US3349663A - Primer reloader - Google Patents

Description

` Oct. 31, 1967 M. E. SLEE Y 39349563 PRIMER RELOADER Filed June 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l 54 v 5s 52 77 *4 e4 36 38 4| 53 4 4 f IO 47 43 *78 I INVENTOR.

MAX E. SLEE ATTORNEY M l-:SLEE4 PRIMER RELOADER ocr. 31 19.67

Filed June 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla". 3

" y FIGAv INVENTOR. y MAX E. SLEE 'I ATTORNEY 3,349,553 Patented Get. 31, 1967 3,349,663 PRE/1ER RELOADER Max E. Slee, Denver, Colo. (3957 W. Grand Ave., Littleton, Colo. 80120) Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No. 466,923 2 Claims. (Cl. 86-38) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A primer reloading mechanism having a central receptacle for 4receiving loose primers and an outwardly expanding spiral passageway for delivering a substantial quantity of oriented primers to a work station for cartridge reload purposes wherein power means are provided for moving a cover mounted eccentric follower and pin cooperatively along said spiral passageway to deliver primers to the work station.

The present invention relates to shell reloading equipment and, more particularly, to a primer reloader.

While many separate inventors have previously provided dilferent types of mechanisms for orienting and pressing replacement primers in position in shells that are to be reloaded and while many different types of mechanisms have been used, it has been believed that a more eliicient and more economical unit could be provided for the satisfaction of user demand. This invention is, accordingly, presented as an improvement in the field of hand reloading equipment with the thought that the advantages of the improved equipment will result in more etlicient and economical reloading of expended shells. Before attainment of the advantageous results inherent in the use of the present equipment, certain objectives and worthwhile characteristics for this type of equipment were considered. Among these goals were the following guide objectives:

In order to provide a more satisfactory hand reloading tool, a rst objective is to provide a mechanism which will efficiently feed and emplace standard primer caps in various types of shells and cartridge cases.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of relatively simplified construction which will continue to give good service over an extended period of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand loading mechanism in which a considerable number of replacement primers may be stored and oriented without using up an excess of sometimes limited work space.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a primer reloading tool that will automatically feed a great number of reloader primers to the operative work station.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tool which is quickly adaptable for use in the reloading of different types and sizes of shells by application of various standard size primers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feed mechanism for progressively moving a long stream of pre-oriented primer caps to a desired work station.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the appended description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation showing the operative parts of an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the hand reloading mechanism shown in FIG. l with parts being shown in broken section,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view taken with the feed chamber cap removed,

FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation showing details of construction for the underside of the cap,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing a replacement guide tube, and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of alternate primer receiving collars.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a primer reloading tool that is specically adapted to sequentially deliver a plurality of primer caps to a work station. The mechanism includes a primer receiving and storage chamber communicating with a convoluted or spiral guide path in which the primers are oriented for movement toward the work station; a spring powered drive means for rotating a cover or cap above said primer chamber; an-d a pivoted follower which engages behind the primer caps to force the caps progressively outward along the spiral path toward the work station. In position oriented with the rim and work station, the mechanism provides receptacles for various shell and guide tube adapters so that a plurality of different types and sizes of shell cases may be properly positioned above the rim for the introduction and seating of new primers that likewise may be of different sizes. Other features and advantages of the invention to be described are shown in the accompanying figures.

In FIGURE 1 a side view of the primer reloader mechanism 10 is shown. The main structural components include a case 11 which may be of cast or fabricated construction to provide support for the loader ram 12. Ram 12 is positioned to move reciprocally in a vertical bore 13 drilled, or otherwise finished, in the case 11. The

lower end of the ram 12 is connected by means of the pin 14 to a link 16. Link 16 is connected to the hand operator lever 17 which is free to rotate about the support pivot 18 as a fulcrum so that the forces exerted on the lever 17 are transmitted to the connector link 16 and ram 12 by the pin 19. The upper end of the ram 12 is provided with a threaded opening 21 to receive plunger 22. When the threads 23 of the plunger 22 are properly adjusted in the opening 21, the end 24 of the plunger 22 will be oriented in position level with the bottom of the primer guide channels 26 but will still be received in the chamber 27 of collar 28. This proper adjustment may be maintained by tightening the lock screw 29. An adjusting screw 31 is also provided at the base of the case 11 so that the lever 17 will not be moved past this desired position of alignment for the plunger 22 when the ram is retracted. From the down stroke as illustrated the ram 12 and plunger 22 may be moved upwardly as guided by the bore 13 and the chamber 27 until the plunger, which will in operation be elevating a primer cap through the opening 32 in guide tube 79, engages against ythe base of a shell case 33. The downwardly directed hand pressure exerted against the lever 17 will at that time seat the primer in the shell case. The up and down movements of the ram and plunger are, of course, accompanied by the reciprocal swinging motion of the link 16. A slot 34 is provided in the back wall of the case 11 in order to provide clearance for this movement of the link 16.

