IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LOADING CARTRIDGES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert and Company, Patent
Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City, of Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
LOADING CARTRIDGES, 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 improvements in a machine for filling cartridge shells,
and more especially for filling shells that are used in shot guns; and it consists in
certain features of construction and in combination of parts hereinafter described,
and pointed out in the claims.
In the Drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of an intermittently revolving disc, showing
notches by which the disc is actuated, and shows also the hole in which a dog or
pin operates to hold the disc in accurate position when the disc is at rest.
The top portion of Fig. 3 represents in vertical section a portion of the disc
shown in Fig. 2. The lower portion of the Figure represents a shaft and a
revolving arm that actuates the disc, while the middle portion represents in section
a portion of the table of the machine.
Fig. 4 represents in section a portion of the disc and table, and shows also the
pin or dog for holding the disc accurately in place.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the top of the disc that is shown in Fig. 2, and shows
also a portion of the table, levers, gearing, and other attachments of the machine.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the bottom of an arm with certain portions of the wad-
pushing device attached.
Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views showing different position of a lever that actuates
the wad-pushing device.
Fig. 9 is a plan view of a lever and dog that hold a cartridge for revolving while
it is being crimped.
-
Fig. 10 is a plan view of a spider, the arms of which support various portions of
the machine, also are seen portions of the device for placing the wads, and also the
gates or valves for measuring and discharging the powder and shot.
Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of one of the arms of the spider shown in
Fig. 10, but showing also the wad-pusher, wad-starter, the wad-fingers, and a
portion of the wad-holder.

page_text: A represents a vertical central shaft firmly supporting the table a, and
terminating in a broad flange or base A¹, that supports the machine.
Under the table and supported therefrom by the pendent boxes a', is the cross
shaft B, to the ends of which are firmly attached the spur-gears B' that are driven
from the crank-shaft B2 by means of pinions B³. The gears B' are also crank-
wheels and are provided with the wrists b, to which are attached the pitmans b¹,
that operate the cross-head C (see also Fig. 13).
The shaft. A acts as a guide for the cross-head, and is provided with a groove, in
which operates the feather c that is attached to the cross-head.
The cross-head is also provided with the arms c¹, both of which terminate alike
in thimble ends that are threaded on their inner surfaces for the adjustment and
support of the rammer C, that by means of their screw-ends are supported
therefrom. These raminers force the wads into the cartridge shells, as will be
hereinafter described, and are each made self-adjusting by means of a slip-joint
and a coil-spring F operating between the shoulder of the screw-end above and
the shoulder of the raininer below (see Fig. 15), and held in place by the cross-pin f
operating in a slot in the inner part, and attached firm to the outer part, the
arrangement of parts being such that by the compression of the spring any excess
of pressure on the end of the rammer will be relieved.
In the orifice c², that is located in one arm of the cross-head, operates the
crimper C, that crimps or closes the top of the cartridge-case over the top wad to
prevent the wad from moving (see Figs. 17 and 18).
By means of a quick thread in the orifice e, engaging a corresponding thread on
the top portion of the crimper, rotary-motion, but alternately in opposite directions,
is given to the said crimper by means of the reciprocating motion of the cross-head.
The crimper passes through and is guided by the stationary thimble E³ and is
provided just above this thimble with a slip-joint, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, in
which the lower pait of the crimper engages a socket in the upper part forming a
slip-joint.
The outer and upper part of the socket is provided with jam nuts R, and the.
lower and inner part with a pin R' that is firmly attached to the said inner part,
and operates in a slot made in the outer part, the said pin supporting a collar R.
Around this part of the crimper is a coiled spring, confined between the said jam
nuts and the said collar, and the arrangement of parts is such, that, by means of

page_text: the compression of the said spring, the slip-joint operates so as to release the
crimper of any excess of pressure on the end of the same.
Also, by means of these jam nuts R, the tension of the said spring can be so
adjusted as to cause the said crimper to operate with the required maximum of
pressure.
