Abstract:
A loader for a paintball gun can include a housing comprising a chamber configured to house a quantity of paintballs, and a removable drive tray comprising a drive mechanism configured to drive an agitator or feed mechanism of the loader, wherein the removable drive tray is configured to be releasably secured to the housing during operation of the loader, and is further configured to be readily removed from the housing without the use of a tool. The agitator or feed mechanism may be arranged in the removable drive tray.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/685,994, which is a broadening reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 7,841,328, which issued from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/879,691, filed Jul. 19, 2007, entitled “PAINTBALL GUN LOADING METHODS AND APPARATUS,” which claims the benefit of the filing dates of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/831,662, entitled “DRIVE SYSTEM FOR LOADER OF PAINTBALL GUN,” filed Jul. 19, 2006, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/849,024, entitled “DRIVE SYSTEM FOR LOADER OF PAINTBALL GUN,” filed Oct. 4, 2006, each of which is incorporated fully herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to paintball gun loaders and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for loading paintballs into paintball guns. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The game of paintball uses paintball guns to project balls of paint (“paintballs”) at opponents. A loading device (“loader”) loads paintballs into a feed tube leading to the firing breach of the paintball guns. One performance measurement of a paintball gun is the rate at which it projects paintballs, commonly measured in balls per second (“BPS”). 
         [0004]    Conventional paintball guns and loaders used therewith may encounter time delays between the actuation of the firing sequence of the paintball gun to fire a paintball and the actuation of the loader to deliver more paintballs into the feed tube the paintball gun. For example, the loader may wait for movement of paintballs within a neck of the loader leading to the feed tube of the paintball gun before actuation. Since high-end paintball guns typically have sensors in the breach of the gun to prevent firing until a paintball is fully inserted into the breach, the actuation of the loader effectively controls the maximum rate of fire. This may be undesirable for competitive players desiring a maximum rate of fire at any given time. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention is embodied in methods, apparatus, systems, and kits for loading paintballs from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun. An exemplary loader includes a chamber for holding paintballs, a feed mechanism having a rotational feeder within the chamber that feeds paintballs from the chamber along a feed channel when rotating to fill the feed tube, and a drive mechanism that drives the rotational feeder of the feed mechanism, ceases to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempts to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. 
         [0006]    In an exemplary embodiment, paintballs are loaded from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun by driving a rotational feeder within the loader, the rotational feeder configured within the loader to feed paintballs into the feed tube when rotating, ceasing to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempting to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with like elements having the same reference numerals. When a plurality of similar elements are present, a single reference numeral may be assigned to the plurality of similar elements with a small letter designation referring to specific elements. When referring to the elements collectively or to a non-specific one or more of the elements, the small letter designation may be dropped. This emphasizes that according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not drawn to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a paintball gun assembly including a paintball gun and a loader with a drive/feed mechanism installed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of an exemplary loader with the drive/feed mechanism removed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of an exemplary loader with the drive/feed mechanism removed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side view of an exemplary loader with the drive/feed mechanism removed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of an exemplary loader with the drive/feed mechanism removed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of an exemplary drive/feed mechanism in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a blown-up view of an exemplary rotational feeder of the drive/feed mechanism of  FIG. 6  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the exemplary drive/feed mechanism of  FIG. 7  with a cover removed in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of the exemplary drive/feed mechanism of  FIG. 7  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the exemplary drive/feed mechanism of  FIG. 7  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an elevation view of the exemplary drive/feed mechanism of  FIG. 7  in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is a flow chart of exemplary steps for loading paintballs into a feed tube of a paintball gun in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary paintball gun assembly  100 . Paintball gun assembly  100  includes a paintball gun  102  and a loader  104  that loads paintballs into a feed tube  106  of paintball gun  102 . Paintball gun  102  and loader  104  may be supplied as components of a kit. 
         [0021]    Paintball gun  102  includes a firing breach (not shown) connected to the feed tube  106  and a trigger  108 . A compressed gas source such as a cylinder tank (not shown) is typically secured to the paintball gun  102  to supply gas to the firing breach in order to launch/project a paintball located within the firing breach from the paintball gun  102 . The compressed gas source may contain carbon dioxide or nitric oxide; however, other compressible gasses may be used. 
