Cartridge reloading device

Abstract: A conventional single stage reloader is converted to a multi-station device. The centrally mounted die is replaced by a nut (76) for securing a retrofitting structure (74,78,80) to the single station die holder (22′). The nut has a centre opening, and a plunger extension (82) fitted to the plunger (26′) of the single station reloader is projected through the nut opening. A turret (50′) is mounted to the top of the plunger extension and the retrofitting structure carries a secondary die holder having symmetrically spaced dies (54′) and rotatable bushing (63′) controlled in part by a one-way clutch (62′). An indexing shaft (60′) extends from the turret through the bushing and has a multi-sided cross section by which it is slidably fitted to the bushing in a manner that prevents relative rotation. The configured cross section has an axial twist and when forced through the bushing by the reciprocating plunger, causes turning of one or the other of the shaft and turret or the bushing. the one-way clutch allows the bushing to turn in one direction only. The turret (50) resists turning to a degree greater than the bushing (63′) resists turning in the direction permitted by the one-way clutch (62′). In the other direction the shaft and turret turn and thus sequentially index the cartridges into successive positions relative to the dies in the die holder.

Description: This invention relates to cartridge reloading devices used to reload spent cartridge cases. It is common for active shooters of hand guns and rifles to reload their spent cartridges. A cartridge that is purchased new can be repeatedly fired and reloaded, perhaps five or six times, before the case is considered to be non-reloadable. The savings to the shooter can be substantial and it is just as important to many hobbyists that the cartridges can be custom tailored to fit the shooter's concept of the ideal cartridge case for his particular. Several operations have to be performed in reloading a cartridge. The spent primer cap must be removed, the case must be resized, a new primer cap and powder must be inserted, a bullet must be seated in the casing's mouth and the casing mouth needs to be crimped. Certain combinations of these operations may be accompanied by a single die but, in any event, between four and six reloading dies are employed and four or six reloading steps have to be performed correspondingly. For each step, a cartridge case is seated on a reloading ram or plunger and the case is forced by the plunger into or onto an appropriate die. Typically a single station reloading tool or device includes a fixture that is secured to a workbench. The fixture include a guide for a plunger and a mechanism for manually moving the plunger up and down in the guide. The top of the plunger is designed to receive a cartridge case. The fixture also includes a die holding plate aligned above the plunger. Various dies are provided for sequential interchangeable mounting in the die holding plate. The cartridges are individually positioned on the plunger and pressed into the first die. The die is replaced and the process repeated as many times as required for completion of the reloading process. A single station reloading tool is known from US-A-3 259 007. In a multi-station device, dies may be positioned in a circular pattern, and cartridge cases are loaded in sequence on an indexable rotatable turret, the cartridge cases being operated on in sequence at the multiple stations. For example, if there are four reloading stations, the first cartridge case is placed on the turret and the plunger is activated to perform the first step. The turret is then indexed to place the cartridge in line with the next die station and a second cartridge is placed on the turret in line with the first die station. The plunger is activated to accomplish two independent reloading die functions. Third and fourth cartridges are added in sequence until four reloading steps are simultaneously performed on different cartridges. Thereafter a completed reloading cartridge is removed and a new cartridge added to the turret in its place so that each plunger action performs four reloading steps on four separate cartridges. Multi-station reloading tools are known from US-A-3 483 792 and US-A-4 515 063. It will be appreciated that the concept of multi-station reloading is that all of the reloading operations accomplished by a single stage reloader by the use of a sequence of replaceable dies are accomplished in a single pressing operation. Each cartridge must of course go through the multiple pressing stages, so that for each cartridge, the device must be operated the same number of times. The advantage resides in the fact that for example four different functions are being performed on four different cartridges with a single stroke of the reloader device. A multi-station reloading device is substantially more expensive than a single station device and it would accordingly be advantageous to provide a kit permitting owners of a single station device to convert it to a multi-station device. The invention accordingly provides an apparatus for converting, to a multiple station reloader, a single station cartridge reloader having a reciprocable cartridge holding plunger aligned with an opening of a die holder arranged for receiving