Below the thimble E, and attached to it, is the coiled spring ", that acts in the
double capacity of a spring and a nut.
The crimper at this part is provided at with one or two threads of a screw,
commonly called a worm, that engages the coil-spring .
When a rotary motion is given to the crimper by means of the downward
motion of the cross-head, the crimper will, by the said engagement of the said
worm with the coil-spring , be advanced downward just as an ordinary bolt
under such circumstances would be turned down through its nut. But if the end
of the (supposed) bolt should meet obstruction it would lift on its nut, and if this
nut were held down by a spring it would compress the spring; so the crimper
when it comes in contact with the cartridge shell, and can go down no further,
lifts its nut, which is that part of the spring that happens to be in contact with
said worm, and compresses that part of the spring that is above the worm 1.
Of course the amount of compression of this spring is the measure of pressure in
the contact of the crimper with the shell. If by reason of a longer shell or from
any other cause the pressure might become too great, the slip joint and spring that
is above the thimble E, and hereinbefore described, will relieve the parts as
aforesaid.
Of course an upward motion of the cross-head will reverse the rotary motion of
the crimper, and cause it to advance upward. The lower end of the crimper is
recessed in the proper shape for crimping the shell as shown in Fig. 18, and this
recessed end is made detachable from the spindle. When it is desired to load
shells with charges so small that the top wad is pressed sonie distance below the
top end of the shell, it is not practicable to crimp the edge of the shell down sɔ far
as to hold the wad firm.
In such case,
it is better to hold the wad in its place by crimping the sides of the
shell, by means of grooving or creasing just at the top edge of the wad. My device
for this purpose is shown in Fig. 22, and is attached to the spindle of the crimper,
and is interchangeable with the recessed end aforesaid, shown in Figs. 17 and 18.
The device consists of a central cylindrical piece of metal or plug S, with the lower
end flat, and adapted to press down on the wad during the crimping process.
The top end is made suitable for engaging the lower end of the spindle of the
crimper aforesaid, while the middle portion is provided with a transverse mortice,
into which are pivoted the bent arms S', to the lower end of which are attached
the rollers S' of suitable shape for crimping or creasing the sides of the shell as
aforesaid. These arms are drawn toward each other by means of a coil-spring
attached from one arm to the other, and the arms are forced apart against the
tension of the spring by means of a toggle-joint attached to the arms, as shown in
Fig. 22.
The toggle-joint is operated in one direction by means of a small rod s attached
thereto and so arranged that when the said arms are distended by means of the
arms of the toggle-joint being in line the lower end of the said rod will extend
below the central plug S, and thereby first come in contact with the wad, by means
of which the toggle-joint will be forced out of line, or deflected upwards, thus
allowing the arms to be drawn toward each other by the spring S³ aforesaid, and
thereby causing the said rollers to be pressed against the sides of the shell, which,
by means also of the rotary motion of the parts, crimps or grooves the shell at the
top edge of the wad as desired.
Attached to the said toggle-joint and leading a short distance upward is a
small rod s¹ with the upper end thereof suitable for pressing against the ring 8,
while the said rod is revolving around the axis of the said crimper's spindle. The
ring is provided with a slide s³ that is embraced and guided by the thimble E³ an 1

page_text: that extends upward so as to encounter the cross-head near the end of its down-
ward stroke and to be pressed down thereby, and, by means of the aforesaid
engagement and attachments, pressing downward into a straight line, the said
toggle-joint thereby distending the arms so that in the upward motion of the
crimper that immediately follows the rollers on the ends of the arms will not
encounter the shell of the cartridge. The arms S will then continue distended
until by an engagement on the downward stroke with another cartridge the
creasing operation will be again repeated.
From an arm of the cross-head c³ is. suspended and operated the marker C³ for
marking the top wad of the cartridges (see Fig. 16). To the extreme end of the
aim is attached the slotted rod N, operating the arm N1 of a rock-shaft and
cut-off device N2 that are attached to and operate in connection with the inclined
container-box O, in which the cartridge shells are placed preparatory to being fed
into the machine.
