US3092311A - Party voting apparatus for voting machine - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1963 s. w. WILCOX ETAL 3,092,311

PARTY VOTING APPARATUS FOR VOTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 """Hf ll llllll XINI 5 mil; A i mm A H mm a M M m r W A 5 E I WNW TE .K 5 Y B v- 0m :m W 8 \N mm June 4, 1963 s. w. WILCOX ETAL PARTY VOTING APPARATUS FOR VOTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 m s R WM J ml .N wm mm m .M T @QOOQQQOOQOO WMfw M E2 A MW. W? m E BY R0552 June 4, 1963 s. w. WlL COX ETAL 3,092,311

PARTY VOTING APPARATUS FOR VOTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 g; INVENTORS N STANLEY W. Wmcox,

an BY EowAwJCRossLArJozi {3w K go E21" Bm gfismu ymmw' Arrozrda-is.

June 4, 1963 s. w. WILCOX ET'AL 3,092,311

PARTY VOTING APPARATUS FOR VOTING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 55 M44 /85 /54. 7 1/24 @7 65 200 m9 l Z00 INVENTORS STANLEV W. Wmcox, BY EDWAQD d.Cn2oss|.A:dD

ROBERT B. McCAs| |LL rrotZM E-YS a United States Patent "ice 3,082,311 PARTY VOTING APPARATUS FQR VOTlNG MAQl-llNE Stanley W. Wilcox, Edward J. Crossland, and Robert B. McCaskill, Tulsa, Okla, assignors to Seismograph Service Corporation, Tulsa, th., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 28, 1961, Ser. No. 120,251 26 Claims. ((31. 235-54) This invention relates generally to voting machines and is particularly concerned with an improved party vote mechanism for use in light, compact, easily transportable relatively inexpensive voting machines of the general type disclosed in copending U.S. patent applications Serial Nos. 74,825, 74,887, and 74,888, all filed on December 9, 1960, and all assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

Voting machines presently in use employ a voting panel divided into columns and rows providing a large number of selecting positions. At each selecting position a manually operable selector is provided for operation by the voter in making his choice. These machines require elaborate interlocks to satisfy all of the conditions which may be necessary in the various jurisdictions using voting machines. hus, it is necessary to interiock the selectors so that in a contest where a single choice must be made between two or more candidates, it will be impossible for the voter to operate more than one selector. Moreover, in some instances the voter is required to case votes for two or more candidates of a relatively large group and in such cases it is necessary that interlocks be provided to prevent overvoting, that is, the arrangement must be such that after the required number of choices have been made, it is impossible to operate any additional selectors. In addition, in some elections as, for example, in primary elections or in decisions on questions where only a particular class of voters, such as property holders, may participate, the machine must be set up prior to the casting of each vote so that the voter may exercise choices only on those issues for which he is eligible. Interloeks must be provided to prevent the casting of votes on other issues. Thus, it is apparent the interlock mechanism is extremely complex and adds considerably to the size and weight of the machine. Moreover, since each election presents a completely different set of interlock problems, it is obvious that the task of setting up or programming the ma chine is exceedingly laborious and time consuming and can be perforated only by highly skilled persons. As a result of the complexity of construction, the voting machines now in use are very expensive, can be maintained and/ or repaired only by skilled persons, are large, heavy and bulky so that they cannot be transported easily to and from the voting station before and after elections and, in addition, they occupy a tremendous amount of storage space between elections. In addition, the weight of these machines makes them suitable for use only in buildings which have floor areas capable of supporting them, a problem which in some instances leads to the location of a voting station at a point not centrally or conveniently located in the area served.

The inventions disclosed and claimed in the aboveidentified applications Serial Nos. 74,825 and 74,888 represent a considerable advance over the prior art and atiord solutions to the problems discussed by use of slideable voting selectors movable to difierent positions to indicate the voter's choices. In certain jurisdictions, provision must be made for party voting whereby the voter may cast all or a majority of his votes for candidates of a single political party merely by operating a single lever or other operating mechanism. However, the voter must be free to Patented June 4, 1963 change his vote after the party vote mechanism is operated so that he need not vote for every candidate of his party unless he prefers to do so. The present invention is concerned with a new and improved party voting mechanism for use in voting machines of the type previously described employing sliding selectors for indicating the voters choices.

The principal object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a new and improved party voting mechanism for use in voting machines of the character described above to permit the voter to cast all or a majority of his votes for the candidates of a particular political party.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a party vote mechanism utilizing the oflice stops which limit sliding movement of the voting keys for moving the keys in unison until all keys are disposed in positions adjacent the candidates of the selected political party.

A further object of the invention is to provide a party vote mechanism in which the office stops in each column are mounted upon an elongated strip with all or several of the strips being driven by a single motor in order to move in unison the voting keys associated with these strips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a party vote mechanism of the type described above in which the elongated strips may be detached from the driving motor to permit insertion of the office stops for purposes of programming prior to the election.

The invention has for another object the provision of a new and improved party vote mechanism having its most expensive components assembled as a separate unit so that this unit may be removed to facilitate supply of voting machines at decreased cost to jurisdictions where party voting is either not permissible or undesirable.

It is another object of the invention to provide a voting machine including new and improved means for looking out the party vote mechanism to prevent actuation of the latter as, for example, during primary elections where no party vote is permissible.

The foregoing and other objects are realized, in accordance with the present invention by providing a voting machine having a front panel formed by a plurality of side by side columns each supporting on its outer face a strip extending lengthwise of the column and containing a list of different issues or candidate groups to be voted upon by the voter. Each group is divided into several selecting positions listing the different alternatives or candidates for that particular ofiice. The candidate groups of each column are separated by otlice stops mounted within perforations in an elongated strip extending through a slot in that column, the stops being insertable in different positions along the strip during programming to set up the machine for a particular election. A second strip extending through each column carries vertically spaced pins for actuating the key restoring mechanism, these pins also being insertable at different positions during programming of the machine. Mounted for sliding move ment upon the column are several voting keys or selectors there being provided in each ofiice group a number of keys exactly equal to the number of votes being cast in that group. Thus, in the usual ofiice group where a sin gle selection must be made from a group of candidates, only one voting key is provided and this key may be moved from a neutral position adjacent one of the office stops to a selecting position adjacent the name of the candidate selected by the voter. This key cannot be moved past the office stops and, hence, only one vote may be cast within the otfice group. If more than one vote i to be cast within an ofiice group, several voting keys equal in number to the total number of votes to be cast are inserted between the ofiice stops defining that group. If cumulative voting is permitted, the name of each candidate will appear more than once on the candidate strip '3 and, hence, the voter may divide his votes in any manner which he desires by giving all or several of his votes to a single candidate or by splitting them among several candidates. Each column also supports a plurality of detent springs for holding the voting keys in neutral position or in any voted position selected.

The party vote is accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by moving all of the voting key-s in unison from their neutral positions through a preselected number of selecting positions until all keys are adjacent the candidates of one political party. This means that all of the candidates of a given party must be listed in selecting positions equally displaced from the neutral position. The movement of the voting keys in unison is effected by moving all of the strips carrying the ofiice stops. Since each voting key when in neutral rests against an office stop, the movement of the ofiice stops, of course, results in corresponding movement of the voting keys. To effect the movement of the strips carrying the ofiice stops, the opposed ends of each such strip are connected to flexible wires and the wires are wound over appropriate pulleys and over a drum which is driven by a motor. The manual actuation of a party vote switch by the voter results in turning of the motor by an amount corresponding to the switch position and, hence, causes a corresponding movement of the strips and office stops. The strips and office stops are returned to their original positions after the voting keys have been moved so that each individual key may be moved manually by the voter in the event that he desires to vote for One or more candidates not listed by the political party selected.

The machine is programmed by unlocking column retaining panels to permit the office stop strips and the key restoring strips to be removed from their associated columns and by then inserting the office stops, the key restoring pins, the voting keys and the candidate strips in proper positions. The key restoring and party vote strips are then inserted back into the column whereupon the ofiice stop strips are attached to the party vote mechanism and the housing is then locked by assembling the retaining panels.

