Patent ID: 6415781
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: F41B

Abstract:
A bulk loader apparatus for supplying paintballs to a paintball gun, said apparatus comprising:a housing for internally storing a quantity of paintballs, said housing having a bottom outlet through which stored paintballs can drop; feed tube means connected to said housing at said bottom outlet and extending downwardly therefrom, said feed tube means being connectible to said gun and capable of sequentially delivering the paintballs to the gun; a screw member mounted at said bottom outlet and rotatable about a vertically extending axis, having a bottom end adjacent said bottom outlet, and operable when rotated about said axis to move one or more paintballs located at or near said bottom outlet; and means for controlling the operation of said screw member, said controlling means including a microswitch mounted in said feed tube means for sensing the absence of a paintball within said feed tube means at the location of said microswitch, wherein said controlling means operates and rotates said screw member to cause one or more paintballs to drop into said feed tube means when the position of said microswitch indicates an absence of a paintball.