the ballot box 52. 53 is a rod
connecting lever 47 with under bar 54 of the returning arm so that the exit of the
voter returns all slides to normal position and prevents the succeeding voter seeing
what vote has just been cast. Connectiou 5 between the frames 1 and 3 is
removable to permit frame 3 to be lifted off frame 1 and prevents tampering with
the machine when not in use.
A machine embodying some or all of the features of my present invention, but
employing registering mecbanism for indicating the vote, is illustrated on Sheets 4,

page_text: 5, 6 and 7, of the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 7 is a view of the
machine as seen by the voter as he proceeds to arrange and register his vote,
preferably within an enclosure, Figure 8 is an external view, Figure 9 is a plan,
Figure 10 is a detail view of a sliding arm and connections employed for returning
all the slides and setting the actuating device after each vote, Figure 11 is a view
of a slide adapted to contain on one side names of candidates, and to have attached
on the opposite side, registers corresponding to the respective names. Figure 12 is
an enlarged section on the line 6-6, Figures 7, 8 and 9. Figure 13 is a similar
fragmentary view in a different plane of section. Figure 14 illustrates the
attachment of registering devices to the slides. Figures 15, 16 and 17 are detail
views respectively of portions of a register and of one of the angle plates which
guide the slides and prevent movement of the registers, except when in voting
position. Figure 18 shows the arrangement of slides for the two sets of candidates
when more than one person is to be elected to the same office.
In the machine represented in Sheets 4 to 7, 1 represents the mounting. A drop
bar 2, which automatically effects the registering at the proper time is held
normally elevated by means of a pawl 3, having spring 4 engaging in notch 5 in
said drop bar. A bar 6 engages beneath pawl 3, to release the latter and permit
drop bar 2 to descend and by descending, to engage each of the series of registers
previously brought into the voting position so as to record one vote on each
register in the voting space. The register has dials 7 which may be exposed to
view through opening 8, but are normally kept hidden from view by the door 9.
10 is a register also actuated by drop bar 2 for indicating the whole number of
bailots cast. Register 10 as well as its connection with drop bar 2 may follow any
convenient and well known construction and need not be further described.
Slides 11 are mounted in angle plates 11 and are movable to bring any name
thereon, into the voting position which is defined by the bar 6 and a bar 12,
parallel to bar 6, said slides being moved either separately by means of one of their
up-turned ends or all together by means of arm 13 having sliding connection 13"
with a bar 14 and having a lower guide 15.
The bar 6 whose outer end trips the pawl 3 carries pins 16 working through
openings 17 in guide plates 11ª, see Figs. 7 and 12. Continued movement of bar 6
causes pins 16 to enter slots 18 in slides 11 and upon reaching points of the
V-shaped slot, the slides are brought into accurate position. The bar 6 thus
becomes the rectifying bar and it will be seen that the rectifying takes place
simultaneously with the movement of the bar 6 for tripping pawl 3 which releases
drop bar 2. The vote being thus recorded or registered, all slides are returned to
normal position by arm 19 having mounting 20 with bearings 21 and the vote
obscured from view of the following voter. To make the return action automatic
mounting 20 is connected at 22 by rod 23 to door 24 through which door the voter
passes out. The exit of the voter thus insures the return of the slides. 25 is a
deflecting tongue on mounting 20 which passes under end 27 of drop bar 2 and
elevates the latter upon the flange 26 as the return bar 19 moves, and said drop bar
is thus held until engaged by pawl 3 Another function of this flange 26 is to
prevent the dropping of the bar 2 while the arm 19 is out of its normal position.
As the door 24 is connected to the mounting 20 it is obvious that the drop bar 2
will not perform its function until the door is closed and a recess 26" in the
flange 26 is brought beneath the end 27 of said drop bar 2.
From so much of the description it will be obvious that it is practically
impossible for a vote to be cast or the mechanism otherwise tampered with at the
wrong time or for more than one vote to be registered while the voter is within the
enclosure, unless he shall first pass out and re-enter.
The manner of arranging the angle plates 11" to receive and guide the slides 11
will be understood more clearly from Figures 12 and 13, and the construction of
said plate will be seen in Figure 17. Each plate is formed with a horizontal
portion 28, a vertical attaching portion 29 with a register locking flange 30, and a