The machine is set up according to the voters classification either manually by operating a switch or automatically by means of a card which is held in position while the voter moves the voting keys to make his selections. If the automatic senser is used, means are provided for determining the voters classification from the card and for preventing removal of the card after it has been properly inserted. The sensing means renders effective only those columns containing issues upon which the voter is qualified to pass. After the selections have been made by movement of the keys, the voter starts the vote registering operation by depressing a Vote switch which starts the movement of a scanning device along the rear of the voting panel and, at the same time, begins the closing of a cover or curtain for the front panel of the machine. A counter panel at the rear of the voting machine contains a plurality of removable, plug-in type counters, one for each selecting position on the front panel containing a candidate or issue to be decided by the voter and all other positions on the counter panel are left blank. The scanning rail carries one counter actuator for each column and also associated with each column is a solenoid for rendering the actuator for that column effective. Thus, only those solenoids associated with columns containing issues on which the voter is qualified to pass are effective to condition their actuators for operating the counters and in all other columns the actuators cannot actuate the counters regardless of the position of the voting keys. As the scanning device moves along the panel, at each position where one of the voting keys in one of the columns has been moved to a selecting position, the actuator associated with that column is rendered effective to advance the counter corresponding to that selecting position and, hence, a vote is registered on the latter counter.

The scanning device takes the form of a horizontal rail which may be rocked about its longitudinal axis so that during sweep in one direction it senses the voters selections and during sweep in the opposite direction, it restores all of the voting keys to their neutral positions. When the scanning rail reaches the end of its sensing sweep, a detent thereon is engaged by a fixed stop to rock the rail to a position wherein the counter actuators cannot engage the counters during the return or key restoring sweep. When the rail is rocked, a set of key restoring devices become effective to engage the voting keys and return them to their neutral positions.

The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a voting machine characterized by the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line 33 of FIG. 2, assuming, of course, that the latter shows the entire construction of the voting machine;-

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line corresponding substantially to the line 55 in FIG. 1 with certain parts broken away to facilitate the illustration;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line corresponding substantially to the line 6-6 in FIG. 4, assuming, of course, that the latter shows the entire construction;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line substantially corresponding to the line 77 in FIG. 4, assuming again that the latter shows the entire construction; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along a line corresponding substantially to the line 8-8 in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, one form of the voting machine of the present invention is there identified generally by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a substantially enclosed housing 21 formed by a number of panels locked together in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of interlocks as described in detail and claimed in copending, simultaneously filed, application Serial No. 120,249 of Hugh H. Bright et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. In the event that the voting machine breaks down or if, for any other reason, access may be desired to the interior of the housing 21, one or more of the panels may be removed by unlocking the appropriate key operated lock or locks. Moreover, access may be had by the precinct ofiicials to the rear of the voting machine to read the counters after the election has been completed by unlocking and opening rear doors 22 (FIGS. 2 and 3) in the manner described in the Bright et a1. application referred to above. In addition, a power panel door 23 located on the right side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1 may be unlocked and opened to permit connection of an electrical cable to a remote voter classification unit (not shown) as described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 120,214 of Robert B. McCaskill filed simultaneously herewith and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The housing 21 defines an upper, generally vertically extending voting panel section identified by the reference numeral 24 and a lower power supply section 25 extend ing forwardly from the upper section and forming a rela 5. tively low shelf 26 through which extends a manually operated Vote switch 27. The lower section of the housing beneath the shelf 26 may also contain a party vote mechanism indicated generally by the reference number 1'70 and described in detail hereinafter.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the selections made by the voter are adapted to be recorded or registered upon counters 28 located on a counter panel 29 (FIGS. 2 and 3) located at the rear of the voting machine and after the election the counter readings are recorded by the precinct omcials on a tabulating sheet which is then transported to a central counting or tabulation station where the results of the election may be computed.

The front face or panel 30 of the upper section 24 is made up of a plurality of side by side vertically extending columns 38a, 30b, 3&0, etc. While eleven vertical columns are shown, it will be apparent that this is merely for illustration since in actual practice any desired number of columns may be used. As is best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, each ofthe columns Mla, 39b, etc. comprises an elongated member preferably formed of an extruded material such as aluminum. The extrusion is such that each column comprises a central body portion 32 having an inwardly extending, longitudinal rib 33 adjacent a curved spring receiving region 31 lying alongside the rib 33 and extending longitudinally of the column. A relatively thick edge portion 34 extends longitudinally along one side of the body portion while a transversely and longitudinally extending flange or leg 35 is formed at the other side. A flange 36 extends along the entire length of the column at the rearwardly disposed end of the leg 35. A channel 3'7 formed by elongated recesses 38 and 359 respectively formed in the edge portion 34 and the leg 35 receives a printed or written candidate strip 40 containing different oflices or propositions tobe decided by the voter. Thus, for example, if the election is a national election, this strip may contain an office title such as President and therebeneath may appear the different candidates competing for this ofiice. The ofiice title and the candidates for the ofiice will be referred to hereinafter as an office group. However, it should be understood that the term ofiice group may also refer to propositions on which a yes or no answer is required as, for example, on bond issues, constitutional amendments or the like. Each of the candidate positions or voting posi tions in each office group. will be referred to hereinafter as a selecting position. Each of the channels 37 may also receive a transparent cover 41 overlying the printed candidate strip 40 for the purpose, of preventing the latter strip from being marked or damaged by the voter using the machine.

A groove 43 is provided in the rear face of the body portion 32 for receiving an elongated strip 42 having a series of vertically spaced openings 42a therein accommodating office stops 44 which divide the ditferent oflice groups of each column. Each office stop comprises a pin having a stem extending through one of the openings 42a and protruding outwardly beyond the strip 42 and. rearwardly of the column. An enlarged, rectangular shaped, fiat head 44a on each ofiice stop seats within a groove or slot 45 formed in the body portion 32 adjacent the groove 43, thereby permitting vertical movement of the strip 42 and the ofiice stops along the column for a purpose which is described more fully below. To facilitate insertion of the ofiice stops in the proper positions along the strip 42 during programming of the voting machine to set it up for an election, there may be provided adjacent the perforations of each strip consecutive numbers running from top to bottom and corresponding to the different selection positions along the column. The edge portion is further provided with an elongated, longitudinally extending guide rail 47 lying adjacent a pair of grooves 46a and 46b for accommodating one or more voting keys or selectors 48 which are slidable along the column to permit the voter to make his selections. In addition, each column is provided with a groove or slot 4Q opening to the rear of the column for accommodating a second, perforated, elongated strip 50 carrying a plurality of detent release pins 51 located at spaced positions therealong for a purpose which will become evident as the description proceeds. To identify the perforations in the second strip 50 to facilitate programming, there may again be provided consecutive numbers running from top to bottom.

To consider the operation of the voting machine of the present invention, let it be assumed that the column 301; contains two ofiice groups, namely, an otfice group in which the voter must select between candidates A, B and C and a second ofiice group in which the voter must choose between candidates D, E and P. Let it be further assumed that the voter is entitled to vote for only one of the three candidates in each otiice group. Thus, under these conditions, the candidate strip 40 inserted into the receiving channel 37 of the column Stlb will contain a first office title 40a listing the title of the ofiice for which the candidates A, B and C are running and, in addition, will contain beneath this first olfice title three selecting positions respectively listing the three different candidates. Below the first office group will be a second ofiice title 4% and three selecting positions listing the three different candidates competing for the second office. A pair of ofiice stops are inserted Within appropriate openings 42a above and below the first office group with the bottom stop being provided at a position adjacent to but immediately below the bottom selecting position containing the name of the candidate C. The upper stop lies above the selecting position for the candidate A and is separated therefrom by an additional or neutral position adjacent which is the oihce 40a. A voting key 43:: is adapted to slide along the column 3%!) between the two stops but obviously this key cannot pass either of the stops. The key may be moved from the neutral or nonvoting position located adjacent to the upper stop to any one of the three selecting or voted positions within the first oiiice group and as the key moves along the column an outer pointer or indicator 52 thereon passes over the candidate titles A, B and C. When the key reaches the position of the candidate selected by the voter, it is released. Since the voter is provided with only one key for the first ofiice group, he may, of course, select only one of the three candidates and, as a consequence, it is not necessary to provide an interlock arrangement for preventing further voting in this oifice group. A similar situation exists in the second oi'fice group of the column 3012 where a second voting selector or key 48b is mounted for sliding movement along the column between stops respectively located above the oflice title 40b and below the candidate F. The number of selecting positions available in each of the columns is, of course, determined solely by the height of the column and the space occupied by each selecting position. Obviously, any suitable number of selecting positions may be provided but in one form of the present invention, thirty such positions were used although, to simplify the illustration, a lesser number is shown in FIG. I. The selecting positions of the columns 30a, 3%, 300, etc. are horizontally aligned to form different horizontal rows on the front panel of the voting machine with each row corresponding to a transversely extending row of counter positions on the counter panel 29.