         [0022]    Actuation of trigger  108  results in paintball gun  102  projecting a paintball located in the firing breach, e.g., by introducing gas to the firing breach behind a paintball located therein. Additionally, actuation of trigger  108  may generate a firing signal, e.g., transmitted via an antenna (not shown) and a transceiver  120  such as a radio frequency (RF) transceiver located in the paintball gun  102  for reception at loader  104 . The firing signal may be generated using a sensor located in the vicinity of trigger  108 . Suitable sensors for use in generating the firing signal in response to the actuation of trigger  108  include magnetic sensors, mechanical sensors, electromechanical sensors, piezoelectric sensors, pressure sensors, accelerometers, etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the firing signal is an encoded signal including a unique identification number, for example. 
         [0023]    In alternative embodiments, a firing signal may be generated by paintball gun  102  in response to detection of a paintball being fired, movement of a paintball within paintball gun  102 , paintball gun  102  completing a firing cycle, and/or movement of components within paintball gun  102 . Electromechanical sensors, infrared (IR) sensors, contact pads, optical sensors, sound sensors, shock sensors, piezoelectric sensors, or other such sensors may be used to detect paintball position and/or movement within paintball gun  102 , for example. Additionally, “anti-chop” sensors (such as optical sensors) within the firing breach of paintball gun  102  may be used to detect paintball position and/or movement within paintball gun  102 . Suitable detection methods will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein. 
         [0024]    In other embodiments, a radar sensor (not shown) mounted on the loader  104  or in communication with loader  104  may be used to detect paintballs leaving paintball gun  102  in order to generate a firing signal and/or determine rate of fire, for example. The radar sensor may also be used to detect if paintballs are being fired at the operator of paintball gun  102 . Detection of paintballs being fired at the operator may be communicated to the operator via audio and/or visual signals presented by the loader  104 , e.g., via a speaker and/or display (not shown). Suitable radar sensors, audio devices, and visual devices will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein. 
         [0025]    Loader  104  includes an opening  110 , a lid  112  for covering opening  110 , and a chamber  114  for holding paintballs. In  FIG. 1 , lid  112  is depicted in an open position, thereby allowing the addition of paintballs to chamber  114 . A drive/feed mechanism  116  within loader  104  actuates a feeder mechanism including a rotational feeder (described below) to deliver paintballs from chamber  114  to feed tube  106  through a feed neck of loader  104  (described below). A power supply  118  supplies power to drive/feed mechanism  116 . In an exemplary embodiment, drive/feed mechanism  116  drives the rotational feeder, ceases to drive the rotational feeder responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder, and periodically attempts to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. 
         [0026]    Drive/feed mechanism  116  may include electronics (described below) including a circuit for receiving a firing signal from the paintball gun  102 , e.g., via an antenna (not shown) and a transceiver  122  such as an RF transceiver in the loader  104 . In an exemplary embodiment, the firing signal of an operator&#39;s paintball gun is encoded with a unique identifier and the electronics are configured by the operator to recognize the unique identifier in order to prevent the drive/feed mechanism  116  from being activated by a firing signal transmitted by another paintball gun. The electronics may be configured by, first, pressing and holding a button associated with the electronics. Optionally, an indicator associated with the electronics may blink at a relatively slow rate to indicate the electronics are ready to receive configuration information. The trigger  108  of paintball gun  102  may then be actuated to transmit configuration information, which is received by the electronics. Optionally, an indicator associated with the electronics may blink at a relatively fast rate to indicate the electronics have been configured responsive to the configuration information. 
         [0027]    In an exemplary embodiment, the lid  112  has a magnetic or electro-magnetic loader lid release. Transceiver  120  may be linked to a switching device  124  mounted onto the paintball gun  102 . Upon triggering switching device  124 , transceiver  120  transmits a lid signal that is received by transceiver  122 . The received lid signal prompts loader  104  to reverse the polarity of a magnet  126   a  on the loader  104 , thereby repelling a corresponding magnet  126   b  on lid  112  to force lid  112  open. This allows the operator of paintball gun  104  to push switching device  124  with the hand holding paintball gun  102  to open lid  112  and use the other hand to quickly and conveniently pour paintballs from a paintball pod into loader  104  without having to first manually open the lid using both hands. In an exemplary embodiment, the lid signal is an encoded signal that allows the same transceivers  120 / 122  to handle multiple signals, e.g., the lid signal and the firing signal described above. Although transceivers are illustrated (which include both a transmitter and a receiver), it will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein that a transmitter without a receiver may be employed if signals are only to be transmitted and a receiver without a transmitter may be employed if signals are only to be received. 
