Patent Abstract:
The following invention provides method of retrofitting an automated wad dispensing attachment for shotgun shell reloading machines. The invention consist of the following separate parts described from proximal the distal. A cylindrical inclined rotary hopper open in its superior aspect and a floor plate in it inferior aspect having an discharge port opening near its apex of the floor plate. Just above and parallel to the floor plate a motorized rotating collating plate is present which selectively segregates wads into the correct orientation delivering them through the discharge port of the floor plate. A long vertical tubular conduit, the wad feed tube, with a proximal funnel opening attached around the exterior of the discharge port of the floor plate. The wad feed tube is attached via brackets to the reloading machine leading to a common feature on reloading machines—the wad carrier. The wad feed tube serves the purpose of conducting the properly oriented wads to the wad carrier and as a buffer of stacked wads readied for use. As a buildup of wads in the wad feed tube reaches a desired level a switching device is tripped which interrupts the electrical power to the motor actuating the rotating collating plate preventing buffer overflow. Near the distal aspect of the tubular conduit and above the reloading machine wad carrier a metering device is present which serves two purposes. It supports the buffered column of wads and synchronizes single delivery of wad to the reloading machines wad carrier. The wad is then incorporated into the progression of the shotgun shell reloading.

Full Description:
REFERENCES CITED 
       [0001]    U.S. Pat. 20040025678A1 
         [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,848 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,578 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,492 
         [0005]    U.S. pat. 337117a 
         [0006]    CN102128572A 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,089 
     
    
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0008]    Not Applicable 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0009]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING 
       [0010]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for fabricating ammunition and, more particularly, to apparatus and methods for loading shotgun shells with shotgun shell wads. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention relates to an automated synchronized dispensing mechanism for dispensing shot gun shell wads for loading and reloading of shotgun shells with a single stage or progressive reloading machine. 
         [0013]    A favorite activity of many sportsmen relates to utilization of shotgun for hunting or target shooting such as skeet or trap shooting. It is common for participants in the sport to either buy a new shells or load or reload their own. There are a number of reasons why some sportsmen choose to load or reload their own shotgun shells. On a more basic level the act of reloading shotgun shells is found to be pleasurable are relaxing. On the other hand many sportsmen consider financial incentive due to the ever increasing cost of factory loaded shotgun shells as personal loading and reloading is significantly less costly. An additional benefit of personal loading and reloading is the creation of specific cartridges with specific ballistics not available commercially. 
         [0014]    The completed shotgun shell consist of a number of components. These are the primer, shot shell hull, propellant charge, wad, and projectile such as lead shot. 
         [0015]    There are currently a number of machines available commercially for the purpose of Personal loading and reloading. These range from simple single stage reloading presses in which each phase of the cartridge construction is done individually and manually to the more advanced multi stage progressive reloading presses which result in a completed shotgun shell cartridge with each pull the handle U.S. Pat. 20040025678A1. Some of the more advanced progressive reloading machine forgo many of the manual interaction with the machine such as primer seating U.S. Pat. No. 3,320,848 and shotgun shell hull feeding and positioning some motorized an automated U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,578, U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,492. 
         [0016]    A particular phase of the shotgun shell cartridge construction/reloading involves the time consuming and awkward manual placement of the shotgun shell wad into a wad carrier of the reloading machine or into the shotgun shell hull. This repetitive Manual wad positioning can be challenging to some individuals with physical limitations such as rotator cuff injury, carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis to name but a few. Automating that this stage poses particular problems given the physical nature of the shotgun shell wad. The shotgun shell wads have any near limitless configuration and they are exceedingly light weight as low as 0.04 oz confounding the problem. This challenge has been approached by other inventors as in patents U.S. pat. 337117a from the 1885-1886 era to more recently CN102128572A and U.S. Pat. No. 3,300,089. Today&#39;s invention approaches this challenge from a different direction. 
         [0017]    Allowing for the near limitless configuration and appearance as well as size as gauge/caliber features have been identified of the shotgun shell wad that are fairly consistent including a shallow cup like base which serves to focus the explosive charge and provide gas sealing against a shotgun shell barrels, a thinner midsection predominantly for the purpose of providing cushioning from the expanding gas blast to the final component, a deeper cup like component which accepts the shotgun shell projectile such as lead shot. Today&#39;s invention takes advantage of these fairly consistent features in nearly all shotgun shell wads. 
