Improvements in and relating to Ballot-boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ballot-boxes.
I, WILLIAM FRANK GAUL, of the City of Camden, in the County of Camden,
in the State of New Jersey, and United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BALLOT-BOXES,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in: and by the following statement:―
My invention has relation to improvements in ballot-boxes and the object is to
provide a ballot-box of simple construction which can be conveniently manipulated,
and having reliable registering mechanism associated with a ballot-depositing
mechanism whereby the probability of fraud being transacted in the deposition of
the ballot, is at the lowest possibility. I accomplish the purposes of my invention
by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein :-
Figure is a perspective of the ballot-box the metal casting being indicated in.
the dotted lines, to show the interior mechanism.
Figure 2, is a view of the ballot-box, with the metal casing in position.
Figure 3, is arside view of the primary registering wheel, with the spring arm
engaging the wave wheel.
Figure 4, is a sectional view of the primary registering wheel, taken on a line
through the way holding the spring-plunger or bar.
Figure 5, is a side view of one of the registering wheels employed in the series
occurring after the primary registering wheel.
Figure 6, is a detail of the actuating lever, and sectional view of the ballot-tube
taken centrally through the tube and longitudinally through the plate or tongue
which closes the ballot aperture in the metal case.
Figure 7, is a detail view of the alarm and tappet mechanism.
Figure 8, is a reverse plan view of the lower mechanism in-the top of the metal
casing.
•
:
Figure 9, is a vertical central section of a ballot-tube applicable for use in my
improved ballot-box.
Figure 10, is a front view, in elevation, of the registering-mechanism:
Figure 11, is a longitudinal and vertical central section of the registering-
mechanism, showing one of the spring-plunger bars.
Figure 12, is a detail side view of the wave-wheel and ratchet with its actuating-
pawl.
A, designates the ballot-box case wherein the ballots are deposited from the
upper metal case. This depository is composed of a substantial bottom piece 1,
constituting the floor of the case, and having arranged therein the arched side
frames 2, 3, constructed to receive and securely retain glass_plates. Between the
side frames is also secured an arched front and top of glass. The construction shown
is that considered convenient and reliable, but this portion of the ballot-box may be
of any suitable design,jor construction to receive the ballots, and adapted to properly
support the glass casing, and the metal case or box within which the mechanism
is arranged. At the upper rear end of the casing, the side pieces of the box-frame
are connected by a substantial cross-piece 4, and arranged at the proper distance
therefrom, towards the front of the box, is an intermediate cross-piece 5. The
space 6, between the cross-pieces is left open for the ballots to drop through from
the upper metal case into the depository below. At the rear end of the depository
case is an end-piece 7, extending only partially upwards over the end of the case,
substantially as shown; and to the upper edge of this end-piece is hinged the
door 8, closing. the remaining opening in the end of the depository. The hinges 9,
of the door are arranged on the inner side of the depository, so that the opportunity

page_text: for removal may be lessened. On the upper edge of the door are hasps 10, which
Locks 11, are
set over staples or eyes in the lower edge of the upper metal case.
used to connect the hasps and staples, and lock the parts together, I have shown
three locks connected to the box, the purpose being to have a different lock to each
connection, and a single key in the custody of different officers, so that there must
be unity of design and intent before the box could be opened, and the contents
examined.
B, designates the upper or metal case consisting of a substantial metal casing
hinged at its lower front parts or corners to lugs 12, on the arched side-pieces of
the depository. In the front of the casing B, are apertures 13, 14, 15, for displaying
the figures or characters on the registering-wheels. A glass plate is used to close the
apertures. In the top of the metal case is formed a recess 16, which receives the
finger-piece 19, by which mechanism is operated. On the metal case is secured a
bracket 17, having a bearing in its end, in which the end of a fulcrum shaft 18, is
journaled, the upper portion of the shaft being supported in a bearing in the middle.
of the recessed part of the casing, and on the projecting end of the shaft 18, is fixed
a finger-piece 19, by which the shaft may be turned in its bearings. On the shaft 18
is rigidly fixed a lever 20, which has its arms bent, in the region of the shell of the
recess, to conform to the contour thereof, and thus permit the outer portion of the
To the one arm of
arms to sweep the plane of the inner face of the metal case.
the lever,.shown herein to be the shorter, is connected a retractile spring 21, having
its other end fastened to a stud or hook fixed in the casing. At the end of the other
or longer arm of the lever 20, is secured one end of a spring 22, the force of which
is exerted in the direction opposite to the force of the spring 21, at the other end;
so that the lever will be returned to its normal position by the united pull of the
springs. One spring may be sufficient to effectuate the purpose, but for security,
in case one should be broken, two are represented. To limit the sweep of the lever
in its return movement a stud a is fixed in the casing, against which it lodges and
rests when in its normal position. On the end of the lever 20, is formed a plate or
tongue 23, extended in a proper direction to slide over and shut the ballot
aperture 24, in the top of the case; the rear end or portion of this plate or tongue
formed with an aperture band from the tongue in line of this ballot aperture, is
arranged and secured a tube 25.
