U.S. patent number RE34,612 [Application Number 07/533,527] was granted by the patent office on 1994-05-24 for indexing reloader of cartridges.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Blount, Inc.. Invention is credited to Walter W. Bender, Charles A. Gaustad.
United States Patent |
RE34,612 |
Bender , et al. |
May 24, 1994 |
Indexing reloader of cartridges
Abstract
A reloader for reloading cartridges. A reciprocating plunger
carries a turret that rotates around the axis of the plunger. The
turret carries a plurality of cartridges for reloading, the
cartridges being symmetrically spaced around the turret axis and
adapted to be indexed around the axis in a step-by-step sequence.
An overhead die holder contains a plurality of dies spaced in a
symmetrical pattern similar to that of the cartridges but in fixed
positions. A center opening the die holder houses a rotatable
bushing. The rotation of the bushing is controlled in part by a
one-way clutch. An indexing shaft affixed to the turret extends
from the turret axis through the bushing. The shaft has a
multi-sided cross section and is slidably fitted to the bushing in
a manner that prevents relative rotation. The configured cross
section has an axial twist and when forced through the bushing by
the reciprocating plunger, causes turning of one or the other of
the shaft and turret or the bushing. A secondary invention is the
adaptation of this concept to a conventional single stage
reloader.
Inventors: |
Bender; Walter W. (Oroville,
CA), Gaustad; Charles A. (Oroville, CA) |
Assignee: |
Blount, Inc. (Portland,
OR)
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Family
ID: |
22992588 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/533,527 |
Filed: |
June 5, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
261273 |
Oct 24, 1988 |
04841831 |
Jun 27, 1989 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
86/27; 29/48.5R;
29/785; 74/817; 86/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B
33/004 (20130101); Y10T 29/5165 (20150115); Y10T
74/14 (20150115); Y10T 29/53374 (20150115); Y10T
74/1418 (20150115); Y10T 74/1424 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F42B
33/00 (20060101); F42B 033/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;86/23,24,25,27,28,45
;714/813R,813C,817,816 ;29/785,43,44,45,48.5A,48.5R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Johnson; Stephen
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Harrington; Robert L.
Claims
We claim:
1. A device for reloading cartridges comprising;
a support structure, an overhead die holder forming a part of the
support structure for holding a plurality of cartridge reloading
dies in a symmetrical pattern spaced around a center opening, a
rotatable bushing positioned in said center opening and a one-way
clutch mechanism permitting rotation of the bushing in one
direction and preventing rotation thereof in the other
direction,
a plunger slidably mounted relative to the support structure for
reciprocal vertical sliding movement from below the die holder
toward the center opening therein, and actuating means for
actuating said reciprocal movement of the plunger,
a cartridge holding turret rotatably mounted to the top of the
plunger for rotation thereof in a horizontal plane, and an indexing
shaft fixedly attached to the turret and projected upwardly
therefrom through the bushing, said shaft having a configured cross
sectional portion and said bushing having a complimentary
configuration to allow sliding movement of the shaft therethrough
but prohibiting rotation relative to the bushing, the
.[.configuration of the shaft.]. .Iadd.configured cross sectional
.Iaddend.portion being twisted .[.spiral.]. .Iadd.spirally
.Iaddend.around the shaft a determined angle along an indexing
section of the shaft, said configured shaft portion and .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.indexing section thereof being arranged relative to the
reciprocal plunger movement whereby the configured shaft portion
and .Iadd.said .Iaddend.indexing section are forced through the
bushing during such .Iadd.reciprocal .Iaddend.movement to force
indexing rotative movement of the shaft and .Iadd.said
.Iaddend.turret by said determined angle of twist .Iadd.while the
plunger is moving .Iaddend.in the direction of reciprocating
movement wherein the bushing is prevented from rotative movement by
the one-way clutch mechanism.
2. A device as defined in claim 1 including alignment means that
resists but does not prevent rotative turning of the cartridge
holding turret at the position wherein the cartridges in the
cartridge holding turret and the dies in the die holder are in
alignment, said alignment means sufficiently resisting turning of
the turret to force rotation of the bushing as permitted by the
one-way clutch means.
3. A device as defined in claim 2 wherein the one-way clutch means
permits turning of the bushing with the shaft pushed upwardly
through the bushing whereby indexing of the turret occurs in a
downward stroke of the shaft. .Iadd.
