Detachable imprinter providing secure paper path between optical scanner and ballot box
AssigneeHart InterCivic, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Canter, Lynn Simpson, Eugene Konovalenko, Viktor Partyshev, Scott Olds, Ryan Whinery
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods are disclosed herein to print a unique identifier on a printed election sheet, wherein the printed election sheet includes a voter's voting selections in an election. More specifically, the present disclosure provides improved systems and methods that provide the capability of printing (or “imprinting”) a unique identifier onto a printed election sheet when the printed election sheet is scanned to create an electronic cast vote record (CVR) of the voter's voting selections.
Claims22
An election voting system for processing a printed election sheet of a voter's voting selections in an election, comprising:
- a scanner comprising an input port coupled to receive the printed election sheet, an optical scanner subassembly configured to optically scan the printed election sheet and generate a scanned image of the printed election sheet and an output port coupled to output the printed election sheet;
- an imprinter detachably coupled between the scanner and a ballot box configured to store the printed election sheet, wherein the imprinter is not integrated within the scanner, wherein the imprinter is coupled to receive the printed election sheet output from the output port of the scanner and configured to print a unique identifier onto the printed election sheet before the printed election sheet is provided to the ballot box, wherein the scanner controls movement of the optically scanned printed election sheet through a paper path of the imprinter, and wherein the imprinter does not include a roller, a belt or another movable component configured to actively guide the optically scanned printed election sheet through the paper path of the imprinter;
- and
- a host processing device communicatively coupled to the scanner and the imprinter, wherein the host processing device is coupled to receive the scanned image of the printed election sheet from the scanner and configured to use the scanned image of the printed election sheet to create an electronic cast vote record of the voter's voting selections, and wherein the host processing device is further coupled to supply command signals to the scanner and the imprinter to independently control operations performed by the scanner and the imprinter.
An imprinter for use in an election voting workflow utilizing a printed election sheet of a voter's voting selections in an election, the imprinter comprising:
- an imprinter housing detachably coupled between a scanner and a ballot box, wherein the scanner is configured to optically scan the printed election sheet and generate a scanned image of the printed election sheet, and wherein the ballot box is configured to store the optically scanned printed election sheet;
- an input port provided on a top cover of the imprinter housing, wherein the input port is coupled to receive the optically scanned printed election sheet from an output port of the scanner;
- a paper guide mechanism positioned between the input port of the imprinter and an output port of the imprinter for passively guiding the optically scanned printed election sheet through a paper path of the imprinter;
- a printer subassembly configured to print a unique identifier onto the optically scanned printed election sheet while the optically scanned printed election sheet is positioned within the paper path of the imprinter;
- wherein the imprinter does not include a roller, a belt or another movable component configured to actively guide the optically scanned printed election sheet through the paper path of the imprinter;
- and
- wherein the output port of the imprinter is provided on a bottom cover of the imprinter housing and coupled to provide the optically scanned printed election sheet having the unique identifier printed thereon to the ballot box.
A method to print a unique identifier onto a printed election sheet of a voter's voting selections in an election, the method comprising:
- providing an imprinter having:
- (a) an imprinter housing that is detachably coupled between a scanner and a ballot box, (b) an input port that is aligned within an output port of the scanner, and (c) an output port that is aligned within an opening in the ballot box;
- receiving a printed election sheet at the input port of the imprinter, wherein the printed election sheet is received from the output port of the scanner after the printed election sheet is optically scanned by the scanner to generate a scanned image of the printed election sheet;
- advancing the printed election sheet through a paper path extending between the input port and the output port of the imprinter;
- printing the unique identifier onto the printed election sheet while the printed election sheet is positioned within the paper path of the imprinter;
- transferring the printed election sheet having the unique identifier printed thereon to the ballot box for storage;
- and
- wherein said advancing the printed election sheet through a paper path extending between the input port and the output port of the imprinter and said transferring the printed election sheet to the ballot box are performed by the scanner in response to command signals received by the scanner from a host processing device communicatively coupled to the scanner and the imprinter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.