a reloading die, the apparatus comprising a plunger extension arranged to be coupled to the plunger to protrude through the die holder opening, a turret mounted on the plunger extension to reciprocate therewith, a secondary die holder arranged to be fixedly mounted to the single station cartridge reloader in spaced relation to the turret, a plurality of cartridge holding stations on the turret arranged symmetrically around an upright axis, a corresponding plurality of die receiving stations on the secondary die holder similarly arranged around the upright axis, whereby cartridges placed in the cartridge receiving stations are aligned with dies positioned in the die receiving stations, the turret being rotatable about the axis for indexing the cartridges relative to the dies positioned in the die receiving stations. The invention relates also to a multiple station reloader as defined in claim 4. The invention will be better understood from the following illustrative description and the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a multi-station cartridge reloading device which illustrates the operation of a single station device after conversion to a multi-station device in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of an indexing shaft of the device of Fig. 1 removed from surrounding structure; Fig. 5 is a sectional side view of a mounting mechanism of the device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 6 is a side view of a single station reloading device which has been converted to multi-station operation in accordance with the invention. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a cartridge reloading device 10 including a support structure having a flange 14 and support posts 18 and 20 integral therewith. Bolts 16 extend through the flange 14 to secure the reloading device to a table 12. The support posts 18 and 20 support an overhead die holder 22, ada plunger guide 24 depends from the flange 14. A plunger 26 is guided for vertical, reciprocal sliding movement through the guide 24 as indicated by arrows 28. An L-shaped pivotal bracket 30 has one end pivotally attached at a pivot 32 to the bottom of the plunger 26 and the other end pivotally attached at a pivot 34 to the lower ends of a pair of parallel arms 36. The upper ends of the arms 36 are pivotally attached at a pivot 38 to the support structure, specifically, to the plunger guide 24 and the flange 14. An elongate handle bar 42 mounts a handle 40 and is attached to the pivotal bracket 30. The handle bar 42 extends through the pivotal bracket 30 and has a nut 44 screwed onto its protruding end. Pulling the handle as indicated by arrow 46 effects rotation of the pivotal bracket 30 about pivot 34 as indicated by arrow 48, which in turn effects upward movement of the plunger 26. A cartridge holder of the device comprises a rotatable turret 50 having provision for holding a plurality of cartridges in a circular pattern symmetrically positioned around its axis of rotation and the axis of the plunger 26. A mounting mechanism 52 for mounting the turret 50 to the plunger 26 provides for rotative movement of the turret relative to the plunger 26. The die holder 22 is provided with a plurality of dies 54 arranged in the same circular symmetrical pattern as the cartridges in the turret 50. The two circular patterns are in line with the plunger movement so that the turret 50 can be rotated to place the cartridges in line with the dies 54. Four dies 54 are provided in the die holder 22 and thus for the reloading operation to which the reloader device 10 is being applied, four pressing stages are required to complete the reloading of a cartridge 53. A cartridge case or cartridge 52 is placed in the turret 50 under the first die and the press is operated to perform the first die operation. The cartridge is indexed successively to the second, third and fourth die positions and the second, third and fourth die operations are accomplished. Mechanism 71, as shown in the drawings, functions to seat a primer in the cartridge between the first and second die operations. Upon completion of the fourth die operation, the cartridge is removed and a new one inserted into the turret in its place. It will be appreciated that a completed cartridge is removed and a new cartridge is inserted after each pressing operation, so that there are four cartridges in the turret, each at a different stage of completion and going through the die operations in sequence. The mounting mechanism 52 as best seen in Fig. 5 includes a base plate 58 integral with a collar 56 that is fixedly clamped to the top of the plunger 26 by a lock screw 57, so as to be non-rotatable relative to the plunger. The turret 50 is rotatably mounted to the base plate 58 and has configured U-shaped cut outs 51 at four cartridge receiving positions. Each U-shaped cut out 51 is designed for receiving the rim 55 of a cartridge 53 which is slid into the cut out. The tubular casing that projects from the rim of the cartridge is nested in the U-shaped cut out and projects upwardly from the turret 50. As the turret is rotated about its rotatable mounting to the base plate 58, the cartridges slide around the base plate through the different die stations. Projecting upwardly from the turret 50 along the rotatable axis thereof is a shaft 60. The shaft 60 is