U.S. patent application number 11/522708 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for drive cone for paintball loader.
This patent application is currently assigned to National Paintball Supply, Inc.. Invention is credited to James T. Christopher, Chris T. Goddard.
Application Number | 20070012303 11/522708 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27041308 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070012303 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Christopher; James T. ; et
al. |
January 18, 2007 |
Drive cone for paintball loader
Abstract
A drive cone for use on a paintball loader for loading
paintballs into a conventional paintball gun. The drive cone is
located at a bottom portion of the container and is rotated by a
motor. The drive cone includes at least one fin which forms a gap
for which a plurality of paintballs may fit. The drive cone feeds
the paintballs into an exit tube located at the bottom of the
container which feeds into the paintball gun.
Inventors: |
Christopher; James T.;
(Garland, TX) ; Goddard; Chris T.; (Lewisville,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VOLPE AND KOENIG, P.C.
UNITED PLAZA, SUITE 1600
30 SOUTH 17TH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
National Paintball Supply,
Inc.
Sewell
NJ
|
Family ID: |
27041308 |
Appl. No.: |
11/522708 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10851837 |
May 21, 2004 |
|
|
|
11522708 |
Sep 18, 2006 |
|
|
|
09949440 |
Sep 7, 2001 |
6792933 |
|
|
10851837 |
May 21, 2004 |
|
|
|
09689573 |
Oct 12, 2000 |
6502567 |
|
|
09949440 |
Sep 7, 2001 |
|
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09465440 |
Dec 16, 1999 |
6213110 |
|
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09689573 |
Oct 12, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/41.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 11/57 20130101;
F41B 11/53 20130101; G09B 23/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/041.1 |
International
Class: |
F41F 1/00 20060101
F41F001/00 |
Claims
1. A rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun, the
paintball loader comprising: a container for holding a plurality of
paintballs; a paintball agitating device mounted on a bottom
portion of the container; an exit tube exiting from the bottom
portion of the container and leading to an inlet tube of the
paintball gun; a motor that rotates the paintball agitating device;
and means for actuating the motor upon demand, said means for
actuating the motor upon demand including: a sensor for sensing the
presence of at least one paintball at a selected location within
the exit tube; and, a microprocessor for activating the motor when
receiving a signal from the sensor that a paintball is not present
at the location in the exit tube.
2. The rapid feed paintball loader of claim 1, wherein the
microprocessor turns the motor off when receiving a signal from the
sensor that a paintball is present at the selected location within
the exit tube.
3. A rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun for
force feeding paintballs, the paintball loader comprising: a
container for holding a plurality of paintballs; a drive cone
including a dome-shaped area having at least two fins projecting
outwardly from the dome-shaped area, the fins spaced to provide at
least one gap large enough to accommodate more than one paintball;
a motor that rotates said drive cone; a sensor for detecting the
presence of a paintball in communication with the motor; a
microprocessor in communication with the motor and sensor; an exit
tube exiting from the bottom portion of said container; and whereby
said drive cone receives paintballs from the container and forces
the paintballs from the gap into the exit tube.
4. A drive cone for use in a rapid feed paintball loader having a
motor, a sensor, and a microprocessor for use on a paintball gun
for force feeding paintballs, said drive cone comprising: a
dome-shaped area located within its center; and at least one fin
projecting outwardly from the dome-shaped area, the at least one
fin affixed to a top feed surface of said drive cone, said fin
separating the top feed surface of the drive cone into at least one
gap large enough to accommodate more than one paintball.
5. The rapid feed paintball loader of claim 4 wherein said drive
cone includes at least two fins forming a gap with an adjacent fin
large enough to accommodate more than one paintball.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/851,837, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/949,440, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,933, which is a continuation-in-part of a U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/689,573, now U.S. Pat. No.
6,502,567, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/465,440, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,110, which
are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to paintball loaders, and more
particularly, to a drive cone for use on a paintball loader for
feeding paintballs into a paintball gun
BACKGROUND
[0003] A popular war game has developed over the years, which uses
paintball guns. Players use the paintball guns to shoot paintballs.
These paintballs are gelatin-covered spherical capsules filled with
paint. During play of the game, the players on each team advance
towards each other. A player is eliminated from the game when the
player is hit by a paintball fired from an opposing player's gun.
When the paintball hits a player, a "splat" of paint is left on the
player.
[0004] Typically, an existing paintball loader includes a housing
which is placed on an upper portion of a paintball gun. The housing
is shaped to hold a large quantity of paintballs. At the bottom of
the housing is an outlet tube through which the paintballs drop by
the force of gravity. The outlet tube leads to an inlet tube
located on the upper portion of the gun.