         [0018]    To accomplish the related and forgoing ends, the invention consists of an mechanism attachment for automatic sorting, metering and synchronized shotgun shell wad feeding to reloading machines described fully and pointed out in the claims. The attached drawings and following detailed description setting forth means for carrying out the invention with several preference variations in which the principle of the invention may be implemented. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    A brief summary of today&#39;s invention represents an automated synchronized shotgun shell Wad dispensing apparatus for fitting on existing shotgun shell reloading machines. The advantages of the invention include further automating the reloading process and as such a limiting and the manual manipulation of the shotgun shell wads which is both time consuming and cumbersome. The manual manipulation of the shotgun shell wads is one reason why the endeavor of reloading excludes certain individuals with medical conditions such as arthritis etc. today&#39;s invention will provide access to this endeavor to many individuals not able to participate. Additionally reloading is it time consuming slow process which will greatly speed up by today&#39;s invention. The reloading of shotgun shells has the advantage of decreasing the financial burden of the sport of shotgun shooting. By identifying and exploiting one of the few features shotgun shell wads of multiple vendors have in common and method is outlined to achieve these objectives. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the shotgun shell automated wad dispenser assembly with a hand operated progressive reloading machine shown in dotted outlined adjacent to it. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a close up of the rotary hopper component of the shotgun shell automated wad dispenser assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the rotary hopper. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the rotary hopper in addition showing a dotted outline wad in the process of exiting the discharge port under gravity having been selected by the cutout chamber and selector bar as it nears the 12:00 position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5 a    shows overall representation of the intended wad. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5 b    is another view of the intended wad with dotted lines to better depict the identified three constant features of the wad which are utilized to meet the objectives. 
           [0026]      FIG. 6 a    is a partial top view of the upper half of the rotary hopper showing a dotted outline wad having been selected in the correct orientation by the cutout chamber and selector bar as the collating plate rotates clockwise. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6 b    is a partial top view of the upper half of the rotary hopper showing a dotted outline wads that have partially entered the cutout chamber in the wrong orientation and are prevented from being retained in the cutout chamber by the selector bar which are then rejected by gravity or the rejector. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6 c    is a partial top view of the upper half of the rotary hopper showing a dotted outline wad in the process of exiting the rotary hopper discharge port under gravity. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7 a    is a sectional detail on line  58 - 58  of  FIG. 3  showing a dotted outline wad approaching the cutout chamber as the collating plate rotates clockwise. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7 b    is a sectional detail on line  58 - 58  of  FIG. 3  showing a dotted outline wad as it enters the cutout chamber as the collating plate rotates clockwise. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7 c    is a sectional detail on line  58 - 58  of  FIG. 3  showing a dotted outline wad having been allowed by the selector bar to be fully seated in cutout chamber in the correct orientation as the collating plate rotates clockwise. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7 d    is a sectional detail on line  58 - 58  of  FIG. 3  showing a dotted outline wad in the incorrect orientation prevented from fully seating in the cutout chamber by the selector bar interacting with the shallow segment of the wad as the collating plate rotates clockwise. 
           [0033]      FIG. 7 e    is a sectional detail on line  58 - 58  of  FIG. 3  showing a dotted outline wad in the incorrect orientation prevented from seating in the cutout chamber by the selector bar interacting with the miss oriented wad as the collating plate rotates clockwise. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a close up side and partial cutout view of the wad feed tube and electromechanical wad meter in addition showing the three generals segments of the wad feed tube as well as a column of gathering wads from the rotary hopper. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9 a    is a side view of the wad meter and partial and cutout view of the wad feed tube and it function in the approximate resting state of the reloading machine. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9 b    is a side view of the wad meter and partial and cutout view of the wad feed tube and it function in the approximate mid cycle of the reloading machine as it triggers switching allowing column of wads to descend. 
           [0037]      FIG. 9 c    is a side view of the wad meter and partial and cutout view of the wad feed tube and it function in the approximate ⅝ cycle of the reloading machine releasing trigger switch causing selection of single wad in selector chamber. 