In cases where the voter is permitted to exercise more than one choice in a particular otfice group, as for example, in the ofiice group of the column 301' shown in FIG. 1, several keys may be provided. In the latter office group, the voter is permitted to select between any two of six candidates G, H, I, I, K and L. The selection is, of course, made by moving voting keys 48c and 48d from their neutral positions adjacent the upper ofiice stop above the office title 4th to selecting or voted positions adjacent the names of the candidates selected, the

movement of the two keys obviously being limited by a lower stop below the candidate L. If cumulative voting is not permitted, the names of the candidates G, H, I, I, K and L will appear only once and, hence, only one vote may be cast for any one candidate. However, if cumulative voting is permissible, that is, if the voter may cast more than one of his votes for a single candidate, then the names of the candidates will be listed in each office group more than once. In the case illustrated in column 301' if the voter is permitted to cast both of his votes for one candidate, then the name of each candidate is listed twice and, if the voter so desires, he may cast both votes for his chosen candidate by moving both of the voting keys 48c and 48d to positions respectively adjacent the two listings of that particular candidate. After the voter has moved both of the keys 48c and 48d to a selecting position, he cannot, of course, cast additional votes for other candidates and, hence, over-voting is prevented without the use of elaborate interlocks between the voting keys.

The voting keys are held in the neutral and selecting positions by detent means 53 associated with the columns. This detent means preferably takes the form of a plurality of detents located one above the other within a longitudinally extending channel 33a formed in the rib 33 with the detent being secured within this channel by a bent somewhat J-shaped resilient end portion 54 which snaps into the channel 33a and holds the detent firmly in position. The detents are closely packed within the channel 33a along its length in order to avoid movement of the detents longitudinally of the column. Each detent includes a laterally extending curved detent finger 55 extending outwardly from the J-shaped end portion 54 with each finger carrying at its outer end a key engaging portion 56 (FIG. 3). The curved detent finger 55 lies along the curved portion 31 of the column to provide a rigid backing for each detent. Each of the key engaging portions 56 is bent to form a key holding notch 57 between adjacent keys of the column. To this end, each detent finger extends outwardly from the J-Shaped end 54 for a distance such that its key engaging portion 56 is disposed in the path of sliding movement of the voting keys on the column. The detent fingers are normally flexed or biased to occupy the position shown in FIG. 3. When a voting key is slid along the column to move over a detent finger, the finger is flexed rearwardly of the front panel 30 or upwardly as viewed in FIG. 3 and if the key is stopped either at a selecting position or at a neutral position, it seats within one of the key holding notches 57 and is thus resiliently held at the selected position with the adjacent detent fingers holding the key being disposed in their non-flexed positions. To provide a detent for each selecting position on the voting panel, the J-shaped end portion is of such height that the detent fingers are vertically spaced apart to form notches 57 which are separated by a distance corresponding to the width of one of the selecting positions and the detent fingers 55 are so oriented with respect to the stop receiving openings 42a that when a voting key is in its neutral position seated again-st an office stop 44, it is also seated within a notch 57.

The voting key 48 is described in detail in simultaneously filed copending application Serial No. 120,281 of Joseph 1.. Hull et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, but briefly it will be observed that this key or selector may comprise a generally rectangularly shaped body member having the pointer 52 referred to above extending laterally therefrom to overlie the edge portion 34 of the column. The rail 47 on the column extends loosely through a guide channel 58 formed in the key with ribs 59 and 60 formed on the key being respectively seated within the grooves 46a and 46b of the column, thus permitting sliding movement of the key along the column but, at the same time, prohibiting removal of the key by the voter and also limiting lateral key movement. A finger grip 61 extends forwardly from the pointer 52 to facilitate movement of the key by the voter. A slot or channel 62 formed in one side of the key receives the flange 36 of the adjacent column. The latter flange prevents the voter or anyone else from inserting a tool or other object through the slot formed between adjacent columns in an attempt to disrupt the operation of the machine. The rearward portion of the voting key is provided with a curved detent engaging region 63 protruding rearwardly from the body portion of the key and shaped to seat snugly within the notches 57 and also to flex the detent fingers 55 during movement of the key along the column. The rearward portion of the key is also provided with a tooth 64 for use in restoring the key to its neutral position after the vote is cast as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Finally, the rearward portion of the key is provided with a curved surface portion 65 for engaging the counter actuating mechanism described below during the vote sensing sweep of the scanning rail.

For the purpose of permitting assembly of the keys, the ofiice stops 44 and the pins 51 on each column during programming prior to the election, a top cover 66 extending over all of the columns may be removed to permit the strips 42 and 50 to be withdrawn from the channels or grooves 43 and 49, respectively. The cover 66 comprises a pair of parallel, horizontal bars 66:: and 66b (FIG. 2) interconnected by a plurality of cross braces 66c. The cross braces are detachably secured to a top frame member 67 of the voting machine housing as, for example, by means of knurled screws (not shown). When the top cover is removed to permit withdrawal of the strips 42 and 50, the office stops 44, the pins 51 and the keys 48 may be inserted in the proper order as the strips 42 and 50 are pushed back into their column channels. Thus, to program the column 30b described above, the candidate strip 40 and transparent cover 41 for that column are slipped into the channel 37 and the bottom stop for the lower oflice group (D, E, F) is inserted into the numbered hole in the strip 42 corresponding to the stop immediately below the position of candidate F whereupon the voting key 48b is slid onto the column by dropping it from the top. This is accomplished by placing the voting key channel 58 over the rail 47 and sliding the voting key downwardly over the detent fingers 55 and along the column. The upper stop for the lower oflice group is next inserted at the proper position for limiting the upward movement of the key 48b. The lowermost stop of the upper oflice group is then assembled and the voting key 48a is placed on the column in the manner previously described. Finally, the upper oflice stop of the upper oflice group is placed in position to limit the upward movement of the key 48a. Pins 51 are inserted along the strip 50 at proper positions for releasing the key restoring mechanism to permit the latter to turn over the voting keys after the keys have been restored to their neutral positions during the key restoring sweep of the scanning rail as is described more fully below. After all of the columns have been properly programmed in the manner described, the cover 66 is replaced and the housing 21 is then locked to prevent access to the cover 66 during an election so that neither the voter nor the precinct ofiicials can tamper with the settings of the oflice stops, the pins 51 or the strip 40 while the election is in progress.