[0005] During the operation of existing paintball loaders,
paintballs sequentially drop by gravity through the outlet tube
into the inlet tube of the gun. The inlet tube directs each
paintball into the firing chamber of the gun, where the paintball
is propelled outwardly from the gun by compressed air.
[0006] Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/1689,573
('573), now U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,567, describes a paintball feed
system providing enhanced performance over existing paintball feed
systems. Additionally, '573 discloses a paintball loader which
reliably and forcibly delivers paintballs to a paintball gun at a
rapid, selectable rate, while actively preventing paintball jams.
However, paintball jams may still occur in the loader disclosed in
'573. Specifically, the disclosed paintball loader utilizes a
plurality of fins spaced at such a distance as to create gaps to
accommodate a single paintball. Due to the close proximity of the
fins, there is a tendency for the paintballs to partially fall into
a gap, which can result in a paintball jam. In addition, if a
paintball breaks within the paintball loader, because of the large
amount of fins and the small area of the gaps, cleaning the
paintball loader can be difficult. Since existing paintball loaders
utilize several fins, space for which paintballs could be
accommodated are lost to allow space for the fins. Thus, the
paintball feed rate is reduced for each rotation of the cone
because of this lost space.
[0007] It would be a distinct advantage to have a drive cone which
feeds the paintballs at a faster rate, while preventing jams of
partially fallen paintballs into the gaps located between the fins.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such an
apparatus.
SUMMARY
[0008] In one aspect, the present invention is a rapid feed
paintball loader for use on a paintball gun. The paintball loader
includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs and a
drive cone rotatably mounted on a bottom portion of the container.
At least one fin is affixed to a top feed surface of the drive
cone. The fin divides or separates the top feed surface into at
least a gap or section which is preferably large enough to
accommodate more than one paintball. The loader also includes a
motor that rotates the drive cone. In addition, an exit tube exits
from the bottom portion of the container and leads to an inlet tube
of the paintball gun. The motor actuates upon demand.
[0009] In another aspect, the present invention is a drive cone for
use on a paintball loader of a paintball gun having a container for
holding a plurality of paintballs and an exit tube located on the
container leading to the paintball gun. The drive cone includes a
drive cone rotatably mounted on a bottom portion of the container
and at least one fin affixed to a top feed surface of the drive
cone. The fin divides or separates the top feed surface of the
drive cone into at least one gap which is preferably large enough
to accommodate more than one paintball. The drive cone receives
paintballs from the container and drives the paintballs from the
gap into the exit tube.
[0010] In still another aspect, the present invention is a rapid
feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun. The paintball
loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs
and at least one fin located at a bottom portion of the container.
The fin divides or separates the top feed surface into at least one
gap that is preferably large enough to accommodate at least one
paintball. The fin rotates on an axis running perpendicularly
through the bottom portion of the container. The paintball loader
also includes an exit tube exiting from the bottom portion of the
container and leads to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. The exit
tube has a sloped exit portion. In addition, a tube extension is
mounted on an interior surface of the container adjacent to the
sloped exit portion of the exit tube. The tube extension is mounted
at a height which is above the top feed surface of the fin and has
a radius of curvature that is approximately equal to the radius of
a paintball. The paintball loader also may include a deflector for
deflecting paintballs downward into the gap or upward to pass over
the tube extension. The deflector is pivotably mounted on the
interior surface of the container adjacent to the tube extension.
The deflector is mounted at a height which is above the top feed
surface of the fin and which is below a bottom portion of the tube
extension. A motor rotates the drive cone upon demand.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention will be better understood and its numerous
objects and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled
in the art by reference to the following drawings, in conjunction
with the accompanying specification, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rapid feed paintball
loader constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention and operatively attached to a representative paintball
gun illustrated in phantom;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of a drive cone of a paintball
loader;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top interior cutaway view of the paintball
loader illustrating an improved cone, the exit tube, and a
plurality of paintballs in the preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the drive cone of FIG. 3 separated
from the paintball loader in the preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a top interior cutaway view of the paintball
loader illustrating the improved drive cone, the exit tube, a
plurality of paintballs, and an outer shell of the paintball loader
in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a top perspective view of the drive cone
of FIG. 4;
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a separate drive cone having three fins
in a first alternate embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 illustrates a drive cone having four fins in a second
alternate embodiment of the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 9 illustrates a separate drive cone having five fins in
a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0021] A drive cone for use in a paintball loader 40 for rapidly
delivering paintballs while preventing paintball jams is disclosed.
