Improvements in and relating to Machines for Filling or Loading Cartridge Cases or Shells.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by RICHARD THOMAS COLEMAN, of 711, Genesee
Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Filling or Loading
Cartridge Cases or Shells.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to machines for filling or loading cartridge shells or
cases.
The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail, cer-
tain mechanism embodying the invention; such disclosed means constituting
but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention
may be used.
In the said annexed drawings:-
Fig. I represents a front view of the entire machine showing the shot, hopper
partially broken away to disclose part of the machine in the rear thereof;
Fig. II represents a rear view of the machine; Fig. III a horizontal section taken
upon the plane indicated by line 3-3, Fig. I and Fig. XII; Fig. IV represents
an end elevation of the entire machine looking toward the left end; Figs. V,
VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII represent vertical sectional views taken
upon planes respectively indicated by lines 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 or 7-7, 8-8,
9-9, 10-10, 11-11, 12-12 and 13-13, shown in Fig. I, portions of the
machine cut by said planes being shown in elevation, each of these sections
being that as viewed from the left and looking toward the right, end portions
of the mechanism to the right of the sectional planes being omitted for simpli-
city; Figs. XI and XI represent detail views, Fig. XI being a section taken
on line Z Fig. X; Fig. XIV represents a partial sectional view taken on the
plane indicated by line 14-14 on Fig. I: Fig. XV represents a detail partial
sectional view taken upon line 5-5, of Figure I showing the shell-opener in a
position wherein it is operating upon an inverted shell; Fig. XVI represents a
similar view wherein the opener tool omitted and showing the position assumed
by such inverted shell when operated upon by the shell-carrier; Fig. XVII
represents a front view of one of my improved strip feed-rolls; Fig. XVIII
represents a plan view of the sole-plate of the machine, upon which is supported
the shell-conveyor; Fig. XIX represents a front view of the rear half of the
shell-conveyor; Fig. XX represents a front view of the shell-carrier and its
reciprocating means detached from the machine; Fig. XXI represents a partial
central longitudinal section of the driving-pulley, showing a portion of the
operating shaft in elevation therein; Fig. XXII represents a partial perspective
view of the driving puller showing the driving arm which is secured to the
operating shaft, the trip member which connects the said arm with the pulley

page_text: and the trip bolt; Fig. XXIII represents a side elevation of a portion of the
pulley rim showing said trip member also in. side elevation and a sectional view
of the trip bolt; Fig. XXIV represents an enlarged perspective view of said
connecting trip member; Fig. XXV represents a detail cross-sectional view of
the shell-conveyor taken upon a plane indicated by line 25-25 in Fig. I;
Fig. XXVI represents a detail central horizontal sectional view of the left end
of the shell-clamps upon the sole-plate showing the shell-carrier in plan view
therein and open, also showing a sectional view of the means for actuating the
rear conveyor-bar and front shell-clamp in their transverse movement;
Fig. XXVII represents a detail left hand end elevation of the shell-conveyor
and sole-plate upon a section of the frame; Fig. XXVIII represents a detail
view taken upon the same plane as was the view shown in Fig. XXVI and of
the same parts, showing the conveyor-bars in their closed position assumed at
the completion of the outward transverse movement; Figs. XXIX and XXX
represent plan views of the left end of the shell-conveyor in the position in
which the shell clamps are closed and open respectively; Fig. XXXI represents
a cross-section of the shell-conveyor taken upon the plane indicated by line 31
31 in Fig. XXIX looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, showing
also a shell in elevation held by the clamps and a cross-section of the shell
feed-tube with shells in elevation therein showing the shell-stop in elevation
thereon; Fig. XXXII represents a section of the shell-conveyor taken on the
plane indicated by line 32-32, in Fig. XXX, showing the shell-clamps open
and the shell secured by the conveyor-bars and in position to be conveyed;
Figs. XXXIII and XXXIV represent detail cross-sectional views of the shell-
conveyor taken on a plane indicated by line 33-33, Fig. XXIX, looking in the
direction opposite that indicated by the arrow, showing a partial section of the
sole-plate and bed, and illustrating the arrangement of the shell-support for
use in loading shells of different lengths; Fig. XXXV represents a partial plan
view of the sole-plate which supports and forms a bearing for the shell-conveyor,
showing the shell-support in position thereon; Fig. XXXVI represents a pers-
pective view of a portion of the shell-support; Fig. XXXVII represents an
enlarged cross-sectional view of the powder-slide and attached parts; and
Fig. XXXVIII represents a similar view of said slide, illustrating its position
when the powder is being discharged from its reservoir; Fig. XXXIX repre-
sents a detail view of the wad-strip feed-roll operating means; Fig. XL repre-
sents a detail cross-sectional view of one of the wad-punch dies and guides show-
ing the rammer in elevation; Fig. XLI represents an enlarged detail plan view
of the felt-wad feeding and transferring means; Fig. XLII represents a section
of said feeding and transferring means taken upon the planes indicated by
the line 42 42, Fig. XLI, and Fig. XLIII represents a perspective view of the
wad-receiving thimble and rammer-guide of said means; Figs. XLIV and XLV
represent a vertical longitudinal and a horizontal section of the felt-wad feed-
tube respectively.