After the voter has made his selections upon the voting panel of the machine, his choices are adapted to be recorded or registered upon the counters carried by the counter panel 29. The latter panel extends along the rear of the voting machine within the housing 21 and generally parallel to the front panel 30 and is constructed as described in detail in the above-identified copending application S.N. 120,281 of Joseph L. Hull et a1. As is described in the latter application the panel 29 comprises a large flat plate 70 carrying a plurality of elongated,

spaced apart, parallel vertical ribs 71 defining a plurality of columns 72a, 72b, etc. equal in number to the number of columns 30a, 3012, etc. of the front panel 30 used for voting. As was indicated above, the panel 29 is adapted to support a plurality of the detachable counters 28 one such counter being used for each voting or selecting position employed for voting on the front panel 30. To this end, the panel 29 has a number of counter receiving positions thereon for receiving the counters and prior to the election, counters are assembled on the panel only at receiving positions corresponding to the voting or selecting positions to be used during the election. No counters are inserted at positions corresponding to the neutral positions of the voting keys and none are mounted at positions corresponding to the vacant positions on the front panel not used for the election, thus economizing upon the number of counters required and minimizing both cost and weight. Along each column of the counter panel are provided pairs of holes 73a and 73b with the different pairs being spaced apart vertically and with each pair being adapted to receive feet 28a formed on each of the detachable plug-in counters 28. Each counter is of the type described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 120,241 to Hugh H. Bright, filed simultaneously herewith and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and, as a result, these counters will not be described in detail. Each column on the counter panel is also provided with an elongated vertical slot 74 formed in the plate 70 for receiving counter operating ratchets 75 of all of the counters mounted in that column. Elongated detent springs 76 are carried by the panel ribs 71 and each has a plurality of spring fingers 77 cooperating with tabs 78 formed on opposite sides of the counter casing to hold the counters in position, each counter being held by one pair of spring fingers. Each counter is inserted into position on the counter panel by holding its casing at the top and bottom between the thumb and forefinger and by then pushing the counter past the detent spring fingers 77 until the counter ratchet 75 extends through the slot 74 with the feet 28a fitting into one pair of the openings 73a and 73b. The detent spring fingers 77 snap over the tabs 78- to hold the counter in position.

As was previously indicated, the precinct oificials may read the counters at the completion of the election by unlocking and opening the rear doors 22 in the manner described in detail in copending application Serial No. 120,- 249 referred to above. To facilitate the reading of the counters and to minimize the human errors involved in transferring the counter readings to the tabulating sheets, each column of the counter panel 29- is provided with a candidate sheet or strip 79 (FIGS. 2 and 3) listing the different candidates or issues appearing on the corresponding front panel column. Thus, the name of each candidate or issue appears directly alongside the window 80 in the casing of the particular counter used to register the votes cast for that candidate or issue. As is shown in FIG. 3, the printing strip 79 associated with each column on the counter panel is covered by a transparent strip 81 having its two side edges slipped into grooves 82 and 33 formed in the sides of the panel ribs 71. As is shown in FIG. 1, the strips 81 are locked against vertical movement within the groves 32 and 83 after the panels of the housing 21 have been assembled by the horizontal bar 66b of the cover bar 66 and, hence, the precinct officials cannot touch the counters or the strips 79 during the election. Each printed strip 79 is held against its associated transparent strip 81 by teats 84 formed on the counter casing. The latter teats also prevent movement of the counter away from the counter panel and, hence, they maintain the counter operating ratchets 75 in position to be operated when the scanning mechanism is moved in the vote sensing direction.

The vote'registering operation is initiated by the actuation of the manually operated Vote switch 27 by the voter after he has completed his selections. The switch 27 is effective to complete an electrical circuit (not shown) but described in the above identified McCaskill applica-. tion Serial No. 120,214 to a series wound drive motor 85 (FIG. 1) having its output shaft connected through suitable reduction gearing and through a sprocket and chain arrangement as to drive a scanning mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 87. When the Vote switch 27 is operated, the scanning mechanism is located at the top of the voting machine and, hence, it is swept along the rear of the voting panel in a sensing or vote detecting direction and remains at the bottom of the panel until it is returned to the top at the start of the next voting cycle by the insertion of a properly positioned, valid voter identification card as is disclosed in copending Mc- Caskill application Serial No. 120,214, referred to above. During the return sweep of the scanning mechanism 87, the voting keys 48 are all returned from their voted positions to their neutral positions in a manner described in detail and claimed in simultaneously filed, copending application Serial No. 120,250 of James E. Hawkins et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The mechanical drive for the scanning mechanism 87 includes a horizontal output shaft 88 extending along the bottom of the machine and carrying the output sprocket of the sprocket and chain asesmbly 86. The shaft 38 drives a pair of sprocket and chain drives including vertically extending chains 89 and 90 located at opposite sides of the voting machine. When the scanning mechanism 87 completes its vote sensing sweep, a lower limit switch 91 is actuated by an arm 92 carried in fixed position on the chain 99 at which time the drive to the motor 85 is interrupted. When the scanning mechanism is moved upwardly to return to its original position, an upper limit switch 93 is engaged by an arm 94 on the chain 89 to stop the motor drive. It should be apparent that by appropriate changes in design, the sensing sweep could begin at the bottom of the panel although in this case the voting keys would be in their neutral positions when they were located adjacent the lower stop of each office group.

The scanning mechanism itself comprises a horizontal rail 95 having its opposed ends mounted for turning move ment upon carriage assembles 96 and 97 respectively carried by the chains 89 and 90. The carriage assemblies are fixedly secured to the chains and are guided for vertical movement within suitable fixed guide channels pro vided along the sides of the voting machine housing 21, as indicated at in FIG. 3.

Since the voting keys are retained in their voted positions on the front panel following completion of the vote registering operation, it is desirable, for the purpose of preserving the secrecy of the ballot, to cover the panel and the keys so that the key positions cannot be detected by the next voter using the machine. Thus, there is provided a flexible curtain or cover 99 which when retracted is stored within a curtain containing chamber 100 (FIG. 2) at the rear of the voting panel section 24 but which is extended by the downward movement of the scanning mechanism 87 to cover the front panel 30. The curtain passes out of the voting machine housing through an elongated horizontal slot 101 and has its outer end affixed to a horizontal r-od 10-2 supported at its opposed ends on the carriages 96 and 97. More specifically, the opposed ends of the rod 102 are aflixed to the outer ends of brackets 10 3 forming part of the carriages 96 and 97. Each bracket 103 extends through a vertical guide slot 104 extending along the side of the voting panel 30 as is shown in FIG. 3. The rod 102 is spaced outwardly from the panel 30 by suificient distance to permit the rod and the cover to pass over the voting keys 48 Without moving them. As the scanning mechanism 87 moves downwardly, the cover 99 is pulled from the supply chamber 100 and is drawn over the voting panel 30 and, hence, when the scanning rail 95 reaches the bottom of its sweep, the panel is completely covered. The cover material is sufiiciently rigid to prevent detection of the positions of the voting keys by feeling along the cover and, to this end, may be formed of elongated metal strips secured together l l in side by side relationship to form a flexible unit or, in the alternative, it may be formed by a very heavy fabric. In any event, the voter approaching the machine to cast his vote is unable to detect the voting key positions either visibly or by feeling through the cover. When the scanning mechanism 87 is raised the flexible cover 99 is retracted into the chamber 190, but during the raising of the cover the voter is still not able to determine the previous voters choices since the rod 152 and, hence, the lower end of the cover are disposed slightly below the key restoring mechanism on the scanning rail so that the voting keys are all restored to their neutral positions adjacent the upper stops of their oflice groups before these keys become visible to the voter. When the panel 39 is fully uncovered, all of the voting keys appear in their neutral positions.