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a rapid feed paintball loader
40 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention and operatively attached to a representative paintball
gun 20 illustrated in phantom. The paintball gun 20 includes a main
body 22, a compressed gas cylinder 24, a front handgrip 26, a
barrel 28, and a rear handgrip 30. The paintball gun 20 also
includes an inlet tube 32 leading to a firing chamber in the
interior of the main body 22 and a trigger 34. The front handgrip
26 projects downwardly from the barrel 28 and provides an area for
gripping by an operator of the paintball gun 20. The compressed gas
cylinder 24 is typically secured to a rear portion of the paintball
gun 20. The compressed gas cylinder 24 normally contains CO2,
although any compressible gas may be used.
[0022] In operating the paintball gun 20, the trigger 34 is
squeezed, thereby actuating the compressed gas cylinder 24 to
release bursts of compressed gas. The bursts of gas are used to
eject paintballs 68 outwardly through the barrel 28. The paintballs
68 are continually fed by the paintball loader 40 through the inlet
tube 32 to the firing chamber. Although FIG. 1 depicts an automatic
paintball gun 20, the paintball gun 20 may also be a semi-automatic
gun.
[0023] The rapid feed paintball loader 40 includes a paintball
container 42 having a container wall 44 forming an interior area
46. The container 42 is divided into an upper portion 48 and a
lower portion 50. An exit tube 52 leads from the bottom portion of
the container 42 to an outlet opening 54. The exit tube 52 is
positioned on top of the inlet tube 32 of the paintball gun 20.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top view of the lower portion 50 of a rapid feed
paintball loader 40 showing a drive cone 56 of a paintball loader
40. Mounted along a vertical center axis 58, located in the
approximate center of the interior area 46, is the drive cone 56
having a conically-shaped interior surface area 60 with a plurality
of fins 62 projecting upwardly from the top surface of the drive
cone 56 and spiraling outwardly from an outer circumference of the
interior area 46. The drive cone 56 is rotatably attached to a
bottom portion of the paintball container 42, allowing rotation
about the center axis 58. The exit tube 52 projects outwardly from
a rim 64 of the lower portion 50 of the container wall 44 at an
approximately 45 degree angle from the Y-axis. In addition, an
upper part of the exit tube 52 extends towards the interior area 46
to form a paintball tube extension 72. A pivotable deflector 66
extends inwardly towards the vertical center axis from the rim 64.
A paintball 68 is illustrated between two fins 62.
[0025] The drive cone 56 shown in FIG. 2 positions the plurality of
fins 62 in such a fashion that only one paintball 68 may fit in
between two fins 62. Since only one paintball may fit in each gap,
there is an increased possibility that a paintball may only
partially fall into the gap. By merely falling partially into the
gap, the paintball may cause a jam. Additionally, since there are
several fins 62 located on the drive cone 56, the space used for
accommodating paintballs 68 is reduced by the number of fins 62.
Also, when a paintball breaks within the paintball loader 40, since
there are so many fins 62, and the gaps between the fins 62 are
relatively small, cleaning the residue of the broken paintball may
be very difficult.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a top interior cutaway view of the paintball
loader 40 illustrating an improved cone 99, the exit tube 52, and a
plurality of paintballs 68 in the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. The container wall 44 is curved and extends
upwards to form the upper portion 48 (not shown in FIG. 3). The
interior area 46, formed by the container wall 44, stores a
plurality of paintballs 68 prior to being used by the paintball gun
20. Although a circular shape is illustrated in the top view of
FIG. 3, the container 42 may be any size and shape which permits
the paintballs 68 to drop towards the drive cone 99.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a side view of the drive cone 99 of FIG. 3
separated from the paintball loader 40 in the preferred embodiment
of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the drive cone 99 includes two fins 101 and 103.
FIG. 5 is a top interior cutaway view of the paintball loader 40
illustrating the improved drive cone 99, the exit tube 52, a
plurality of paintballs 68, and an outer shell 105 of the paintball
loader 40 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates a top perspective view of the drive cone 99 of
FIG. 4.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3-6, the drive cone 99 includes a
conically-shaped interior area 61. The two fins originate at an
outer circumference of the interior area 61 and project outwardly
towards the rim 64 of the container wall 44. Between each fin is an
enlarged gap 107 which may accommodate a plurality of paintballs 68
(as illustrated, five paintballs 68 may be positioned between each
gap 107). However, the drive cone 99 may be sized to accommodate
any amount of paintballs 68.