         [0028]    In an exemplary embodiment, drive/feed mechanism  116  is part of a component that is separable from chamber  114 , which is part of another component. This allows drive/feed mechanism  116  to be manually removed from chamber  114  without tools (i.e., the components are releasably secured), which is known in the art as “field strippable.” In alternative embodiments, the drive/feed mechanism  116  and chamber  114  may be at least substantially permanently connected. Additional details regarding loader  104  are described below. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  depicts a side perspective view of loader  104  with lid  112  in a closed position, thereby preventing paintballs within chamber  114  ( FIG. 1 ) from falling out.  FIG. 3  depicts a top perspective view of loader  104  with lid  112  in the open position and drive/feed mechanism  116  ( FIG. 1 ) removed, leaving cavity  300 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of loader  104  with lid  112  in the open position and drive/feed mechanism  116  ( FIG. 1 ) removed. Drive/feed mechanism  116  ( FIG. 1 ) may be inserted into cavity  300  of loader  104 . Loader  104  includes an opening  402   a  for mating with a projection on the drive/feed mechanism  116  to secure drive/feed mechanism  116  to loader  104 . Drive/feed mechanism  116  may be released by depressing the projection such that it is disengaged from opening  402   a . As illustrated in  FIG. 5  (discussed below), a similar opening  402   b  is present on the other side of loader  104 .  FIG. 6  (discussed in further detail below) depicts a projection  601  on drive/feed mechanism  116  for mating with opening  402   b  to secure drive/feed mechanism  116  to loader  104 . A similar projection for mating with opening  402   a  is present on an opposite surface of drive/feed mechanism  116 . Other suitable means for securing drive/feed mechanism  116  to loader  104  will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein.  FIG. 4  further depicts a feed neck  404  of loader  104  that mates with the feed tube  106  ( FIG. 1 ) for supplying paintballs thereto. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  depicts a rear view of loader  104  with drive/feed mechanism  116  removed. A feed neck channel  500  defined within feed neck  404  leads from drive/feed mechanism  116  (when installed) to feed tube  106  of paintball gun  102  when loader  104  is attached to paintball gun  102 . A power connector  504  is connected to power source  118  ( FIG. 1 ). Power connector  504  mates with a corresponding power connector of drive/feed mechanism  116  (described below) when drive/feed mechanism  116  is installed within loader  104  to provide power from power source  118  to drive/feed mechanism  116 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  depicts a top perspective view of drive/feed mechanism  116 . Drive/feed mechanism  116  includes a feed mechanism  600  and a drive mechanism (described below). Illustrated feed mechanism  600  includes a rotational feeder  602  that moves paintballs along a ball guide  604  into feed neck  404  when rotating to deliver paintballs to the feed tube  106  of paintball gun  102 . Together, ball guide  604  and feed neck  404  form a feed channel through which paintballs are delivered from the loader  104  to the feed tube  106 . In an exemplary embodiment, ball guide  604  slopes downward to form a spiral downward flow channel at an angle between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees, for example. 
         [0033]    In an exemplary embodiment, rotational feeder  602  includes a feed wheel  606  having a perimeter  608  and a plurality of fins (represented by five fins  610   a - e  in the illustrated embodiment) extending from wheel perimeter  608 . The feed wheel  606  may be conical (as illustrated), flat, or another shape. The fins  610  may be spaced around perimeter  608  such that at least one paintball can be received between adjacent fins (e.g., between fins  610   a  and  610   b ). In an exemplary embodiment, fins  610  are located below a bottom slope of feed wheel  606  such that paintballs within loader  104  will fall between fins  610  and be pushed into the feed neck  404  instead of bouncing around above fins  610  and/or feed wheel  606 , which reduces the chance of paintball breakage.  FIG. 7  depicts a close-up top perspective view of rotational feeder  602  and an opening  700  leading to feed neck channel  500 . 
