Improvements in and relating to Ballot Boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: . being date of mrst Foreign Applicati
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd Sept.,
1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1891-Accepted; 3rd Oct., 1891.
antica διαιτο· οι
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1891-Accepted; 3rd Oct., 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ballot Boxes.
511
Jari
1, ERNEST CHRISTIAN REICHE, a Citizen of the United. States of America,
residing at Chestertown, in the County of Kent and. State of Maryland, one of the
United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement
My invention relates to improvements in ballot-boxes, the primary objects of the
invention being, first, to make a printed impression on the backs of legally cast
ballots while the ballot is in position to be deposited in the box,. whereby..the
deposit of infolded or other illegal ballots not having this impression may be
detected; secondly, to provide means for registering only such ballots as have the
printed impression, and, finally, to provide means whereby manipulation of. the
operative parts of the ballot-box by unauthorized persons is prevented.
The invention will first be described in connection with the, accompanying
drawings, and then pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings
it
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ballot-box as appears v when ready for
use, showing the printing device, operating-lever, and registering device.
'Figure 2 is a top plan view showing the box open and the mechanism carried by.
the under side of the lid.
Figure 3 is transverse sectional view taken on the line w-w of Figure, 1,
showing more particularly the positions occupied by the printing device when in
operation and when at rest, the former position being shown in dotted lines, and
also the slide for closing the inlet-opening.
Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line x-x of Figure 1, showing.the operating-
lever, the alarm mechanism, and the mechanism for locking and releasing the slide
for closing the inlet-opening.
Figure 5 is also a transverse sectional view taken on the line y-y of. Figure 1,
showing the operating-lever, registering device, and the mechanism for actuating
the latter.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line of Figure. 2,
showing more particularly the construction of the mechanism for locking the
registering device so as to prevent its being operated after the ballot-box is
closed.
1.
Referring to the drawings, A, designates the box, and, B, its hinged lid, carrying
the mechanism for operating, respectively, the printing device, the ballot releasing
and detaining slide, the registering mechanism, the inlet-closing slide, and the
register-locking mechanism, all of which parts will be described in the order in
which they operate.
The box, A, is made in the shape and of the size required, and is provided with
glass sides and ends, behind one of which is located the registering mechanism, C,
so as to enable a voter both to see and hear (the latter by means of the alarm.

page_text: mechanism) that his ballot has been properly placed within the box, as will
later on.
appear
D, designates the printing device, which is located over the inlet-opening, 1, and
in the present instance is secured upon the top side of the lid of the box and is
constructed of two supports, 2, firmly secured to the lid, a stamp-head, 3, eccen-
trically mounted on a shaft, 4, having its bearings in the supports, 2, and carrying
an ordinary lettered pad, 5, a platen, 6, with which the pad contacts in stamping a
ballot, and an inking roller, 7, the latter being journaled in a housing or casing, 8,
which is connected at each end to the upper ends of two arms, 9, the lower ends of
which are pivotally connected to the supports, 2, a spring, 10, connecting with the
shaft, 11, of the inking-roller and, with one of the supports, serving to keep the
said roller in contact with the printing-pad.
E, designates a rock-shaft, which is journaled in a bearing, 12, on the lid and
carries two cranks, 13, 13¹. The crank, 13, is engaged by the lower end of an
arm, 14, which connects at its upper end to the stamp-head, and the crank, 131,
carries a friction-roller, 15, engaging the inner end of the operating-lever, F, which
latter, when rocked upon its bearing, 16, serves through the arm 14 to project the
stamp-head forward to make an impression in an obvious manner. In order
to cause the stamp-head and the operating-lever automatically to resume their
normal positions after the operation of stamping a ballot, a spring 17 is employed,
one end of which is connected, preferably, with the crank 13, and the other end
with the lid.
G. designates the ballot retaining and releasing slide, which is arranged below
the inlet-opening 1, and works between guides 18, secured to the underside of the
lid. To the slide is secured one end of a pivoted spring-actuated lever 19, (which
for an obvious reason I will designate as the "slide-actuating lever,") the other
end of which is arranged to contact with the lower end of lever 20, pivoted in
the lid, the upper end of which lever is formed with a cam-surface 21, designed
to be engaged by the operating-lever, F, as clearly shown in Figure 4, when the
latter is pressed down, which movement rocks the lever 20, causing its lower end
to project forward and vibrate the lever, 19, and thus move the slide away from
the inlet-opening. As soon as the slide reaches the limit of its backward movement
a locking-spring, 21', engages with the free end of the slide-actuating lever and
holds it in the position to which it is moved by the lever 20, thus allowing the
stamped ballot to drop into the box.
In order to release the slide-actuating lever 19 to allow the slide to close the
inlet-opening, a pivoted releasing-lever, 22, is employed, which is also located on
the under side of the lid and is provided at one end with an upwardly-projecting
toe 23, which is designed to be brought into engagement with the spring, 21¹, by
means of a pin 24, mounted in a slot 25 in the lid and engaging, respectively, with
the inner end 26 of the operating-lever, F, and the inner end 27 of the lever 22.
