An Improved Machine or Apparatus for Loading Cartridges.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine or Apparatus for Loading Cartridges.
I, CHARLES Rosson, of 4 Market Head, Derby in the County of Derby,
Gunmaker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a machine or apparatus for filling or
loading cartridge cases or shells and turning in or crimping the ends of the said
cases.
In carrying out my invention l' provide a horizontally revolving table into holes
bored in which are fed the cartridge cases, this table moves round by a step by step
movement actuated by a ratchet and pawl arrangement which is in turn actuated
by an eccentric on the main driving axle of the machine; a hole being provided in
the table for each motion of the machine as will be hereafter described.
I will first describe the action of a complete revolution of this table :-
As it revolves the side of the base of the cartridge case comes against a star or
other conveniently shaped wheel which partly revolves and through the medium of
its shaft opens the powder measure and allows a charge of powder to pass into
the case as will be hereafter described, the next step in the revolution of the
table brings the case into position to receive the first wad and so to the 2nd 3rd
or 4th wad or any number found desirable it then passes to the shot measure
which is operated in a similar manner to the powder measure, the next step moves
it into position to receive the wad over the shot, during the next movement the
cartridge case passes up an inclined plane which raises the case through the
revolving table sufficiently far to allow the turning over cup or crimping die to
turn in the end of the case in the usual manner, the next movement of the table
carries it into such a position as to receive an impression from a printing die
carried upon a vertically sliding rod to be hereafter described and at the same
time it is expelled from the machine down a shoot or trough in a finished condition.
It being understood that a fresh case is fed into the table at each movement
thereof and that the said step by step movement may be employed for any other
operation necessary to the loading of a cartridge not herein specified.
I will now describe the powder and shot measures:-They are measured in
telescopic sliding tubes revolving between two surface plates the latter being
adjustable so as to regulate the charge of powder or shot to the amount required,
these telescopic tubes revolve with the upper of the two surface plates which is
fixed on the shaft carrying the star wheel before mentioned and operated through
the medium of the base of the case, the powder and shot being fed into the tubes
from hoppers and cut off by the revolving plate carrying the telescopic tubes;
when the charge of powder or shot has been measured it is prevented from
passing into the cartridge case till such time as the revolving table is absolutely at
rest by means of a sliding metal plate actuated by an eccentric on the main driving
axle of the machine.
I will now describe the method of ramming home the wads and pressing
down the turn over cup or crimping die :-For this I 'employ vertically sliding
rammers actuated by means of moving arms attached to a rocking shaft actuated
by an eccentric upon the main driving axle of the machine the before mentioned
arms working in metal blocks attached to the vertically sliding rammers these
metal blocks being provided with set pins or their equivalents by means of which
the rammers can be adjusted so as to force the wads down to the proper depth in
the cases, springs may also be provided either in the blocks or rammer heads to
compensate for any variation in the thickness of the wadding.

page_text: The wads are fed one at a time into the proper position for ramming by means
of a metal plate with a to and fro movement actuated by a cam or eccentric upon
the main driving axle of the machine and they are passed in the act of being rammed
through holes in a plate or board situated over the revolving table the holes in
the former coming concentric with those in the latter into which the cartridges are
fed at every step thereof, a sliding stop rod fitting in holes in the said table or
other suitable means being provided for the purpose of ensuring the table stopping
in exactly the proper position.
The wadding may be fed into the required position by means of slotted tubes
adjusted so as to only allow one wad to be picked up or brought forward at a
time by the moving metal plate before described. The wadding in the. said tubes
may be weighted if desired and may also be fed into the proper position from
hoppers containing a vibratory revolving disc so moving the wads as to pass them
through suitably formed slots in the hopper into the before mentioned slotted tubes.
They may also be fed into the proper position from hoppers containing a rapidly
revolving disc the centrifugal force of which will urge the wads forward through
suitably formed slots into such a position as to be picked up or brought forward by
the metal plate before described.
Springs may be provided if found necessary to hold the wads level when in the
act of being rammed.
When granulated wadding is used it is measured in a similar manner to the
powder and shot already described.