A main horizontal bed A is supported upon suitable legs B, and bolted to
the upper face of the bed are two upright brackets C C to the front of which is
bolted the vertical cross-plate D whose bottom face d is elevated some distance
above the bed A as shown in Fig. V. At equidistant intervals along the front
face of the cross-plate are arranged a series of loading-devices, all operating in
the same plane parallel with said cross-plate, which plane I shall hereinafter
designate the loading-plane. These devices consist of a feed-tube for feeding
empty shells to the shell-conveyor, a shell-opener for expanding the mouth of
each shell, powder-loading means, a device for inserting a paper wad on the
powder, a device for inserting a felt wad, a second device for inserting a second
felt wad, a second paper wad inserting device for inserting a second paper wad,
a device for loading the shot, a third device for inserting a third paper wad, a
device for crimping the mouth of the shell and a device for ejecting the loaded
shell from the conveyor; all arranged from left to right, Fig. 1, in the order

page_text: named. The shell opener, the rammers in connection with the wad-inserting
devices, the crimper and the ejector are mounted upon vertically reciprocating
slides, whose guides are formed in the cross-plate D and which are operated posi-
tively in a downward direction by cams and upwardly by springs 1)¹ located as
shown in Figs. V, VII, and XII.
Mounted in suitable bearings on standards C2 bolted to the top of the
cross-plate and upon a bracket C is an operating-shaft E to which are secured a
series of cams and an eccentric for operating the various devices.
Operating immediately below the cross-plate and upon the bed of the machine
is a reciprocating shell-conveyor F which receives the shells from the shell
feed-tube F, and progressively advances them from left to right to the successive
positions on the loading-plane necessary for the operation of the loading-devices,
constructed and operating substantially as shown and described in prior Patent
No. 2718 A.D. 1898. Each shell is moved from left to right and brought to a
state of rest into different positions in the loading plane so that it may be
operated upon by cach loading device in succession, the various operating cams,
levers and eccentrics being so timed that the loading operations take place dur-
ing the time the shell is in such state of rest. As described in said patent the
conveyor consists of a pair of shell-clamps f and f, which hold the shells firmly
while at rest and being operated upon, Fig. V, of which one, f is fixed and the
other, f¹, is reciprocable transversely; and a pair of longitudinally reciprocable
conveyor-bars and f³ forming a shell-carrier, of which 2 is reciprocable trans-
versely and f³ is fixed transversely, and which conveys the shells to their succes-
sive positions in the loading plane, during which time the shells are freed from
the clamps. The transverse opening movement of the clamp f¹ and conveyor
bar is effected by two spring-bolts F2 Fig. IV, encased in suitable barrels f
secured to the bed, constructed and applied as shown in Fig. XXVI, each one
of which bolts engages a bearing f Figs. XXVI and XXVII, one on each end
of the conveyor-bar . Said bearings abut the inner face of the clamp f' by
means of a lug f as shown in Fig. XXVII and effect its transverse movement
toward the front of the machine simultaneously with that of the bar f to assume
the position shown in Fig. XXVIII. The return movement of these parts is
effected by the rock-shaft 1 Fig. I, the levers f, links f8, arm f³, connecting
rod F4, rocker-arm F5 journaled on the cross-plate 1) and operated by the cam Fo,
all connected as shown in Figs. I and XII. Air holes fo, Fig. XXV, are pro-
vided to permit the conveyor-bars to reciprocate freely on their transverse
movement.
The operation of this conveyor as explained in the above named patent causes
a small amount of transverse movement of the shell out of the loading-plane
followed by a longitudinal advance to the right parallel with said plane, and a
final return transverse movement into said plane.