The cut-off device is attached to the said rock-arm, and is in the shape of an
inverted trough, and located so near the bottom of the container that a shell cannot
pass between the two except as the cut-off is rocked or oscillated.
When, near the end of the up stroke of the cross-head, the slotted rod N engages
the arm N', and raises the upper edge of the said trough, a shell will, by its own
gravity, roll under the said trough. When by the downward stroke of the cross-
head the top edge of the trough is lowered and the lower edge raised, the shell will
pass out under the trough, or cut-off, and coming in contact at its outer end with
the transversely inclined end of the container, the shell is discharged_end ways_into_
one of the holders hereinafter described.
To ensure the proper entering of the shell into the holder, there is provided the
vertical guiding tule O¹, the inner half of which O' is a door that is hinged to the
outer half and is closed by the arm N³ attached to the said rock-arin and operating
on a pin on the door. This closing of the door of the guiding tube occurs just as
the shell is discharged from the container box into the machine.
Directly afterwards the arm N³ is withdrawn, and the said door is opened by
means of a spring attached to hinges of the said door. The opening of the door
allows the shell to be carried away by the holders as will be hereinafter described.
To the cross-head also are attached the racks h, the punch P, and the capping
device Pl, all hereinafter described.
D represents a disc that has its bearing and axis on the shaft A, just above the
table a, and revolves with an intermittent motion that is provided by the arm ba
attached to the shaft B, that once in a revolution of the said shaft engages a notch
on the bottom of said disc, and causes the disc to turn the required distance, a slot.
in the table a allowing the said arm to revolve and operate as aforesaid. During
the stops or times that the disc remains at rest the disc is kept firm in its place by
means of the pin a' that extends through the table a, and engages suitable holes in
the bottom of the disc, and is held to this engagement by means of a spring a³.
This pin is tripped out of its engagement with the disc by the cam b', that is also
attached to the shaft B, and is timed so as to co-operate with the arm . The
bottom view of the disc, Fig. 2, shows the notches and holes in which the arm b³
and the pin u operate as aforesaid.
At the periphery of the disc, and with equal spaces intervening between them,
are attached the holders d that receive the empty shells as they are delivered into
the machine as aforesaid, and carry them by means of the aforesaid intermittent
motion of the disc from station to station to receive the different parts of the
.loading and other treatment incident thereto.
These holders are divided vertically in halves, and the inner halves are firmly
attached to the di-c, while the outer halves are hinged to their re-pective inner
halves like doors, but with springs attached in such a manner to their respective
hinges as to press the two parts of the holder together, see Fig. 1.
Pendent from the bottom edge of the forward corner of the doors of the holders
are the pins d', shown in Fig. 2. By the engagement of these pins with the

page_text: •
incline a that is attached to the table a, the doors of the holders are opened at
the proper time to discharge from the machine cartridges that have been loaded
and finished, and are held open by this engagement until the holder has received
an empty shell in place of the loaded one just discharged.
Immediately after this, and by the disengagement of the said pin with the said
incline, the said holder closes around the shell, holding it firm in its place during
its rotation with the disc.
Pivoted to the table a (Fig. 5.) are the vertical spindles G, to which are attached
the levers G. These levers are placed so close to the table that holders pass over
them without contact. The metallic end of the shells, however, extends below the
holder, and as they are passed in their respective holders, as aforesaid, they engage
and actuate the said levers; first forcing back the the of the lever as the shell
approaches the station in front of which the lever is fulcrumed.
As the shell leaves the station it comes in contact with the heel of the lever and
reverses it, or throws it back into its first position (see Figs. 7 and 8).
Fulcrumed to the table a, and shown also in Fig. 5, is the lever G³, provided with
teeth on one edge for engaging the metal end of shells at the crimping station
(see Fig. 9).