As already mentioned the turning over cup or crimping die is brought down to
the case in a similar way to the rammers and in the case of the former the
revolving motion is imparted to it by means of a band driving off a pulley upon.
the main axle or I may employ other suitable gearing for giving this revolving
motion to the turning over cup the said gearing to be driven by the main axle. In
the case where a crimping die is used the revolving motion is dispensed with the
crimping being effected by the simple downward motion of the die.
During the operation of turning over the cases are prevented from turning round
by means of an adjustable spike or clip carried by a bell crank lever. forced into
position by means of a spring the said spike or clip being thrown out of gear at the
proper time by means of a lever actuated by a cam or eccentric on the main driving
axle of the machine.
The printing of the last or top wad in the cartridge case is performed by means
of a self inking die carried upon a vertically sliding rod actuated in a similar
manner to the wadding rammers, the action of which also expels the cartridges from
the machine in a finished condition; the said cartridges may be made to pass over
an adjustable "tell-tale" which will detect any deficiency in the charge and pass
' them into what I may term a rejecting box.
The machine or apparatus may be driven by foot or other motive power as found
desirable the speed of working being reduced to the desired limit by means of
gearing of suitable description. I may also provide a friction clutch or other.
suitable means of throwing the machine instantly out of gear by the operator.
Dated this 9th day of May 1892.
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant...
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine or Apparatus for Loading Cartridges.
I, CHARLES Rosson, 4 Market Head, Derby in the County of Derby, Gun- 50
maker, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a machine or apparatus for filling or

page_text: Wang Cage cases of hens and turning in or crimping the ends of the said
cases or shells, and in order that my invention may be the more readily understood
I have caused sheets of drawings to be annexed to this Specification to the figures
and letters of reference marked upon which I will now refer.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved machine.
Figure 2 is a plan of same taken immediately above the wadding plate.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of same.
Figure 4 is a plan shewing the method of operating the ratchet and pawl under
the bottom platform.
Figure 5 is a quarter plan shewing the method of stopping the table in its proper
position.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of same looking in the direction of the arrow from
point A.
Figure 7 is a plan of the table.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation shewing the device used for pushing the cases
upwards through the plate when the turning over cup is applied.
Figure 9 is a plan of the cup end of the piston.
The two latter figures being drawn to an enlarged scale.
In carrying out my invention I provide a horizontally revolving table B into
holes C bored in which are fed the cartridges cases, this table moves round by a
step by step movement actuated by a ratchet D and pawl E, or other suitable
arrangement, which is in turn actuated by an eccentric F upon the main driving
axle & of the machine as will be understood upon referring to Figure 4.
roller 20 carried by an arm 21 on shaft 22 being set up to the said eccentric F by
a spring or other suitable means. The table being stopped in its proper position as
will be hereafter described.
I will first describe the action of a complete revolution of this table.
The
As it revolves the side of the base of the cartridge case comes in contact with a
star or other conveniently shaped wheel H which partly revolves and through the
medium of its shaft I opens the powder measure and allows a charge of powder to
pass into the case as will be hereafter described, the next step in the revolution of
the table brings the case into position to receive the first wad and so to the 2nd, 3rd
or 4th wad or any number found desirable, it then passes to the shot measure which
is operated in a similar manner to the powder measure through the medium of
another star wheel J and shaft K, the next step moves it into position to receive
the wad over the shot; during the next movement the cartridge case is raised
through the table, as will be hereafter described, sufficiently for to allow the
turning over cup L or crimping die to turn in the end of the case in the usual
manner, the next movement of the table carries it into such a position as to receive
an impression from a printing die carried upon a vertically sliding rod to be
hereafter described and at the same time it is expelled from the machine down a
shoot or trough in a finished condition the latter not being shewn on the drawings.
It being understood that a fresh case is fed into the table at each movement thereof
and that the said step by step movement may be employed for any other operation
necessary to the loading of a cartridge not herein specified, also that although
12 holes are shewn in the table any number may be used according to the number
of operations required to load the cartridge.