4. A device as defined in claim 3 wherein the .Iadd.configured
cross sectional .Iaddend.shaft .[.configuration.]. .Iadd.portion
.Iaddend.is a multi-sided symmetrical polygon and .[.the twist
section thereof angularly displaces the polygon configuration by
the same angle as exists between the reloader dies in the die
holder.]. .Iadd.wherein said reloading dies are angularly spaced
apart around the center opening in the die holder to match the
determined angle by which the configured cross sectional portion of
the shaft is twisted spirally around the shaft. .Iaddend.
5. A kit for converting a single station cartridge reloader to a
multiple station reloader, said single station reloader having a
single cartridge holding plunger aligned vertically with a center
opening of an overhead die holder adapted for receiving a reloading
die, said kit comprising;
a retrofitting structure including a .[.base.]. .Iadd.support
.Iaddend.plate, a secondary overhead die holder having multiple die
holder openings symmetrically arranged around a center opening, a
rotatable bushing in the center opening .Iadd.of the secondary die
holder.Iaddend., and a one-way clutch mechanism permitting rotative
movement of the bushing in one direction and preventing rotative
movement thereof in the other direction, and support members
supporting the .Iadd.secondary .Iaddend.die holder in overhead
spaced relation to the .[.base.]. .Iadd.support .Iaddend.plate, and
mounting means for mounting the retrofitting structure to the
overhead die holder of the single station reloader,
a plunger extension and coupling means for coupling the extension
axially of the plunger of the single station reloader whereby the
extension is protruded through the center opening in the die holder
.Iadd.of the single station reloader.Iaddend., a turret adapted to
rotatably mount to the top of the plunger extension, and an
indexing shaft fixed to the turret and extended from the rotative
axis of the turret for vertical sliding movement of the
.[.bushing.]. .Iadd.shaft .Iaddend.through the .Iadd.bushing in the
.Iaddend.secondary overhead die holder, said shaft having a
configured cross section and an indexing portion thereof being
twisted spirally around the shaft a determined angle, said bushing
.Iadd.having a complementary configuration to allow said sliding
and preventing rotation of said shaft relative to the
bushing.Iaddend., whereby reciprocal movement of the plunger
extension produces sliding movement of the shaft through the
bushing and indexing of the turret as dictated by the one-way
clutch mechanism.
6. A kit as defined in claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.5 .Iaddend.wherein the
mounting means is a mounting nut adapted to replace the die in the
center opening of the single station reloader, said mounting nut
mounting the .[.base.]. .Iadd.support .Iaddend.plate of the
retrofitting structure to the overhead die holder of the single
station reloader, and said mounting nut having a center opening for
permitting reciprocal movement of the plunger extension
therethrough. .Iadd.
7. A kit for converting a single station cartridge reloader to a
multiple station reloader, said single station reloader having a
single cartridge holding plunger aligned vertically with an opening
of an overhead die holder adapted for receiving a reloading die,
said kit comprising:
a support plate,
an overhead die holder member having a center position and multiple
die positions symmetrically arranged around the center
position,
support means supporting the die holder member in overhead spaced
relation to the support plate,
mounting means for mounting the support plate to the overhead die
holder of the single station reloader,
a plunger extension,
coupling means for coupling the plunger extension to the plunger of
the single station reloader to be protruded through the opening in
the die holder of the single station reloader,
a rotatable turret member mountable to the plunger extension, a
center position on said rotatable turret member and multiple
cartridge holding positions on said turret member symmetrically
arranged around the center position of the turret member and
corresponding in arrangement to the multiple die openings in the
die holder member,
an indexing shaft extending between the center positions of said
members, said shaft being axially fixed relative to one of said
members, said shaft having a configured cross section and an
indexing portion thereof twisted spirally around the shaft a
determined angle,
a rotatable bushing mounted at the center position of the other of
the members, and
a one-way clutch mechanism permitting rotative movement of the
bushing in one direction and preventing said rotative movement in
the other direction,
said bushing having an opening complementary to the configuration
of said shaft through which said shaft extends to allow axial
sliding of the shaft therethrough and preventing rotation of said
shaft relative to the bushing, whereby reciprocal movement of the
plunger extension produces sliding movement of the shaft through
the bushing and indexing of the turret member as dictated by the
one-way clutch mechanism. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
8. A kit as defined in claim 7 wherein the opening of the overhead
die holder of the single station reloader is internally threaded to
normally receive an externally threaded die, said mounting means of
the kit comprising an externally threaded mounting member secured
