Abstract A compact, versatile voting machine is disclosed having adaptability for use with various vote registering devices such as tally counters and punch card apparatus. The voting machine includes a selector mechanism having a series of parallel columns housing voter operated key slides. A vertical interlock mechanism includes ball housing blocks which are alternately disposed between the key slides and house displaceable interlock balls in a tool line. The cam blocks are adjustable to limit the effective length of the tool line to establish groupings of candidates from which a single selection can be made. A magazine at the top of each column is adjustable to permit multiple selections from a grouping. Actuation of a key cams the interlock balls into the tool line, and when a predetermined number of voter selections have been made no additional keys can be actuated as they are blocked by the tool line. A row of adjacent horizontal keys can also be interlocked to established selection groups as typically found on a general election ballot. A bar is moveable to horizontally interlock adjacent columns by introducing locking pins into a position to be cammed by actuation of a key. A drive mechanism associated with each column permits the voter to vote straight party and clears the machine to ready it for another voter. The drive mechanism includes cam controlled clutches that operate four-bar linkage elements to depress or return the key slides. A judge controlled mechanism locks the machine between voters. For various voting requirements, judge operated cam arrangements are cooperable with the horizontal locking pins and the four-bar linkage to selectively lock out partial or entire columns or rows of key slides. The key slides are provided with a voter viewable button that registers a visible, luminescent ''''X'''' when a key is voted.
Inventors
👤 Cothburn M O'neal
👤 Alfred M Mayo
👤 George William Childs
👤 Executrix By Patricia M Childs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-08 17:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07C; G07C13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A voting machine having a plurality of aligned columns of voting keys arranged within a frame member, said keys being movable between a non-voted position and a voted position; and tally means movable between a non-registering position and a registering position for actuation by said keys to register a selection only if at least one of said keys is in the voted position, comprising: vote registration means associated with said tally means and movable from a first position to a second position to actuate said tally means for movement to said registering position; blocking means in abutting positioN engaging said vote registration means to block movement of said vote registration means to said second position, said blocking means being selectively movable to a non-abutting position disengaging said vote registration means; a plurality of bars each being linked to one of said keys and movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of said one key from said non-voted to said voted position; and a rotatable shaft connected between each of said bars and said blocking means and rotatable in response to movement of any of said bars to said second position to move said blocking means to said non-abutting position disengaging said vote registration means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A voting machine having a plurality of aligned columns of voting keys arranged within a frame member, said keys being movable between a non-voted position and a voted position; and tally means movable between a non-registering position and a registering position for actuation by said keys to register a selection only if at least one of said keys is in the voted position, comprising: vote registration means associated with said tally means and movable from a first position to a second position to actuate said tally means for movement to said registering position; blocking means in abutting positioN engaging said vote registration means to block movement of said vote registration means to said second position, said blocking means being selectively movable to a non-abutting position disengaging said vote registration means; a plurality of bars each being linked to one of said keys and movable from a first position to a second position in response to movement of said one key from said non-voted to said voted position; and a rotatable shaft connected between each of said bars and said blocking means and rotatable in response to movement of any of said bars to said second position to move said blocking means to said non-abutting position disengaging said vote registration means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The voting machine of claim 1 wherein said vote registration means comprises a voting button movable between an elevated position and a depressed position to actuate said tally means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The voting machine of claim 1 wherein said blocking means comprises an abutment member pivotally mounted on said rotatable shaft to pivot between said abutting and non-abutting positions.