fixed to the turret 50 so that the shaft and turret rotate together. The shaft projects up through the die holder 22 of the support structure, specifically, it projects through a bushing 63 in a centre opening in the die holder. Rotation of the bushing 63 is controlled in part by a one-way clutch mechanism 62. The opening in the die holder and thus the axis of the bushing 63 is located centrally of the circular pattern of the dies 54. The bushing 63 has an inner configuration that fits the cross section of the shaft 60 which, as illustrated, is a hexagon. The fit as between the shaft and the bushing is designed to allow vertical sliding of the shaft 60 through the bushing 63. The bushing is preferably of a low friction material such a polyethylene or it may be a ball type bushing of the kind used as a component of a roller clutch bushing. An acceptable roller clutch bushing is available from The Torrington Company of Torrington, Connecticut, a specific roller clutch used in actual production of the device being identified by catalog No. RC-0061008. In any event, rotation of the bushing 63 is permitted by the clutch in one direction and not in the other. Numerous types of mechanisms are available for performing this one-way clutch function and further description is deemed unnecessary. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the shaft 60 is twisted on its axis over a portion 64 near the top of the shaft. The angular offset of the twist is 90° corresponding to one-quarter of a complete turn of 360°. In use, the shaft 60 is forced up and down through the bushing 63, by operation of the handle 40 to force reciprocating moving of the plunger 26, and as the twist portion 64 passes through the bushing 63, the bushing is urged to rotate a corresponding quarter turn relative to the shaft. The arrangement of the twist on the shaft 60 and the bushing 63 is such that the bushing can turn within the one-way clutch mechanism 62 in the direction in which it is urged when the shaft 60 is forced upwards through the die holder portion 22, but the bushing is prevented from turning in the direction in which it is urged when the shaft is moved downwardly. Thus, in the downward stroke the shaft 60 has to turn. The turret is fixed to the shaft 60 by a bracket 66 best seen in Fig. 5, and thus turning of the shaft turns the turret 50. Form Fig. 5, it will be seen that the underside of the turret 50 is provided with alignment detents 68. These detents are located at four positions around the turret. A spring-urged ball 70 projected from the base plate 58, is aligned for seating in the detents 68 at each of the four positions in which the cartridges in the turret 50 are aligned with the dies 54 in the die holder 22. Turning of the turret 50 relative to the base plate 58 is resisted but not prevented by the seating of the spring-urged ball 70 in a detent 68. This resistance is sufficient to force turning of the bushing 63 in the direction that is permitted by the one-way clutch mechanism 62. Thus, when the twist section 64 of the shaft 60 is forced upwardly through the bushing 63, the bushing turns and the shaft 60 and turret 50 do not turn. The spring-urged ball 70 is readily unseated from detent 68 to permit turning of the shaft 60 and turret 50 when the twist section of the shaft is forced downwardly through the bushing 63. In this downward movement of the shaft 60, the bushing is prevented from turning. A reloading device in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 6 in which parts identical or similar to parts of the device of Figures 1-5 are indicated by the same reference numerals which are however primed. The basic structure of the device is designed for single station reloading. A centre opening 72 in the die holder section 22′ is arranged for receiving a replaceable die. The plunger 26′ is arranged to receive a cartridge holder aligned with the opening 72 and thus with a die mounted in the opening. The operation of a single station reloading apparatus has been previously explained. In accordance with the present invention such a single station reloading device is converted as illustrated in Fig. 6 to a multiple station reloader having features similar to those of the reloading device of Figs. 1-5. An adapter kit including the components for converting the one-station reloader includes a support plate 74 that is secured to the die holder plate 22' by a mounting nut 76 screwed through plate 74 and into the threaded die opening 72. A secondary die holder 78 is suspended over support plate 74 by posts 80. The die holder 78 is similar to the die holder 22 of Figs 1-5 in having a centre opening that contains a bushing 63' with a one-way clutch mechanism 62', together with dies 54' arranged in a symmetrical circular pattern around the bushing. A plunger extension member 82 is mounted to the plunger 26' by means of an adapter 83 and extends upwardly through a centre opening in the mounting nut 76. A turret 50', again similar to that of Fig. 1, is carried on a base plate 58' which is mounted by a collar 56' to the plunger extension member 82. A shaft 60' extends up from the turret through the bushing 63'. The turret is indexed relative to the base plate by the action of the shaft 60' forced through the bushing, all in the manner previously explained with reference to Figs. 1-5.