It will be evident that when the operating-lever resumes its normal position it will
exert a downward pressure upon the pin 24, thus bringing the toe 23 into engage-
ment with the spring 21', and forcing the latter out of contact with the slide-
operating lever, whereby the latter and with it the slide are allowed to resume
their normal position.
The registering device, C, to which reference has been made, consists of a toothed
disk 28, suitably journaled to the end of the box and bearing numbers ranging from
1 to 100, a sliding rack-bar 29, bearing numbers from 100 to, say, 1,500, a pin 30,
carried by the disk for moving the rack-bar, and a stationary pointer 31 for
designating the units number of ballots cast. As these parts are of the ordinary
construction, a detailed description of them is not thought necessary.
The mechanism for actuating the disk consists of an arm 32, secured at one end
within a recess 33, formed in the upper edge of that end of the box in which the
register is located; a pawl, 34, carried by the free end of said arm and engaging
the teeth of the disk, and a spring 35, interposed between the free end of the arm
and bottom of the recess for keeping the arm approximately flush with the upper

page_text: dges of the recess; a pin 36, secured in the recess and extending through the
ree end of the arm, serving the double function of retaining the spring in place
nd of forming a guide for the arm. To guard against any possible backward
evolution of the disk, a spring-pawl 37 is employed, as is customary.
In order to operate the register simultaneously with the printing device, a push-
od 38 is employed, the upper end of which is loosely pivoted to the operating-
ever, F, and the lower end works in a slot 39 in the lid and contacts with the arm
t 40. This push-rod is of such length that it will not actuate the arm 32 until the
rinting-stamp has made an impression, so that a voter by watching the disk will
know when he sees it turn that his ballot has been properly stamped and deposited
within the box.
H, designates the alarm or signalling device, which consists of an ordinary
gong 41, to the trigger 42 of which is connected one end of a rod, 43, the other end
of which connects with one arm 44 of a bell-crank lever pivoted upon a bracket 45,
secured to the under side of the lid. The other arm, 46, of the said lever is bent
at right angles to the first arm, so as to form a bearing-surface for the lower free
end of a push-rod, 47, the upper end of which is loosely pivoted to the operating-
lever, F, said rod being of such a length that the gong will not be sounded until
after the ballot has been deposited, so that if the gong fails to ring (if not out of
order) the voter will know that his ballot has not been deposited, and will thus be
enabled to prevent fraud.
I, designates the inlet-closing slide, which consists of a plate, 48, working in
guides, 49, 50, on the under side of the lid. To this plate is secured a cross-
piece, 51, in which are rigidly mounted two rods, 52, which work in bearings, 53,
carried by the plate, 48, and are supported at their free ends and work in the
openings, 54, formed in a cross-piece, 55. Upon each of these rods is mounted a
spring, 56, which bears, respectively, against the cross-piece, 55, and bearings, 53,
and exerts a pressure requisite to cause the plate, 48, normally to cover the inlet-
opening. In order to keep the plate, 48, out of operative position with regard to
the inlet-opening, an S-shaped trigger, 57, is employed, one end, 58, of which
engages with the cross-piece, 51, a spring, 59, serving to hold it in that position.
The other end of the trigger is engaged by the lower end of a pivoted arm, 60,
the upper end of which extends through a slot, 61, in the lid, as shown in Figure 1,
and is provided with a knob, 62, a pivoted latch, 63, serving to prevent the
accidental movement of the arm and consequent release of the trigger. When the
arm 60 is moved forward, it releases the trigger, 57, and thus allows the springs 56
to project the plate 48 forward to cover the inlet-opening, a spring, 63¹, located in a
recess, 64, in the under side of the lid and above the plate, being released as the
latter reaches the limit of its forward movement, and by contacting with the rear
edge of the plate serves to lock it in its forward position. When the plate is to be
moved away from the inlet-opening, the spring, 631, is pushed from contact with the
rear edge of the said plate and the latter forced back until the trigger engages with
the cross-piece, when the plate is again ready to be operated.
J, designates a slide-bar located on the inner side of the front of the box near
the top edge, which bar is supported intermediate its length by a screw, 65,
extending through a longitudinal slot, 66, and at one end by means of a recess, 67,
formed in the register end of the box. The other end of the bar is rounded at 68,
and is also provided with a shoulder 69, designed to engage a pin, 70, to hold the
bar in the position shown in Figure 6, a spring, 71, secured to the bar and to the
end of the box, serving to project the former forward to cause the end, 72, to pass
under the arm, 32, as seen in Figure 5, so as to prevent the said arm from being
pressed down by the operating-lever and thus actuate the register, the pin 70,
serving to hold the bar out of contact with the arm when the box is in use.