On the opposite side of the shell is a small stationary dog G' with one or more
teeth that engages and supports the shell as against the pressure of the lever. The
combined action of the dog and lever holds the shell from revolving during the
crimping process.
The pressure of the lever G³ against the shell is caused by the pressure of the rim
of the contiguous wheel B against the lever.
By means of a recess in the rim of the wheel B, that comes opposite the lever
just as the crimping process is completed, and by the action of the shell, the lever G³
is drawn back and remains back, while the crimped shell is carried forward and
another shell is brought to the station to be crimped.
E represents a spider adjustably attached to the shaft A, a short distance above
the disc D. The upper part of the shaft A is hollow, as shown in Fig. 14, and
encloses a bolt A, that is attached to the hub of the spider E by a pin A³ that
operates in a slot in the shaft A. The bolt A is provided with the nut A' that
rests on the end of the shaft and terininates in a boss that extends into a recess
in the end of the said shaft. A small set-screw extends through this part of the
shaft and engages a groove in the said boss and prevents, the nut from lifting.
By means of the said piu, bolt, and nut, the spider may be raised or lowered,
and thereby accurately adjusted.
To the arms of this spider are attached several parts of the machine, to wit: To
the arm E is attached the powder container, and the arm E? supports the shot
container. One arm terminates in the thimble E³ connected with the crimper
already described. To the arms E are attached the wad-holders, the wad-pushers,
and their respective attachments.
The wad-holders K are vertical, and are attached only to the sides of their
respective arms, and may be made of tubes, but preferably of rods arranged in a
tubular form, as shown in the Drawings, the construction of which admits of
thrusting a quantity of wads held between the thumb and finger into the wad-holder
between the rods, the elasticity of the rods rendering them self-adjusting.
As the wads are received in packages from which they may readily be lifted in
quantities between the thumb and finger, the convenience of this kind of wad-holders
is made apparent.
The wad-holders are provided at the top and at the bot m with thimbles to
which the rods are attached for mutual support.
The lower thimble k is placed far enough above the arm E to admit of wads of
any desired thickness passing between the arm and the thimbles.
On the outside of this thimble operates a second thimble k' that may be so
adjusted as to more or less close the aforesaid opening between the arm and the

page_text: inner thimble k, and gauge it to about the thickness of the wads used, so that but
one wad can be pushed out at the same time..
;
Outside of the wad-holder, but operating on and embracing the same arms
respectively are the slides l, projections of which extending toward the wad-
holders constitute the wad-pushers, and are adapted to push the bottom wads out
from under the column of wads in the wad-holders when the slides are advanced
for that purpose. The slides are operated from below by means of the slotted
levers g, that engage the pins g', attached rigidly by means of the arms g² to their
respective slides !. These slotted levers g are firmly attached to the spindles G
that are actuated by the levers G₁ as aforesaid, so that when, shells approach
wad station, by means of their actuating the lever G¹ as aforesaid, wads are thrust
from the wad-holders to the fingers e respectively, where they are held in position
over the thimble el, to be forced at a proper time by descending rammers into shell's
beneath.
The thimble e¹ has a lining tube e² or wad-starter resting on a coil spring e³, that,
in turn, rests on the outer casing of the thimble (see Fig. 11).
.
As the rammer C₁ forces the wad from the grasp of the said fingers, and through
the starter e, the friction between the said wad and starter is such as to force the
starter down in contact with the end of the shell e' that is just underneath it,
making a continuous passage way for the wad that ensures its entering the shell in
a proper manner. When the wad leaves the starter and enters the shell, the starter,
by means of the spring e³ aforesaid, is raised to its former_position_contiguous-tó-
the-fingers-aforesaid. The fingers (see Fig. 10) are forced apart slightly by the
wad as it is thrust between them by the wad-pusher, and by means of a spring e
the fingers are made to grasp the wad sufficiently firm to hold it suspended over
the wad-starter until the descending rammer forces the wad to the cartridge shell as
aforesaid.