[0029] A feed surface 109 of the drive cone 99, which is the feed
surface 109 between the fins 101 and 103 where the paintball 68
rests, is sloped downwardly at an angle of .PHI. (approximately 45
degrees in the preferred embodiment). The surface is preferably
sloped at any angle which matches the slope of the exit tube 52 and
allows paintballs 68 to feed into the exit tube 52. However, any
slope angle may be utilized by the feed surface 109. The exit tube
52 is a circular tube with an inside diameter slightly larger than
a conventional paintball. The exit tube 52 leads from an entry
opening 74 to the outlet opening 54 which engages with the inlet
tube 32 of the paintball gun 20. The exit tube 52 includes a sloped
exit portion 76 and a vertical outlet portion 78. In the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the sloped exit portion of the
exit tube 52 is sloped downwardly at an angle of approximately
.PHI. which is the same slope as the top feed surface 109 of the
drive cone 99. The pivotable deflector 66 is positioned above the
top portion of the fins 101 and 103 and below the tube extension
72.
[0030] A tube extension (shown in FIG. 2) is preferably located at
the entry opening 74. The tube extension is an extension of the
exit tube 52. The tube extension extends towards a center axis 59,
while maintaining a clearance above the fins 101 and 103. The
paintball tube extension is formed as a scoop which has an interior
radius of curvature approximately equal to the curvature of a
paintball. The top of the scoop is positioned so that it partially
covers a paintball that is pushed into position by the fins 101,
103 at the entry opening 74 of the exit tube 52. In this manner,
the sloped surface of the drive cone 99, the fins 101, 103, the
angled orientation (approximately 45 degrees) of the exit tube 52,
and the tube extension all equate to forcibly drive the paintball
into the exit tube 52.
[0031] The drive cone 99 is rotated around the center axis 59 by a
drive motor 70 (shown in FIG. 1). Additionally, the pivotable
deflector 66 may be installed within the loader 40. The pivotable
deflector 66 is attached to the rim 64 at pivot point 86, allowing
the deflector to rotatably move as indicated in FIG. 3.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1, and 3-6, the operation of the rapid
feed paintball loader 40 having the improved drive cone 99 will now
be explained. The rapid feed paintball loader 40 is positioned on
the top of the paintball gun 20. The loader 40 is connected to the
gun 20 by attaching the exit tube 52, at the outlet opening 54, to
the inlet tube 32 with an attaching device such as a clamp (not
shown).
[0033] When an operator of the paintball gun 20 wishes to shoot
paintballs, the trigger 34 is squeezed, which actuates the
compressed gas cylinder 24. The compressed gas cylinder 24 releases
bursts of compressed gas which are used to eject paintballs 68
through the barrel 28. A plurality of paintballs 68 are stored in
the paintball container 42 and pass down the exit tube 52 for use
by the paintball gun 20 when demanded by the operator.
[0034] The plurality of paintballs 68 located in the container 42
rest on top of the drive cone 99. The bottom-most paintballs 68
drop into either of the two enlarged gaps 107. The drive cone 99 is
rotated by the drive motor 70, forcing the paintballs 68 outward
and downward from the center axis 59 and forward toward the tube
extension. The pivotable deflector 66 helps prevent jams by causing
paintballs 68 to either fall into one of the gaps between the fins
101, 103 or to rise above the tube extension. The paintball 68 is
forced into the entry opening 74 of the exit tube 52 by the tube
extension. In addition, since the drive cone 99 is downwardly
sloped toward the exit tube 52, the paintball falls downwardly,
with the assistance of gravity, and outwardly towards the rim
64.
[0035] After the paintball enters the entry opening, the next
paintball located adjacent the first paintball within the gap 107
is sequentially grasped by the tube extension and driven into the
entry opening 74 behind the first paintball. Additional paintballs
68 located in the container 42, are drawn downwardly and outwardly
by gravity and fill the vacated gaps. Positioning the fins 101, 103
on the outer circumference of the interior dome-shaped area
prevents paintballs 68 from being lodged in the upper portions of
the gaps.
[0036] Once the paintball 68 enters the entry opening 74, it passes
through the sloped exit portion to a vertical outlet portion of the
exit tube 52. As the paintball passes through the exit tube 52, the
paintball may actuate an optional electro-mechanical motor actuator
switch/sensor 83 (shown in FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 3, the motor
actuator switch 83 may be utilized to detect the paintball passing
through the exit tube 52. When the paintball 68 enters the exit
tube 52, the motor actuator detects the paintball in the exit tube
52 and shuts off the motor 70. Thus, when the exit tube 52 fills up
with paintballs, the motor 70 is automatically turned off. Then as
paintballs 68 vacate the exit tube 52, the motor actuator does not
detect a paintball and engages the motor 70 and rotates the drive
cone 99. In this way, the exit tube 52 is always kept full of
paintballs, ready for use when demanded by the paintball gun
20.