page_text: longitudinal channel 31 on the edge of the horizontal portion 28. The channel 31
also forms a shoulder 32 beneath the plate, and this shoulder 32 on one plate and the
channel 31 on the next lower plate constitute the guides for the slides 11. To the
back of slides 11 are riveted brackets 33, which afford bearings for registers 34 and
are curved down so as to have a bearing 35 on the horizontal portions of the angle
plates 11 and at the same time to support the slides 11 in the position shown.
This construction permits the slides to be freely moved longitudinally with the
registers attached to them. Each register has a main spur wheel 36, by which the
register is actuated, and this actuation takes place by the engagement of
the teeth 37 by pins 38 on the drop bar 2. It will be thus observed that when
the slides are moved so as to bring a series of the spur wheels 36 into the vertical
plane of the pins 38 and the drop bar 2 is released in the manner heretofore
described the downward movement of the drop bar will move each wheel 36 a
distance of one tooth. In order to prevent the movement of wheel 36 in any
other manner than by the tooth 38 on the dropping of the bar 2 while the
register is in voting position, said drop bar is provided with an additional series
of pins 39 which normally engage between the teeth of wheel 36 and prevent its
rotation while in voting position. In order to prevent the rotation of any register
wheel 36 at any time when they are out of voting position the flange 30 on the
angle plate 11 projects between the teeth 37, as shown in Figures 12 and 13
throughout the length of the plates 11, except at the voting position, where the
flange 30 is notched or cut away as shown at 40. This notch 40 permits the
teeth 38, 39 to drop, and also permits the wheels 36 to rotate.
In the registers each wheel 36 carries a unit disk 41, which communicates motion
through a barrel 42 to the tens wheel 43, which in turn communicates motion
through the barrel 44 to the hundreds wheel 45. In order that motion may be
comniunicated from each disk wheel 41, 43 to the succeeding wheel only at the
completion of a revolution, each barrel 42 is provided with cogs 46, which rest
astrile the periphery of the disk wheel from which they receive motion, and this
prevents the barrels from turning until a slot 47 in the periphery of a disk wheel
comes around and engages one of the teeth 46, when the barrel is turned a distance
of one tooth to another, and this motion is imparted through the opposite ends of
said teeth 46, together with an interposed series of teeth 48, to the gear wheel 49,
which drives the next disk wheel a distance sufficient to bring into view the next
digit on its face. In order to bring a tooth 46 into engagement with the slot 47
at the proper time and prevent lost motion, each disk wheel 41, 43 carries a
finger 50, which engages the harrel at the proper time and turns its tooth 46 down
into the slot 47.
From the foregoing description of the registers it will be observed that none of
the wheels can move except at the proper rate with relation to the units wheel
and this wheel can only move when in the voting position, and even then can
only be moved by the drop bar in its downward movement.
The return bar 19 is secured to its mounting 20 by means of a set screw 19ª,
which works in a slot 20 of the mounting and permits the bar 19 to he set
forward, if desired, to intercept the upturned ends 11 of the slides and prevent the
slides being moved far enough to bring the last spaces into the voting position in
case said spaces contain no names or in case they contain names which have no
place in the election. The slides are intended to receive names in any convenient
manner. Thus far no provision has been made for voting for more than one
person to the same office or to an office filled by two or more persons, such as a
board of directors trustees, or commissioners &c. and for selecting any two
candidates for the same office. To provide for doing this, the slides may be
arranged as shown in Figure 18, in which two slides 11 are provided with
duplicate sets of nanies a be def g, but coupled together, so that the similar
names on both slides cannot be brought opposite, and therefore two votes cannot
be registered for the same party at the some operation, but any two persons on

page_text: these slides may be combined. To conveniently couple the slides, one slide 11
may be provided with a cross-bar 11°, which is securely attached to it and which
projects over in front of, but not attached to, the projection 11' on the adjacent
slide. By this means the upper slide cannot be moved sufficient to bring similar
names into coincidence, but may be moved freely in the opposite direction to
make any combination of names, as stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine of the character specified, the arrangement of the slides, with
means for justifying them, substantially as explained.
2. In combination with the arrangement set forth in Claim 1, means whereby
the recording or registering operation is effected by the movement of the justifying
mechanism.
3. The combination of the slides, the justifying means, the recording or
registering mechanism, and a pawl holding the recording or registering mechanism
normally inert, and having connection with the justifying means whereby the pawl
is released by the operation of the latter as explained.
4. In a voting machine, the combination of the slides to be arranged for casting
the vote, the return bar and a swing part across the exit connected with the return
bar whereby the slides are disarranged by the exit of the voter.
5. In a voting machine, the slides, the dropping part arranged to record or
register the vote, and a swinging part projecting across the exit and having
connections whereby it resets the dropping part and returns the slide.
6. The combination of the slides adapted to be arranged at will and the means
for printing the ballot, the means for severing it and the projecting part at the exit
having connections whereby the ballot is severed by the exit of the voter.
7. The herein described details of construction for carrying out the several
operations of the machine.
8. The arrangement of the slides whereby different combinations of candidates
may be voted for for the same office.
Dated this 18th day of May 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.