A cam G2 secured to shaft E engages a roller g on the top of the slide G¹ of
the ejector G, Fig. I. A bell-crank H is journaled upon the cross-frame and is
connected at one end with the end of a link whose opposite end is secured to
the said slide. The other end of the bell-crank is provided with a roller which
bears against the end of a lever I fulcrumed upon the cross-frame. The oppo-
site end of said lever H' is connected with one end of the shell-carrier. This train
of levers constitutes the means for returning the carrier after the longitudinal
advance of the latter, and it is seen that by virtue of the open connection between
the bell-crank and the lever H', or the open connection between the cam G³
and the slide G¹, the carrier may be stopped at any intermediate point in said
longitudinal advance movement until such time as the cam reaches the position
in which it normally returns said carrier to said stopping point. During such
displacement of the carrier, the position of the bell-crank H relative to the
lever H changes from the normal, that is, the roller on the bell-crank reliu-
quishes its contact with the end of the lever; this change involves a change of
relative position from the normal of the carrier with reference to the operating-

page_text: cam G; said carrier is therefore capable of displacement relatively to its operat-
ing-means.
In order to give the said carrier its longitudinal advance movement, the said
conveyor-bar is connected at the end opposite that connected with the lever H',
to a lever H³, Figs. I, IV and XX, actuated by a torsion-spring 2 to throw
the carrier forward during the recession of cam G2 from the roller g. The
combined actions then, of the spring-actuated lever H2 and the cam-actuated
lever H¹ cause the reciprocation of the shell-carrier, one solely causing the
advance movement and the other solely causing the positive return movement
thereof.
Upon the right hand end of the shaft E is keyed an arm E, Figs. XXI
and XXII; adjacent to said arm and loosely mounted upon a hub or sleeve
thereof is a driving-pulley J. Said arm extends to within a short distance of
the inside of the rim of the pulley as shown in Figs. IV, XXI and XXII and
pivoted to the free end of said arm is a V-shaped connecting trip-member e; said
member has formed upon its outer leg el a projecting lug e which engages a
shoulder j formed upon said pulley, as shown in Fig. XXII. The inner leg c³
of the connecting member extends inwardly from the outer leg and the inner
face forms an inclined plane e with reference to a fixed point in its revolution.
At the juncture of the two legs e¹ and e³ is placed a rubber buffer and upon
the leg e¹ is formed a stop-lug e. It will be observed from the above described
construction of these means which form operative connection between the driv
ing-pulley and the operating-shaft or its arm, that the interposition of a rela-
tively fixed obstruction in the path of the inclined plane e, will cause said trip
member e to relieve itself from engagement with the pulley and thus cause the
driving-pulley to become inoperative; and the shaft, shell-carrier and loading-
devices to stop.
Such interposition is accomplished by the following means: Sliding in a
guideway secured to the cross-frame Fig. I, is a trip-bolt 3 formed at its
left hand end with an angle h, Fig. XXII, provided with a bore through
which slides a rod 6, Fig. XX, secured to the lever H. A spring his inter-
posed between the right hand end of said rod and the angle as shown in
Fig. XX, which maintains the normal distance between the lever H¹ and the
end of the bolt but permits of the arrest of the bolt while the upper end of said
lever is permitted to travel toward the left or permits the bolt to be drawn to
the right at a greater than normal speed. Normally the bolt reciprocates in
unison with the oscillation of the lever H¹ and is arranged so that its outer end
projects into the path of the inclined plane e', at all points during the normal
advance of the shell-carrier excepting at or near the end of such advance stroke,
when the said bolt is withdrawn by the lever to its extreme left position as.
shown in Fig. XX, whereby the inclined plane is normally permitted to pass
unobstructed during its apposition with the bolt. At all other points in the
travel of the said shell-carrier, the path of the end of the trip-bolt intersects
the path of the inclined plane. It is therefore evident that a change of position
of the carrier relative to its operating-means and consequently to the driving-
means, so as to produce a displacement of said carrier, will produce a displace-
ment of the bolt with reference to the passing inclined plane, whereby said bolt
is caused to intersect the path of said plane at the time of passing; the trip
member e as a result of such displacement is disconnected from the pulley, the
latter rendered inoperative and the machine stopped. The operativeness or in-
operativeness of the driving-means of the machine is hence controlled by the
relative position of the shell-carrier and the driving-means.
In order to cause the outer end of the bolt to properly engage the pivoted
member, the inclined plane is provided with a cam-groove e, Fig. XXIV,
which traverses the inclined plane from its outer to its central portion; and the
bolt end is provided with a lug hs for engaging said groove. By means of this
construction the bolt is caused to strike the buffer at its inner portion after

page_text: having been well drawn in so as to prevent the possibility of transverse disen-
gagement. The stop lug e prevents the longitudinal disengagement of the
bolt and pivoted member during their engagement.