The containers for powder and shot are upright vessels that terminate below in
discharging tubes that are provided with gates or valves, by means of which the
powder and shot are measured and discharged at times and in quantities as
desired.
These valves are of a variety that consists of a horizontal cylindrical chamber
cutting transversely the discharging tube, and in which operates a hollow plug ³,
that has a broad slot ³, or opening on one side of it. When this slot is turned up,
the powder or shot from the container above will fill the cavity in the plug. When
the plug is turned so. that the slot is below, the contents of the plug will be
discharged through the pipe below into the cartridge shell.
To these plugs or valves are attached the segment-gears h', that are operated by
the racks attached to the cross-head as aforesaid.
The adjustment of the parts are such that the upward movement of the cross-
head turns the plug or valve in the position to be filled from the container above.
The downward stroke of the cross-lead give a half-revolution to the plug, which
brings it in position to discharge its contents below.
A lever is attached, by ineans of the collar 7, to the discharging tube, and
adjusted in such a manner that when shells et approach the station they engage the
said lever, and, by means of this engagement, turn the guiding tube in its bearing
on the arm of the spider, and turn with it also its attachments, such as the
segment-gear, and changes the gear from the position shown in the upper dotted
lines, Fig. 24, to the lower dotted lines, in which last position, shown also in
Fig. 12, the gear engages the rack h, and is actuated thereby, causing the powder
or shot to be discharged into the shell; when the shell leaves the station it engages
another part of the lever, by means of which the parts are turned in the opposite
direction, bringing the segment-gear into the position shown by the upper dotte
lines, Fig. 24, in which position it does not engage the said rack.
If for any reason a shell was not in position in the holder to engage the lever hº,
the segment-gear h¹ would remain inoperative and no ammunition would be
discharged.

page_text: The size and arrangement of the respective slot in the plug and in the wall of
the casing is relatively such that the receiving passage-way will have commenced
to open.
In operating the valve attached, to the shot container it was found that
sometimes in closing the valve above shot would be caught between the edge of the
valve at the slot and the edge of the casing, whereby either the valve would be
stopped from turning, or the shot would be severed.
To obviate this difficulty I have devised a secondary chamber h' opening into the
primary chamber or valve seat, the said opening between the two chambers taking
the place of the aforesaid objectionable shearing edge of the casing, and in place
thereof this part is made elastic preferably by filling the secondary chamber with
rubber 5.
i
The operation of this part of the device is such that when shot are caught as
aforesaid they are pressed back into the yielding contents of the secondary chamber,
and by the elasticity of the same the shot are ejected from this secondary chamber
as soon as by the opening of the valve the pressure is removed from this part.
Usually the cartridge shells or cases that are filled on this machine are new, and are
provided with primes that were attached when the shells were manufactured.
Sometimes, however, it is desired to fill shells that have before been used, and
consequently the primes have been exploded. It is necessary, in order to use these
shells again, to remove the exploded cups and to replace then with new ones.
For removing the old caps we have the punch P, attached to and operated by
the arms p of the cross-head, and operating directly over one of the stations where
the shell stops. Directly under the point of the punch is a hole p³ in the table a,
of suitable size, so that when the punch descends, the point thereof coming in
contact with the cap, forces it from its contact with the shell through the hole p³,
causing it to be discharged from the machine (see Fig. 20).
To the arms p are attached the set P' that is a part of the capping device.
The caps are placed in a proper manner in the tube p² that is adapted to
receive the caps and convey them to the anvil p³ that is set just below the surface
of the table in the recess T. The capping tube is hinged at t, and supported by
springs t', as shown.
This part of the device is so far depressed below the surface of the table a that
the shells carried by the disc D will pass above it, and so located that when the
shell stops at this station, the hole in the bottom of the shell, from which the old
cap has just been punched, will be directly over the cap that is on the anvil p
When the set P¹ descends, the shell is forced down in contact with the cap that is
on the anvil, and by means of which the cap is forced home to its place in its shell,
the capping tube receding down upon its spring as the shell descends, and by means
of the said springs immediately regaining its first position, when the pressure of
the shell and set have been removed. To the left of the capping tube is shown a
section of the tube with a cap enclosed. (See p², Fig. 23).