While the reciprocal movement of the ram and plunger is conventional, it is believed that some of the features of the presen-t embodiment incorporate advantages which make the overall reloader tool more reliable and eicient. The combined adjustments of the plunger and ram orientation and the adjustment for limiting the down stroke travel of the ram are of significance in the provision of an eilicient mechanism that is easily adapted to handle various types and sizes of cases. In the present embodiment this feature makes it possible to provide a plurality of replaceable shell sockets 36 which may be interchangeably engaged in the head 37 These sockets, which may individually have shell receptacles of different size and height, are

3 retained in the head by the cooperative provision of shoulders 38 of a standard size to t the counter bore 39 in the head 37.

With the described arrangement it is not only possible to provide for the replacement of primers in shells of different size and type, but it is also possible to handle and place primers that are themselves of different size. In usual reloading activities only two different sizes of primers are used for the reloading of most conventionally used shells and shell cases. Since the primers themselves are of different diameters, it has been found desirable to provide components at the work station which are of the proper size for the particular primer being used. FIGURE 6 illustrates the provision of interchangeable collars 28 that have center chambers 27 of different size. When the smaller primers are being used, the collar 28a shown in FIGURE 6l will be inserted beneath the head 37 with the tapered guide edges 82a positioned in alignment with the guide passage 83 which delivers the primer 61 from the spiral pathway 62 to the work station-collar 28. When the larger size primers are being used, the collar 28 having the straight guide edges 82 will be used to deliver the primers to the central chamber 27 through which the plunger 22 moves reciprocally. At the same time that the collar is changed to accommodate the smaller primers, the plunger rod 22 will likewise be changed to provide a plunger of smaller diameter which will pass through the chamber 27a of reduced size. With the further placement of a guide tube 79a, which has a smaller bore 80 in the head 37, the smaller primers can be fed and emplaced in the shell casings through use of the same feed and ram mechanisms.

The feed mechanism which is used together with the described primer seating mechanism is of special importance in the provision of a compact, efficient and economical reloading tool. The feed mechanism 41 used in the present embodiment of the invention is, in general, disposed in a flat compact package of overall cylindrical configuration. The envelope or support receptacle for the feed mechanism is provided by components of the case 11 which are disposed outwardly from the rarn supporting portions of such case. The lateral extension of the case which is used to support the feed mechanism in general provides upper and lower receptacles 42 and 43 disposed on opposite sides of a center support frame 44. The lower receptacle is of circular configuration to provide a chamber 46 for the reception of a mechanical flat coil spring 47. This spring, which is of construction similar to that used in large clock works has one end anchored to the case 11 adjacent the walls of the chamber 46, while its other end is anchored to a drive shaft 48 by the catch 49. With this arrangement, power stored in the coil spring will tend to rotate the shaft 48 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed from the top of the mechanism.

The shaft 48 which extends upwardly through a boss 51 on the support frame 44 is provided at its top end 52 with a hexagonal extension 53 which may be cooperatively mated in a socket 54 in the cap structure 56. With the cap properly in place and retained on the shaft by engagement of the snap ring 57, the cap itself will be rotated in counter-clockwise direction as the spring power is expended. This spring powered movement of the cap is used to progressively and forcibly move a follower mechanism behind a plurality of oriented primers so that such primers will be moved along a spiral path defined by the raised guides 58 toward the work station. The guides 58 which are raised above the supporting floor 59 of the upper receptacle 42 are disposed in a convoluted spiral pathway of successively increasing diameter measured away from the center of receptacle 42 and drive shaft 48. These guides 58 define in their convoluted conguration a spiral passageway 62 for the reception and movement of a plurality of primers 61 that is of considerably greater length when measured against the space occupied than previous types of straight primer feed passages.

When the mechanism is to be used, a considerable number of primers 61 may first be dumped into the central receptacle 42 and then may be moved into the spiral pathway 62 defined by the `guides 58. The primers should all be oriented with respect to top and bottom surfaces before introduction into such pathway so that all further movement of the primers will merely be a sliding motion as they are guided along the spiral pathway to the work station at collar 28. A follower type mechanism used for urging the primers 61 along the spiral pathway 62 is mounted within the cap 56 and is shown in FIGURES 1 and 4. Here it will be seen that the follower mechanism 63 includes a shaft 64 rotatably mounted in an eccentrically positioned bore 66 that is axially aligned with respect to the shaft 48. Since shaft 64 is retained in the cap 56 by use of a snap ring 77, the shaft 64 and an associated disk 67 are free to rotate in the cap 56. A follower pin 68 is provided on the lower surface of the disk 67 to extend downwardly into the receptacle 42 or progressively along the pathway 62 and between the guides 58.