         [0034]    A spiral downward flow channel of ball guide  604  allows paintballs to follow the natural downward gravitational flow. This combined with the positioning of fins  610  on feed wheel  606  results in paintballs moving deeper into the ball guide  604 —allowing fins  610  to ride higher on the paintballs as they move closer to the feed neck  404 . This reduces the likelihood of a paintball coming out of the ball guide  604  or being disturbed during its movement toward feed neck  404 . When a paintball is in the last position before entering feed neck  404 , the position of this paintball will not allow another paintball to enter the ball guide  604 . 
         [0035]    In an alternative exemplary embodiment, rotational feeder  602  may be replaced with an agitator (not shown), e.g., a device used to stir paintballs and prevent paintball jams in the loader. 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  depicts a bottom perspective view of drive/feed mechanism  116 . Drive/feed mechanism  116  further includes a drive mechanism  800  that drives feed mechanism  600  ( FIG. 6 ). Illustrated drive mechanism  800  includes a drive motor  802  that drives a drive shaft  804  coupled to rotational feeder  602 , thereby driving rotational feeder  602 . In an exemplary embodiment, drive motor  802  drives rotational feeder  602  at a substantially constant spin rate, which enables smoother ball flow into the space between fins  610  of feed wheel  606  and into feed neck  404 , that is faster than the firing rate of paintball gun  102 , which reduces lag attributable to the loader  104 . Illustrated drive motor  802  drives a primary drive gear  806  that, in turn, drives a secondary drive gear  808 . Drive motor  802  drives primary drive gear  806  using a drive belt  810 . In an exemplary embodiment, drive belt  810  has teeth and/or is notched (not shown) to prevent slippage, fits between drive motor  802  and primary drive gear  808 , and turns without having a tight fit. The drive motor  802 , drive gears  806 / 808 , and drive belt  810  may be at least partially covered by a cover (not shown). 
         [0037]    Drive motor  802  is controlled by electronics  812 . Electronics  812  may include one or more controller(s) for controlling drive motor  802 . The controller(s) may include a printed circuit board including discrete components (such as resistors, capacitors, solenoids, switches, etc.) and/or one or more microprocessor(s). In an exemplary embodiment, a microprocessor is programmed to control drive motor  802 . Additionally, switches (not shown) may be connected to the microprocessor to provide user input. For example, a first switch may be provided to reverse the direction of the drive motor  802  and a second switch may be provided to turn the drive mechanism  800  on/off, turn an optional RF module on/off, change the attempt frequency (described below) and/or change the speed of rotation of the drive shaft  804  and, thus, the rotational feeder  602 . Suitable microprocessors, discrete components, and switches, and programming of the microprocessors to provide the functionality herein described, will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein. 
         [0038]    Electronics  812  may receive/transmit data from/to electronics (not shown) within paintball gun  102 , e.g., via transceivers  120 / 122  ( FIG. 1 ). For example, data from paintball gun  102  may be displayed on a display (not shown) of loader  104  such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. Additionally, electronics  812  may allow communication with the paintball gun  102  so that they function as one unit to improve the overall performance of both. For example, paintball gun  102  could have performance programs that would help to speed up the rate of fire by allowing loader  104  to know in advance that paintball gun  102  will run a particular program, thereby permitting electronics  812  to optimize loader  104  for use with that program. 
         [0039]    In addition, the display may be uses for displaying parameters relating to operation of the paintball gun  102  and/or loader  104 . For example, shot count, elapsed game time, paintball usage, battery life, remaining paintballs in loader  104 , etc. may be monitored by known controllers within the paintball gun  102  and/or electronics  812  of loader  104 , as appropriate. Parameters monitored by paintball gun  102  may be transferred to electronics  812  of loader  104  for display via transceivers  120 / 122 , and electronics  812  may display parameters monitored by and received directly from loader  104 . Selection of parameters displayed may be accomplished using selection elements (such as switches) coupled to electronics  812  of loader  104  and/or coupled to paintball gun  102  and transmitted to electronics  812  via transceivers  120 / 122 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view of an exemplary drive/feed mechanism  116  and  FIGS. 10 and 11  are side and elevation views, respectively. In an exemplary operation, drive motor  802  (under control of electronics  812 ) moves drive belt  810 . Drive belt  810  turns primary drive gear  806  which, in turn, turns secondary drive gear  808  ( FIG. 8 ) coupled to drive shaft  804 . Drive shaft  804  is coupled to feed wheel  606 . Thus, drive motor  802  drives/rotates feed wheel  606 . In an exemplary embodiment, paintballs in chamber  114  ( FIG. 1 ) roll down a slope of feed wheel  606  and become seated in ball guide  604  between adjacent feed wheel fins  610 . As feed wheel  606  rotates counterclockwise, feed wheel fins  610  urge the paintballs between adjacent fins along the ball guide  604  into feed neck  404 . Although the illustrated embodiments utilize counterclockwise rotation of the feed wheel  606  to load paintballs, other embodiments may be configured for clockwise rotation of the feed wheel  606 . In an exemplary embodiment, the feed wheel  606  may be rotated in a direction opposite to its normal operation. 