           [0038]      FIG. 9 d    is a side view of the wad meter and partial and cutout view of the wad feed tube and it function in the approximate 9/10 cycle of the reloading machine as it triggers switching and releasing the single selected wad. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9 e    is a side view of the wad meter and partial and cutout view of the wad feed tube and it function in the approximate resting state of the reloading machine also showing the wad having been delivered to the reloading machine wad carrier. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  at the essence of the invention is application of bias by the wad meter therefore present a side view of the alternative configuration with a mechanical wad meter and partial and cutout view of the wad feed tube in the approximate mid cycle of the reloading machine. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11 a    is a side and partial view of the detail of the timing switches for the electromechanical wad meter interacting with the reloading machine linkages in the approximate resting state of reloading machine. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11 b    is a side and partial view of the detail of the timing switches for the electromechanical wad meter interacting with the reloading machine linkages in the approximate mid cycle of reloading machine. 
           [0043]      FIG. 12 a    is a close up front partial view of the swing out type wad carrier of the reloading machine and distal segment wad feed tube with a wad having been released by the wad meter nearing delivery into the resting state wad carrier. 
           [0044]      FIG. 12 b    is a close up front partial view of the swing out type wad carrier of the reloading machine and distal segment wad feed tube with a wad having been released by the wad meter now delivered into the resting state wad carrier. 
           [0045]      FIG. 12 c    is a close up front partial view of the swing out type wad carrier of the reloading machine and distal segment wad feed with the reloading machine motion bringing the wad carrier into battery. 
           [0046]      FIG. 13  is a sectional detail on line  57 - 57  of  FIG. 3  showing the rejector mechanism with one correctly oriented wad in the cutout chamber and a piggybacked miss oriented wad acted upon and rejected by the rejector mechanism. 
           [0047]      FIG. 14 a    is a close up front partial view of Dillon Precision Products tilt out type wad carrier of the reloading machine and distal segment wad feed tube with a wad having been released by the wad meter nearing delivery into the resting state wad carrier showing one objective of invention, its applicability to all known reloading machines. 
           [0048]      FIG. 14 b    is a close up front partial view of Dillon Precision Products tilt out type wad carrier of the reloading machine and distal segment wad feed tube with a wad having been released by the wad meter now delivered into the resting state wad carrier. 
           [0049]      FIG. 14 c    is a close up front partial view of the Dillon Precision Products tilt out type wad carrier of the reloading machine and distal segment wad feed with the wad carrier in battery. 
           [0050]      FIG. 15 a    is an electrical wiring diagram for the switching mechanism preventing buffer overrun of the gathering column of wads in the wad feed tube in this diagram depicted by transmitter, receiver, relay and motor. 
           [0051]      FIG. 15 b    is an electrical wiring diagram for the timing switching mechanism for the electromechanical wad meter depicting snap acting switches and solenoids. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0052]    Turning attention to the drawings, in which similar numbered characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views. In  FIG. 1  an overall view of the invention and its application to an intended loading/reloading machine (here as refer to as reloading machine) including a elevated rotary hopper  FIG. 2  coupled with a funnel like interface made of clear acrylic “funnel interface”  12  to the upper end of the vertical wad feed tube made of clear acrylic “wad feed tube”  27 . The vertical wad feed tube  27  contains a selective wad metering device “wad meter”  31  near its midsection and in its lower section either a straight or angled short segment  56  (depending on brand or style of reloading machine and offered by us as a specific kit) to transfer the wad to the reloading machines wad carrier  2 . The reloading machine  1  depicted is of the progressive type but the invention equally applies to single stage reloading machine. 
         [0053]    Rotary Hopper 
         [0054]    The rotary hopper  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4  of this invention represents a mechanism to segregate and selectively deliver single sequential wads in the correct orientation via the funnel like interface  12  to the upper end of the wad feed tube  27 . The basic structure, material, weight (as low as 0.04 oz) and morphology from different vendors of the wad  3  poses significant challenges to this objective. Today&#39;s invention focuses on having identified nearly constant features of the wad construction to overcome these challenges. Specifically  FIG. 5 a , 5 b    near all intended wads  3  contains three segments, the first is a concave shallow base  4  used to focus the expanding charge and provide a degree of gas sealing against the shotgun barrel walls. The wad also contains narrower midsection  5  which can have near limitless variations either spiral, struts, hemispheres, circles etc., which general purpose is to provide a degree of shock absorption to part three. The third portion  6  of the wad in its superior aspect is a deep drawn cup like receptacle (4-10 times depth as compared to part  4 ) in which projectile such as lead pellets are contained. By taking advantage of these three features of the wad  3  the rotary hopper  FIG. 2  overcomes these challenges and meet its objective. The rotary hopper represents of this invention than in a general sense has the utility to deal with delivery of asymmetric products and as such has varied applications although it&#39;s described today in relation to reloading machines but as such does not limit the merit of this invention. 