Beneath the series of loading devices and secured to the bed of the machine
is a sole-plate A¹, Fig. IV, which forms a support and bearing for the shell-
clamps.
Longitudinally of said plate and occupying a central position with reference
to the two conveyor-bars when in their closed position and parallel with said
bars, is a slot a registering with a similar longitudinal opening a in the bed,
Fig. V. Across the slot are transverse bridges a², Fig. XVIII, whose upper-
surfaces fall below the upper surface of the sole-plate as shown in Figs. XXXIII
and XXXIV. Upon these bridges is laid a removable shell-support A² upon
which the closed end of each shell while being operated upon by the loading-
devices rests and travels while being conveyed. By means of this construction,
shell supports of varying heights may be used to accommodate different lengths
of shells as shown in Figs. XXXIII and XXXIV. The width of the slot a is
sufficient to allow the conveyor to move the shells transversely by the trans-
versely movable conveyor-bar f, where a shell support is used whose upper sur-
face falls below the upper surface of the sole-plate, as shown in Fig. XXXIV.
The shell-supports are each formed with a main longitudinal web a³ of less
width than the slot a, and with lateral lugs a extending equal distances on
cach side of the web, Figs. XXXV and XXXVI, the distance between the lateral
faces of the lugs being equal to the width of the slot a, and the distance between
successive lugs being equal to the distance between successive bridges a².
Lugs a are also formed at equal intervals opposite semi-circular recesses aɛ.
cut into the side of the slot a. Threaded bores are formed at intervals in the
shell-support into which are screwed bolts as of clips A+ which engage the under
face of the bed plate at each side of the opening a¹. The shell-support is secured
against lateral or longitudinal displacement, the lugs resting upon the
bridges a; the base is thus provided with free internal faces whereby any refuse
which would tend to interfere with the proper operation of the carrier may fall
through and be thus removed. The lugs a are disposed so as to fall vertically
beneath cach loading-tool, forming a base for the shell during the loading
operation.
After being fed to the shell-conveyor through the tube as described in
my above mentioned patent, the first loading-device to the operation of which
the shell is subjected, is the shell-opener K, which consists of an operating-tool
having a conically shaped plug and secured to the vertically reciprocating
slide K operated by the cam K³ secured to the operating-shaft E, Fig. V. This
plug enters on its downward movement the mouth of the shell expanding it
for greater facility in loading. Vertically beneath said plug the shell-support A²
is formed with an enlargement a³, Fig. XXXV, in which is formed a conically
shaped opening 1º, whose axis coincides with the opener tool axis, and into
which projects a spring pressed and depressible plug A³, shown in Fig. V. The
diameter of the opening a, is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the
open end of a shell and less than the diameter of the closed end. The diameter
of the upper end of the plug A³ is somewhat less than the inner diameter of a
shell. An open annulus is thus formed at the upper portion of the said opening
into which the open end of a shell may enter.
A shell being fed accidentally to the conveyor in an inverted position, it is
carried to the shell-opener, and placed in position to be operated upon by the
latter, which descending, strikes the closed shell-end, and drives the open shell-
end into the opening a, as shown in Fig. XV; the plug A³ urged upwardly
by its spring, holds said open end fast in the opening and prevents the with-
drawal of the shell on the further operation of the machine; the shell-clamps
release the shell and the two conveyor-bars close upon it, displacing the upper
portion of the shell laterally from the opening a¹, as shown in Fig. XVI, and

page_text: by the previously described action of the lever H2, actuated by the torsional
spring h², said conveyor-bars attempt to convey the shell forward. This, how-
ever, is prevented by the connection formed between the stationary shell-support
and the two conveyor-bars, and the action of said spring h² being overcome,
the carrier stops. This interruption of the movement of the carrier by the
interposition of a shell in its path produces at once the previously described
displacement of said carrier thereby rendering the tripping mechanism opera-
tive, disconnecting the driving pulley from the operating-shaft and discon-
tinuing the operation of the loading-devices, whereby the discharge of material
into the clamps is prevented.
From the shell-opener, the shell is conveyed along the shell-support by the
shell-carrier and placed in position for being operated upon by the powder
charging-device L, Fig. VI.