To the upper end of the shaft A is attached a rod supporting the disc M, and
still above supporting the ball M'. To the disc are attached the bell hammers v.
These hammers are pivoted in the central part and so arranged that a downward
pressure on the outer end will cause the hammer end to strike the ball M.
These hammers are so arranged on the disc M that the outer ends are contiguous
to the rods fattached respectively to the rammers C (Fig. 15). These rods are
pivoted with adjustable collars that when the machine is working properly come
at the lower end of their stroke very near but do not touch the said bell hammers.
It will be seen (Fig. 15) that these rods do not connect with the screw end part of
the rammers, but connect with the part that extends below and forins the rammer
end of the device. These rammers when they have forced the wads firmly upon
the powder or shot can go down no further and remain stationary, while by means
of the slip joints aforesaid the cross-head can still descend to the end of its stroke.
In case there was no powder or shot below the wads, the rammers would not meet
with such resistance as would stop their advance downward, but the rammers
would in that case continue down with the cross-head to the end of the struke.

page_text: This would bring the said collars on the rods f' down on the bell hammers and
sound an alarm that would show that something was wrong, and that there was
short ammunition in the cartridge shells.
The general operation of the machine, of which I have already given the description
in detail, is as follows:-
Powder, shot, wads, and cartridge shells having been supplied in a proper
manner to the respective containers, holders, and inclined receptacle, the machine
is set in motion.
At what I will call the home station, shells are both received into and discharged
from the machine. These stations are the points where the shell holders remain
stationary during the interval between the intermittent motions of the disc D.
I will describe, the passage of a shell through the machine and the different
operations incident thereto. As a holder approaches the home station, the door of
the holder is opened by the engagement of the pin at the bottom of the door
with the incline at, when the holder stops it will be directly over an opening aⓇ in
the table a, through which the cartridge, if there be one in the holder, will be
discharged from the machine.
During the next upward stroke of the cross-head the disc is again advanced, the
holder in question still having its door held open by the incline aforesaid.
Just as the holder is starting from the home station it passes under the guiding
tube O¹
. At this moment the door of the guiding tobe is closed, and a shell, by-means-of-
-the cut-off device above, is discharged through it into the holder. At the next
instant the door of the guiding tube is opened, and the door of the holder is closed,
on the shell holding it firm, and immediately after the station that I will name
two" is reached.
"
The next down stroke punches the cap from the shell, the following up-stroke
advances the shell to station three, when the succeeding down stroke caps the
shell.
These two devices, the punch and capper, are only used when old shells are being
filled.
When new shells are used these two devices are either removed from the machine,
or the punch P and set P₁ are screwed up so high as to be inoperative.
At station four the shell receives the powder, and at station five a wad. At
station six the shot is added, and at station seven another wad is placed.
At station eight the crimping is done, and at station nine the cartridges are
marked.
This completes the cartridge and it is now ready to be discharged, which will be
done at the next or home station already described.
In case it is desired to place more than one wad, as for instance over the powder,
it may be accomplished by increasing the thickness of the wad-pusher and the
fingers attached, and raising the thimble k, in which case more than one wad might
be placed in the shell by one stroke of the rammer. Also, it is practicable to make
larger machines with more stations, holders, and other accompanying parts, so that
duplicate devices for placing was in the shells may be added between the powder
and shot container, or even after the shot container, if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed what I claim is→
1st. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with a shell-feeder and
an intermittently rotating device carrying shell-holders, of a powder container, a
wad-feeder and a shot-feeder, and means for automatically actuating the same,
whereby the shells are fed and filled, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof, and a cross-head arranged to reciprocate upon said structure, of a rotary
c'imper rod carried upon said cross-head, and provided at its lower end with devices
for automatically embracing the sides of the shell, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.