For the purposes of detecting the positions of the actuated or voted keys, that is, the keys which have been moved from a neutral position to a voted position, and for actuating those counters 23 corresponding to the positions of the voted keys, the rail 95 carries a plurality of spaced apart combined key wipers and counter actuating devices 105a, 105b, 1050, there being one of these for each of the columns 30b, 39c, 36d, etc. The devices 105a, 105b, etc. are identical and are described in detail in the aboveidentified Hull et al. application. Each such device comprises an interposer arm 166 extending through a transverse bore 95a (FIG. 2) in the rail 95 and suspended upon the latter rail for limited movement longitudinally of the bore by means of leaf springs 167 and 108. More specifically, the rail is formed by a bar having a hexagonal cross section and the springs 107 and 108 are respectively mounted upon diametrically opposed flat areas on the rail periphery. The spring 107 is secured at one end to the rail 95 by means of screws 109 and at its other end seats within an annular peripheral groove 166a formed near one end of the interposer arm 196. The spring 168 is supported upon a spacer block 110 and both the spring and the block are secured to the rail in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of screws 111. A square or rectangularly shaped opening formed near one end of the spring 108 accommodates a similarly shaped area 11 2 of the interposer arm v106. The end of the spring 108 seats against an enlarged, generally rectangularly shaped head 113 on the interposer arm 196 to provide a spring force cooperating with that of the spring 157 to normally bias or urge the arm 196 towards the left as viewed in FIG. 2. During the vote sensing sweep of the scanning rail 95, the wiping end 113a (FIG. 2) of the head 1 13 is positioned to engage the curved area 65 on each of the voting keys 48 in its associated column 39a, 30b, etc. Thus, when the scanning mechanism 87 is moved downwardly along the rear of the panel 39, the interposer arm 106 is moved to the right as viewed in FIG. 2 each time that the wiping end 113a engages a voting key 48, the interposer arm being returned to the left by the springs 107 and 108 as soon as the wiping end has moved past the key. The described movement of the arm 106 is used to actuate the counters 28 since the rearward end 1061) of the arm is in engagement with a counter actuating arm 115 having a hooked end 115a which is adapted to engage and turn the ratchet 75 of any counter 21* located in a position on the panel 29 corresponding to the position of a voted key. More specifically, the actuating arm 115 is carried upon one end of a support bar 116 which is, in turn, mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot screw 117 on the rail 95. For the purpose of actuating the diiferent columns in accordance with the voters classification, the bar 116 is adapted to be pivoted from a counter actuating position shown in FIG. 3 where the hooked end 115a is vertically aligned with the ratchets 75 to a position where the hooked end is out of alignment with and cannot engage the ratchets 75 when the scanning rail makes its vote sensing sweep. Since the operation of the voter classification mechanism for pivoting the bar 116 is fully described in the above-identified Hull et a1. application, this mechanism is neither shown nor described in the present application. The pivotal movement of the support 116 is limited in each direction by a stop bar 118 secured to the rail 95. A somewhat U-shaped guide .121 (FIG. 2) is secured at its center to the bar 116 and has both of its leg portions resting against a flat area on the scanning rail to prevent turning of the interposer arm 106 and its associated components.

As is best shown in FiG. 3, when the scanning rail 95 approaches the end of its vote detecting sweep, a rigid rail turning arm carried in fixed position on the rail periphery near one end of the rail engages a fixed lower stop 126 mounted at the bottom of the counter panel 29 so that the continued down-ward movement of the scanning mechanism is effective to turn the rail 60 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 2 whereupon the scanning rail is in position for the upward key restoring sweep. The turning of the rail moves the interposers 106 to positions where they cannot engage the voting keys during the return of the rail. However, when the rail 95 is turned, a plurality of key restoring devices 127a, 127b, etc., one for each of the counter actuating devices 105a, 105b, etc., are positioned to engage the tooth 64 on each voting key as the rail is raised. One such key restoring device is provided for each column containing voting keys and each device is effective to lift all of the voting keys in its associated column from the detent fingers 55 holding them in the voted positions and to slide each key upwardly along the column until it is returned to its neutral position where its upward movement is limited by one of the office stops 44. Each key restoring device includes a toothed cog 128 mounted for rotation upon an L-shaped bracket 129 secured to the rail 95, the cog being disposed to engage the tooth 64 on the voting keys of its column when the scanning mechanism 87 is in its key restoring position. The cog 128 is provided with any desired number of teeth provided only that the interdental spaces between adjacent teeth is sufficient to permit the cog to turn over the tooth 64 in the manner described below. Formed integral with each cog is a toothed detent wheel 130 cooperating with a detent 131 to positively lock the cog in position while the latter is performing its key lifting or restoring function. The detent wheel is provided with a number of teeth equal to the number of teeth on the cog 128. The detent 131 comprises a pawl .132 which extends transversely from a stub shaft 133 carried by the bracket 129 and which has its free end engaging the periphery of the detent wheel 130. The shaft 133 also supports a detent release arm 134 disposed on the opposite side of the bracket from the pawl 132 and comprising a generally rectangularly shaped body having a pair of fingers 137 and 137a projecting outwardly from diametrically opposed corners as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The finger 137a has an aperture therein for receiving one end of a coil spring 135 which has its other end inserted through an opening in and wrapped partially around a post 136 on the bracket 129 thus biasing the release arm and its shaft 133 in a direction to hold the pawl in engagement with the detent wheel 130. The finger 137 is disposed to successively engage all of the release pins 51 of the associated column during the key restoring sweep of the scanning mechanism 87. The detents 13-1 of the different key restoring devices 127a, 127b, etc. operate independently of each other and each is effective to prevent turning of its associated cog 128 until it is released by engagement of the trip finger 137 with one of the pins 51. Thus, the positions of the release pins 51 along the columns determine when the cogs 128 will be released to turn. When the scanning rail 95 is raised at the start of the key restoring sweep, all of the cogs 128 will be held against rotation with one of the cog teeth extending substantially horizontally towards the front panel 30 and in position to engage the tooth 64 on the lowermost voting key in the associated column. Thus, when the latter key is engaged by the horizontal cog tooth, the continued upward movement of the rail 95 is effective to lift the key and this action occurs along each column although obviously the lowermost voting keys of the diiferent columns are not likely to be located in the same voted positions and, as a result, the key restoring devices 1270:, 127b, etc. usually engage these lowermost keys at different times. In any event, each key is lifted until it reaches its neutral position where it will rest either against one of the oflice stops 44 or against another key. In this connection, the keys of all of the oifice groups shown in FIG. 1 seat against an office stop 44 when in their neutral positions except for the lowermost key of the office group 400 which rests against another key which is, in turn, seated against an office stop. The release pins 51 are disposed along the column at positions corresponding to the neutral positions of the keys and, hence, when each key reaches its neutral position the trip finger 137 of its associated key restoring device engages a pin 51 whereupon the release arm 134 and its shaft 133 are pivoted in a clockwise direction to lift the pawl 132 away from the detent wheel 130, thus permitting the cog 128 to turn over the tooth 64 onthe voting key. As soon as the trip finger 137 rides over the release pin 51, the spring 135 again pivots the release arm 134 and the pawl 132 to force the latter against the periphery of the detent wheel, thus limiting the turning of the cog 128 to one step and again bringing a tooth on the latter cog into position to engage the next key in the column. In the case of the office group 400 shown in FIG. 1, two release pins 51 will be located in adjacent perforations in the strip 50 corresponding to the neutral positions of the two voting keys of that oifice group. Thus, after the lowermost key has been restored to neutral position and after the cog 128 has turned over this key, the trip finger 137 of the key restoring device associated with this column will immediately engage another pin 51 to release the cog 128 to turn over the second or upper key of the office group. Obviously, then, the pins 51 are set during programming of the voting machine to release the cogs 128 for turning at the proper times during the key restoring sweep of the scanning rail. After each voting key has been raised to seat against its stop (or against another key in neutral position), it is held in the neutral position by engagement of its portion With the notch 57 corresponding to its neutral position. When the scanning rail approaches the top of the panel at the end of its key restoring sweep, the fixed arm 125 engages an upper post 139 (FIG. 2) to turn the rail 95 from the key restoring position hack to the vote sensing position shown in FIG. 2.

