Page:Patent for Voting-Machine US1004669.pdf/4

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1,004,669

led, the former being connected with the positive terminals 46 in the yea buttons and the latter, 45, being connected with the posi tive terminals in the nay buttons 47, all but tons in this view being typically illustrated

added to the total nays would foot up more

than there are members present, and he fol lows the discovery of this fact with an in vestigation to ascertain which numeral or name is burned out in both groups on the 70 as keys for purposes of better illustration. chart. We may assume that the member From the negative terminal of each button who did this voted one way and then leads a wire 48, only one of which is num changed his mind, and as soon as the secret bered at the left side of Fig. 4 and in Fig. tary calls attention of the chairman to this and this wire leads to the negative termi fact the member can be recorded orally 75 10 2, nal 20 in the plate 7. It will be understood which way he does desire to vote. Thus it that there are as many negative wires 48 as will be seen that this machine produces in there are buttons, the wires from the yea stantly a chart record of the vote taken, and buttons, leading to one group of terminals. the secretary can at once announce the re 15 20 and the wires from the nay, buttons lead Sult. If it is an ordinary vote he may say 80 ing to the other group of terminals 20. The and the chairman will repeat “The yeas upper terminals 30 in the plate 17 are all have it.' If it is a vote as by tellers, the connected to a common wire 49, and in the secretary or chairman may announce that illustration at the bottom of Fig. 4 the com the result is “Those in favor five, those op 20 mon wire 49 of the yea group leads to the posed four.” And if the vote be on a roll 85 middle of the induction coil 43 and the com call, the secretary has data from which he mon wire 491 of the nay group leads also can immediately read the roll and state how to an intermediate point therein. Suppos every member voted. It is to be understood ing now the yea button 46 at the top of this that this last information is recorded on 25 view be depressed; a current is completed every chart and may be kept thereon for 90 from the left end of the induction coil 43, reference, but the manner of announcing up the wire 44, through the button 46, back the vote will depend on what kind of vote along the wire 48 to the terminal 20, and has been called for. being a jump spark current it will burn The plates 7 and 17 are preferably made 30 through the paper 50 which stands between of Some heavy material which is a non-con 95 this terminal 20 and the terminal 30 and ductor of electricity, the latter for obvious gain access to the latter. Thence the cur purposes and the former for the purpose of rent flows along the common wire 49 and clamping the charts 50 between them. This through the wire 490 to the center of the coil is done by the secretary who raises the up 35 43. If a nay button is depressed, the action per plate 17 around its hinges 18, removes 00 is the same except that one of the circles in the old chart, and inserts a new one with its thenay group on the chart is burned through edge and one end against the shoulders 8 and the right hand end of the induction coil E. 9, and by this act he brings the groups is used. ' of circles 51 under the groups of terminals 40 In Fig.5I have diagrammatically illus 30 and above the corresponding groups of trated a desk 60 on which is shown a yea terminals 20, automatically and without any button 46 and a nay button 47, with one effort on his part other than to see that the positive wire 44 leading to one side of both. chart is properly gaged as in a printing buttons and two negative wires 48 leading press. Thereafter he lowers the upper plate 45 from the buttons separately. 17 upon the chart and it will hold it in place 110 Some question having been raised before until the voting is finished and prevent any the assembly and a vote thereon being called sparks from doing injury to surrounding for, the secretary closes the switch 42 and objects. the chairman directs “Those in favor press What is claimed is: 50. a yea, button, and those opposed press a nay In a voting machine, the combination with 15 button.” Immediately and simultaneously a yea and a nay, button on each desk, a Secre all members or legislators may vote intelli tary's table having a plate of insulating ma gently, accurately, silently, and irrevocably. terial countersunk in its body below the up Suppose that Number 1 or Mr. Allen votes per face thereof so as to leave shoulders 55 yea; the depression of a yea button closes a along one side and across one end of the circuit and the numeral 1 in the yea group plate, an upper plate hinged to the table and 120 of the chart is burned out. Supposing adapted to be brought down onto the lower Number 2 or Mr. Brown votes nay; the plate, a chart removably mounted between numeral 2 in the nay group on the chart is the plates, said chart, being made of an in 60 burned out. If Number 3 or Mr. Clark sulating combustible material, and two sets 25 should not vote at all, the numerals 3 in of terminals arranged in groups at remote both groups on the chart will remain intact. points in said plates and each comprising But if any member by design or otherwise one terminal passing downward through should vote both ways, the secretary could the upper plate and another passing upward 65 instantly detect it because the total yeas through the lower plate immediately be 30

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