to the support plate and extending into the threaded opening of the
overhead die holder of the single station reloader for securing the
support plate thereto, said mounting member having a center opening
to receive and guide the reciprocal action of the plunger
extension. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. An assembly of a single station
cartridge reloading structure and a conversion structure converting
the single station cartridge reloading structure to a multiple
station cartridge reloader;
said single station cartridge reloading structure comprising; a
support, a plunger slidably mounted to said support for reciprocal
up and down movement relative to the support, an overhead die
holder fixedly mounted to the support, said overhead die holder
having an opening for receiving a die and positioned in alignment
with the plunger, said plunger adapted to support a cartridge and
to move the cartridge into the die in the typical single station
cartridge reloading operation,
said conversion structure comprising; a plunger extension coupled
to the plunger, said plunger extension protruded through the
overhead die holder opening, a turret rotatably mounted to the
plunger extension to be reciprocated up and down with reciprocation
of the plunger, a secondary die holder fixedly mounted to the
single station cartridge reloader structure in spaced overhead
relation to the turret, a plurality of cartridge holding stations
on the turret arranged symmetrically around an upright axis, a
corresponding plurality of die receiving stations on the secondary
die holder similarly arranged around said upright axis, whereby
cartridges placed in the cartridge receiving stations are aligned
with dies positioned in the die receiving stations, and indexing
means permitting indexing of the turret to successive rotative
positions of alignment. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. An assembly as defined
in claim 9 wherein the conversion structure includes a secondary
support supporting the secondary die holder in overhead spaced
relationship, and a mounting member secured to the secondary
support and threadably secured in the opening of the overhead
assembly of the single station reloading structure, said mounting
member having a guide opening through which the plunger extension
is slidably guided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A kit for converting a
single station cartridge reloader to a multiple station reloader,
said single station reloader having a single cartridge holding
plunger aligned vertically with a center opening of an overhead die
holder adapted for receiving a reloading die, said kit
comprising;
a plunger extension to be coupled to the plunger, with said plunger
extension protruded through the overhead die holder opening, a
turret mounted to the plunger extension to be reciprocated up and
down with reciprocation of the plunger, a secondary die holder to
be fixedly mounted to the single station cartridge reloader in
spaced overhead relation to the turret, a plurality of cartridge
holding stations on the turret arranged symmetrically around an
upright axis, a corresponding plurality of die receiving stations
on the secondary die holder similarly arranged around the upright
axis, whereby cartridges placed in the cartridge receiving stations
are aligned with dies positioned in the die receiving stations, and
said turret is rotatable about said axis for indexing said
cartridges relative to said dies positioned in said die receiving
stations. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A kit as defined in claim 11
including a secondary support supporting the secondary die holder
in overhead spaced relationship, and a mounting member secured to
the secondary support and threadably secured in the opening of the
overhead assembly of the single station reloading structure, said
mounting member having a guide opening through which the plunger
extension is slidably guided. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A kit as defined
in claim 11 including indexing means responsive to reciprocation of
the plunger extension for automatic indexing of the turret.
.Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to reloading presses used to reload spent
cartridge cases and more particularly to presses having multiple
reloading stations with indexing means for automatically indexing
cartridges through the stations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is very common for active shooters of hand guns and rifles to
reload their spent cartridges. A cartridge that is purchased new
can be repeatedly fired and reloaded, e.g. commonly five or six
times, before the case is considered to be non-reloadable. The
savings to the shooter can be substantial and just as important to
many hobbyists, the cartridges can be custom tailored to fit the
shooter's concept of the ideal cartridge case for his particular
event.
The operations to be performed on a cartridge for reloading are
numerous. The spent primer cap must be removed, the case must be
resized, a new primer cap and powder must be inserted, a bullet
must be seated in the casing's mouth and the casing mouth needs to
be crimped. Certain combinations of these operations may be
accomplished by a single die but, in any event, between four and
six reloading dies are employed with the corresponding four or six
reloading steps to be performed. For each step, a cartridge case is
seated on a reloading ram or plunger and the case is forced by the
plunger into or onto an appropriate die.