As is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, means are provided for resiliently holding the scanning rail 95 in both of its positions and this means comprises an overcenter spring mechanism 15%) for urging a flat area of the rail to seat against a pin 152 carried by the bracket 103 of the carriage assembly 96. The spring mechanism 150 is described in detail in the copending Hull et al. application referred to above but very briefly it comprises a relatively heavy coiled spring 154 encircling a pair of telescoping links 156 and 157 respectively connected to the rail 95 and to the bracket 103. The link 156 has an enlarged head 156a having an aperture therein for receiving an outer reduced diameter portion of a fixed post 155 on the bracket 1% with the link being seated against an annular shoulder formed by the reduced diameter portion. Similarly, the link v157 is provided with an enlarged head 157a having an aperture therein for accommodating a post 158 formed on a block 159 secured to the rail 95. The stems of both links extend into the coiled spring 154 which seats against the heads 156a and 157a and, hence, provides a spring force between the bracket 1% and the rail 595. When the rail is in the vote sensing position the spring biases the flat area 153' of the rail against the pin i152 and the rail is thus locked in its vote sensing position. When the arm 125 engages the stop 126 to turn the rail in the manner described above, the spring 154 is compressed until the rail turns beyond the point where the spring is aligned with the apex formed between the flat areas 161 and'153 whereupon the spring 154 expands to complete the movement of the rail '95 to its key restoring position where the flat area 153 seats against the pin 152. The expansion of the spring 154 is effective to move the rail independently of the rail sweep since the arm i is actually lifted from the stop 126 and the rail is thus accurately positioned in the key restoring position without requiring close tolerances between the arm 125 and the stop 1-26. The operation of the mechanism is reversed when the rail 95 is turned at the completion of the key restoring sweep but since this operation is believed to be obvious in view of the foregoing description, it is not described in detail.

In accordance with the present invention and referring particularly to FIG. 5, the party voting mechanism referred to above may be used whenever the voter desires to cast all or a majority of his votes for the candidates of the same political party. This mechanism comprises a set of manually operated, switch operating push buttons 171, 17-2, 173 and 174 extending upwardly through different spaced apart openings 175 (FIG; 8) in the shelf 26, one such push button being provided for each political party participating in the election. As is shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, a removable indicator card 176 or the like may be provided on the shelf 26 to identify the push buttons with the different par-ties. This card is inserted into a card holder 177 which is formed on the top of the shelf 26 and which includes a channeled strip 178 extending around three sides of the card. A channel 1178a in each of the strips 178 accommodates an edge of the card to hold the latter on the shelf 26 and the card is covered by a transparent window 179 of plastic or the like which is also inserted into the" channels 17 8a in order to prevent the voter from gaining access to the card. The card holder 177 has an open end 177a adjacent all of the push buttons 171, 172, 173 and 174 so that, when the buttons are inserted through the openings 175, they block the open end 177a to prevent removal of the card. However, when the front shelf panel is'removed the card can be slipped out of the holder 177. The political parties may be listed in any desired order on the card thus permitting rotation from precinct to precinct to. satisfy the requirements of jurisdictions where rotation is required by law. Moreover, different cards may be used for different elections to change the order of listing of the political panties so that the first push button is not always associated with the same party.

While only four push buttons are shown, it should be understood that any number may be provided corresponding to the number of political parties. The purpose of the party vote mechanism 170' is to pull the oflice stop strips 42 and the ofiice stops 4'4 downwardly along each column, thus pulling all the voting keys in unison downwardly along the front panel 30 from their neutral positions for a distance equal to the movement of the strips 42. The push buttons 171, 172, 173 and 1174 are effective to control the amount of strip movement and to.

this end these buttons actuate switch means located with the party vote box or housing 180, but not otherwise shown, in order to complete an electrical circuit to a motor 1&1, the electrical circuit being constructed and arranged in any conventional manner well known in the art to drive the motor by an amount dependent upon which push button is actuated. The motor 181 is connected through reduction gearing and through a sprocket and chain assembly 182 to drive a shaft 183 carrying a plurality of longitudinally spaced drums 184a, 184b, etc., one such drum being provided for each column of the front panel 30. The ofiice stopsupport strip 42 of each column is adapted to be connected at its opposed ends to the drum associated with that column, this connection being made in any suitable manner as, for example, by flexible Wires 185 and 186 respectively connected to the opposed ends of each strip 42. As is shown in FIG. 6,

15 each of the wires 185 is wound several times around the periphery of its associated drum, for example, three times, and then extends through a slot 187 for connection to a fixed post 188 near the center of the drum. Each of the wires 186 is trained over a pulley 189 (FIG. 2) and a second pulley 190 (FIG. 4) fixedly mounted on the housing adjacent the top and bottom respectively of each column. The end of the wire 186 is suitably wound around its associated drum, for example, one and onehalf turns, and has its end secured to a post 191 on the drum through a tension applying spring 192 which maintains proper tension on the wires 1185 and 186 and on the strip 42. The wires 185 and 186 are thus taken up on or payed out from the drum when the shaft 183 is turned. The rotation of the drum is thus elfective to move each strip 42 and the oflice stops 44 carried thereby within the channel up or down along the column in a direction depending upon the direction of drive of the motor 181 and for a distance proportional to the amount of rotation of the shaft 183.

To cast a straight party vote, the voter presses the push button 171, 172, 173 or 174 corresponding to his party, thus driving the motor 181 in a direction to turn the shaft 183 for a distance directly proportional to the amount of motor rotation. The direction of rotation of the motor 181 is such that all of the ofiice stop strips 42 connected to the drums are drawn downwardly through grooves 43 whereupon the ofiice stops 44 pull the voting keys along their columns from the neutral positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 towards voted or selected positions there shown in solid lines. The motor 181, its associated gearing, the chain and sprocket assembly 182, the drums, etc. are so constructed and arranged that the actuation of the first push button 171 is effective to move all of the office stops a distance exactly equal to one selecting position on the voting panel. It will be recalled that the voting keys are all in their neutral positions when the voter approaches the machine and, hence, when the ofiice stops move a distance equal to one selecting position in the manner described, these stops move all of the keys over the detent means 53 and along the columns to the selecting position immediately below the neutral position. The voting machine is so programmed that all of the candidates of the first political party, for example, the Democratic party, are listed immediately below the neutral position. Thus, when the first push button 171 is depressed, all of the voting keys are moved in unison to positions adjacent the candidates of that party. When the motor 181 is driven from its neutral or normal position its output shaft 194 moves a switch operating arm 195 carried thereby out of engagement with the contacts of a switch 193, thus rendering the latter effective to condition an electrical circuit for automatically returning the motor to its original position as soon as it has rotated the amount dictated by the depressed push button. Thus, when the push button 171 is released, and when the motor has completed movement of all of the voting keys through the single selecting position called for by this push button, the motor 181 is automat ically reversed to drive the drums in a direction to move the strips 42 back to their original positions, whereupon the oifice stops are restored to their neutral positions while the voting keys are seated within detent notches 57 to hold them in voted or selected positions displaced from the neutral position. The voting keys may then be moved individually if the voter desires to change his vote within one or more of the office groups. Thus, if the voter desires to cast his votes for a large majority of the candidates of a particular political party, but desires to split his ballot to vote for a few candidates of other parties, he will save some time and efiort by first using one of the party vote push buttons 171, 172, 173 or 174 to move all of the voting keys in unison and by then individually moving the voting keys of the office group within which he wishes to split his ballot.

Actuation of the second party vote button 172 is effec- 16 tive to cause the office stops to move all of the voting keys from their neutral positions through a distance exactly equal to two selecting positions. Thus, if all of the Republican candidates are listed on the strips 40 in the second selecting position below each neutral position, the described movement is effective to move the voting keys over the detent means 53 to positions adjacent all of the Republican candidates and as soon as this movement has been completed the motor 181 is reversed to restore all of the office stops to neutral. Upon actuation of the third party vote button 173, the voting keys are obviously moved to positions adjacent the names of the candidates of the third political party and these names appear at the third selecting position below each neutral position. The fourth button 174 is effective to move all keys four positions whereupon the oflice stops are automatically returned to neutral.