In normal position of the lever the plate 23, stands across the ballot aperture in
the case, so that no ballot can be admitted until the tongue is moved out of the way.
and, the open end of the tube is presented in registration with the ballot aperture.
The tube is braced by an arm c, extending from the shaft to the tube, as shown.
At the lower side of the casing is a bracket 26, the foot or plate of which stands
directly under the ballot aperture, and directly under the lower end of the tube 25,
when arranged to receive a ballot and prevents the insertion in the tube of more
than one ballot-tube at a time. On the end of a lever 20, is a cam-lug 27, which
engages a reversely arranged lug on the arm 31, of the bell tappet. A signal
bell 28, is supported in the case, and the alarm given by a spring actuated tappet 29,
having a bearing 30, with torsional spring, to return the strike, and a spring
arm 31, carrying a lug on its upper end to be engaged by the lug 27, on the end of
the lever.
The mechanism specified in the foregoing description, independent of the alarm,
is all that is absolutely essential to effectuate the deposition of the ballot, and
might be employed separate from the rest of the associated mechanism; but since
the object of my invention is to provide a complete apparatus or machine for the
purpose, I have associated a registering mechanism therewith and also the signal.
The registering mechanism I now proceed to describe:
C, designates the registering mechanism, generally supported on a plate 32, fixed
to bracket 33, secured to the sides of the metal casing. In the plate 32, are
apertures 34, which register with the numbers on the wheels; so that a party can
observe the relation of the numerals on the wheels through these apertures, when
setting the wheels with the case thrown back on its hinges. To the plate 32, are

page_text: secured standards 35, 36, having bearings in which a shaft 37, is fixed; on the shaft
are fixed sleeves 38, 39, on which are formed cam-lugs 40, engaged by the ends of
the spring-plunger bars 51, in the registering wheels.
D, designates the primary registering wheel mounted loosely on the fixed shaft.
This wheel consists of a flange part 41, having numerals thereon from 0, to 9; a
ratchet 42, on the side of the wheel to be engaged by a pawl 53, hereinafter
described; and a wave-wheel 43, on the side of the ratchet wheel. On the plate 32
are secured supports 44, to which are fulcrumed spring-actuated arms 45, carrying
rollers 46, on their inner ends, which engage the recesses of the wave-wheels and
hold them in the positions to which they are intermittently moved by the pawl and .
ratchet. On the ends of the arms 45, are jointed rods 47, arranged with their upper
ends in holes 48, in the ends of the supports 44; and about these rods 47, are
arranged springs 49, the force of which throws the rollers of the levers into the
recesses of the wave-wheel.
D', D2, designate the additional registering wheels, which are substantially of
the same construction as the primary registering wheel D, excepting that the
ratchet element is dispensed with between the wave-wheel and the number bearing
part, and differing therefrom in having gradually deepening and abruptly terminating
recesses 50, to be engaged by spring actuated plunger bars 51, arranged in ways 52,
made in the registering wheel. These plunger-bars are pushed forward by contact
of their ends with the cam-lugs on the fixed-shaft into the recesses 50, in the side-
faces of the wheels and thus turn the registering wheels by such engagement.
In the casing is arranged a pawl or latch bar 53, sliding in keepers 54, and
carrying on its free end a spring 55. To this latch-bar is jointed a pawl 56, the
end of which engages the notches on the primary registering wheel, and turns that
the distance of one number when the lever is released by the operator; the spring
keeping the pawl in position to engage the ratchets. In the casing is pivoted a
locking-lug 57, which may be turned with its end to bear on the side of the lever
and hold it in locked condition against the lug or pin a. E designates the ballot-
tube, which consists of a tube within which is concealed a ballot. This tube is
made of such diameter and length as to fit loosely in the tube through which it
reaches the depository.
The operation of the machine is as follows: The ballot tube being supplied with
the ballot or ballots, is handed to the officer in charge of the ballot-box, and by him
placed endwise in the ballot aperture in the top of the box; at the same time the
finger-piece is grasped and turned in the direction to move the lever which carries
the plate or tongue from over the aperture and brings the tube in alignment with
the aperture, when the ballot-tube can be dropped down into the tube, where it is
retained by lodging on the bracket, now under the end of the tube, when the finger-
piece is released, the tube moves with the lever so that the end is free from the
bracket and the ballot tube drops down into the depository below. When the tube
is moved into position so as to receive the ballot-tube, the lug on the end of the
lever engages the tappet-arm and rings the alarm; and at the same time the other
end of the lever pushes the latch bar with the pawl attached one ratchet back,
where the pawl falls behind a ratchet, so that when the lever is returned by the
force of the springs, the primary registering wheel is moved one number; this
manipulation and operation successively takes place until the primary wheel is
turned one revolution, when the end of the plunger-bar is engaged by the cam-lug
on the fixed shaft, and pushed into the recess of the adjacent registering wheel
and turned, registering such movement as indicative of the ballots having been
deposited; ten movements of the second registering wheel produced by the
recurrence of the movement of the primary wheel, bring the spring plunger,
carried by the second wheel into engagement with the cam lug and pushes the
plunger into the recess on the side face of the next registering wheel and turns
that one numeral, indicating that one hundred ballots have been deposited.