Typically a single station reloading tool includes a fixture that
is secured to a workbench. The fixture includes a guide for the
plunger and mechanism for manually moving the plunger up and down
in the guide. The top of the plunger is designed to receive a
cartridge case. The fixture also includes a die holding plate
aligned above the plunger. Various dies are adapted for sequential
interchangeable mounting in the die holding plate. The cartridges
are individually positioned on the plunger and pressed into the
first die. The die is replaced and the process repeated as many
times as required for completion of the reloading process.
The present invention is directed to a modification of the single
station reloading tool. By positioning dies in a circular pattern
to form multiple stations, and then loading cartridge cases in
sequence on an indexable rotatable turret, the cartridge cases can
be moved in sequence through the multiple stations. For example, if
there are four reloading stations, the first cartridge case is
placed on the turret and the plunger activated to perform the first
step. The turret is then indexed to place the cartridge in line
with the next die station and a second cartridge is placed on the
turret in line with the first die station. The plunger is activated
to accomplish two independent reloading die functions. Third and
fourth cartridges are added in sequence until four reloading steps
are simultaneously performed on different cartridges. Thereafter a
completed reloaded cartridge is removed and a new cartridge added
to the turret in its place so that each plunger action performs
four reloading steps on four separate cartridges.
The above broad concept of multi-station reloading is not new to
this invention. Assignee of the present application developed a
multi-station cartridge reloading tool wherein the rotatable turret
is indexed manually. The present invention is, however, more
specifically to a tool having the feature of automatic indexing of
the turret which is broadly stated also is not unique to this
invention as evidenced by U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,063, issued to
Richard J. Lee. Lee provides an indexing turret carried by a
plunger. Indexing is achieved by an indexing shaft that is
projected through the center of the turret. The turret slides up
and down on the shaft but is rotatably fixed to the shaft. The
turret is rotatable relative to the plunger. A clutch mechanism has
one component fixed to the plunger and rides up and down with the
plunger but not engaged with the shaft. A second component of the
clutch mechanism rise on a guide surface of the shaft and is
engaged with the first component in downward movement of the
plunger and is disengaged in the upward movement. The guide surface
on the shaft has a spiral section. The second component of the
clutch mechanism is guided over the spiral section in both the
upward and downward movement of the plunger. Indexing of the turret
does not take place in the plunger's upward movement because the
clutch components are disengagd. In the downward movement, the
engaged clutch components are engaged and force turning of the
shaft and thus indexing of the turret.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement over the Lee concept of
indexing a reloader for cartridges. An indexing shaft is fixed to
the center of the turret. The turret is rotatably mounted centrally
on the plunger. Thus, as the plunger moves up and down, the turret
and indexing shaft are also moved up and down. The shaft is
projected upwardly through a bushing that is rotatable in the die
holder in one direction only. A portion of the shaft that is
projected up and down through the bushing has a spiral guide
surface that forces turning of the bushing relative to the shaft.
As the shaft is moved upwardly through the bushing, the bushing
rotates and the shaft is simply passed, without rotation, through
the die holder. In the return movement, the bushing is prevented
from turning and the shaft is forced to turn.
The device of the present invention as compared to the Lee device
is simpler in design, more reliable in operation, and permits the
force of the plunger to be applied centrally on the turret.
Furthermore, the invention lends itself to being retrofit onto
existing one-step or one-station reloaders.
These advantage and others will become apparent on reference to the
following detailed descriptions and drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a side view of an indexing reloader device in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the indexing shaft removed from
surrounding structure;
FIG. 5 illustrates the mounting mechanism, in sections, for
mounting the indexing apparatus of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternate embodiment wherein the
indexing apparatus is retrofit to a conventional single station
reloader.
Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating a cartridge
reloading device 10. Bolts 16 are projected through a flange 14 in
the support structure of the reloading device to securely mount the
device to a table 12. The support structure, in addition to the
flange 14 and integral therewith, includes support posts 18 and 20
supporting an overhead die holder 22, and a plunger guide 24
depending from flange 14. A plunger 26 is guided for vertical,
reciprocal sliding movement through the guide 24 as indicated by
arrow 28. A pivotal bracket 30 is L-shaped as illustrated, with one
end pivotally attached at pivot 32 to the bottom of plunger 26 and
the other end pivotally attached at pivot 34 to one end of arm 36.