Certain issues, for example, bond issues, constitutional amendments, and the like, are not subject to decision by party voting and, hence, it is desirable to avoid movement of the voting keys for these issues when the party vote is cast. This is accomplished by breaking the drive to one or more of the ofiice stop strips '42 from the motor 181 and by programming all of the non-party voting issues in the column or columns associated with these strips. The break in the drive is accomplished by releasing the drums of the latter columns from the shaft 183. More specifically, each drum is connected to the shaft 183 by means of a set screw 196 threaded through a tapped bore 197 in a hub portion 198 of the drum. Whenever it is desired to connect the drum to the shaft 183 to render the column associated with that drum effective for party voting, the set screw is threaded into the bore 197 until its inner end engages the shaft. To release the drum, the set screw may be threaded out of the bore 197 and the drum may be locked against rotation by backing the set screw out of the hub until its outer end extends through a notch 199 formed in a rear partition 200 within the voting machine housing 21. The notch 199 extends transversely from an elongated slot 201 accommodating the rear sector of the drum. Thus, each drum or any desired number of them may be released from the shaft and locked against rotation by adjustment of the screws 196. Each drum is prevented from moving longitudinally of the shaft by means of a pair of annular collars 202 and 203 disposed on opposite sides of the drum and secured to the shaft in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of set screws 204.

Let it be assumed that all of the non-voting party issues are listed on the strips 40 of the column 30k shown in FIG. 1 and that it is therefore desired to exclude this column from the party vote. This is accomplished by disconnecting the drum associated with this column from the shaft and by using the screw 196 to cooperate with the notch 199 to hold the latter drum against rotation. If it is desired to permit any of the drums to turn independently of the shaft 183 as, for example, during programming when the strips 42 must be manually withdrawn from the columns to permit insertion of the office stops 44 at the proper positions as described above, the set screw 196 is threaded out of the bore 197 far enough to disengage the shaft 183 but not enough to draw the outer end of the screw into the notch 199. When the set screw 196 is thus released the drum may be rotated freely and the strip 42 associated with that drum may thus be manually pulled out of the channel 43 of its column. After the strips 42 have been properly programmed by insertion of the office stops 44 the set screws 196 may be used to lock the drums to the shaft if party voting is desired or to lock the drums against rotation if no party voting is desired.

In certain jurisdictions, party voting is not permissible and in such cases it is obviously a needless expense to furnish voting machines having party voting facilities. Therefore, it would be desirable to be able to supply the voting machine described above minus the party voting mechanism. This is accomplished in accordance with another feature of the invention by mounting the motor 181, its gearing, its associated control switches, "and the other'expensive components of the party vote mechanism 170 upon a chassis or housing 180 which may be readily detached from the voting machine housing. While the housing 180 is illustrated as an enclosed unit, this is not necessary since the components could be mounted upon a flat chassis in view of the fact that these components are housed within the shelf area 26 of the voting machine housing 21 and, hence, are not accessible to the voter. If desired, the shaft 183 and the drums 184a, 184b, etc. may also be removed from those machines in which no party vote is desired and other means may be provided for holding the strips 42 against vertical movement within the channels 43. Such means are not shown but, for ex ample, cap screws extending through perforations at the top and bottom of each strip could be threaded into suitable tapped openings in the frame of the voting machine to prevent the strips from moving. The latter means must be capable of being released to permit removal of the strips 42 for insertion of the ofiice stops during programming.

Turning now to the operation of the voting machine described above and considering a general election where all of the voting panel columns are active, it will be observed that the scanning rail is at the bottom of the voting panel when the voter approaches the machine and when the machine is activated either manually or by insertion of a card as described in the above-identified McCaskill application. When a valid card is properly inserted, the scanning mechanism moves upwardly to return all of the voting keys to their neutral or non-voting positions adjacent the upper stops of the office group and to raise the cover 99. Near the completion of the key restoring sweep, the arm 125 strikes the post 139 to turn the rail 95 to its vote sensing position shown in FIG. 2 where the key restoring devices 127a, 127b, etc. cannot engage the keys but where the counter actuating devices 1105a, 195b, etc. are disposed to engage the keys. After the rail has been turned, the upper limit switch 93 is engaged by the finger 94 to terminate the drive to the motor 85, thus stopping the rail at the top of the voting machine. The voter then makes his selections on the voting panel either by operating one of the push button switches 171, 172, 173 or 17 4 by manually sliding the voting keys from their neutral positions to the desired selecting positions or by a combination of the two. Until the voter actuates the Vote switch 27, he is free to alter his selections in any desiredmanner. As soon as the voter is satisfied with his selections he actuates the switch 27 to complete a circuit to the electric motor 85, thus driving the chains 89 and 90 in a direction to begin the downward or vote sensing sweep of the scanning mechanism 87 and, at the same time, lowering the cover 99 over the front panel of the voting machine.

When the scanning mechanism 87 sweeps downwardly, it senses or detects the voting keys selected by the voter and actuates the corresponding Counters 2% on the counter panel 29. If the voting keys are in their neutral position to indicate either that the voter did not desire to cast his vote for any of the candidates in that particular ofiice group or, of course, that he inadvertently neglected to make a selection, no votes are registered since no counters 28 are located on the counter panel 29 at positions corresponding to the neutral positions of the voting keys. All counters corresponding to voted positions on the front panel are, of course, actuated and advanced one step by engagement of the hooks 115a with their ratchets 75' during the vote sensing sweep. The operation then continues in an obvious manner until the scanning mechanism 87 approaches the end of its vote sensing sweep where the end portions 11611 of all of the counter actuators engage the cams 147 to shift all of the counter actuators 18 to their neutral or non-actuating positions; Further movement of the scanning mechanism causes the arm 125 to engage the stop- 126 at the bottom of the counter panel 29 thus turning the rail 95 to its key restoring position.

The lower limit switch 91 is actuated to interrupt the drive of the motor and, at that same time, conditioning the remote voter classification unit for receiving the identification card of the next succeeding voter as is described in detail in the McCaskill application referred to above. When the rail 95 is turned at the bottom of the scanning sweep, the counter actuators a, 105b, etc. are moved to positions :where they cannot engage the ratchets 75 of the counters, thereby to prevent operation of the counters during the return or key restoring sweep of the scanning rail.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be observed that the apparatus described is effective to accomplish the enumerated objects of the present invention. The voting machine described is extremely simple in operation and may be constructed at relatively low cost. Elaborate mechanical interlocks between the voting selectors are unnecessary and, hence, the weight and size of the machine is considerably less than that of voting machines presently in use. The party vote mechanism is positive and reliable in operation and is simple to operate so that the voter may be easily instructed in the manner of operation of the machine. The machine is very easy to set up for both primary and general elections and, hence, the election officials can be readily instructed as to the programming procedure to be followed.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in this art and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. In a voting machine the combination of a plurality of side by side columns each containing a plurality of issues to be decided, a plurality of voting selectors, at least one for each issue, mounted for sliding movement along each column to selecting positions indicating the voters choices, an elongated strip mounted for sliding movement along each column and carrying a plurality of spaced apart ofiice stops for limiting movement of said selectors, and a party vote mechanism for simultaneously moving all of said strips along the associated columns in order to move the office stops and the selectors through a predetermined number of selecting positions in order to vote for all of the candidates of a particular political party.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein said party vote mechanism includes a motor and means operably connecting said motor to said strips, and mechanism further including manually operated switch means having dilterent switch positions respectively corresponding to the difierent political parties participating in the election, and means including said switch means for causing said motor to move said strips through a predetermined distance determined by the switch position.

3. The apparatus defined by claim 2 wherein each strip is connected at its opposed ends to elongated flexible members wound upon a drum driven by said motor.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 3 wherein means are provided for releasing said drum from said motor so that said strips may be manually moved along said columns to permit the insertion of said office stops at desired positions therealong during programming of the machine.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 2 wherein the motor and the switch means are mounted upon a chassis removable from the voting machine.

6. In a voting machine the combination of a plurality of side by side columns each containing a plurality of 19 issues to be decided, a plurality of voting selectors, at least one for each issue, mounted for sliding movement along each column to selecting positions indicating the voters choices, an elongated strip mounted for sliding movement along each column and carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops engageable with said selectors, each selector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to one of the selecting positions, detent means disposed along each column for holding the selectors in their neutral and selecting positions, and a party vote mechanism for simultaneously moving all of said strips along the associated columns in order to move the stops and the selectors through a predetermined number of selecting positions in order to vote for all of the candidates of a particular political party.