         [0055]    The rotary hopper  FIGS. 1, 2  is oriented in and inclined attitude and is comprised of multiple components but generally can be viewed as a one side open-ended cylinder elevated and supported above the reloading machine with a vertical rod  8  and bracket  9 . At the base a “floor plate”  10  is present which has an opening near its upper 12:00 position, the “discharge port”  11 , which interfaces with the funnel like segment  12  described above in addition it contains a centrally located mounting arrangement  13  and clearance hole  21  for the drive shaft  15 . The drive shaft  15  which protrudes through the floor plate is the drive mechanism for the rotary collating plate  20  which is parallel to the floor plate  10 . The drive shaft  15  is connected to a drive mechanisms such as a motor  17 , gear train or belt system that is located external to the hopper. The floor plate  10  also provides attachment to the vertical support member  8  for its correct elevation and predetermined inclination angle. A continuation of the perimeter of the floor plate  10  results in the cylindrical walls  19  of the hopper which may be full circle or semicircle. The rotary collating plate “collating plate”  20  is the mechanism that takes advantage of the three features of the wad  3  to meet the objectives. The collating plate  20  is placed adjacent, inside and parallel to the floor plate  10 . At the center of the collating plate it clearance hole  21  is present to interface with the drive shaft  15 . In approximate midsection it contains a protrusion  22  of predetermined orientation, shape and location that serves as an agitator for the collection of intended wads in the rotary hopper. At the periphery of the collating plate a number of predetermined cutouts “cutout chamber”  23  in a predetermined shape tailored specifically to the varying caliber and shapes of commercially available wads  3  which are provided by us in varying kits. At one end of the cutout chamber counter the direction of rotation a strut bar or pin “selector bar”  24  is installed predetermined attitude to periphery of collating plate  20  of predetermined length and shape so that wads  3  entering the cutout chamber  23  with the deeper part three  6  of the wad are maintained in the cutout chamber  23  and conveyed to the discharge port  11  of the floor plate and by gravity delivered into the funnel interface  12  with the vertical wad feed tube  27  in the correct orientation for incorporation into the shot shell cartridge  43 . 
         [0056]    Wads  3  which attempt to enter the cutout chamber  23  with the shallower part one  4  of the wad or in any other orientation are then excluded by the shape of the cutout chamber  23  and the selector bar  24  and rejected as the collating plate  20  rotates towards the discharge port  11  of the base plate  10 . The rejection of the miss oriented wads is accomplished by gravity and by a rejection mechanism “rejector”  26 . Depending on which vendor the end user obtains the wads from we offer different kits comprising the rejector  26  but in a general sense can be described as an interference mechanism to displace the occasional miss oriented wad  3  in the cutout chamber  23  that does not succumb to gravity rejection. This secondary rejection is shown in today&#39;s depiction as a coiled spring attached  26  to the rotary hopper at the predetermined angle and location proximal to the discharge port  11  but we offer interchangeable plastic, wood and metal rejection mechanisms attached to the hopper. 
         [0057]    The function of the cutout chamber  23  and selector bar  24  now in more detail. In  FIG. 7 a    a single dotted outlined wad  3  is shown although it&#39;s understood that a collection of adjacent wads  3  are present, the one depicted as seen approaching the cutout chamber  23  with is deeper cup like segment  6  as if the collating plate  20  rotates clockwise.  FIG. 7 b    shows further progression of the clockwise rotation of the collating plate  20  allowing the wad to teeter in to the cutout chamber  23  and the selector bar  24  entering the cup like segment  6 .  FIG. 7 c    shows further progression by clockwise rotation of the collating plate  20  now allowing the wad to be fully seated and selected in the correct orientation within the cutout chamber  23  and will be retained their with the help of the selector bar  24  until discharge at the discharge port  11  of the floor plate as shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 c   .  FIG. 6 a    shows alternate top view of the dotted outline wad  3  fully seated nearing the discharge port  11  of the floor plate  10 .  FIG. 7 d    shows a miss oriented wad attempting to enter the cutout chamber  23  with it shallower segment  4  with the selector bar  24  preventing seating inside the cutout chamber  23  as the collating plate rotate clockwise gravity or the rejector  26  and return it to the pile of wads at the base of the rotary hopper.  FIG. 6 b    shows an alternate top view of dotted outline wads  3  as the collating plate  20  rotates clockwise and gravity or the rejector act on wads to clear interference with function.  FIG. 7 e    is an alternate view of miss oriented wad as in  FIG. 7 d    and will be acted upon similarly. 
         [0058]    Wad Feed Tube. 
         [0059]    The wad feed tube  27  represents a conveyance mechanism to deliver via gravity correctly oriented wads  3  from the rotary hopper  FIG. 2  to the reloading machine wad carrier  2 . The wad feed tube  27  has three predominant main functions. In addition to providing a conveyance mechanism the wad feed tube also serves as a buffer/reservoir  54  of stacked wads ready for delivery as well as an interface with the wad meter mechanism  31  near the mid section and in it lower aspect  56  an interface for delivery of the wad to the reloading machine wad carrier. The wad feed tube represents a tubular predominantly vertically oriented structure which can be attached via brackets  28  to the rotary hopper and reloading machine. In its upper aspect a funnel like interface  12  is present to interact with the rotary hopper discharge port  11  and immediately inferior a cutout clearance  29  is present for the buffer reservoir switch  30 . In its middle to lower section an area is reserved for the wad meter  31  and the created selector chamber  55 . The critical component is also present in it inferior most segment  56  which provides the crucial synchronized delivery of a single correctly oriented wad  3  to the reloading machine wad carrier  2 . The illustration shows to meet this objective and to apply this invention to the more popular or common reloading machine the lower most segment  56  is angled in a predetermined attitude and terminated in a predetermined shape to take advantage of the wads construction characteristics and ricochet angle to deliver the wad via gravity to the reloading machines wad carrier  2  without requiring modification of the reloading machine. The wad  3  is delivered via gravity into the reloading machines wad carrier  2  with above implementations so that the wad comes to rest in the wad carrier  2  in the correct orientation location and timing without bouncing out or miss guiding into the reloading machine wad carrier. The implementation is such that the error rate is nearly absent in the units provided with the rare error mostly related to deformity of the commercial wad also a rare occurrence. Other less common or older reloading machines lend themselves to a straight walled feed tube with or without terminal modifications of the feed tube and some with or without modifications of the reloading machine wad carrier  2 . 
         [0060]    Wad Meter. 
         [0061]    The wad meter  31  is the mechanism of which synchronizes the delivery of the correctly oriented wads  3  such that a single wad is selected from the growing column of wads in the feed tube section serving as a reservoir  54 . The wad meter delivers the single selected wad  3  at the critical time in the reloading machine cycle to the reloading machine wad carrier  2  and is then incorporated into the progressive construction of the shotgun shell cartridge  43 . The previously described characteristics and variations of the wad pose significant challenges to this objective, however, the previously described the identified fairly constant features of the wad are taken advantage again to overcome this challenge. In a general sense the wad meter  31  provides alternating synchronized bias in conjunction with gravity forces to the column of wads in the reservoir section  54  of the wad feed tube  27 . The wad meter has a number of components. First it has two mechanisms to apply bias to the wads “primary wad bias component  34 , secondary wad bias component  35 ” between them creates the “selector chamber”  55 . The wad bias components may be powered mechanically  FIG. 10  or electro-mechanically  FIG. 8  that is some reloading machines are better suited for one of the other powered mechanism. In  FIGS. 8, 9   a - e  the more common implementation is shown with two pull type solenoids  36 . The solenoids  36  are mounted in line superior—primary wad bias component  34  and inferior—secondary wad bias component  35  on the wad feed tube midsection with split clamp brackets  37  at predetermined location and separation. The bias from the solenoids  36  is applied to the wad via a reduced diameter member  38  located coaxially at the free end of the solenoid driving rod  39  the via a clearance hole  40  in the wall of the wad feed tube  27 . The reduced diameter member  38  may need to be a reduced diameter rod or blade like extension of the solenoid  36  depending on brand of wad but one of the advantages of this design an easy variation to implement. The more common or popular style of reloading machine  1  possesses a rotating shell plate  41  and shell plate carrier  42  on which the shotgun shell hulls  43  are located which reciprocates vertically with each pull of the handle  44  and also rotates as it progresses to the next station in the phases of shot shell cartridge assembly. It is that this vertical reciprocating action of the reloading machine  1  which is taken advantage to overcome the challenges and meet the objectives of the wad meter  31 . 
