Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Filling Cartridge Belts.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Filling
Cartridge Belts.
I, HUGO BORCHARDT of 62 Königgrätzer Strasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom
of Prussia and Empire of Germany, Engineer, 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 device forming the subject of this invention is designed to be used in filling
those cartridge belts, which serve as means to feed the cartridges into automatic
fire-arms, and the object of the invention is to accomplish that end in a better and
more uniform manner than heretofore.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which represent the present invention
incorporated in a complete apparatus and also separately in detail.
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of the complete apparatus, the section
being taken through the principal working parts.
Figure 2 is a rear view of the apparatus the cover being removed from the
casing.
Figure 3 is a front view of the apparatus.
Figure 4 is a sectional side view of parts illustrating the arrangement an
position of the spring actuated fingers F in relation to the cartridge belt G, the
tongue D being retracted.
Figure 5 is a similar view wholly in section but representing the tongue D
advanced and turned on its axis nearly 90°.
Figure 6 is a detached view of parts showing the belt G placed upon the drum (',
and the spring actuated foot E before the shortening of the belt.
Figure 7 is a similar view showing the parts after the shortening of the belt and
Figure 8 represents a portion of an ordinary cartridge belt with eyelets a¹.
It will be seen from the drawings that the frame of the apparatus takes the form
of a hollow body or shell A, which receives the complete mechanism and which is
provided with suitable means for firmly fastening it in position. The traversing and
holding of the cartridge belts while they are being filled with cartridges is mainly
effected by means of the pins a which are fixed firmly and at equal distances around
the face of the circumference of the drum C and have equal and exact spaces
between them. These pins a enter into the eyelets a' of the belt G carrying the
same forward in the working direction, when the drum C is being turned, and holding
the belt G against lateral displacement when the cartridges are being pushed into
its pockets. The placing of the belt G with its eyelets a upon the pins a and the
holding of the same during the filling operation is effected in the following manner.
Inasmuch as the placing of the cartridges into the pockets g of the belt shortens the
latter (Figures 6, 7, and 8) the spaces between the pins a on the drum must
necessarily be made to correspond therewith, and must be less than the distance
between the eyelets a' on the extended belt G shown at Figure 8. When the
eyelets a¹ on one side of the pocket g of the extended belt are placed upon the
pins a, then those on the other side will reach beyond the corresponding pins
(Figure 6) and it becomes necessary to distend or shorten the pockets of the belt tu
lift the eyelets a' over or bring them into alignment with the latter.
This shortening of the belt causes also the opening of the pockets for the entrance
of the cartridges

page_text: In the present apparatus the distending of the pockets and consequent drawing in
or shortening of the belt G between the eyelets a¹ is effected by a flat tongue D
which enters the closed pocket Figure 6, and is turned about 90 on its axis with
relation to which it is eccentrically arranged so that in thus turning it will bring
the belt into the position shown at Figure 7, when the eyelets a' are forced down
over the pins a by the spring actuated foot E, which is fastened to the body A
above the drum C.
The belt G is now firmly held on each side of the pocket 9 in readiness for
placing the cartridge in position.
To present the belt in proper position for the entrance of the tongue D the two
spring actuated fingers F (Figures 4 and 5) are designed, which are hinged to the
body A above and below the tongue D. In this apparatus which has been selected
to illustrate the present invention the drum C turns freely upon the flanged hollow
stude; it is arrested by the spring actuated bolt centering properly spaced
semicircular notches c in the flange of the stud c, whenever the handle B is drawn
backward.
By pushing the handle B forward (Figure 1.), the bolt c is pressed out of the
semicircular notches 3, the neck 1 on the upper part of the handle B engages the
notches on the front face of the drum Cand the latter can now be turned by
means of the handle until the spring actuated bolt c stands in correct position to
enter the next semicircular notch in the flange of the hollow stud c.
The rod to which the handle B is fixed carries loosely at the opposite end
thereof the guided crosspiece d and these parts are so constructed that the rod b
can be turned in this crosspiece d, the upper end of which latter forms the bearing
for the flat tongue D.
The rod 6 and the tongue D are geared together in proper proportion by the
segments 62 and 63. The oscillation of the rod 6 is limited by means of the stops,
which are fixed to the lower segment and strike alternately against the guided
crosspiece d. The flat part of the tongue D is arranged eccentrically to its axis,
so that in its first position (Figure 6) it stands central to the pocket of the stretched
belt and when turned nearly 90° it will also be central to the opened pocket
between the pins a as shown at Figure 7.
The process of filling a belt with cartridges by means of the apparatus is
as follows:-
Commencing with the position Figure 1, first a turn to the right is made with
the handle B, this turns the drum Cone notch further, at the same time the
tongue D is brought into the flat or horizontal position (Figures 4 and 6) then the
handle B is drawn back, the drum C is arrested by the bolt c' and the tongue D
enters the pocket of the extended belt.
The handle is next turned to the left whereby the tongue D is brought to the
position Figures 5 and 7, the belt is shortened and the eyelets a' are pressed over
the pins a by means of the spring actuated foot E.
Finally a cartridge is pushed out of the hopper H into the opened pocket g of
the belt G by a forward movement of the handle B when all the parts will again
De restored to the position shown at Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an uparatus for billing cartridge belts a device for feeding and bolding
the belts (G) during the filling operation, consisting of an arrangement of pins
(such as ) in front of a hopper (1) which pins will engage the eyelets (')
and serve alternatively for feeding the belts and for holding them against lateral
displacement when the cartridge is forced into its pocket substantially as herein
shown and described.
2. In a device such as that described
belts, the arrangement of an eccentric
above for feeding and holding cartridge
scillating flat tongue (D), which upon

page_text: being turned draws in or contracts the belt sufficiently to permit the eyelets to be
pushed over the pins (a) in combination with a spring actuated foot (E) for
pressing the eyelets down and holding them over the pins (a), and with spring
actuated fingers (F) which bring the pocket of the belt into the proper position
for, and hold it during, the introduction of the tongue (D) substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. The peculiar combination and arrangement of parts constituting an apparatus
for filling cartridge belts substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of January 1896.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27 Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.