Feed tray extension for an election ballot printing system

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-10-02
RUNBECK ELECTION SERVICES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]An election ballot printing system includes a printer support structure which carries a printer. The printer and printer support structure are coupled together so that movement between them is restricted. A printer feed tray extension is carried by the printer support structure, wherein the printer feed tray extension includes an extension ramp and opposed guide rails extending along the extension ramp. The opposed guide rails are positioned to guide a ballot into an input port of the printer. The opposed guide rails guide the ballot into the input port of the printer so that its skew is reduced.

Problems solved by technology

Providing enough ballots for all of the voters is difficult because the ballots are not all the same.
It can be appreciated that it is difficult and time consuming to print and distribute a large number of ballots, and it would be much easier to print a distribute a smaller number of them.
Further, once the ballots are at the voting site, it is difficult and time consumer to find the correct ballot for the voter.
Some voters may not be able to vote if the voting site runs out of the correct ballots, or if the correct ballot cannot be found.

Method used

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  • Feed tray extension for an election ballot printing system
  • Feed tray extension for an election ballot printing system
  • Feed tray extension for an election ballot printing system

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0026]FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are perspective, front and back views, respectively, of an unprinted ballot 100. In this embodiment, unprinted ballot 100 has a predetermined rectangular shape with a length L and width W. The dimensions of unprinted ballot 100 depends on many different factors, such as the election it is to be used in. For example, some precincts may requires ballot 100 to have certain dimensions and other precincts may require ballot 100 to have different dimensions.

[0027]Unprinted ballot 100 includes opposed front and back surfaces 101 and 102, which are bounded by an outer edge 103 that extends around it. Outer edge 103 includes opposed edges 103a and 103c, as well as opposed edges 103b and 103d. Because ballot 100 is rectangular in shape, opposed edges 103a and 103c are parallel to each other and perpendicular to edges 103b and 103d. It should be noted that unprinted ballot 100 is typically a blank wherein it does not include indicia. Although, in some situations, unpr...

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PUM

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Abstract

An election ballot printing system includes a printer support structure which carries a printer. The printer and printer support structure are coupled together so that movement between them is restricted. A printer feed tray extension is carried by the printer support structure, wherein the printer feed tray extension includes a ramp and opposed guide rails which extend along the ramp. The opposed guide rails are positioned to guide a ballot into an input port of the printer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 908,141 filed on Mar. 26, 2007, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates to generating ballots using a printer.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]It is generally not known before an election the number of people who will vote, as well as their identity. Hence, a large number of ballots are often printed before an election in the hope that there will be enough ballots for all of the voters. Providing enough ballots for all of the voters is difficult because the ballots are not all the same. For example, the ballots can be different for different political parties, such as Independent, Democrat and Republican. The ballots can be different for different geographical locations, such as different counties, cities and states. Further, it is often necessary...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G03G15/00
CPCG07C13/00G03G15/5066
InventorRUNBECK, ROBERT KEVINGUYETT, VALENTINO F.LATSKO, JOHN W.
OwnerRUNBECK ELECTION SERVICES