The other end of the arm 26 is pivotally attached at pivot 38 to
the support structure, i.e. the plunger guide 24 and flange 14.
A handle 40 having an elongated handle bar 42 is attached to the
pivotal bracket 30 as indicated by the dash lines. The handle bar
42 is projected through the pivotal bracket 30 and with a nut 44
screwed onto the protruded end thereof. Pulling the handle as
indicated by arrow 46 forces rotation of the pivotal bracket 30
about pivot 34 as indicated by arrow 48, which in turn forces upper
movement of the plunger 26.
The present invention, directed to automatic indexing of the
turret, is particularly unique as compared to the prior art Lee
device in its adaptability to the basic structure of the single
station reloader. The cartridge holder of the single station
reloader is replaced with a rotatable turret 50 having provision
for holding a plurality of cartridges in a circular pattern
symmetrically positioned around the axis of rotation and generally
on the axis of the plunger 26.
In the present device, a mounting mechanism 52 for mounting the
turret 50 to the plunger 26 provides for rotative movement of the
turret 50 relative to the plunger 26. The die holder 22 is provided
with a plurality of dies 54 arranged in the same circular,
symmetrical pattern as the cartridges in the turret 50. The two
circular patterns are in line with the plunger movement so that the
turret can be rotated to place the cartridges in line with the
dies. This is not unlike the common assignee's multistation
reloader but that reloader does not have automatic indexing of the
turret as will be now explained.
It will be appreciated that the concept of multi-station reloading
is that all of the reloading operations that previously were
accomplished with a single stage reloader but using a sequence of
replaceable dies, can be accomplished in a single pressing
operation. However, each cartridge must still go through the
multiple pressing stages, and as concerns each cartridge, the press
must be operated the same number of times. The advantages resides
in the fact that four different functions are being performed on
four different cartridges with a single stroke of the reloader.
Referring now specifically to the apparatus of embodiment of FIG.
1, four dies 54 are provided in the die holder 22 and thus for the
reloading operation to which the reloader 10 is being applied, four
pressing stages are required to complete reloading of cartridges
53. In general and as previously explained, a cartridge is placed
in the turret under the first die and the press is operated to
perform the first die operation. A cartridge is indexed over to the
second die position and the second die operation is accomplished.
(Mechanism 71, as shown in the drawings, functions to set a primer
in the cartridge between the first two die operations.) Upon
completion of the fourth die operation, the cartridge is removed
and a new one inserted into the turret in its place. It will be
appreciated that a complete cartridge is removed and a new
cartridge is inserted after each pressing operation, i.e. there are
four cartridges in the turret, each at a different stage of
completion and going through the die stages in sequence.
The mounting mechanism 52 as particularly seen in FIG. 5 includes a
collar 56 that is fixedly clamped to the top of the plunger 26 by a
lock screw 57. A base plate 58 is integral with the collar 56 and
these two components are non-rotatable relative to the plunger 26.
The turret 50 is rotatably mounted to the base plate 58 and has
configured U shaped cut outs 51 at four cartridge receiving
positions. The U shaped cut outs 51 are designed for receiving the
rims 55 of cartridges 53 which are slid into the cut outs of the
turret for relative sliding over the upper surface of the base
plate 58. The tubular casing that projects from the rim of the
cartridge is nested in the U shaped cut out and projects upwardly
from the turret. As the turret is rotated about its rotatable
mounting to the base plate 58, the cartridges slide around the base
plate 58 through the different die stations.
Projected upwardly from the turret 50 along the rotatable axis
thereof is a shaft 60. The shaft is fixed to the turret 50 and
accordingly rotates with the turret and vice versa. The shaft
projects up through the holder 22 of the basic structure. More
specifically, it projects through a bushing 63 that is seated in a
center opening in the die holder portion 22. Rotation of the
bushing is controlled in part by a one-way clutch mechanism 62. The
opening in the die holder and thus the axis of the bushing 63 is
located in the center of the circular pattern of dies 54.