I will now describe the powder and shot measures. They are measured in
telescopic sliding tubes M revolving between two surface plates N N₁ the latter
being adjustable so as to regulate the charge of powder or shot to the amount
required, these telescopic tubes revolve with the upper of the two surface plates N'
which in each case is fixed on the shaft I or K carrying the star wheels before
mentioned and operated through the medium of the base of the case, the powder
and shot being fed into the tubes from hoppers O shewn by dotted lines Figure 1.
and cut off by the revolving plate carrying the telescopic tubes; when the charge
of powder or shot has been measured it is prevented from passing into the cartridge
case.till such time as the revolving table is absolutely at rest by means of a sliding

page_text: metal plate 32, actuated by the same or a similar eccentric as that which operates
the wadding plate from the main driving axle G of the machine.
The details of the above arrangement as applied to measuring the shot are
omitted on the drawing to avoid confusion but are merely a repetition of the
arrangement used for measuring the powder.
I will now describe the method of ramining home the wads and pressing down the
turn over cup or crimping die :-
For this I employ vertically sliding rods O' actuated by means of an eccentric
rod P and lever PI from the main driving axle G, I also provide a radial rod Q to
compensate for the deviation out of the vertical of eccentric rod. (I may also if
desired actuate these vertically sliding rammers by means of moving arms attached
to a rocking shaft actuated by an eccentric upon the main driving axle of the
machine, the before mentioned arms working in metal blocks attached to the
- vertically sliding rammers these metal blocks being provided with set pins or their
equivalents by means of which the rammers or rods can be adjusted so as to force
the wads down to the proper depth in the cases, this arrangement not being shewn
on the drawings.)
Springs may also be provided either in the blocks or rammer heads to
compensate for any variation in the thickness of the wadding. The whole of these
rods are not shewn upon the drawings for the sake of avoiding confusion.
The wads are fed one at a time into the proper position for ramming by means
of a slotted metal plate S having a to and fro motion actuated by a cam or
eccentric T upon the main driving axle of the machine through the medium of the
arm U pivotted to the frame of the machine. The said wads are passed in the act
of being rammed through holes V, in the platform W situated over the revolving
table B the holes in the former coming concentric with those in the latter into
which the cartridge cases are fed at every step thereof, a stop X working in slides Z
upon platform Y fitting into slots 1. in the periphery of the said table being employed
to stop the table in exactly the proper position the said slide being operated by a
lever 2 fitted on the end of the vertical rod 3 (see Figures 5 and 6.) which is in
turn actuated by an eccentric on the main driving axle G of the machine, or
employ a sliding stop rod fitting into holes in the said table or other suitable means
for stopping it in its proper position. The wadding may be fed into the required
position by means of slotted tubes 4 adjusted so as to allow only one wad at a time
to be picked up or brought forward by the moving slotted metal plate S before
described. The wadding in the said tubes may be weighted if found desirable and
may also be fed into the proper position from hoppers containing a vibratory
revolving disc so moving the wads as to pass them through suitably formed slots in
the hopper into the before mentioned slotted tubes.
may
They may also be fed into the proper position from hoppers containing a rapidly
revolving disc the centrifugal force of which will urge the wads forward through
suitably formed slots into such a position as to be picked up or brought forward by
the metal plate before described. I may also feed the wads into the tubes 4 from
hopper or troughs the said wads being urged or fed into the tubes by means of a
tilting or tripping motion being imparted to the said hoppers or troughs by a
suitable device driven from the main axle G of the machine.
The latter arrangements are not shewn on the drawings.
Springs may be employed if found necessary to hold the wads level when in the
act of being rammed.
As already mentioned the turning over cup or crimping die is brought down to
the cases in a similar way to the rammers and in the case of the former the revolving
motion is imparted to it by means of mitre wheels 23 and 24 driven by a band on
the pulley 25 driving off a pulley on the main axle. The upper of the two
mitre wheels 23 carries rods 26 and 27 which slide in holes in the bobbin 28 to the
lower end of which is secured the turn over cup L the rod O' passing into the bobbin
as shewn and having secured to its lower end a washer the said bobbin being thus
free to revolve upon the rod. A peg 29 is secured to the platform 30 to serve as a

page_text: guide to the block 31 through which it passes, it also prevents the block from being
turned by the action of the bobbin. I may employ other suitable gearing for giving:
this revolving motion, to the turn over cup, the said gearing to be driven. from the
main or other axle of the machine. In the case where a crimping die is used the
revolving motion is of course dispensed with, the crimping being effected by:
the simple downward motion of the die.