         [0041]      FIG. 12  depicts a flow chart  1200  of exemplary steps for loading paintballs from a loader into a feed tube of a paintball gun. The exemplary steps are described with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 . Although described with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 , it will be understood that the exemplary steps may be employed with other loaders and paintball guns without departing from the scope of the present invention. Suitable loaders and paintball guns with which the exemplary steps may be employed will be understood by one of skill in the art from the description herein. 
         [0042]    A step  1202 , a rotational feeder within a loader is driven. In an exemplary embodiment, drive motor  802  (under control of electronics  812 ) drives rotational feeder  602  (e.g., feed wheel  606  and fins  610 ) such that paintballs within ball guide  604  are moved along ball guide  604  into feed neck  404  and, thus, feed tube  106  of paintball gun  102 . 
         [0043]    At step  1204 , stoppage of the rotational feeder is identified. In an exemplary embodiment, electronics  812  within drive mechanism  800  identify stoppage of the rotational feeder  602 . Electronics  812  may identify stoppage of rotational feeder  602  by detecting current and/or resistance increases in drive mechanism  800  due to stoppage of rotational feeder  602  which, in turn, stops drive motor  802 . Rotational feeder  602  may be stopped by one or more broken paintballs and/or a full feed tube  106  and feed neck  404 , for example. In an exemplary embodiment, a notched drive belt  810  is utilized. The notched drive belt reduces current draw or load on drive motor  802 , thereby increasing efficiency. Additionally, it reduces slippage which makes it easier to obtain accurate current and/or resistance measurements. 
         [0044]    At step  1206 , driving of the rotational feeder is ceased responsive to stoppage of the rotational feeder. In an exemplary embodiment, drive motor  802  (under control of electronics  812 ) ceases to drive rotational feeder  602  responsive to the identification of the stoppage of rotational feeder  602  in step  1204 . 
         [0045]    At step  1208 , periodic attempts are made to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. Exemplary steps for periodically attempting to rotate the stopped rotational feeder are set forth in step  1210  through step  1216 . In an exemplary embodiment, a pro-active periodic attempt to rotate the stopped rotational feeder is performed at an attempt frequency. The attempt frequency may be a loader operation parameter actuated/selected, e.g., manually by an operator via electronics  812 , from one or more predefined attempt frequencies. For example, from between a first frequency (e.g., a frequency between about 0.25 and about 0.75 seconds) and a second frequency (e.g., a frequency between about 1.0 and about 5.0 seconds). 
         [0046]    In an exemplary embodiment, electronics  812  may shorten the attempt frequency (e.g., to a frequency between about 0.001 seconds or faster and about 0.1 seconds) in response to a firing signal (e.g., generated by paintball gun  102  and received via transceivers  120 / 122 ). Upon identification of the stoppage of rotational feed  602  (described above) and/or after a predetermined period of time (e.g., 5-10 seconds), the attempt frequency may revert to the initial attempt frequency. In accordance with this embodiment, a firing event/operation, such as actuation of a trigger, may be detected by a sensor, which results in controller/transceiver  120  of paintball gun  102  being notified of the firing event/operation. Transceiver  120  then transmits a loader operation signal to transceiver  122  of loader  104 , which notifies controller/electronics  812 . Controller/electronics  812  then operate according to the shortened attempt frequency until stoppage of the rotational feeder is identified, at which time controller/electronics  812  change the attempt frequency back to the initial attempt frequency. 