A powder-base L' is suitably secured to the cross-frame D and receives the
end of a powder-tube L2 which discharges the powder into the registering duct/
in said base. Operating beneath the lower opening of said duct is a transversely
reciprocating powder-slide L³ having a powder measuring-chamber passing
through it, and sliding in suitable guides which are secured to the back clamp
and cross-frame and cover the upper and lower surfaces of the slide. Openings
and 4 in the guides communicate with the duct and the shell respectively, said
two openings being located in different vertical planes as illustrated. An oscil-
lating arm L is keyed to the rock-shaft L5, Fig. II, operated by the double
cam L secured to the operating shaft E, and the double arm L, as shown in
Fig. IV. The end of said arm L is connected by means of link to the slide L³,
Fig. XXXVII, the latter thus reciprocating in unison with the oscillating
arm LA.
At the free end of the said slide is formed a discharge-opening 16, the distance
between the measuring-chamber and said opening being greater than that of the
normal travel of the slide which is equal to the distance from center to center
of openings and 1; as a result of which it is seen that the said discharge open-
ing does not normally communicate with the powder feed-tube. When it is
desired, however, to discharge the contents of the powder-reservoir the link 5
is disconnected from the arm L as shown in Fig. XXXVIII and the slide pulled
back so as to bring the discharge-opening under the powder opening, a small
chute having been first attached to the slide, as shown in Figs. XXXVII
and XXXVIII. In order to facilitate the disconnection of the link, the latter
is connected to a bearing 18 having a transverse bore, Fig. XXXVII, through
which extends a thumb-screw 19 engaging the end of said link in a threaded bore.
The conveyor next transfers the shell to the paper-wad inserting device M,
Fig. VII.
A rammer m is attached to the slide M' which is actuated by the cam M² secured
to the operating-shaft E, and passes through a die M³, provided with a transverse
aperture m, through which the paper strip m² is fed. The construction of the
punching-device is preferably as described in prior Letters Patent, No. 22425
A.D). 1898. in which the punch is shown as a hand operating machine. In order
to prevent the lower cutting edge from chafing the inside of the shell the dia-
meter of the lower portion of the rammer is slightly reduced, as shown in
exaggerated form in Fig. XL.
The wad-strip is fed into the punch by the feeding-device N. This device
consists of a main roll N¹ secured to an intermittently rotating driving shaft n,
Fig. II, and a pressure-roll N2 mounted upon the upper end of a rocker-arm N³.
The lower end of said arm is provided with a spring-pressed bolt n which bears
against the periphery of the main roll. The surface of the said roll is divided
into two saw-tooth surfaces, as shown in Fig. XVII, with an intermediate
groove which is formed at equal intervals with depressions n³, the peripheral
distance between such successive depressions being that through which the roll
rotates to feed the strip for successive cuttings by the punch. These depressions

page_text: are successively engaged by the end of the bolt and serve to punctuate the
intervals through which the roll is rotated and to insure the same amount of
rotation at each successive operation, as well as to prevent a variation of the
travel which the momentum of the device tends to produce.
Said main roll, as before mentioned, is mounted upon a shaft n, Fig. II. Said
shaft is mounted in suitable bearings and is intermittently rotated by the device
shown in Fig. XXXIX; and which consists of a plate O pivoted upon said shaft
in the position shown in Fig. II, and adjacent to a ratchet-wheel 01 keyed
thereto. A dog o formed with a projecting lug 01 is pivoted to the lower end of
the plate and is adapted to engage the teeth of the said ratchet wheel. The
lower end of a connecting rod 02 is pivoted upon said plate and is provided with
a lug A spring o³ is secured to and connects the said lugs and o² and
causes the dog o to maintain its engaging position. By means of this arrange-
ment a greater tension is produced in the spring by the recession of the lugs o¹
and of when the connecting-rod is depressed so as to enable the dog to engage
the next ratchet tooth, said increased tension insuring a firm hold on the part
of the dog, when such firmness is most essential, that is, at the beginning of the
upward stroke. The connecting-rod 02 derives its reciprocating motion from an
arm 0+ secured to a rock-shaft P, Figs. II and IV, journaled in suitable bearings
on the cross-frame and operated by the eccentric P on the operating-shaft E.
A suitable guide 03 is provided to conduct the punctured wad-strip from the
machine, said guide being shown in cross-section in Fig. VII.
The shell after having been supplied with a paper wad is conveyed to the felt-
wad inserting-means R, Figs. VIII and XLI.
These means consist of two separate but duplicate devices, one of which feeds
and inserts one felt wad, whereupon the shell is conveyed to the second device
where the second wad is introduced, both devices being operated by the same
operating-cam R' on shaft E.
