An Improved Machine for Loading Sporting Cartridges
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"An Improved Machine for Loading Sporting Cartridges."
I, EUGENE BELLAN of 137. Avenue de Villiers, Paris, France, Mechanician: do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My Invention relates to improvements in machines for charging sporting cart-
ridges wherein the several operations of introducing the charge of powder, the first
wad, the shot, the second wad, and the crimping and closing of the cartridge case
are performed simultaneously.
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
represents a face view and Figure 2 a corresponding plan of the machine. Figure 3
is a longitudinal section of the device for measuring and Figure 4 is a plan of the
device for delivering the charge of powder. Figure 5 is a plan of a part of the
machine hereinafter referred to. Figure 6 is an elevation and Figure 7 longi-
tudinal section of the wad ramming device. Figure 8 is an elevation of the same
device in a different position. Figure 9 is a horizontal section on line UV
Figure 7. Figure 10 is a vertical section of the device for bringing the wads under
the rammer. Figure 11 is a section on line X Y Figure 6. Figure 12 is a side
view of the rammer operating clutch lever. Figure 1 is a vertical section and
Figure 14 a corresponding plan of the device for crimping and closing the cartridge.
Figure 15 is a section of the same shewing the parts in another position. Figure 151
is a detail of a part shown in fig 15. Figures 16 and 17 are detailed views of
part of Figure 13. Figure 18 is a detail of a part shewn in Figure 15. Figure 19
represents the cam for operating the distributing devices and Figure 20 represents
the cam for arresting the movement of the distributing devices. In all these
Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same parts.
My improved machine for performing simultaneously all the operations of
charging sporting cartridges, is operated by a pedal or other means and comprises
the driving mechanism A and a revolving table B by which the cartridge „ases are
brought in succession beneath a powder charging device C, beneath a wad razuming
device D, a shot charger E, a second wad ramming device F, and lastly beneath
a crimping or turning-in and closing device G. The operating pedal. (not shown)
is connected with a crank shaft having three pulleys and fly wheels around which
pass beltings ahe. The belt a passes over another pulley d keyed on one end of
a shafte upon whose other end is keyed a toothed wheel gearing with a toothed
wheel mounted loose on shaft upon whose opposite end is a pinion à in gear
with a train of wheels for rotating table through toothed ring S. A friction
clutch connects wheel to shaft h. It has a collar connected to a spring
pressed clutch lever u (fig 2) pivoted at its opposite end and carrying a bridge
piece upon which is pivoted a clutch bar
y. Beneath the bridge piece slides
à spring holtz for arresting the movement of table B during the crimping and
closing of the cartridges, when the bolt is thrown by its spring into engagement
with cams 7. The bar y (Figures 1, 13, 14) has a shoulder 1 which is met by a
.F

page_text: pin 2 on bolt 2 so that when the latter moves towards table B it carries with it
the bar y and clutch r, as shewn in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 14. The table B
has two rows of superposed cams by which the movements of the various parts
of the machine are effected. Above these cams the table is formed with sockets in
to receive the cartridge cases 102 which are held in position by spring jaws a
o are liners which may be placed in the sockets m to adapt them to the different
calibres of cartridge cases.
In the centre of the table is IL vertical shaft mounted
in the bed of the machine.
On the table being rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 the empty
cases are brought one by one beneath the powder distributor C (Figure 3) which
consists of a suitable container 3 whose lower open end 4 is fitted in a socket on
the top 5 of a measuring chamber 6 the side 7 of which is adjustable between
checks 11 (fig 4) to vary the capacity of the chamber by means of a screw 8 which
causes an index 9 to travel along a graduated red or plate 10 for gauging the
quantity of powder supplied to each cartridge, the cheeks 11 being carried on a
pair of parallel horizontal rods 12 extending towards the centre of the machine.