Claims: An apparatus for converting, to a multiple station reloader, a single station cartridge reloader having a reciprocable cartridge holding plunger (26) aligned with an opening of a die holder (22) arranged for receiving a reloading die, the apparatus comprising: a plunger extension (82) arranged to be coupled to the plunger to protrude through the die holder opening, a turret (50) mounted on the plunger extension to reciprocate therewith, a secondary die holder (78) arranged to be fixedly mounted to the single station cartridge reloader in spaced relation to the turret, a plurality of cartridge holding stations on the turret arranged symmetrically around an upright axis, a corresponding plurality of die receiving stations on the secondary die holder similarly arranged around the upright axis, whereby cartridges (53) placed in the cartridge receiving stations are aligned with dies (54) positioned in the die receiving stations, the turret being rotatable about the axis for indexing the cartridges relative to the dies positioned in the die receiving stations. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 having a secondary support (74) for supporting the secondary die holder (78) in spaced relationship, and a mounting member (76) secured to the secondary support and threadably receivable in the opening of the die holder (22) of the single station reloader, the mounting member having a guide opening through which the plunger extension (82) is slidably guided. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 having indexing means (62) responsive to reciprocation of the plunger extension (82) for automatic indexing of the turret (50) on reciprocation of the plunger (26). A multiple station cartridge reloader comprising a single station cartridge reloader and a conversion apparatus, wherein the single station cartridge reloader comprises a plunger (26) able to support a cartridge and slidably mounted by a support for reciprocal up and down movement relative to the support, and an overhead die holder (22) fixedly mounted to the support and having an opening for receiving a die in alignment with the plunger, and wherein the conversion apparatus comprises a plunger extension (82) coupled to the plunger and protruding through the overhead die holder opening, a turret (50) rotatably mounted on the plunger extension for reciprocation up and down with reciprocation of the plunger, a secondary die holder (78) fixedly mounted on the support in spaced overhead relation to the turret, a plurality of cartridge holding stations on the turret arranged symmetrically around an upright axis, a corresponding plurality of die receiving stations on the secondary die holder similarly arranged around the upright axis, whereby cartridges (53) placed in the cartridge receiving stations are aligned with dies (54) positioned in the die receiving stations, and indexing means (62) permitting indexing of the turret to successive angular positions of alignment. A reloader as claimed in claim 4 wherein the indexing means comprises a bushing (63) rotatably positioned in a central opening in the secondary die holder (78), a one-way clutch mechanism (62) permitting rotation of the bushing in one direction and preventing rotation thereof in the other direction, and an indexing shaft (60) fixedly attached to the turret (50) and extending therefrom through the bushing, the shaft and the bushing having complimentary cross-sectional configurations which allow sliding movement of the shaft through the bushing but prevent relative rotation of the shaft and the bushing, a portion of the shaft being twisted spirally so that movement of the shaft position through the bushing in one direction causes rotation thereof in the direction permitted by the one-way clutch mechanism and the movement of the shaft portion in the other direction causes rotational indexing of the shaft and the turret. A reloader as claimed in claim 5 wherein the one-way clutch mechanism (62) permits rotation of the bushing (63) on upward movement of the plunger (26) whereby rotative indexing of the turret (50) occurs on a downward stroke of the plunger. A reloader as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the shaft configuration is a multi-sided symmetrical polygon and the twist portion thereof angularly displaces the polygon configuration by the same angle as exists between the reloader dies in the secondary die holder (78). A reloader as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7 having alignment means (68,70) resisting but permitting rotative turning of the turret (50) at the angular positions at which the cartridges in the turret (50) and the dies in the secondary die holder (78) are in alignment, the alignment means sufficiently resisting turning of the turret to force rotation of the bushing (63) as permitted by the one-way clutch mechanism (62). A reloader as claimed in claim 8 having a base plate (58) for securement to the plunger extension (82) and on which the turret (50) is rotatably supported, and wherein the alignment means comprises a spring-biassed ball (70) and a detent recess (68) operative between the turret and the base plate. A reloader as claimed in any one of claims 4-9 wherein the mounting means comprises a mounting nut (76) arranged for reception in the die holder (22) to mount the auxiliary support structure, the mounting nut being apertured to receive the plunger extension member (82) therethrough. A reloader as claimed in any one of claims 4-10 having a secondary support (74) supporting the secondary die holder (78) in overhead spaced relationship, and a mounting member (76) secured to the secondary support and threadably secured in the opening of the overhead die holder (22), the mounting member having a guide opening through which the plunger extension is slidably guided.

Inventors: BENDER WALTER W, GAUSTAD CHARLES A, BENDER, WALTER W., GAUSTAD, CHARLES A.
Applicants: BLOUNT INC, BLOUNT INC.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F42B33
IPC codes: F42B33