         [0047]    In an alternative exemplary embodiment, an attempt to rotate the rotational feeder may be initiated in response to the firing signal. In accordance with this embodiment, a firing event/operation, such as actuation of a trigger, may be detected by a sensor, which results in controller/transceiver  120  of paintball gun  102  being notified of the firing event/operation. Transceiver  120  then transmits a loader operation signal to transceiver  122  of loader  104 , which notifies controller/electronics  812  to operate the drive motor  802 . 
         [0048]    Accordingly, drive mechanism  800  may use multiple means of pro-active engagement of the rotational feeder  602 . In an exemplary embodiment, a pulse or signal is preferably sent to actuate loader  104  prior to the cycling of paintball gun  102 . By the time paintball gun  102  has cycled its first shot, loader  104  preferably is at its maximum speed or feed rate, allowing paintball gun  102  to fire at its maximum or desired rate of fire or BPS. Pro-active actuation according to the present invention reduces delays that are caused by delayed ON signals for conventional “reactive” loaders. 
         [0049]    At step  1210 , an attempt is made to rotate the stopped rotational feeder. In an exemplary embodiment, drive motor  802  (under control of electronics  812 ) attempts to rotate rotational feeder  602 . Electronics  812  may include a timer (not shown) that increments a counter to control the frequency at which attempts are made to rotate rotational feeder  602 . Upon the counter reaching a value associated with an attempt frequency, electronics  812  attempt to rotate rotational feeder  602  and resets the counter. Identification of a firing signal at electronics  812  may cause the electronics to reduce the value associated with the attempt frequency to a lower value associated with a shorter attempt frequency. Alternatively, electronics  812  may advance the counter (e.g., at a faster rate or to a predetermined value) to effectively shorten the attempt frequency in response to identification of the firing signal. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, electronics  812  may attempt to rotate rotational feeder  602  in response to the firing signal. 
         [0050]    At step  1212 , stoppage of the rotational feeder is identified in response to the attempted rotation at step  1210 . In an exemplary embodiment, stoppage of the rotational feeder is performed as described above regarding step  1204 . In exemplary embodiments, identification of stoppage of rotational feeder  602  and/or passage of a predetermined period of time results in electronics  812  reestablishing the initial attempt frequency and/or counter rate described above with reference to step  1210 . 
         [0051]    At step  1214 , a determination is made regarding stoppage of the rotational feeder. If the rotational feeder is stopped, processing proceeds at step  1216 . Otherwise, processing proceeds at step  1218 . In an exemplary embodiment, electronics  812  make the determination regarding stoppage of rotational feeder  602 . 
         [0052]    At step  1216 , driving of the rotational feeder is ceased responsive to identification of the stoppage of the rotational feeder. In an exemplary embodiment, driving of rotational feeder  602  is ceased as described above regarding step  1206  and, thus, will not be described in further detail. Processing then proceeds at block  1210  with the attempted rotation and cessation of driving steps repeating until a determination is made that the rotational feeder is no longer stopped, e.g., at step  1214 . 
         [0053]    In an exemplary embodiment, step  1210  through step  1216  operate together as follows. Electronics  812  periodically attempt to supply power to drive motor  802 . The attempts may be timed such that they occur faster than the maximum firing rate (typically measured in cycles per second) of the paintball gun  102  with which loader  104  will be used. The drive motor  802  attempts to turn rotational feeder  602  to force paintballs into feed neck  404  when power is supplied. When feed neck  404  of loader  104  is full and the paintball stack in the loader neck  404  prevents rotational feeder  602  from turning, electronics  812  identify this stoppage through a current reading or resistance reading. At a calculated and appropriate current feedback, electronics  812  remove power from the drive motor  802 . If electronics  812  supply power to drive motor  802  and the paintball stack is full, the electronics  812  will remove power and wait a predefined period of time before re-supplying power (e.g., 0.5 or 3.0 seconds). This results in pulsation of the rotational feeder  602 . When a paintball is fired, thereby creating a void in the feed neck/feed tube, drive motor  812  continues to turn in response to the power supplied by electronics  812 . 
         [0054]    At step  1218 , a determination is made regarding the drive mechanism  800 . In an exemplary embodiment, if either the drive mechanism  800  is turned off or the loader  104  is empty (e.g., the chamber  114  is empty or the loader does not include enough paintballs to fill feed neck  404 ), processing proceeds at step  1220  with the drive motor  802  no longer driving the rotational feeder  602 . Otherwise, drive motor  802  continues to drive the rotational feeder  602  and processing continues at step  1204 . In an exemplary embodiment, a determination is made that the loader  104  is empty if the rotational feeder  602  has rotated continuously for a period of time (e.g., for 2 minutes or more). In alternative exemplary embodiment, sensors within the chamber  114  and/or feed neck  404  may be used to determine if the loader  104  is empty. 