order to release the bar, J, simultaneously with the releasing of the plate, 48, a
trigger, 73, is provided, which is pivoted to the under side of the lid and is con-
structed at its lower end with a curved portion, 74, designed to engage with a
pin, 75, on the cross-piece, 51. The upper end of the trigger is designed to contact
In

page_text: with the lower end of a pivoted lever; 76, the upper end of which lever is provided
with a curved beveled toe, 77, which, when the lid is closed,' is adjacent to the
rounded end, 68, of the slide-bar, J, (see Figure 6,) a spring, 78, secured to "the
lever, 76, and to the lid, serving to keep the former out of engagement with the end
of the slide-rod. It will be obvious that when'the'arm, 60, is moved to release thes
trigger, 57, the force exerted upon the trigger by the contact of the pin, 75, 'there-
with in the forward movement of the plate, 48, will be sufficient to swing the
lever, 76, which movement will bring the beveled toe into engagement with the
rounded portion, 68, of the slide-bar, J, by which means the latter is thrown out of
contact with the pin, 70, thus perinitting the said bar to move forward and secure
the arm 32, against downward movement. It will be seen from the foregoing
description that the movement of the arm, 60, releases the inlet-closing plate, 48,
and the slide-bar, J, and also prevents the operation of the printing device, inasmuch
as when the arm, 32, is locked against downward movement the operating-lever
cannot be pressed down a sufficient distance to operate the printing device, as the
push-rod, 38, will contact with the arm, 32, which has previously been locked by
the slide-bar, I.
In operation a ballot is placed in the inlet-opening and its lower end rests upon
the slide, G. The operating-lever is then pressed down, which movement rocks
shaft, E, and projects the stamp-head, 3, forward to cause the pad, 5, to 'make ‘an
impression on the back of the ballot, which pad bears suitable letters and figures to
indicate the ward and precinct in which the box is used-as, for instance,
"18 W., 6P." As soon as the slide reaches the limit of its backward movement
the spring 21 slips in front of the lever 19 and holds it and the slide back in order
to allow the ballot to drop within the box after the printing device starts to resume
its normal position, the lever being so held until released by the lever 22, and
pin, 24, in the manner described. When the balloting is finished, the entire
operating mechanism is locked against further operation by the arm, 60, as before
described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a ballot-box a lid 'having an inlet-opening, a slide located below the opening,
and a printing device arranged above the opening, in combination with a spring-
actuated lever connecting with the slide, a rock-shaft connecting with the printing
device, and mechanism for actuating the lever and the rock-shaft, whereby the
slide and the printing device are actuated in unison.
2. In a ballot-box, a lid having an inlet-opening, a slide below the opening, and
a printing device above the opening, in combination with a spring-actuated lever
connecting with the slide, a'rock-shaft connecting with the printing device, an 'arm
arranged adjacent to the said 'lever, and mechanism for actuating the rock-shaft and
the arm.
3. In a ballot-box, a printing device, a rock shaft connecting therewith, and a
registering device, in combination with a lever engaging the rock-shaft, a pawl
actuated by the lever independently of the rock-shaft for operating the registering
device, and a spring for automatically returning the printing device and the lever
to their normal positions after the printing and registering of a ballot.
4. In a ballot-box, a printing device, a rock-shaft connecting therewith, and a
registering device, in combination with a lever engaging the rock-shaft, an arm
carrying a pawl for engaging the register-disk, and a push-rod carried by the lever
for actuating the said arm, whereby the printing device and the register-disk are
actuated in unison.
i
5. In a ballot-box, a lid having an inlet-opening and a spring-actuated plate
located below the opening, in combination with a trigger for keeping the plate to
one side of the opening, and an arm for releasing the trigger to allow the plate to
pass under the opening.
v

page_text: 6. In a ballot-box, a lid having an inlet-opening, a slide located below the opening,
and a spring-actuated lever connecting with and operating the slide, in combination
with a locking-spring adjacent to the said lever, a sliding pin, a releasing lever
engaging, respectively, with the spring and with the pin, and an operating-lever for
actuating the slide-operating lever and the releasing-lever, whereby the slide is
moved to one side of the opening in one movement of the operating-lever, and is
automatically released upon a reverse movement of the operating-lever.
7. In a ballot-box, an arm arranged in one end thereof, a registering-disk located
below the arm, and a pawl carried by the arm and engaging the disk, in combina-
tion with a slide-bar, a pin with which one end of the said bar engages, a spring
connecting with the bar and with a fixed portion of the box, and a lever carried by
the lid and adapted automatically to be brought into contact with the bar, whereby
to release the latter and cause it to engage the arm.
8. In a ballot-box, a lid having an inlet-opening, a spring-actuated plate located
below the opening, and a pin or projection carried by the plate, in combination
with a registering device, a lever, a trigger, one end of which engages with the pin
and the other end with the lever, a slide-bar carried by the box, and means for
releasing the plate, whereby the trigger will be actuated to release the slide-bar
and thus lock the register against operation.
9. In a ballot-box, a lid having an inlet-opening, a slide located below the opening,
a printing device arranged above the opening, and an alarm-bell attached to the
under side of the lid, in combination with an operating-lever and interposed
mechanisms connecting the slide, the printing device and the alarm-bell with the
lever, whereby when the latter is operated the slide, the printing device, and the
alarm-bell will be successively actuated.
Dated this 3rd day of Sentember 1891
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.