In the use of the mechanism the spiral pathway 62 is at least partially lled with primers, andthe cap 56- is brought into position above the upper receptacle 42 with the follower pin 68 being positioned inwardly closest to the shaft 48. The follower pin is next rotated outwardly until it contacts the convoluted guide 58 at a position adjacent the numeral 69. Thereafter rotation of the cap will bring the follower pin 68 into the guide pathway 62 while further rotational movement of the cap will be restrained by the presence of primers in the spiral pathway. As primers are used or discharged, the cap 56 will rotate in the counter-clockwise direction as powered by the spring mechanism 47. This rotational movement of the cap will be accompanied by an outwardly directed rotation of the follower pin 68 as the pin moves along the spiral pathway 62. `Inasmuch as this rotational movement of the follower pin 68 is relatively limited, it has been found advantageous to provide a stop pin 71 on the follower disk 67 which can be engaged in a limit slot 72 on the underneath surface of the cap 56. This slot and pin combination in the present configuration limits movement of the follower pin 68 to an arc of approximately 135. With this limited movement, the follower pin can move along the entire length of the spiral pathway 62 to urge the primers toward the work station at collar 28. The main function of the pin and limit slot combination is to control or limit the clockwise movement of the follower pin 68 so that the follower pin may be easily and conveniently oriented in the central portion of the upper receptacle 42 when the cap is being replaced above such receptacle after a new srlipply of primers has been inserted.

Several additional components are provided to complete a desirable and convenient structure. First, the lower receptacle 43 may be closed off by use of a disk 73 received in a shouldered receptacle 74, and thel disk 73 can be held in place by a lock spring 76. Disk 73 will prevent entry of dirt and stray items into the drive spring area. Case 11 is further provided with foot extensions 78 so that the reloading tool may be conveniently fastened to a work bench or support. With the feed mechanism components 41 fixed to the top surface of a work bench, the lever 17 will be in a convenient position for operator usage.

Since the overall arrangement provides a primer reloader tool that fully satisfies the stated objectives and since a highly desirable result is obtained through use of a compact and efficient structure, it is believed that benefcial features of the invention will be found adaptable to various modifications and changes. All modifications, changes and developments coming within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered a part of this invention.

I claim:

1.. A primer feed and reloading mechanism for use in placing new primers in expended shell cases comprising a body providing an upper receptacle having a supporting oor and adapted to receive a quantity of loose primers, a work station on said body disposed outwardly from said upper receptacle, a guide ridge raised above said supporting oor and wound about itself in spaced apart relation to provide an outwardly expending spiral passageway communicating with said receptacle and work station, a cap member rotatably mounted on said body in position above said receptacle for holding said primers within said receptacle and in said passageway, a follower element rotatably mounted on said cap in eccentric position with respect to the center of rotation for said cap, a follower pin on said follower element for extension downwardly into said receptacle and passageway for engagement behind primers in said passageway, and means for rotating said cap member to move said follower pin progressively along said passageway and toward said work station whereby said primers are delivered from said receptacle to the outwardly positioned work station.

2. A primer feed and reloading mechanism for use in placing new primers in expended shell cases comprising a body providing an upper receptacle having a supporting oor and adapted -to receive a quantity of loose primers, a work station on said body disposed outwardly from said upper receptacle, a guide ridge raised above said supporting floor and wound about itself in spaced apart relation to provide an outwardly expending spiral passageway of width less than twice the diameter of primers to be used and communicating with said receptacle and work station, a cap member rotatably mounted on said body in position above said receptacle for holding said primers within said receptacle and in said passageway, a follower element rotatably mounted for limited rotational movement on said cap in eccentric position with respect to the center of rotation for said cap, an eccentrically positioned follower pin on said follower element for extension downwardly into said receptacle and passageway for engagement behind primers in said passageway, and spring means for rotating said cap member to move said follower pin progressively along said passageway and toward said work station whereby said primers are delivered from said receptacle to the outwardly positioned work station.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 180,746 8/'1876 Bradley 8646 374,482 12/1887 Lee 86-24 887,508 5/ 1908 Olin 86-46 1,290,852 l/ 1919 Sturgeon 89--33 X 3,138,055 6/ 1964 Weston 86-36 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEIN'BERG, Examiner.

P. A. SHANLEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PRIMER FEED AND RELOADING MECHANISM FOR USE IN PLACING NEW PRIMERS IN EXPENDED SHELL CASES COMPRISING A BODY PROVIDING AN UPPER RECEPTACLE HAVING A SUPPORTING FLOOR AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A QUANTITY OF LOOSE PRIMERS, A WORK STATION ON SAID BODY DISPOSED OUTWARDLY FROM SAID UPPER RECEPTACLE, A GUIDE RIDGE RAISED ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING FLOOR AND WOUND ABOUT ITSELF IN SPACED APART RELATION TO PROVIDE AN OUTWARDLY EXPENDING SPIRAL PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RECEPTACLE AND WORK STATION, A CAP MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BODY IN POSITION ABOVE SAID RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING SAID PRIMERS, WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE AND IN SAID PASSAGEWAY, A FOLLOWER ELEMENT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID CAP IN ECCENTRIC POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTER OF ROTATION FOR SAID CAP, A FOLLOWER PIN ON SAID FOLLOWER ELEMENT FOR EXTENSION DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID RECEPTACLE AND PASSAGEWAY FOR ENGAGEMENT BEHIND PRIMERS IN SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CAP MEMBER TO MOVE SAID FOLLOWER PIN PROGRESSIVELY ALONG SAID PASSAGEWAY AND TOWARD SAID WORK STATION WHEREBY SAID PRIMERS ARE DELIVERED FROM SAID RECEPTACLE TO THE OUTWARDLY POSITIONED WORK STATION.

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