         [0055]    Additional implementations/embodiments of the present invention are now described. A wireless projectile loader system (e.g., a paintball gun and paintball loader therefore) is provided that includes a compressed gas gun (e.g., a paintball gun that uses compressed gas to launch projectiles such as paintballs) having at least one sensor for detecting a firing operation (e.g., actuation of the trigger of a paintball gun) and sending a sensor signal, a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor that is adapted to receive the sensor signal and send a wireless signal in response to the sensor detecting a firing operation, and a projectile loader (e.g., paintball loader) having an agitator, a motor for operating the agitator, and at least one wireless receiver in communication with the motor adapted to receive the wireless signal. The wireless projectile loader system may additionally include a controller in communication with the receiver for operating the motor. The controller may include a microprocessor. 
         [0056]    Another wireless projectile loader system is provided that includes at least one sensor for detecting a firing operation of a compressed gas gun and sending a sensor signal, a wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor that is adapted to receive the sensor signal and send a wireless signal in response to the sensor detecting a firing operation, and at least one wireless receiver for receiving the wireless signal that is in communication with a motor of a projectile loader and adapted to initiate operation of the motor in response to the wireless signal transmitted by the transmitter. The wireless projectile loader system may further include a controller in communication with one of the transmitter and the receiver. The controller may include a microprocessor. 
         [0057]    A method of wirelessly operating a projectile loader is provided that includes detecting a firing operation of a compressed gas gun, wirelessly transmitting a signal in response to the firing operation, receiving the signal, and operating a motor of the projectile loader. 
         [0058]    Another method of wirelessly operating a projectile loader is provided that includes providing a compressed gas gun having at least one sensor and at least one wireless transmitter in communication with the at least one sensor, providing a projectile loader having a motor and at least one wireless receiver in communication with the motor, detecting a firing operation of the compressed gas gun with the sensor, transmitting a demand signal (e.g., a signal generated in response to actuation of a paintball gun trigger) from the sensor to the wireless transmitter, wirelessly transmitting a loader operation signal (e.g., a signal for requesting operation of the loader motor) from the wireless transmitter to the wireless receiver, and operating the motor in response to the loader operation signal. 
         [0059]    A wireless system for controlling operation of a projectile loader is provided that includes a compressed gas gun having a controller and a wireless transmitter in communication with the controller, and a projectile loader having a receiver for receiver wireless signals from the wireless transmitter and a controller for controlling an operation of the projectile loader. The wireless system may further include at least one user-actuated selection element in communication with the controller. 
         [0060]    A method of controlling operation of a projectile loader is provided that includes selecting a projectile loader operation parameter, wirelessly transmitting a signal in response to the selection, receiving the signal, and controlling the operation of the projectile loader in response to the signal. 
         [0061]    Another method of controlling operation of a projectile loader is provided that includes wirelessly transmitting a signal representing a projectile loader operation parameter, receiving the signal, and controlling the operation of the projectile loader in response to the signal. The method may further include selecting a projectile loader operation parameter prior to wirelessly transmitting the signal. 
         [0062]    Although the present invention has been described for use with a loader of a paintball gun that attaches above the paintball gun, it may be used with other types of paintball loading objects (e.g., backpacks, etc.) and in other fields, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as “paintball,” “gun,” “loader,” etc., as used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention and includes all other kinds of guns and/or items with which the present invention could be used and may be useful. Indeed, although the drive system according to the present invention is preferably used in the paintball industry, it is to be understood by a person skilled in the art that it could be used for any other kind of dispensing device (e.g., gun, etc.) requiring the feeding of objects (balls, paintballs, etc.) from a drive system as described herein. 
         [0063]    It is contemplated that the invention may be implemented in software running on a processor. In this embodiment, one or more of the above described steps may be implemented in software that controls the computer. This software may be embodied in a computer readable medium, for example, a memory, a magnetic or optical disk, a memory-card or an audio frequency, radio-frequency, or optical carrier wave. 
         [0064]    While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.