7. The apparatus defined by claim 6 wherein said party vote mechanism includes a motor and means operably connecting said motor to said strips, said mechanism further including manually operated switch means having diiferent switch positions respectively corresponding to the different political parties participating in the election, and means including said switch means for causing said motor to move said strips through a predetermined distance determined by the switch position.

8. The apparatus defined by claim 7 wherein each strip is connected at its opposed ends to elongated flexible members at least one of which is stored upon a drum driven by said motor.

9. The apparatus defined by claim 8 wherein means are provided for releasing said drum from said motor so that said strips may be manually moved along said columns to permit the insertion of said oflice stops at desired positions therealong during programming of the machine.

10. The apparatus defined by claim 7 wherein the motor and the switch means are mounted upon a chassis removable from the voting machine.

11. In a voting machine the combination of a plurality of columns each containing a plurality of issues to be decided, a plurality of voting selectors, at least one for each issue, mounted for sliding movement along each column to selecting positions indicating the voters choices, an elongated strip mounted for sliding movement along each column and carrying a plurality of spaced apart oifice stops for limiting movement of said selectors, party vote means for moving all of said strips in unison from a first position to a second position whereby the stops move all of said selectors in unison through a predetermined number of selecting positions dependent upon the political party selected, and means for automatically returning said strips to the first position after said selectors have been moved by said party vote means through said predetermined number of selecting positions so that each selector may thereafter be manu ally moved along its column to change the voters selection.

12. The apparatus defined by claim 11 wherein said party vote mechanism includes a motor and means operably connecting said motor to said strips, said mecha nism further including manually operated switch means having difierent switch positions respectively corresponding to the difierent political parties participating in the election, and means including said switch means for causing said motor to move said strips through a predetermined distance determined by the switch position.

13. The apparatus defined by claim 12 wherein each strip is connected at its opposed ends to elongated flexible members at least one of which is stored upon a drum driven by said motor.

14. The apparatus defined by claim 13 wherein means are provided for releasing said drum from said motor so that said strips may be manually moved along said columns to permit the insertion of said ofiice stops at desired positions therealong during programming of the machine.

20* 15. The apparatus'defined by claim 12 wherein the motor and the switch means are mounted upon a chassis removable from the voting machine.

16. In a voting machine the combination of a plurality of columns each containing a plurality of issues to be decided, a plurality of voting selectors, at least one for each issue, mounted for sliding movement along each column to selecting positions indicating the voters choices, an elongated strip mounted for sliding movement along each column and carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops engageable with said selectors, each selector being movable from a neutral position adjacent one of said stops to one of the selecting positions, detent means disposed along each column for holding the selectors in their neutral and selecting positions, party vote means for moving all of said strips in unison from a first position to a second position whereby the stops move all of said selectors in unison through a predetermined number of selecting positions dependent upon the political party selected, and means for automatically returning said strips to the first position after said selectors have been moved by said party vote means through said predetermined number of selecting positions so that each selector may thereafter be normally moved along its column to change the voters selection.

17. The apparatus defined by claim 16 wherein said party vote mechanism includes a motor and means operably connecting said motor to said strips, said mechanism further including manually operated switch means having diiferent switch positions respectively corresponding to the difierent political parties participating in the election, and means including said switch means for causing said motor to move said strips through a predetermined distance determined by the switch position.

18. The apparatus defined by claim 17 wherein each strip is connected at its opposed ends to elongated flexible members at least one of which is stored upon a drum driven by said motor.

19. The apparatus defined by claim 18 wherein means are provided for releasing said drum from said motor so that said strips may be manually moved along said columns to permit the insertion of said ofiice stops at desired positions therealong during programming of the machine.

20. The apparatus defined by claim 17 wherein the motor and the switch means are mounted upon a chassis removable from the voting machine.

21. For use in a voting machine, the combination which comprises a front panel made up of a plurality of elongated side by side columnar members, each member supporting for sliding movement therealong an elongated strip carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops, adjacent pairs of said members cooperating to form parallel slots extending along the panel and a plurality of voting keys mounted for sliding movement within each slot and upon each columnar member with at least one key being movable in each of the spaces between adjacent pairs of said stops, the strip and the ofiice stops being supported on the columnar members behind said front panel.

22. For use in a voting machine, the combination which comprises a front panel made up of a plurality of elongated side by side columnar members, each member supporting for sliding movement therealong an elongated strip carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops, adjacent pairs of said members cooperating to form parallel slots extending along the panel, a plurality of voting keys mounted 'for sliding movement upon each columnar member with at least one key being movable in the space between each pair of stops, the strip and the oifice stops being supported on the columnar members behind said front panel, and detent means mounted upon each member behind said panel for holding the voting keys in different positions along said member.

23. For use in a voting machine, the combination which comprises a front panel made up of a plurality of elongated side by side columnar members, each such member carrying on its front face a candidate strip listing different office groups to be voted upon, each member supporting for sliding movement therealong an elongated strip carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops respectively separating the diiferent candidate groups, adjacent pairs of said members cooperating to form parallel slots extending along the panel, a plurality of voting keys, at least one for each group, mounted for sliding movement upon each columnar member and each having its sliding movement limited by said stops, the strip and the ofiice stops being supported on the columnar members behind said front panel.

24. For use in a voting machine, the combination which comprises a front panel made up of a plurality of elongated side by side columnar members, each such member having a channel extending along its front face for receiving a candidate strip listing different office groups to be voted upon, each member supporting for sliding movement therealong an elongated strip carrying a plurality of spaced apart stops respectively separating the different candidate groups, adjacent pairs of said members cooperating to form parallel slots extending along the panel, a plurality of voting keys, at least one for each group, mounted for sliding movement upon each columnar member and each having its sliding movement limited by said stops, the strip and the omce stops being supported on the columnar members behind said front panel, and a plurality of detents mounted upon each member behind said panel for holding the voting keys in difierent positions along said member.

25 In a voting machine of the type employing selectors operable by a voter to make his choices together with electrically operated party vote mechanism for operating in unison diiferent groups of said selectors respectively corresponding to candidates of different political parties participating in the election, the improvement which comprises a voting machine housing including a removable panel having at least one opening defined therein, means on said panel forming an enclosure having one open end adjacent said opening, strip means designating the different political parties and inserted Within said enclosure through the open end thereof, and switch means forming part of the party vote mechanism and extending from within the housing through said opening and past the open end of said enclosure to prevent removal of the strip means while the panel is in position on said housing.

26. In a voting machine of the type employing selectors operable by a voter to make his choices together with party vote mechanism for operating in unison dilferent groups of said selectors respectively corresponding to candidates of different political parties participating in the election, the improvement which comprises a voting machine housing including a removable panel having at least one opening defined therein, means on said panel forming an enclosure having one open end adjacent said opening, strip means designating the different political parties and inserted within said enclosure through the open end thereof, and operating means for the party vote mechanism extending from Within said housing through said opening and past the open end of said enclosure to prevent removal of the strip means while the panel is in position on said housing.

Dean Mar. 28, 1899 Cook Feb. 22, 1938

Claims (1)

1. IN A VOTING MACHINE THE COMBINATION OF A PLURALITY OF SAID BY SIDE COLUMNS EACH CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF ISSUES TO BE DECIDED, A PLURALITY OF VOTING SELECTORS, AT LEAST ONE FOR EACH ISSUE, MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG EACH COLUMN TO SELECTING POSITIONS INDICATING THE VOTER''S CHOICES, AN ELONGATED STRIP MOUNTED FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG EACH COLUMN AND CARRYING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART OFFICE STOPS FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID SELECTORS, AND A PARTY VOTE MECHANISM FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY MOVING ALL OF SAID STRIPS ALONG THE ASSOCIATED COLUMNS IN ORDER TO MOVE THE OFFICE STOPS AND THE SELECTORS THROUGH A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF SELECTING POSITIONS IN ORDER TO VOTE FOR ALL OF THE CANDIDATES OF A PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY.

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