page_text: 3rd. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof, of a reciprocating cross-head and yielding marker, adapted to be actuated
thereby, and means for holding the shell during the operations of marking,
substantially as shown and described.
4th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination of the main structure
thereof, with the reciprocating cross-head, a punch adapted to be actuated thereby,
and a support for the shell, the said punch being adapted to enter the shell and
force the primer therefrom, substantially as set forth.
5th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof, of an actuating cross-head or equivalent device means for operating the
same of the shell-feeder, the punch adapted to enter the shell and remove the primer,
the prime-set adapted to enter the shell, the automatic primer feed tube, the
yielding seat to receive the shell, whereby the primer is fixed thereto, the auto-
matically discharging powder container, the wad-feeder, the automatically
discharging shot container, the crimper mechanism adapted to act upon the
periphery of the shell to crimp the same, the wad marking device, and device for
discharging the completed cartridge, the said several devices here named being
arranged and adapted to be automatically operated in proper order, substantially as
shown and described.
6th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure,
a reciprocating cross-head with rammers mounted thereon, and the connections for
actuating the same, of a rammer adjustally connected to said cross-head and
arranged to adjust the pressure and maintain the uniformity of the same,
substantially as set forth.
7th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof, and a reciprocating cross-head or equivalent device, of the adjustable
rammer, provided with a slip joint and springs, whereby any 'excess of pressure
upon the parts may be relieved substantially as set forth.
8th. In a cartridge filling machine, wad-holders, the cases of which are provided
with elastic parts, adapted to expand or open sufficiently to receive wads singly or
in quantities thrust in at the sides of the holder, substantially as and for the
purpose shown and described.
9th. In a cartridge filling machine, wad-holders adapted to receive wads in
quantities through the sides, by means of the elasticity of the parts, and so
constructed and arranged that the wads in the holder are always exposed to the
view of the operator, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
10th. In a cartridge lading machine provided with wad-holders, adjustable
passage ways through which wads may be pushed from the holders in desired
quantities, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11th. In wad holders for cartridge loading machines provided with adjustable
passage ways, through which wads are pushed from the wad-holder, movable
collars, gates, or equivalent devices adapted to adjust the said passage way to a
desired size, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
12th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the wad-holders, the
wad-rammers of the yielding fingers for holding the wads in position to be operated
upon by the rammers, and the wad-pushing slide provided with an extension for
operating beneath the wad-holders, substantially as described.
13th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the yielding and
starting tube, of the wad-rammer, whereby the wad is accurately conveyed to and
forced into the shell, substantially as described.
14th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination of the wad holder, with the
slide provided with an extension constituting a wad-pu-her and mechanism for
operating the same, substantially as set forth.
15th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the wad-pushers, of
the slotted levers connected therewith, the spindles to which said levers are
attached and the levers mounted upon said spindles and arranged to be engaged hy
the passing cartridge shells contained in the holders, whereby the slotted levers are

page_text: actuated to move the slides or pushers when the shells are in the holders contiguous
to the respective levers, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
16th. In a cartridge filling machine provided with gates or valves for measuring
and discharging powder and shot, the secondary chamber provided with elastic
filling, substantially as shown and described.
17th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the shot or
powder container and the 'means for automatically opening and closing the same, of
the lever secured to the said container and adapted to be actuated by the shell to
be filled, whereby the devices which open the cut-off valves in the container are
made to engage each other, and the valve opened, substantially as described.
18th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof, of the intermittently rotating disc mounted upon a suitable column and
adapted to support the holders, and to receive the said motion through the action
of a rotating shaft provided with arms or levers which engage recesses or holes in
the under side of the said disc, substantially as de-cribed.
19th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the intermittently
rotating disc provided with holes or notches on the under side thereof, of the
rotating shaft provided with radial levers or arms, and the can for actuating and
stopping the said disc, substantially as shown and described.