Above and below the chamber 6 are fitted two slide valves 14, 15, so operated that
the one will be open when the other is closed, the valves being operated by lovers 16.17,
receiving reciprocating motion from slides 18 and 19 operated by the cams / k
of the table B. The chamber 6 discharges through a nozzle 13 into the cartridge
case brought beneath it. The cases after being charged with powder are brought
beneath the wad rammer D) (figures 6, 7, 8). A belt. & (Figures 1 and 2) leads from
a pulley on the pedal shaft to a pulley 20 fast on a horizontal shaft 21 upon whose
other end is keyed a bevel pinion 22 gearing with a bevel wheel 21 which is
loose on the central shaft and in gear with a bevel pinion 24 on a shaft 25 loose
upon which is a toothed wheel 26 gearing with a rack 27 (Figures 6. 7. 8. and 11)
on the rod of the wad rammer 28. This device comprises a cage 29 containing
the wads, resting upon a slide 30 which serves to push the wad beneath the wad
rammer 28 (Figure 10) and is operated by a lever 31 actuated by the cams / of
the revolving table through the slide 32. The slide 30 actuates at same time a
second lever BR through a pin 34 on the one and a pin 35 on the other (see figs 9
and 10), the lever 33 serving to operate a carriage 36 for causing the hook 37
supported by spring 10 to throw the clutch sleeve S into gear with its counter
part 39 on pinion 26. When the slide 30 pushes the wad under the rammer the
eluteh above mentioned throws wheel 26 into gear with rack 27 and by the motion
of shaft 26 (Figure 8) causes the nummer 28 to descend for forcing dawn the
wad 104 on to the powder. At the upper part of rack 27 is a stirrup-piece 41
from which extend downwards two vertical rods 42, 43, provided with stops 44, 45,
which are adjustable to suit the depth to which the wad is to be inserted in
the cartridge case. The stop 45 in its descent. (see Figare S) acts on a pin 46
on the hook 37 for holding the two parts 38, 39, of the cluich in engagement
and thus throws the hook out of nation. On the stirrup piece continuing to
descend, the stop 44 of rod 42 nets on a lover 47 mounted on a shaft 48 provided
with a lever arin 49 and jointed rod 50 which acts on the clutch lever 61 con-
nected to the sleeve 38 of the clutch and throws the latter out of engagement
with its counterpart 39 whereupon the wad rammer is raised to its initial position
by the springs 52 (Figure 7). The wad guide 40 is internally contracted at 105
so as to offer suflicient resistaner to the passage of the wad to cause the wad
guide 40 to descend and embrace the mouth of the cartridge case before the wal
is driven into the case.
The cartridge cases containing the powder and wad are next brought beneath
the shot loading device E (figs 1 and 2) which is similar to the powder loading device
except that a slot 55 is provided in the upper slide valve to receive the end of
a lever 54 to which in combination with a spring 54" a certain amount of play is
allowed for ensuring a regular supply of shot.
The cartridge cases containing the powder, wad, and shot are next brought
beneath a second wad ramming device (Figure 2) of the same kind as the one D

page_text: before described, after which the cases are brought under the action of the
crimping and closing device G (figs 13, 14 and 15) which is operated as follows:-
A pulley 55 on the pedal shaft drives another pulley 56 (Figures 1 and 13) keyed
on a horizontal shaft 57 geared by a bevel pinion 58 with a wheel 59 which
operates the plunger 60 for crimping and closing the end of the cartridge with
which said wheel is connected by means of a pin and slot 63 so as to permit
of sliding and revolving motion. 1 is a coiled spring enclosed within the casing 62
for raising the plunger 60 as shewn in Figure 13. Fast with the bevel wheel 23
is a bevel pinion 64 in gear with a bevel wheel 65 upon a shaft 66 mounted
between centres, which carries a clutch 67 provided with a stirrup-piece 68 having
a spring 69 for retracting the clutch from its counterpart 70 which geared by
a pinion 71 (Figure 14) with a rack 72 contained in a tube 73 whose lower pointed
extremity 74 constantly bears on the end of the spindle of the crimping or turning-
in device 60. 75 is a stirrup-piece and 76, 77, two vertical rods whereof rod 76
is provided with a stud 78 for disengaging latch 79 which with the aid of stud 85
holds the clutch 67 in engagement with sleeve 70. In continuing its descent.
rod 76 bears on lever 80 and by means of the mechanism 81 (Figure 15) forces
back the stirrup G8 and clutch 67 whereupon the rack being rendered free is
raised by the spring 61 to the position shewn in Figure 13. The lower end of
rod 77 carries a bracket 82 provided with a hook 83 pressed by a spring 84 which
on the downward movement of the rod engages with the end of bar y (Figure 18)
and after the crimping or turning-in operation the rod 77 in rising together with
its hook, carries with it the bar y which acts directly upon the mechanism for
setting table B in motion, the bar in rising releasing the catch 2 of bolt and
allowing lever u to be thrown back together with sleeve r by the action of
spring 86 (see Figures 2 and 14) so as to bring it into engagement with wheel,
the table then continuing to rotate and forcing back the bolt with which is
connected a spring pressed lever 87 (Figure 15) pivoted at $8 and whose upper
end is connected to a carriage 89 carrying the oscillating hook 79 whose nose
engages with a stud 85 on the stirrup 68 and sleeve 67. When the bolt enters
between the cams the upper end of lever 87 moves backward as indicated by
the arrow (Figure 15) so as to bring the clutch 67 into engagement with its
counterpart 70. When the cartridge case is brought beneath the crimping or
turning-in device the boltz enters between the cams and the table B is thrown
out of gear by means of the bar y in combination with rod 2 and lever u of
coupling r When the turning-in is completed the clutch members 67 and 70 are
thrown out of engagement by means of stop 78 which disconnects lever; 79 where-
upon the crimper 60 rises and rod 77 in combination with hook 83 disengages
lever y from catch 2 thus releasing lever u and throwing coupling into gear and
so again putting the table in motion.
the same.
The machine is further provided with two separate cams 90 and 91 (Figures 19
and 20) the first for setting the several devices in motion and the other for stopping
The starting cam 90 is placed in the position indicated in dotted
lines in Figure 1, it being carried bund by the table and caused to lift a lever 92
provided with a friction roller which serves to unlatch the levers 93 and 94 which
hold the slides 18, 19, out of contact with the cams. Said cam 90 also passes
beneath other levers 96, 97, 98 (Figure 2) provided with friction rollers, as the
cartridge case advances, in order to bring the powder and shot distributors into
action. This cam however is only of use for the first cartridge, as after the first
revolution of the table all the mechanisms work automatically. The stop cam 91
represented in dotted lines in Figure 2, serves to force back all the slides until
the notch 107 (Figures 2 and 5) engages with a spring stop 93 when the motion
of the machine is arrested. The cams above mentioned are provided with
shanks 107 108 which are inserted in holes 109, 110, on the periphery of table B.
In order to put the table B in motion the toothed wheels are thrown into gear
with the teeth s of table B by means of lever 97 (Figures 1 and 2) and are so
retained by a catch 98. By pressing on a spring button 99 (Figure 2) the catch 98

page_text: may be disengaged to allow the spring 100 to throw wheel į out of gear with
toothed ring s. The filled cartridges are withdrawn as they are brought to the
front of the machine and are successively replaced by empty cases.
In order that the machine may be used for charging cartridges of different
calibres, liners are provided for the sockets m, the head 60 of the crimping or
turning-in tool and the wad guide 40 being changed to correspond. The machine
is prevented from turning in the wrong direction by a ratchet 101 (Fig 1). For
metal cartridge cases a non-rotating compressing cone would be used.
The forms, details, accessories materials and dimensions of the machine it will
he evident may be varied without changing in any way the principle of the
Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
1 claim is :--
1. In a machine for loading sporting cartridges the combination, with a revoly-
ing cartridge case holding table B, of a powder-measuring and filling device 0.
a wad rummer D. a shot-measuring and filling device E. a wad rammer F, and a
crimping or turning-in device G all operated simultaneously with the necessary
pause for closing in the cartridge cases through the medium of the mechanism A
substantially as shown and described.
2. In a machine for loading sporting cartridges of the kind specified in the
preceding claim, the powder measuring and filling device C consisting of the
chamber 6 adjustable block 7 and slide valves 14 and 15 operated simultaneously
in reverse directions through levers 16, 17, and slides operated by the cams 1, k,
on the revolving table B substantially as shewn and described.
3. In a machine for loading sporting cartridges of the kind described, the wad
tuminer D consisting in the combination of the rammer 28 mounted on a rack
rod 27 operated by a toothed wheel 26 on a clutch 39 aciunted by mechanism 36.
37. from cams / slide #2 and lever 83, a spring 52 for raising the rummer through
the rods 42.43, and stops 44, 45, in combination with hook 37 and lovers 47, 49.
and 50 for disengaging the clutch, a wad guide 40 contracted at 105 so as to caure
the guide to to deseed and embrace the cartridge case before the wad enters and
slide 30 for fending the wads to the rammer substantially as shown and described.
4. In a machine for charging sporting cartridges of the kind described, the
shot-measuring and filling device E arranged similarly to the device for measuring
and filling the powder substantially as shewn and described.
5 na machine for charging sporting cartridges of the kind described, the
device for ramming a wad upon the shot arranged as described with reference
to Claim 3.
6. In a machine for charging sporting cartridges of the kind described, the
device for crimping or turning-in the ends of the cartridge cases consisting of
the closing-in device 60 raised by spring 61 and receiving vertical movement from
a rack 72 and retary movement independently of the rack by means of pinions 58,
59 and the combination, with said rek, of the vertical rods 76, 77, which partake
in its downward movement for disconnecting the clutch 67 and 70 (through the
parts 79, 85, and 68) which imparts its descending movement, the rack on rising
throwing into gear the mechanism for revolving table B substantially as shewn
and described
7. In a machine for charging sporting cartridges of the kind described the
driving gear A consisting of the spring pressed bolt contacting with cams of
table and provided with a stop 2 in combination with a bar y having a shoulder 1
and connected to lever a pivoted at te and in one with a clutch collar for driving
shaft and through it the series of gear wheels ij gearing with the toothed ring
of table B. said spring holt engaging in cams of suid table B for operating bary
lever and throwing sleever out of gear for arresting the table during the turning
in of the cartridge case and the combination with said bar y of a hook S3 mounted
=

page_text: on rod 77 and engaging during the descent of said rod with the extremity of bar y,
said hook on the upward movement of the rod disconnecting bar y from stop 1
and freeing lever and throwing table B into gear substantially as shewn and
described.
1
1007
A. M. & WM. CLARK
Chartered Patent Agents. 53. Chancery Lane. London.