Two tubes R2 R2 extend upwardly from two curved and open spouts R³ R³
which discharge immediately in the rear and just above the shells as they stand
in position to be supplied with the felt wads. These tubes are rectangular in
cross-section as shown in Fig. XLV and the height of such section is somewhat
greater than the thickness of the wads, while the width of said section is such
as to permit the wads to easily pass through when laid therein in a column with
their sides contiguous, as shown in Fig. XLIV. The lower ends of the tubes are
removably secured to the spouts by means of clamps rr, Fig. XLI.
Upon horizontal extensions p p formed upon the end of each spout and ex-
tending out over the shell-conveyor, are pivoted two bell-crank levers R R
each formed with a wad receiving-recess 2 and an arresting-face which
arrests the wad-column when the lever is in the position shown in Fig. XLI in
dotted lines. The opposite end of each lever is engaged by an operating-lever R
which is fulcrumed upon a suitable support secured to the cross-frame. The
lever R is oscillated by said cam R¹, which contacts a suitable roller mounted
upon the upper end of said lever; oscillation of said lever R5 causes the levers
R to oscillate. The action of the cam causes the oscillation of said lever R
so that the lower end moves back and causes the levers R to open out and assume
the position shown in Fig. XLI in full lines. On such opening the arresting-
face is withdrawn from the mouth of the spout and the receiving-recess presented
in place thereof. The wad-column thereupon moves down pushing the end wad
into the recess, the end wad traveling a distance greater than that of the dia-
meter of a wad. The next wad is thereby partially interposed in the path of
the arresting-face, and on the return of the lever, whereby the wad is transferred
to the inserting position, the said face pushes the column of wads back up the
tube a short distance, thereby causing a small amount of compression of the wads
in the column. The wad on being so transferred is placed in a thimble in
which the end of the lever enters by means of a slot cut through the side
thereof, as shown in Fig. XLIII. Into these thimbles the rammers R R are

page_text: caused to enter by the operation of the cams R' R7 acting upon the slides Re R³,
thereby inserting the wads in the shells and withdrawing before the return of
the transferring levers.
On the return of the levers to receive the next wads the elastic energy stored
up in the wad column due to the said compression, is permitted to apply itself
in the form of a downward movement to quickly shoot the lowermost wad into
place in the receiving recess.
The frictional resistance of the wads in the tubes
which would otherwise prevent the wad-column from moving downwardly with
sufficient speed to properly feed into said lever is thus overcome and the correct
introduction and transfer of the wad always assured.
Strips are secured above the wad-column as shown in Fig. XLI to prevent
the exposed portion of said column from buckling. This mode of construction
permits of a greater speed than has heretofore been attained in loading machines
feeding cut wads by the action of gravity alone. The movement of the levers
in the transferring operation is derived from a spring-bolt R³ mounted in a suit-
able barrel Ro secured to or formed on the back clamps and which bears against
the back of lever R. The shell is next conveyed to a second paper-wad insert-
ing device M operating in a manner precisely similar to that of the paper-wad
inserting device M, the slide M being operated by cam Me, Fig. I, and the strip-
feed roll N³ being operated by the shaft n, Fig. II, the punctured wad strip being
led away through a guide 04.
The shell is next conveyed to the shot loading-device S, Fig. IX, which is
constructed and operates precisely in the manner of the powder-loading device, S¹
being a shot reservoir, and the slide deriving its reciprocating movement from
the afore-mentioned rock-shaft L³ with which latter it is connected by means of
a rocking arm S, shown in Fig. II.
During the intervals of transfer from the shot loading device to the third wad
inserting-means M7 to which the shell is next conveyed, a transversely oscil-
lating cover is superimposed upon the upper surface of the shell-conveyor to
prevent the ejection of shot from the open end of the shell during such transfer.
Said cover consists of a flat plate T, Figs. XI and XI which slides in hori-
zontal guides cut in the bottom of the shot-slide guide and the strip-guide cast-
ing 0 of the third wad inserting-device M7, said plate being pivoted upon the
lower end of an oscillating arm T whose upper end is journaled upon the cross-
frame 1). A roller t is journaled upon a projecting support t¹ formed upon the
reciprocating slide M of the said wad inserter. Said roller travels in a cam-
groove formed in the said arm T so arranged that the said roller will cause the
lower end of said arm to move toward the back of the machine from the uncovering
position shown in Fig. X to the covering position shown in Fig. XI. The cams
and other parts are adjusted so as to cause the movement at the proper time.
A spring maintains the plate in a position parallel with the upper end of the
shell when uncovered, whereby the said plate is caused always to move easily
and without interference to its covering position.