[0037] Although an electro-mechanical switch has been described to
detect the presence of paintballs 68 in the exit tube 52, it should
be understood that other devices may also be utilized to detect the
paintballs 68 (e.g., infrared sensors, contact pads, optical
sensors, etc.), without departing from the scope of the present
invention. In the preferred embodiment, a reflective infrared (IR)
optical sensor 83 may be utilized.
[0038] The pivotable deflector 66 may optionally be used to provide
an additional, active device to prevent the jamming of paintballs
68 within the paintball loader. In existing paintball loaders, a
paintball may be lodged between the tube extension or entry opening
74 of the exit tube 52 and one of the fins 101, 103 or "agitators"
driving the paintball towards the exit tube 52, causing the loader
to jam and stopping the rotation of the drive cone 99. To prevent
the paintball from lodging between the tube extension (or extension
of the exit tube 52 in existing loaders) and a fin (or agitator in
existing loaders), the pivotable deflector 66 forces the paintball
to either fall into one of the gaps between the fins 101, 103 or to
rise upwardly away from the tube extension. In addition, the
deflector pivots away from the paintball, thus preventing the
paintball from lodging between the fin and the deflector. The
deflector, although depicted with the paintball loader 40
illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, may be utilized on any active feed
paintball loader to prevent the inadvertent lodging of paintballs
68 between a fin (or other agitating device) and the entry of the
exit tube 52.
[0039] The improved drive cone 99 provides many advantages over
existing drive cones. First of all, by enlarging the gaps to allow
the accommodation of more paintballs, more paintballs 68 are fed
into the entry opening 74 for each rotation of the drive cone 99.
By feeding the paintballs 68 at a greater rate per rotation of the
drive cone 99, the drive cone 99 enables the paintball loader 40 to
feed the paintball gun 20 at a faster rate than existing drive
cones. In addition, in existing paintball drive cones, the gaps
between the fins 101, 103 only allow the accommodation of a single
paintball. This reduced area in existing drive cones results in an
increased likelihood that the paintball may only partially fall
into the smaller gap. When the paintball can only fall partially
into the smaller gap of the existing drive cones, a jam results
between the paintball and fin. With the improved drive cone 99, the
paintball has a large area for which the paintball may fall into.
This results in less partial drops of the paintballs 68 into the
gaps, which decreases or eliminate any jams which may occur.
[0040] The improved drive also allows for easy cleanup of the
interior of the paintball loader 40 when paintballs 68 break within
the loader 40. In addition, the improved drive cone 99 allows for
manual feeding of the paintball when the feed system of the
paintball loader malfunctions. For example, when a motor 70 fails
on the paintball loader 40, a paintball gun 20 operator need only
shake the gun 20 to move the paintballs 68 into the gun 20.
[0041] The improved drive cone 99 only requires one fin 101.
However, in alternate embodiments of the present invention, the
drive cone 99 may have more than one fin. FIG. 7 illustrates a
separate drive cone 199 having three fins 201,203, and 205 in a
first alternate embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8
illustrates a drive cone 299 having four fins 301, 303, 305, and
307 in a second alternate embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
9 illustrates a separate drive cone 399 having five fins 401, 403,
405, 407, and 409 in a third alternate embodiment of the present
invention. It should be understood that the drive cone may have any
number of fins which allows the accommodation of more than one
paintball within each formed gap. In addition, the drive cone may
be used on a wide variety of paintball loaders.
[0042] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
paintball loader 40 may include a microprocessor 82 (FIG. 1) to
enhance the performance of the loader 40 as well as providing
useful information to a paintball gun 20 operator (not shown). The
microprocessor 82 also deactivates the drive motor 70 when the exit
tube 52 is full. The microprocessor 82 is attached to or in
communication with the motor actuator switch 83 (FIG. 3) and is
attached to or in communication with the motor 70 (FIG. 1). When
the motor actuator switch 83 detects the presence of a paintball at
the top of the exit tube 52, the motor actuator switch 83 sends a
signal to the microprocessor 82. In turn, the microprocessor 82
sends a signal to disengage the motor 70. When the motor actuator
switch 83 does not detect any paintballs 68 within the exit tube
52, the motor actuator switch 83 signals the microprocessor 82 that
the exit tube 52 is empty. The microprocessor 82 can then signal
the motor 70 to engage and rotate the drive cone, providing
additional paintballs 68 to the paintball gun 20.
[0043] It is thus believed that the operation and construction of
the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing
description. While the apparatus shown and described has been
characterized as being preferred, it will be readily apparent that
various changes and modifications could be made therein without
departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the
following claims.
* * * * *