Automatic bullet feeding mechanism

Abstract

An automatic bullet feeding mechanism for feeding one bullet at a time into a cartridge casing. The bullet feeding mechanism includes a drop tube that is moveably mounted within an outer sleeve. A pair of cooperating catches are operative to engage and hold a stack of bullets within the drop tube and to release one bullet at a time, the released bullet dropping down into the underlying cartridge casing. To actuate the pair of cooperating catches, the cartridge casing to be filled is moved into engagement with the drop tube and moves the drop tube within the outer sleeve. The movement of the drop tube causes an actuator assembly to operate the pair of cooperating latches which in turn results in one bullet from the stack falling through the drop tube into the underlying cartridge casing.

1 . An automatic bullet feeding mechanism for feeding one bullet at a time into a cartridge casing, comprising: 
 a. a drop tube having an interior chamber for receiving and holding a stack of bullets, one over the other;    b. a lower catch moveably mounted for movement back and forth between an engaged position and a disengaged position;    c. in the engaged position the lower catch engaging and supporting the lowermost bullet, and in the disengaged position the lower catch assumes a position that enables the lowermost bullet to fall past the lower catch;    d. the lower catch forming a part of a lever arm that is pivotally mounted exteriorly of the drop tube and moveable back and forth adjacent the outside of the drop tube, and wherein the lower catch extends from a lever arm and moves through an opening formed in the drop tube as the lower catch moves between the engaged and disengaged positions;    e. an upper catch for selectively engaging and holding a bullet disposed above the lowermost bullet of the stack when the lower catch assumes the disengaged position;    f. an interconnecting linkage operatively connecting the lower catch with the upper catch for moving the two catches in unison such that as the lower catch is moved from the engaged position towards the disengaged position the upper catch is moved towards the engaged position;    g. an actuator assembly for actuating said first and second catches in response to a cartridge casing being moved into a position for receiving a bullet from the bullet feeding mechanism; and    h. the actuator assembly including a fixed member fixed relative to the upper and lower catches and a connector attached to the lever arm and moveably engaged with the fixed member and moveable along the fixed member which results in the lever arm moving back and forth and the upper and lower catches moving between the engaged and disengaged positions.    
     
     
         2 . The automatic bullet feeding mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the drop tube is moveable up and down and is operative to cause the actuator assembly to actuate said first and second catches in response to the cartridge casing engaging the drop tube and moving the drop tube.  
     
     
         3 . The automatic bullet feeding mechanism of  claim 2  wherein the drop tube is driven up by the cartridge casing being moved into a position to receive a bullet from the automatic bullet feeding mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . The automatic bullet feeding mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the drop tube is moveably supported on a base and extends through a portion of the base and is further moveably mounted for movement up and down with respect to the base; and wherein the drop tube is adapted to be engaged by a cartridge casing such that the engagement results in the drop tube being moved with respect to the base resulting in the actuator assembly actuating the first and second catches.  
     
     
         5 . The automatic bullet feeding mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the drop tube for receiving and holding the stack of bullets is axially moveable and wherein the actuator assembly is operative to actuate the first and second catches in response to the drop tube axially moving.  
     
     
         6 . The automatic bullet feeding mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the drop tube is axially moveable within an outer sleeve and includes a terminal end that is engageable by the cartridge casing and wherein the drop tube is operative to move in response to the cartridge casing engaging the same; and wherein the actuator assembly is operative to actuate the first and second catches in response to the drop tube moving within the outer sleeve.  
     
     
         7 . A method of automatically feeding one bullet at a time from a drop tube into a cartridge casing comprising: 
 a. holding a stack of bullets within the drop tube;    b. supporting the lowermost bullet with a moveable catch;    c. engaging the drop tube with a cartridge casing to be filled and moving the cartridge casing so as to result in the drop tube being moved;    d. moving a connector connected to a lever arm along a member fixed relative to the drop tube as the drop tube is moved; and    e. wherein the connector acts to move the lever arm as the connector moves along the fixed member and wherein the lever arm is operative to disengage the lower catch in response to the connector moving along the fixed member and moving the lever arm, whereby the disengagement of the lower catch results in a bullet falling down the drop tube into the underlying cartridge casing.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the drop tube is moveable within a base and wherein the member fixed relative to the drop tube is fixed to and supported by the base.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the fixed member includes a rod and wherein the connector extends around the rod and moves along the rod as the drop tube is moved.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the lever arm and the lower catch form an integral member and wherein the connector is connected to the integral member and extends around the fixed member such that as the drop tube is moved the connector moves along the fixed member and is operative to move the integral member, including the lower catch, back and forth.  
     
     
         11 . A cartridge casing reloading machine comprising a rotatable cartridge casing plate for receiving and holding at least one cartridge casing; and a cartridge casing stabilizer mounted adjacent said cartridge casing plate for engaging and stabilizing a cartridge casing carried by the plate as the plate is rotated.  
     
     
         12 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 11  wherein the plate includes at least one seat for receiving a cartridge casing, the seat including a support surface and a wall; and wherein the cartridge casing includes a base and wherein the area of the support surface of the seat is greater than the area of the base of the cartridge casing; and wherein the stabilizer acts to urge the cartridge casing against the wall of the seat as the cartridge casing plate is rotated and as the stabilizer engages the cartridge casing.  
     
     
         13 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 11  wherein the stabilizer extends around only a portion of the rotatable cartridge casing plate.  
     
     
         14 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 13  wherein the stabilizer includes a wire that is supported in the path of the cartridge casing as it rotates with the cartridge casing plate such that the wire engages the cartridge casing during a portion of a cycle of the cartridge casing plate.  
     
     
         15 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 11  wherein the stabilizer includes a member supported adjacent the rotating cartridge casing plate such that the member lies in the path of the cartridge casing as the cartridge casing rotates with the rotatable plate, and wherein the engagement of the member with the cartridge casing stabilizes the cartridge casing.  
     
     
         16 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 11  wherein the stabilizer includes a wire adjacent the rotatable cartridge casing plate for engaging the cartridge casing during at least a portion of the cycle of the rotatable cartridge casing plate.  
     
     
         17 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 16  wherein the wire includes a generally curved segment that engages the cartridge casing as the cartridge casing rotates with the rotatable plate.  
     
     
         18 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 1  including a frame disposed adjacent the rotating cartridge casing plate, and wherein the stabilizer includes a wire secured to the frame and projecting from the frame over at least a portion of the rotating plate such that a portion of the wire engages the cartridge casing as it rotates with the rotating plate.  
     
     
         19 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 16  wherein the rotating plate includes at least one seat for receiving the cartridge casing and wherein the seat includes a support surface and a wall and wherein the wire acts to engage the cartridge casing as it rotates by the wire such that the wire tends to urge the cartridge casing against the wall of the seat underlying the cartridge casing.  
     
     
         20 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 19  wherein the cartridge casing includes a base and wherein the area of the support surface of the seat is greater than the area of the base such that the cartridge casing can move at least slightly within the seat.  
     
     
         21 . The cartridge casing reloading machine of  claim 11  wherein the cartridge casing stationed on the plate rotates between a first position where a bullet is inserted into the cartridge casing and a second position where the cartridge casing is crimped so as to secure the bullet within the cartridge casing, and wherein the stabilizer is positioned with respect to the rotatable plate such that the cartridge casing is stabilized during a portion of its movement between the first and second position.