Ballot Box Envelope Opacity Check via Movable Light Receiver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ballot boxes are unable to reliably check the physical conformity of electoral envelopes, particularly the degree of opacity, leading to disruptions and delays during the counting process due to the introduction of invalid items.
Innovation Solution
A ballot box with a control and command unit that uses a light emitter and receiver to measure the opacity of the electoral envelope, where the arm with the detector is movable to sandwich the envelope between the transmitter and receiver, and the motor-controlled hatch opens only if the envelope meets pre-established criteria, preventing non-compliant items from being introduced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed light emitter and receiver arrangement is used to check envelope opacity, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement reliability is insufficient because the envelope cannot be properly positioned between the sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the light receiver movable through an articulated arm mechanism. The receiver can move between a standby position (outside the passage) and a measurement position (inside the passage), allowing dynamic adaptation to the envelope's position. This dynamic arrangement ensures reliable optical measurement while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fixed emitter and the envelope. It enables the receiver to reach the optimal measurement position without requiring both sensors to be fixed, thus resolving the positioning problem while keeping the overall structure manageable.
2Measurement precision
If the light receiver is always positioned inside the passage to ensure measurement accuracy, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases and the standby position cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The light receiver is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed, moving between standby and measurement positions via an articulated arm. This allows the receiver to achieve precise measurement positioning only when needed, while returning to a compact standby position otherwise, thus improving measurement precision without permanently increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver periodically moves to the measurement position only when an envelope is being checked, then returns to the standby position. This periodic action ensures high measurement precision during the measurement phase while maintaining device simplicity during non-measurement phases.
3Productivity
If the articulated arm is always in the measurement position to ensure continuous monitoring, then the productivity is improved, but the loss of energy increases due to the return element constantly working
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated arm operates periodically, moving to the measurement position only when an envelope requires checking, then returning to the standby position. The return element (spring) stores energy during the measurement phase and releases it during the return phase, reducing continuous energy consumption while maintaining high checking speed during operational phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system alternates between active measurement mode and standby mode, with the articulated arm moving accordingly. This periodic operation allows the return element to work intermittently rather than continuously, reducing energy loss while maintaining productivity during active phases.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures the reliable and efficient screening of electoral envelopes by preventing invalid items from being counted, thereby maintaining the integrity of the voting process and reducing delays.
Implementation Method 1
the corridor above the hatch and below the sensor, is equipped on the one hand with a light emitter and on the other hand with a receiver sensitive to the light emitted by the transmitter
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a ballot box (1) for collecting ballot envelopes, which comprises a horizontal bottom wall, vertical walls attached to the bottom wall, and a horizontal top wall (10) forming a lid that is provided with an opening (11) for inserting a ballot envelope into the inner space, characterised in that said insertion opening (11) forms a vertical guiding passage having a rectangular cross-section delimited by two large parallel surfaces and two side surfaces, said opening comprising a hatch (2) actuated by a motor (26), wherein said hatch can assume a position for blocking said opening or a released position, and in that said box comprises a means for checking one of the physical parameters of the ballot envelope, which is capable of controlling the motor (26) of the hatch in order to clear the opening if the envelope is acceptable, or to otherwise block the opening, said checking means including a monitoring and control unit (4) to which the motor (26) is connected.