Improvements in Voting and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Voting and Apparatus therefor.
I JOHN VINCENT MOORE, of 8 Crowland Road, Stamford Hill in the County
of Middlesex, Court Slipper Maker, 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 object of this invention is to ascertain at a glance by (mechanical means)
the correct number of votes and names of the voters in legislative or other divisions
in order to dispense with the tedious and unreliable operation of counting the votes
as at present.
And in order that my invention may be understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews front elevation of an apparatus constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 end elevation and Fig. 3 plan of same.
Fig. 4 shews view of the division sheet in frame drawn to an enlarged scale and
Fig. 5 shews cross section of same.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the views.
a shews table on which the apparatus is mounted, this may be of wood or metal,
b shews drawers capable of being drawn out by handles c, these drawers may
contain the division sheets and other requisites, d, d, shew pillars on which the
frame of the apparatus is supported and held in position by means of the flat bar e,
taking into slots formed in the top of the four corner-pillars d, the centre one having
a bolt through its centre to which the apparatus is screwed.
This apparatus consists of two rods or rails g, g, screwed into the casting i on
which a sliding frame h travels.
m,
T
On this frame h is cast a box frame k in which a fork is lifted up and down by
means of a lever the ends of the fork take into holes m, on the division sheet
frame o, this latter consists of a slate slab covered with sheet rubber the whole
being fixed in a brass frame, p is a bar on which the vote stamp receiving slot q travels,
by turning the screw by means of wheels half a turn for each division and at
each half turn the bell t is actuated by means of the stops u (on the wheels) coming
in contact with the hammer of bell so as to notify when a vote is given. The
screw r is provided with a reverse ratchet wheel at each end so that by means
of one or other of the clicks w engaging with the ratchets the said screw can
only be turned one way, and by reversing over the clicks the screw can be
turned in an opposite direction in order that the vote receiving slot may be
moved either up or down as required. is a receptacle for holding the ink pad.
y is an ink pot or well, z is a sliding slope or desk capable of being drawn out.
a a are two clips for holding the division sheet (partly shewn in Fig. 4) in
place.
The action is as follows:-
The division sheet suitably ruled and numbered as shewn on Fig. 4 is placed
under the clips a' a' after which the frame h is set so that the slot 9 comes over the
lowermost division marked 1, the ends of the fork entering the hoſes 1 (see Fig. 4)
to lock the frame. over division 1.
The first voter then places his stamp (having his name thereon) through the
slots and thus stamps division No. 1 with his name, the handles is then turned
until the bell t rings which will take place at the half turn thus placing the slot q
over division 2 when the next voter places his stamp, and so on until the first
column is filled when the lever m is lifted so as to lift the points of fork out of the
holes 1 and the frame is drawn over the second column (by means of the bar 6¹)
CD 077

page_text: and then locked as before over this column the clicks w being reversed so as to
allow the slot 9.
to work down instead of up such column and so on throughout
the sheet as indicated by the arrows flight and when, all have voted the number
and names of the voters are clearly recorded on the sheet, the last number against
which a name is stamped being the total.
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 :-
The mechanical counting name printing, checking, legislative and other division
taking machine and division sheet to be used therewith all substantially as set
forth.
BROWNE & Co.,
9, Warwick Court, W.C., Agents for Applicant.