The bushing 63 has an inner configuration that fits the cross
section of the shaft 60 which, as illustrated, is a hexagon. The
fit as between the shaft and the bushing is designed to allow
vertical sliding of the shaft 60 through the bushing 63. The
bushing material is preferably a low friction material such as
polyethylene or it may be a ball type bushing such as that which is
a component of a roller clutch bushing. An acceptable roller clutch
bushing is available from The Torrington Company of Torrington,
Conn. A specific roller clutch used in actual production of the
device being identified by catalog No. RC-061008. In any event, the
bushing is rotatable as permitted by the clutch in one direction
and not in the other. Numerous types of mechanisms are available
for performing this one-way clutch function and further description
should not be not necessary.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the hexagon cross section of the shaft
60 is twisted on the shaft in a section 64, near the top of the
shaft. The angular offset of the twist is 90.degree., i.e.
one-fourth of a complete turn of 360.degree.. The shaft 60 is
forced up and down through the bushing 63 (by operation of the
handle 40 to force reciprocating moving of the plunger 26) and as
the twist section 64 passes through the bushing 63, the bushing is
urged to rotate a corresponding quarter turn relative to the
shaft.
The arrangement of the twist on the shaft and the bushing is such
that the bushing can turn within the one-way clutch mechanism 62 in
the direction that is urged when the shaft 60 is forced upward
through the die holder portion 22. The bushing is prevented from
turning in the direction that is urged when the shaft is moved
downwardly. Thus, in the downward stroke the shaft 60 has to turn.
The turret is fixed to the shaft 60 by a bracket 66 as seen in FIG.
5, and thus turning of the shaft 60 turns the turret 50.
From FIG. 5, it will be seen that the underside of the turret 50 is
provided with alignment detents 68. These detents are located at
four positions around the turret. A spring urged ball 70 projected
from the base plate 58, is aligned for seating in the detents 68 at
each of the four positions whereat the cartridges in the turret 50
are aligned with the dies 54 in the die holder 22.
Turning of the turret 50 relative to the base plate 58 is resisted
but not prevented by the spring urged ball 70 seated in a detent
68. This resistance is sufficient to force turning of the bushing
63 in the direction that is permitted by the one-way clutch
mechanism 62. Thus, when the twist section 64 of the shaft 60 is
forced upwardly through the bushing 63, the bushing turns and the
shaft 60 and turret 50 do not turn. The spring urged bail 70 is
readily unseated from detent 68 to permit turning of the shaft 60
and turret 50 when the twist section of the shaft is forced
downwardly through the bushing. In this downward movement of the
shaft 60, the bushing is prevented from turning.
THE ALTERNATE EMBODIMENT
Reference is now made to FIGS. 6. The basic structure is designed
for single station reloading. A center opening 72 in the die holder
section 22' is adapted for receiving changeable dies. The plunger
26' is adapted to receive a cartridge holder aligned with opening
72 and thus with a die mounted in the opening 72. The operation of
a single station reloading apparatus has been previously
explained.
The objective of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 6 is to
convert a conventional one-station reloaders to a multiple station
reloader having features similar to that described for the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
An adapter kit including the components for converting the
one-station reloader includes a support plate 74 that is secured to
the die holder plate 22' by a mounting nut 76 screwed through plate
74 and into the threaded die opening. A secondary die holder 78 is
suspended over support plate 74 by posts 80. Similar to the die
holder 22 of FIG. 1, die holder 78 has a center opening that
contains a bushing and one-way clutch mechanism 62' and dies 54'
arranged in a symmetrical circular pattern around the bushing.
A plunger extension 82 mounted to the plunger 26' via an adapter 83
is extended up through a center opening in the mounting unit 76. A
turret 50', again similar to that of FIG. 1, is carried on a base
plate 58' which is mounted through collar 56' to the plunger
extension 82. A shaft 60' extends up from the turret through the
bushing 63'. The turret is indexed relative to the base plate by
the action of the shaft 60' forced through the bushing, all in the
manner previously explained in FIG. 1.
Primarily this invention encompasses two major concepts. The basic
concept is the manner of indexing a cartridge holding turret by a
centrally mounted shaft that is forced through a bushing controlled
in part by a one-way clutch mechanism. This arrangement permits the
use of a centrally mounted plunger.
The center mounted plunger is adaptable through a retrofitting kit,
for retrofitting conventional single station reloaders. The die
holder accommodates the mounting nut for mounting the overhead
structure including turret and secondary die holder. The mounting
nut has a center opening to accommodate the plunger extension.
Numerous variations will become apparent to those skilled in the
art without departing from these concepts. Such are encompassed by
the invention as specifically defined in the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *