Improvements in Machines for Filling Cartridges into Feed-belts or Bands,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct.. 1899-Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Filling Cartridges into Feed-belts
or Bands,
We, JAMES RAMSAY, Engineer, and CHARLES SALMON, Engineer, both of
Vickers Sons & Maxim Ltd., of Erith Works, Erith, in the County of Kent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to machines of the kind described in
the Specification of prior Letters Patent No. 19227 of 1891 and No. 4349 of 1896
and has for its chief object to so construct such machines that they can be
employed for filling feed-belts with cartridges of the kind in which the bullet
is surrounded at the part near the mouth of the cartridge case with paper.
Heretofore difficulty has been experienced in filling a feed-belt with such cart-
ridges by means of a machine, because in the act of thrusting the cartridges into
the pockets of the belt, the paper has been very liable to become stripped by
the edge of the pocket and to collect at a point near the mouth of the cartridge
case, with the result that when the belt has been passed through the gun, and
the cartridge inserted into the cartridge-chamber it has not been possible to
thrust it completely home. The firing of the gun has thus been stopped and
delay has arisen in removing the impeding cartridge. No difficulty from such
cause can arise by the use of our improved machine, as the aforesaid paper sur-
rounding the bullets remains quite undisturbed during the filling operation.
For this purpose we surround the pocket-opener of the aforesaid machine with
a loose tube or sheath which is adapted to advance with the said pocket-opener
and enter the pocket of the belt therewith. When the pocker-opener retires
the tube remains in the opened belt-pocket by reason of its being gripped by the
said pocket, and receives the bullet of the cartridge which is being fed into the
open pocket from the hopper on the opposite side of the belt. The internal
diameter of said tube is such that it will freely admit the bullet and paper but
not the cartridge. Consequently as the cartridge advances in entering the open
pocket of the belt, the bullet and its surrounding paper freely enter the said
tube but the mouth of the cartridge case meets the end of the tube, thereby
thrusting it backward out of the pocket as said cartridge continues to advance.
As soon as the tube becomes free of the pocket and is no longer restrained from
independent movement, it is caused by a spring, to resume its fully retracted
position around the pocket-opener, ready for the next forward stroke when the
succeeding pocket of the belt is opened. The spring for returning the tube
may be a helical one, located within said tube and surrounding the stem of the
pocket-opener, one end of such spring bearing against a flange on the tube
and the other end against a shoulder on the opener. As said opener returns
from the pocket and the tube remains therein by the friction existing between
it and the pocket, the spring becomes compressed ready to retract the tube when
the latter is released.

page_text: In order to impart to the pocket-opener the requisite partial rotative move-
ment for opening the belt-pocket as explained in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 4349 of 1896, we provide said opener with a radial arm extending
into or through a suitably shaped slot formed in a fixed casing within which the
said opener reciprocates when the machine is working. To impart the recipro-
cating motion to the opener, it may be provided with a lug or boss for connection
to one end of a connecting rod whose opposite end is connected by a crank on a
shaft that is capable of being revolved by a handle or otherwise
We may employ a helical spring around the stem of the pocket-opener
between the aforesaid lug or boss and a collar on the outer end of the stem, for
assisting in returning the opener to its normal position when the aforesaid
tube, after leaving the belt, is withdrawn by its spring. This spring is not
however absolutely necessary.
The feed-pawl by which the belt is caused to travel, through the machine,
instead of being actuated by a disc-cam as in the aforesaid Specification of
Letters Patent No. 4349 of 1896 may be actuated by a rocking arm mounted on
the frame of the machine. One end of such arm lies in the path of a cam-piece
formed on a rectilinear reciprocating bar carrying the aforesaid lug or boss.
As said bar reciprocates the said arm is rocked and by means of a connecting
rod, imparts motion to a crank on the shaft from which the feed-pawl is operated.
We also provide the machine with pivotal pieces which will give passage
to the belt as it is fed through the machine but which act to prevent lateral
movement of the belt in one direction during the entrance of the pocket-opener
and in the other direction during the entrance of the cartridge.
We may also provide a friction plate for controlling the passage of the belt
through the machine, so that when the belt is partially filled with cartridges
the weight of the filled portion will not be permitted to pull the belt through
the machine.
Dated this 18th day of Ju 1800
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Machines for Filling Cartridges into Feed-belts
or Bands.
We, JAMES RAMSAY, Engineer, and CHARLES SALMON, Engineer, both of
Vickers Sons & Maxim Ltd., of Erith Works, Erith, in the County of Kent,
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:--
Here-
This invention relates more particularly to the class of machines described in
the Specification of prior Letters Patent No. 19227 of 1891 and No. 4349 of 1896
and has for its chief object to so construct such machines that they can be
employed for filling feed-belts with cartridges of the kind in which the bullet
is surrounded with paper at the part near the mouth of the cartridge case.
tofore difficulty has been experienced in filling a feed-belt with such cartridges
by means of a machine, because in the act of thrusting the cartridges into the
pockets of the belt, the paper has been very liable to become stripped or otherwise
displaced by the edge of the pocket and to collect at a point near the mouth of

page_text: the cartridge case, with the result that when the belt has passed through the gun
and the cartridge has been inserted by the breech mechanism into the cartridge-
chamber of the barrel, it has not been possible to thrust said cartridge com-
pletely home. The firing of the gun has thus been stopped and delay has arisen
in removing the impeding cartridge. No difficulty from such cause can arise
when the belt is filled by our improved machine, as the aforesaid paper sur-
rounding the bullets remains quite undisturbed during the filling operation.
For this purpose we surround the pocket-opener of the aforesaid machine with
a loose tube or sheath which is adapted to advance with the said pocket-opener
and to enter the pocket of the belt therewith. When the pocket-opener retires
the tube remains in the opened belt-pocket by reason of its being gripped by the
said pocket and it receives the bullet of the cartridge which is being fed into the
open pocket from a hopper on the opposite side of the belt. The internal
diameter of said tube is such that it will freely admit the bullet and paper but
not the cartridge case. As the cartridge continues to advance into the pocket,
the tube is simultaneously retracted without however uncovering the paper
around the bullet. By the time the bullet has been completely thrust through
the pocket, the tube becomes disengaged therefrom and being no longer held
thereby nor required to further protect the paper around the bullet, it is permitted,
by the action of a spring, to leave the bullet and retire into a position ready to
again perform its function when the next pocket of the belt is being filled with a
cartridge.
Our invention also has reference to improved means for imparting the recipro-
cating and angular motion to the pocket opener and to means for preventing
the weight of the loaded portion of the belt from pulling the said belt through
the machine or otherwise displacing it.
In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with our
invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 11 of Figure 2 showing
the parts in the position they occupy when the pocket-opener has fully entered
and opened one of the belt-pockets.
Figure 4 is a similar view shewing the parts in another position.
Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 22 of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is another transverse section taken on the line of Figure 2 and
looking towards the right.
Figure 7 is a similar view looking in the opposite direction.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a hinged tray or support for the belt as it
leaves the machine.
In all these figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.
A is the body of the machine which is adapted to be attached to a bench or
other support by means of a clamping screw B.
C is a rectilinear reciprocating rod or bar to which is connected at one end
the cartridge-pusher D and at the other end the pocket-opener E
The pocket-opener E comprises a stem having at its front or inner end a
wedge-shaped head e which is adapted to enter the belt-pockets flatwise and then
by an angular movement to open said pockets, in an analogous manner to that
set forth in the Specification of prior Patent No. 4349 of 1896, ready to receive
the cartridges as they are one by one pushed from a hopper F by the cartridge
pusher 1 as explained in the aforesaid prior specification.
(Figures 3 and 4) is the loose tube or sheath by which the said pocket-
opener is surrounded, such tube containing a spring ², one end of which bears
against a shoulder 3 on the head e and the other end against a
Hange or shoulder et at the outer end of the tube e¹. This spring

page_text: operates, at the proper time, to longitudinally shift the said tube from its pro-
tective position around the projectile of the cartridge, after the said cartridge has
been inserted into the belt-pocket. is a collar secured to the stem of the
opener at a point immediately in rear of said tube so as to constitute an abut-
ment for the latter to lie against under the retractive action of the aforesaid
spring e².
e is an arm which projects radially from the said stem of the opener
and extends through a cam-slot g formed in a fixed casing G within which the
said pocket-opener reciprocates when the machine is working and thereby
imparts the aforesaid angular movement to the opener for opening the belt-
pockets. In the drawings the said radial arm is shewn as being used for secur-
ing the said collar in place; obviously however the said arm may be situated
at any other suitable part of the stem of the pocket-opener. eis another collar
with which the stem of said pocket-opener is provided near its outer end. Between
this collar and the aforesaid collar is located a lug or boss carried by the
reciprocating bar C. The said lug is connected by means of a rod h¹ (Figures 1
and 2) to a crank h² mounted on a short shaft h to which is keyed or otherwise
connected a crank handle H for revolving said shaft and thereby imparting
the reciprocating motion to the aforesaid bar C.
I is a feed-pawl by which the belt is caused to travel step by step through the
machine; it is similar in construction and operation to the feed-pawl referred
to in the said prior Specification of Patent No. 19227 of 1891.
J and K (Figures 6 and 7) are belt-guides which permit the belt to pass freely
in a forward direction through the machine i.e. in the direction of the arrow in
Figure 6. By lying against the side edges of the belt they prevent lateral move-
ment thereof in one direction during the entrance of the pocket-opener and in
the other direction during the entrance of the cartridge. The guide J is pivotally
arranged so that it is free to turn in either direction relatively to the direction
of movement of the belt but the guide K which is hinged or pivoted at k and
controlled by a spring permits the belt to pass in a forward direction through
the machine but resists its rearward movement. The said guide K is however
capable of being raised to remove it from engagement with the belt in order to
liberate the latter if desired.
L (Figures 3 and 4) is a spring or flexible platform for supporting the cart-
ridges as they leave the lower part of the hopper F and for guiding them as they
are thrust into the belt-pockets from the said hopper by the cartridge pusher D.
M (Figures 1 and 2) is a friction plate or belt-cover which is hinged at m to
the body of the machine and which by means of a spring m surrounding the
stem of the hinge-pin m* and acting on a screw-nut m² is caused to grip the belt
as the latter passes through the machine, so that when said belt is partially filled
with cartridges the weight of the filled portion will not be permitted to pull the
belt through the machine faster than is necessary.
N (Figures 2, 6 and 8) is a tray or guide which can be detachably connected
to the machine by means of hook-like lugs engaging with pins on the
machine, the said tray or guide then occupying an approximately horizontal
position relatively to the machine, in which position it is maintained by the
said hook-like lugs and pins without the intervention of a prop or other support.
The said tray serves to conduct the belt as it is filled with cartridges to a proper
receptacle and also supports the filled portion of the belt so that the pull on the
friction plate M due to the weight of the filled portion of the belt is reduced.
The said tray is formed in two parts which are pivotally connected at n³, so as
to permit of their being folded together as shewn in Figure 8, and thereby
occupying less space when the tray is out of use. The meeting edges of said
hinged portions of the tray are formed with flanges or lips n which by abutting
against each other when said tray is opened, maintain the hinged portions in
proper alignment relatively to each other.
The working of the machine is as follows: A belt having been inserted into
the machine and a number of cartridges placed in the hopper, the crank-handle H

page_text: is turned in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) whereby the belt-opener is
caused to advance, with its surrounding tube e¹, toward the belt-pocket that lies
immediately in front of said opener. The wedge-shaped head of the opener is
at this time uncovered by the said tube, so that said head can enter the pocket
edge-wise and open the same by an angitlar movement due to the shape of the
cam-slot within which works the radial arm or stud ef on the stem of the
opener. Then as the crank-handle continues to turn, the opener commences
to retire, without however carrying with it the loose tube el which remains
behind gripped by the pocket. The spring e2 as the opener retires becomes com-
pressed but not sufficiently to overcome the friction existing between the tube
and the pocket consequently said spring does not operate to withdraw the tube
from the pocket. While the opener retires, the cartridge-pusher D advances
into the hopper and pushes out therefrom the lowermost cartridge which it
carries forward towards the tube in the belt-pocket. The bullet of the cartridge
enters the said tube, which, as already stated, is of a diameter to easily admit it
and the surrounding paper but not the cartridge case. As the edge of the
metal around the mouth of the cartridge case meets the edge of the said tube, it
will act to thrust the latter out of the pocket. We prefer however to form on
the stem of the opener a shoulder which simultaneously comes into contact
with the flange et of the tube e¹ so that as said opener retires it causes the tube
to be removed from the pocket without, however, uncovering the bullet or
changing its position relatively thereto. By the time the bullet has been com-
pletely thrust through the pocket, the tube will as hereinbefore stated have
been entirely withdrawn and will therefore be no longer gripped by the pocket,
consequently it will return to its normal position under the influence of its
spring, thus uncovering the bullet as already stated. The said tube in its
retracted position lies out of the path of the cartridges in the belt so as not to
impede the movement of the latter when by the continued movement of the said
crank-handle the feed-pawl I is operated to feed the belt another step forward
through the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
-
1. A cartridge-belt filling machine in which the paper around the bullet is
protected by a tube or sheath during the insertion of the cartridge into the belt,
for the purpose specified.
2. A radial arm on the pocket-opener and a fixed cam-slot in which said arm
works during the reciprocating movement of the pocket-opener substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
3. The guide pieces for the belt, constructed and arranged substantially as
and for the purposes described.
5. The hinged friction plate and its spring, substantially as described, for
resisting the tendency of the belt to be pulled through the machine by the
weight of the filled portion of said belt.
5. A cartridge-belt filling machine having its parts constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 18th day of October 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.