20th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof of the spider mounted upon the central column of the main structure, and
provided with radial arms or levers arranged to support the powder and shot
discharging devices and the wad-pushers, substantially as shown and described.
21st. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the main structure
thereof, the hollow shaft, the bolt therein, and the nut connecting the two together,
of the spider and the device for connecting the same with the bolt, substantially as
shown and described.
22nd. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the cartridge
carrier provided with a cut-off arranged to receive, retain, and discharge the
cartridges one at a time, of a cartridge guiding tube arranged to receive the
cartridges from the carrier and to deliver them to the cartridge holder, substantially
as shown and described.
23rd. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with the cartridge
carrier provided with a cut-off, and means for actuating the cut-off, of a cartridge
guiding tube adapted to receive them from the carrier and to deliver them to the
holders, substantially as shown and described.
24th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination of the inclined
cartridge carrier, with the transverse rock-shaft, having arms extending therefrom,
and the cut-off device secured thereto and means for automatically actuating the
same, substantially as described.
25th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination of the slotted actuating
rod, the rock shaft, its extending arms and the cut-off device secured thereto,
with the two-part guiding tube adapted to engage one of said arms, and the
intermittently rotating disc, provided with shell holders, the said devices being
constructed and arranged so as to cooperate and properly conduct, discharge and
receive the shells, substantially as shown and described.
26th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the main structure,
and a reciprocating cross-head mounted thereon, of the crimper rod provided with
the spiral head, the thimble E situated above the head, and a coiled spring
depending from the thimble and arranged to engage said head, substantially as
set forth.
27th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the main structure,
and a reciprocating cross-head mounted thereon, of the crimper spindle provided
with a slip joint, a spiral spring attached thereto, and jam nuts arranged to bear
upon said spring so as to adjust its tension, substantially as described.
28th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the main structure,
and a reciprocating cross-head mounted thereon, of a crimping device provided at

page_text: one end with a recess of the proper configuration to crimp the cartridge shell and
at its opposite end with quick threads which latter engage with similar threads
in the cross-head, substantially as set forth.
29th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination of the main supporting
structure, a crimping device having a quick thread upon its spindle, a thimble E,
a worm-bead upon said spindle below the thimble, a spiral spring depending from
the thimble and engaging said bead, and a reciprocating cross-head or equivalent
device provided with quick thread, adapted to register with the quick threads
on the crimper spindle, substantially as set forth.
30th. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination of the table provided with
the orifice a and the incline a', of the disc D provided with the holders d,
substantially as shown and described.
31st. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the intermittently
rotating disc and the cartridge holders and the crimping device of the pivoted
toothed lever and the fixed dog, whereby the same is prevented from revolving
during the operation of crimping, substantially as shown and described.
32nd. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the intermittently
rotating disc device for operating the same, and cartridge holders attached to said
disc, of the pivoted toothed lever, and the fixed dog, said lever and dog being
arranged to receive the cartridge shell between them and to prevent said shell
from revolving during the operation of crimping, substantially as shown and
described.
33rd. In a cartridge filling machine, the combination with the main structure, of
a rotating disc mounted upon said structure, and provided with a series of recesses,
a pivoted spring actuated lever arranged to engage by its free end with said recesses,
and devices for throwing said lever out of engagement with said recesses, for the
purpose set forth.
34th. In a machine for filling cartridges, the combination with main structure,
and a table mounted thereon and provided with an aperture of a reciprocating
cross-head and a punch attached thereto arranged to enter the cartridge shell and to
force the primer therefrom through the aperture in the table, substantially as shown
and described..
35th. In a cartridge filling machine, the table provided with a recess, and an
anvil located in said recess, a feeding device for conducting the primers to the
anvil, and yielding bearing for said feeder, in combination with the reciprocating
primer setting punch arranged to enter the cartridge shells and affix the primers
thereto, substantially as shown and described.