The wad-strip is fed through the third paper wad punching and inserting
device M by a feeding roll V whose construction is the same as that of the feed-
ing device N previously described, Fig. VII and Fig. XVII, the device M7 being
operated by cam M. Said roll V is also operated by shaft n and its inter-
mittently rotating means, the location of said roll being shown in Fig. II. A
strip guide 05 is provided, of same construction as guides 03 and 0%
Directly behind said roll V is located a printing-device W through which the
strip m passes before being punched. Said printing device is mounted upon a
frame Wi (Figure X) which is adjustable with reference to said punch by means
of suitable screws w, and in operating the said device is so timed and the distance
so adjusted that the printed matter will be located directly in the center of
each punched paper wad; that is, one printing operation takes place for every
punching operation and the horizontal distance from the center of the punch
to the center of the type in the machine while in the act of printing is made an

page_text: exact multiple of the distance from center to center of two adjacent apertures
in the punched wad strip.
The shells are next conveyed to the crimper Y, Fig. XII which is rotated by
a belt passing around the pulley Y', the idler Y3 and the driving pulley Ye
The crimper spindle y splined in the hollow shaft of the pulley Y¹ so that it
may be vertically reciprocated during its rotation, and said pulley shaft is jour-
naled in a bearing y secured to the cross-frame D. A spring y urges the
crimping spindle y in an upward direction. The upper end of said spindle bears
and rotates against the lower end of a lever y³ fulcrumed on the slide Y' which
is reciprocated by cam Y³, which may be thrown out of engagement with said
spindle by means of the handle y, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. XII. When
said lever is so disengaged the spring y urges the spindle upwardly and the
crimping tool is disengaged from the shell. The crimper may hence be rendered
inoperative during the operation of the machine, which is sometimes desirable.
In order that the crimper tool may reach and surround the shell end, the shell
clamps are counter-sunk as shown in Fig. XIX at y³.
An adjustable threaded point y projects a short distance into the lower por-
tion of the shell space of the clamps as shown in Fig. XII, and prevents the
rotation of the shell during the operation thereon of the crimper.
The shell is finally conveyed to the ejector G, which comprises the slide G¹
operated by the cam G2, Fig. XIII, and the ejecting tool G3 attached to said
slide. When the shell is placed in position under the ejector by the shell-con-
veyor the ejecting tool descends and ejects it from the shell-clamps in case it
be accidentally held at this point. The shell completely loaded drops into a
discharge tube Z from which it is received in any suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1
1. In a cartridge-loading machine the combination of operating-mechanism, a
shell-carrier, means for operating said carrier, the latter having separable
engagement with its operating means whereby its position relatively to said
operating means may be changed from the normal, and means for rendering said
driving means inoperative during a change of such relation between said carrier
and its operating-means substantially as set forth.
2. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of operating-mechanism,
a reciprocating shell-carrier, means for advancing and means for returning said
carrier, the latter having separable connection with said returning-means whereby
its position relatively to the operating-mechanism may be changed from the
normal during the advance of the carrier, driving-means and means connected
with the carrier for disconnecting said driving-means from the operating-mecha-
nism during the advance of said carrier, substantially as set forth.
3. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of operating-mechanism,
a shell-carrier, means for reciprocating said carrier, the latter having separable
engagement with its reciprocating means, driving-means disconnectably engag-
ing the operating-mechanism, and reciprocating-means connected with said car-
rier for disconnecting said driving-means from said operating-mechanism, the
path of said reciprocating-means intersecting the path of the means connecting
the driving-means and operating-mechanism, substantially as set forth.
4. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of operating-mechanism,
a shell-carrier, means for reciprocating said carrier, the latter capable of altera-
tion of its position relatively to the operating-mechanism, driving-means con-
nected with said operating-mechanism and capable of disconnection therefrom,
and reciprocating-means connected with said carrier, the path of said latter
reciprocating-means intersecting that of the means for connecting the driving-
means and operating-mechanism at all points excepting at the end of the advance
movement of the carrier, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 5. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a driving-pulley and
operating-shaft, means for operatively connecting said pulley and shaft, a shell-
carrier, means for operating said carrier, and means connected with said carrier
for disconnecting said pulley and shaft, substantially as set forth.
6. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of an operating-shaft, a
driving-pulley loosely mounted upon said shaft, an arm secured to said shaft,
means for engaging the end of said arm with said pulley, a shell-carrier, suit-
able means for operating said carrier, and means connected with the latter for
actuating said engaging-means to disconnect the arm from the pulley, substan-
tially as set forth.
7. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of an operating-shaft, a
driving-pulley loosely mounted upon said shaft, an arm secured to the latter
means for engaging said arm and said pulley, a shell-carrier, suitable means
for operating said carrier, and means interposed in the path of the arm and pulley
engaging-means and connected with the shell-carrier for engaging the latter
to affect the disconnection of said arm and pulley, substantially as set forth.
8. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of an operating-shaft
having an arm secured thereto, a pulley loosely mounted upon said shaft, a mem-
ber pivoted upon said arm and adapted to engage the pulley, a shell-carrier,
means for operating same, and means connected with said carrier, and operating
in unison therewith, for engaging said pivoted member and disconnecting the
pulley and arm, substantially as set forth.
9. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of an operating-shaft hav-
ing an arm secured thereto, a pulley loosely mounted upon said shaft, a trip
member pivoted upon said arm and engaging a shoulder formed on said pulley,
a shell-carrier, means for operating same, said carrier capable of displacement
relatively to its operating-means, a reciprocating trip member connected with
said carrier, operating in unison therewith and normally projecting into the
plane of said first trip member excepting when in the same longitudinal vertical
plane on the same side of the driver center therewith, substantially as set forth.
10. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a loading-tool, mecha-
nism for operating same, a shell-carrier and shell-support, and means for operat-
ing said carrier, said support provided with means for securing the end of an.
inverted shell and said carrier adapted to secure the opposite end of said shell
on the operation of said loading-tool upon such shell, substantially as set forth.
11. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a loading-tool, mecha-
nism for operating same, a shell-carrier and shell support, and means for operat-
ing said carrier, said support provided with an aperture and means for securing
the end of an inverted shell in said aperture on the operation of said loading-tool
upon such shell, substantially as set forth.
12: In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a loading-tool, mecha-
nism for operating same, a shell-carrier and a shell-support, means for operating
said carrier, said support provided with an aperture, and a plug for securing the-
end of an inverted shell in said aperture upon the downward movement of said
loading-tool upon such shell, substantially as set forth.
13. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of operating-mechanism,
a loading-tool, a shell-carrier, a shell-support having a conical opening for
receiving the open end of a shell, and a plug for securing said end in said open-
ing and for preventing the operation of the carrier, substantially as set forth.
14. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of driving-means, a series
of loading-devices, a shell-carrier for subjecting the shells successively to the
operation of said devices, mechanism for operating the latter and the carrier,
trip-mechanism for disconnecting the driving-means from the loading-device
operating-mechanism, means for securing the open end of an inverted shell
while held in said carrier, whereby the movement of the latter is interrupted and
said trip-mechanism rendered operative, substantially as set forth.
15. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination with wad feeding-means for

page_text: feeding the wads in a column with their curved sides contiguous, of wad trans-
ferring-means, said means adapted to compress the wad column, substantially
as set forth.
16. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination with a tube for feeding
wads in a column, of a lever vibrating at the end of said tube and provided with
a receiving-recess and an arresting-face adjacent to said recess, the latter being
of a depth such that the wads in entering travel a distance greater than the
wad diameter, whereby said wad column is compressed by said arresting-face,
substantially as set forth.
17. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a paper-punch, strip
feeding-means, and a printing device for automatically printing upon the strip
before the operation of the punch thereon, substantially as set forth.
18. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a paper-punch, strip
feeding-means and a printing device for printing upon the strip before the
operation of the punch thereon, said printing device adjustable longitudinally
relatively to said punch, substantially as set forth.
19. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a driven feed-roll, a
rocker-arm and a compression-roll mounted upon said arm, the latter bearing
upon said driven roll, substantially as set forth.
20. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a driven feed-roll, a
rocker-arm and a compression-roll mounted upon said arm, the latter provided
with a spring-pressed bolt bearing upon said driven roll and adapted to press
the compression roll thereon, substantially as set forth.
21. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a driven feed-roll pro-
vided with peripheral indentations, a rocker-arm, and a compression-roll mounted
upon one end of said arm, the other end of the latter adapted to engage said
indentation, substantially as set forth.
22. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of a driven feed-roll pro-
vided with peripheral indentations, a rocker-arm, and a compression-roll mounted
upon one end of said arm, the other end of the latter provided with a spring-
pressed bolt adapted to engage said indentations, substantially as set forth.
23. In a cartridge-loading machine, the combination of shell-carrier, means
for operating same, means for loading shell with shot, means for inserting a wad
upon such shot, a movable covering plate, and means for moving said plate to
cover such shell during its transfer from said shot loading to said web inserting
means, substantially as set forth.
TY
11
00
T
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.