         [0062]    The more common variety of reloading machine  1  lends itself to the implementation of snap acting switches  45  shown in  FIG. 11 a - b    and electrical diagram  FIG. 15 b    or proximity switches triggered by the position of the shell plate carrier or driving components such as the handle or linkages  46  to synchronize the selection of a single wad  3  by the primary wad bias component  34  from the reservoir column  54  and isolate the wad to the selector chamber  55  to be acted on by the secondary wad bias component  35  who&#39;s actuation is triggered at the critical time to be delivered to the reloading machines wad carrier  2  via gravity accomplishing the objective of delivering a single correctly oriented wad in a synchronized fashion for incorporation into the construction of the shot shell cartridge.  FIG. 11 a - b    show the snap acting switches mounted on bracket  52  which exact timing of the switches can be adjusted by the mounting slots  53  on the bracket  52 . In a less common variety of reloading machine the primary and secondary bias component a required for represent a spring actuated member  47  which is powered and it&#39;s a trigger timed mechanically by a cam like a mechanism  48  derived from an interfacing members directly to the shell plate carrier  42  or components an additional advantage of this invention allowing implementation to all known reloading machine variants items familiar to those well versed in the art. 
         [0063]    In more detail with the reloading machine  1  in its resting state the wad feed tube is shown with a filled reservoir  54  of wads above the primary wad bias component and an empty selector chamber  55  between the wad bias components. The primary wad bias component  34  applying bias to the midsection  5  of the bottom most wad in the column preventing progression or interference with the empty selector chamber  55 . As the reloading machine is actuated by the handle  44  or motorized drive mechanism the shell plate carrier  42  travels vertically and via described interface with switching mechanism  FIG. 11 a - b    activates the primary wad bias component  34  removing bias through the clearance opening  40  of the wad feed tube  27  from the inferior most wad of the gathered column and the entire wad column descends and a single wad  3  enters the selector chamber  55  and is prevented further progression by gravity by the secondary wad bias component  35  interference from applied bias to the feed tube  27  through the clearance opening  40 . The second wad  3  in the column is now optimally positioned for interaction and retention by the primary wad bias component  34 . As the reloading machine nearing its mid cycle it triggers the switch mechanism  FIG. 11 b    which to reapply is bias from the primary wad bias component  34  near the midsection  5  of the wad  3  preventing further movement by gravity this results in an isolated single wad  3  in the selector chamber  55  itself prevented from further motion by the bias supplied by the secondary wad bias component  35 . As the user further applies motion to the reloading machine handle or drive mechanism the reloading machine shell plate carrier  42  begins to travel down vertically to return to its resting position this among many results in two specific actions the reloading machine wad carrier  2  swings out of battery into its resting position underneath the terminal segment  56  of the bullet feed tube  27  and triggers the switching mechanism  FIG. 11 a    actuates the secondary wad bias component  35  removing interference from the base of the wad in if the selector chamber  55  allowing gravity to act and deliver a single wad at the critical time in to the wad carrier  2  then as the user actuates the second cycle of the reloading machine  1  the wad carrier  2  swings in to battery allowing incorporation of the just the delivered wad into the shotgun shell cartridge  43  and the cycle repeats. It is this alternating application of bias that allows meeting one of the objectives of this invention. 
         [0064]    The following describes the wad meter function in more detail and it is understood that it&#39;s function in relation to the phases of the reloading machine as described, only one is critical that being the timing of release of the wad nearing the end of the cycle the remainder of the timing shows one of the objectives of this invention by allowing variability in location of the timing switches  FIG. 11 a    and  FIG. 11 b    to overcome interference by the variation of different reloading machines. 