When brought round to the turning over cup the cartridge is raised through the
table B by means of a piston 16 cupped as shewn at 17 Figures (8 and 9) to receive
and grip the rim of the cartridge a plug 18 is inserted in the cup shaped end of the
piston for the purpose of releasing the cartridge from the cup upon the return of
the piston after having pushed,a cartridge through; the return being effected by
means of the spring 19, the plug above mentioned also serves the purpose of
preventing the piston from turning round. The said piston being operated by:
means of a lever pivotted to a bracket or part of the frame of the machine and
actuated by an eccentric or other suitable means.
During the operation of turning over, the cases may if desired be prevented from
turning round by means of an adjustable spike or clip carried by a bell crank lever
forced into position by means of a spring the said spike or clip being thrown out of
gear at the proper time by means of a lever actuated by a cam or eccentric on the
main driving axle of the machine. The latter arrangement not being shewn upon,
the drawings.
... i
The printing of the last or top wad in the cartridge is performed by means of a
self inking die carried upon a vertically sliding rod O actuated in the same manner
as the wadding rammers, the action of which may also be used for expelling the
cartridges from the machine in a finished condition or I may form the rammer used
fer ramming the last wad over the shot with a self inking die on the end to be used
for the same purpose, in this case the rod above described would simply be used for
expelling the cartridges from the table; the said cartridges may be made to pass.
over an adjustable "tell tale which will detect any deficiency in the charge and
pass them into what I may term a "rejecting" box.
"
The machine or apparatus may be driven by foot or other motive power as shewn
upon the drawings and as found desirable the speed of working being reduced to.
the desired limit by means of gearing of suitable description.
I may provide any suitable means of throwing the machine in or out of gear as.
5 shewn upon Figure 1 in which the pinion 5 is mounted loosely on the shaft 6 and
carries with it a toothed wheel 7, a wheel or block 8 having ears or lugs 9 is keyed
to the said shaft 6 and a key is caused to drop by hand lever or other suitable
means between the said ears or lugs and the teeth on wheel 7, this key being
governed by the hand lever the machine may be placed in or out of gear instantly..
may however use a friction clutch or other suitable means of throwing the
machine out of gear if desired.
When placing the cartridge cases in the table I arrange a frame 10 to depend
from the lower platform in which slides a block 11 pressed up to the opening 12 by
means of springs 13 and 14 this block is pressed down and the cartridge case placed
5 upon it, the block being released the case rises through one of the holes in the table
and ascends the inclined plane 15 and passes round as already described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
0 1. The horizontally revolving table actuated by a ratchet and pawl or other
suitable arrangement as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
2. The method of stopping the horizontally revolving table by slotting the
periphery of same and arranging a sliding stop to engage with said slots, or by
employing a vertical sliding stop rod fitting in holes in the said table, substantially
5 as described and illustrated.
3. The method of operating the powder and shot measures through the medium

page_text: of the cartridge case engaging with star wheels or the like substantially as described
and illustrated.
4. The method of operating the vertical rammers and turn over cup or crimping
die by means of an eccentric rod from the main driving axle G substantially as
described and illustrated with or without compensating springs.
5. The method of imparting motion to the turn over cup by means of mitre
wheels and shaft driven by a belt or gearing from the main driving axle of the
machine substantially as described and illustrated.
6. The method of feeding the wads down slotted tubes the said wads being
pushed forward by means of a slotted sliding plate operated by means of an
eccentric from the main driving axle of the machine.
7. The method of pushing the cartridge upwards through the table when being
turned over by the turn over cup.
8. The whole substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes
described herein.
Dated this 8th dor of Feb 1902
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.