The mechanisin illustrated shows registering mechanism to indicate 999 ballots,

page_text: without duplication, but another wheel being added, the number would be corre-
spondingly increased.
Having now particularly described and' ascertained the nature of my said:
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination of the depository case, having a door hinged to its rear
end, the metal case hinged to the top of the depository case, and having a ballot
aperture in its top, and arranged to rest with its bottom rear edge on the top edge
of the door, and locking means to secure the door and the metal case together,
substantially as specified.
2. The combination in a ballot-box, of a bottom depository casing, provided with
a door at the rear, and a ballot aperture in its top, a metal box or case on the
top of the depository case hinged thereto, and provided with a ballot aperture
to pass the ballot.. through and adapted to cover the ballot aperture, in the
depository, and locking means to hold the cases together, substantially as described.
3. In a ballot-box, the combination with a two part box hinged together, and
arranged to be locked at their free meeting edges, and the top box having an
aperture to receive a ballot, of a spring actuated lever fulcrumed in the top box,
formed with a tongue to close the ballot aperture and an aperture in the tongue.
and finger-piece on the exterior of the box fast to the lever, whereby the lever
may be moved and the aperture in the tongue brought in alignment with the ballot
aperture in the-top box, as specified.
4. In a ballot-box, the combination of a metal case mounted on a ballot-depository
case; and adapted to close down on the top thereof, and having a ballot aperture,
a lever fulcrumed on the under side of the metal case, and formed with 'a tongue
and aperture to close and open the ballot aperture, a spring to hold and return the
lever in normal position, and a finger-piece on the exterior of the metal case
connected to the lever substantially as described.
5. In a ballot-box, the combination of a case mounted and secured on. a ballot
depository case, and having a ballot aperture therein, a vertical shaft journaled
and supported in the case with its end projected through the top of the case and
provided with a finger-piece, a lever rigidly fixed on the said shaft, and provided
with a tongue and ballot tube to close and open the ballot aperture, a bracket
arranged to close the lower end of the tube when moved to align with the ballot
aperture, and a spring to return the lever with tongue and tube to normal position,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified:
6. In a ballot-box, the combination with a case provided with a ballot aperture,
of a spring, actuated lever on the case formed with a tongue having an aperture
and a tube extending from the aperture and means for moving the lever with
the tongue and tube to and from the ballot aperture, substantially as described.
7. In a ballot-box, the combination of a case having a ballot aperture and
provided with a lever, having a tube and tongue to move to and from the ballot
aperture, a pawl connected to one end of the lever, and a registering wheel formed
with a ratchet to be engaged by the pawl, substantially as described.
8. In a ballot-box, the combination of the primary registering wheel D, having
numerals on its face rim, a ratchet on its side, and a wave-wheel on the side of
the ratchet, a spring actuated arm provided with a roller at its free end to engage
the, wave-wheel, a pawl to engage the ratchets and a lever to shift the pawl,
substantially as described.
9. In a ballot-box, the combination of a fixed shaft provided with cam-lugs, a
primary registering wheel mounted to turn on said shaft, and formed with ratchets,
a second registering wheel mounted loosely on said shaft, and formed with recesses
in its side face, a spring, plunger, in a transversely arranged way in the primary
registering wheel to engage the cam-lug on the shaft and engage with its other
end the recesses in the side, face of the second registering wheel, a third registering

page_text: wheel mounted loosely on said shaft, and formed with recesses in side faces, a
spring plunger transversely projected through the second registering wheel to
engage a cam-lug of the fixed shaft and recesses of the registering wheel,
and means substantially as described for moving the primary registering wheel, as
specified.
10. In a ballot-box, the combination of a fixed shaft, provided with cam-lugs,
a primary registering wheel mounted to turn on the fixed shaft, and formed with
ratchets, a second registering wheel loosely mounted on said shaft and formed
with recesses in its side face, a spring plunger in a transversely arranged way in
the primary registering wheel to engage the cam-lug on the shaft and the recesses
in the side face of the second registering wheel, a third registering wheel mounted
loosely on said shaft and formed with recesses in its side faces, a spring-plunger
transversely projected through the second registering wheel to engage a cam-lug on
the fixed shaft and the recesses in the side faces of the third registering wheel,
wave-wheels on the sides of the respective registering wheels, spring actuated levers
having rollers to engage the recesses of the wave-wheels, and a lever and pawl
mechanism to turn the primary registering wheel, substantially as described.
11. In a ballot box the combination with a metal case having a ballot-aperture,
of a lever fulcrumed in the case and having a tube and tongue to slide over the
ballot aperture, an alarm mounted in the case, a tappet to strike the alarm and a
spring arm on the tappet to engage the end of the lever whereby the tongue
is moved from the ballot-aperture, the alarm is struck, substantially as described.
Doted this 7th day of Jul 1901
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.