         [0065]      FIG. 9 a    and  FIG. 8  shows approximate resting state of the reloading machine as in  FIG. 1  at this stage the primary wad bias component  34  is seen applying bias to the column of wads preventing downward movement to fill the empty selector chamber  55 .  FIG. 9 b    shows the reloading machine in the approximate mid cycle as it triggers upper timing switch  FIG. 11 b    removing bias by the primary wad bias component  34  allowing column of wads to descend and having released the lower timing switch the application of bias by the secondary wad bias component  35  preventing further downward progression of the wad column and as such filling the selector chamber  55  with a single wad.  FIG. 9 c    shows the reloading machine in the approximate ⅝ cycle releasing the upper trigger switch  45  the upper primary wad bias component  34  now applying bias to the second wad in the column resulting in selection of single wad in selector chamber.  FIG. 9 d    shows the reloading machine in the approximate 9/10 cycle as it triggers the lower timing switch  45  and releasing the single selected wad.  FIG. 9 e    shows the reloading machine in the approximate resting state also showing the wad having been delivered to the reloading machine wad carrier  2 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 12 a    is a close up of the swing out type wad carrier  2  of the reloading machine in similar stage as  FIG. 9 d    with a wad having been released by the secondary wad bias component  35  with wad nearing delivery into the resting state wad carrier  2 .  FIG. 12 b    is a close of the swing out type wad carrier of the reloading machine with a wad now delivered into the resting state wad carrier.  FIG. 12 c    is a close up of the swing out type wad carrier of the reloading machine with the reloading machine starting the second cycle causing motion bringing the wad carrier into battery and ready for incorporation into the shot shell hull  43 . 
         [0067]    One of the objectives of this invention is its versatility of being able to apply to all known reloading machines to meet this objective  FIG. 14 a - c    show the popular Dillon Precision Products tilt out type wad carrier  2  in similar function to  FIG. 12 a - c    in keeping with the main function of providing synchronized delivery of single correctly oriented wad to the wad carrier  2  at the core of this invention. 
         [0068]    One of the objectives of this invention is its versatility of being able to apply to all known reloading machines to meet this objective  FIG. 10  shows the alternative mechanical wad bias components from spring loaded member  47  acted upon by cam like a action by  48  which is attached to a portion of the vertical oscillating component such as the shell plate carrier  42  of the reloading machine near its mid cycle similar to  FIG. 9 b    in keeping with the main function of providing synchronized alternating bias to the column of wads at the core of this invention. 
         [0069]    Rejector. 
         [0070]    Returning attention to the rotary hopper  FIG. 2 . As previously described the handling of the wads pose a significant problems given their nature. Today&#39;s invention addresses this objective with the collating plate  20 , cut out chamber  23  and selector bar  24  in near completeness. Allowing for manufacturing deformities of the wads etc. occasionally a double stack or piggyback etc. wads that do not succumb to gravity for rejection from the cutout chamber these are dealt with the rejection device  26  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The rejection device essentially represents interference to dislodge the offending wad  3  prior to reaching the discharge port  11  of the rotary hopper. In  FIG. 13  a spring  26  which is attached to the rotary hopper provides interference in dislodging the offending wad not succumbing to gravity rejection. 
         [0071]    Buffer Reservoir Switch. 
         [0072]    As previously mentioned one of the functions of the one feed tube is to provide a buffer/reservoir  54  of wads in a form of a stacking column above that the primary wad bias component  34  such that a readied supply of wads can be continuously provided to the reloading machine  1 . In order to avoid buffer overrun is switching mechanism  30  is implemented near the upper end of the wad feed tube as seen in  FIG. 2 . As mentioned the intrinsic characteristics of the wad particularly its lightweight construction poses significant challenges to the objective. Today&#39;s invention overcomes these challenges with an optical switching mechanism  30 . Mounted via bracket  49  to the rotary hopper an optical emitter  50  and an optical receiver  51  interface with a wad feed tube  27  via a clearance slot  29  near the upper end of the wad feed tube  27  which is coupled to a relay switch  59  which interrupts power to the driving a mechanism  17  to the drive shaft  15  of the collating plate  20 . As the growing column of wads in the wad feed tube reservoir  54  nears overrun it interrupts the light path of the sensors and triggers the relay  59  shutting off the motor  17  until which time the buffer of wads in the reservoir  54  decreases and actuates the motor  17  driving the collating plate  20 . The  FIG. 15 a    shows the electrical diagram of the buffer reservoir switch apparatus. The switching function can be performed by a less reliable snap acting switch which is also difficult to source from vendors due to is extremely low trigger force so that it does not bind the wads in the wad feed tube and disrupt function.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5