US3771411A - Shotgun cartridge loading machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A manually operable shotgun cartridge loading machine is described for progressively resizing and loading spent shotgun cartridges. The machine includes an upright pair of standards slidably receiving a cartridge supporting turret. Cartridges are held within a plurality of resizing and supporting dies radially and angularly spaced on the turret about a vertical axis. An indexing means is utilized to index the cartridges a set increment about the axis as the turret is manually raised to bring the cartridges into operative engagement with a complementary set of similarly spaced stationary tools. A tool head is fixed at the upper end of the standards for supporting the downwardly projecting tools.

Description

United States. Patent [1 1 Hazel SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE Inventor: Jan Vanden Hazel, Sheridan, Oreg. Assignee: Ponsness-Warren, Rathdrum, Idaho Filed:

Appl. No.: 268,563

July 3, 1972 US. Cl. 86/27, 86/24, 86/25,

Int. Cl. F42b 33/10 Field of Search 86/24, 25, 27, 29

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ponsness et al.

Blesi et a1. 86/27 Ponsness 86/25 [4 1 Nov. 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Benjamin R. Padgett Attorney-Greek Wells et al.

ABSTRACT A manually operable shotgun cartridge loading machine is described for progressively resizing and loading spent shotgun cartridges. The machine includes an upright pair of standards slidably receiving a cartridge supporting turret. Cartridges are .held within a plurality of resizing and supporting dies radially and angularly spaced on the turret about a. vertical axis. An indexing means is utilized to index the cartridges a set increment about the axis as the turret is manually raised to bring the cartridges into operative engagement with a complementary set of similarly spaced stationary tools. A tool head is fixed at the upper end of the standards for supporting the downwardly projecting tools.

8 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENTEDRDV 13 1913 FIG 2 PATENIEDHUHBIQH 3771.411

SHEET 3 [1F 5 FIG 6 PATENIEUHnv 13 I975 SHEET 4 [IF & j

PATENTEDHUV 13 I973 SHEET 5 [IF 5 FIG 18 SHOTGUN CARTRIDGE LOADING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for reloading shotgun cartridges and more specifically to a machine for manually resizing and reloading shotgun cartridges at a relatively high rate of speed.

Participation in the sport of trap shooting has generally been rather expensive. Beyond the initial capital investment in equipment, it is necessary to utilize large numbers of shotgun cartridges. It has been found, however, that this expense may be cut considerably if the sportsman saves his spent cartridges and reloads them himself. Various machines have been manufactured to enable such sportsmen to reload their own cartridges, such as those described in the U. S. Pats. Nos. 3,450,000 and 3,097,560 both granted to L. E. Ponsness et al. I

U. S. Pat. No. 3,450,0001discloses an apparatus for loading shotgun cartridges of two different gauges. It has provisions for reloading on only a single cartridge at a time and this is relatively slow in operation. Further, the cartridge must be manually moved between operational stations increasing loading time and increasing 'the possibility of human error.

U. S. Pat. No. 3,097,560 describes a progressive reloading machine for shotgun shells. The machine includes means for automatically releasing a premeasured amount of shot and powder into cartridges as they are automatically indexed about a vertical axis. The mechanisms utilized in indexing the cartridges are relatively complex gear driven assemblies which are difficult to manufacture and thereby usually too expensive for purchase by the average skeet shooter.

It is therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a shotgun cartridge loading machine that includes a highly accurate mechanism for indexing a plu rality of cartridges sequentially from one operational station to another.

A further object is to provide such a reloading machine that is relatively simple in construction and inexpensive to purchase.

An additional object is to provide such a reloading machine that is manually operable for quickly and accurately resizing and reloading shotgun cartridges.

- A yet further object is to provide such a reloader that is simple'in construction and thereby relatively maintenance free.

These and further objects and advantages will become evident upon reading the following description which, when taken with the accompanying drawings, describe a preferred form of the invention.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS taken along line 44 FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational sectioned view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a plan sectioned view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectioned front elevation view taken along line 1010 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a drive and indexing mechanism with the turret in the lowered position;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the drive and indexing mechanism with the turret in a partially raised position;

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the drive and indexing mechanism with the turret in a fully raised position;

FIG. 14 is a plan sectional view taken along line 14--14 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a sectioned plan view taken along line 1515 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 in FIG. 15 illustrating one step in the operation of a manually operable powder dispensing mechanism;

FIG. 17 is a sectioned plan view taken along line 17-17 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary section view similar to that of FIG. 16 illustrating another operational position of the powder dispensing mechanism; and

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary section similar to FIGS. 16 and 18 illustrating a further operation position of the shot and powder dispensing mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in more detail, and especially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, a cartridge loading machine is shown generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Machine 10 includes a spaced pair of upright standards 14 mounted .to a base 12. Standards 14 are spaced from and parallel to a vertical axis XX (FIG. 2). A circular horizontal support plate 15 is slidably mounted, centered on axis X-X, for vertical movement along the standards 14. An annular die carrier plate 23 is mounted to plate 15 for vertical movement therewith and for rotation with respect to plate 15 about axis X-X. Plates l5 and 23 comprise a turret l 1 for receiving and holding cartridges during the reloading sequence.

Die support plate 23 includes angularly spaced apertures 24 (FIG. 10) each releasably' receiving a cartridge sizing die 18. Shotgun cartridges 11a (FIG. 10) of a specific gauge, 0.410 20, 16 or 12 are received and resized within dies 18 through an a perature 16 (FIG. 4) in supporting plate 15.

Sizing dies 18 each include an annular base 20 (FIGS. 8 and 9) with an annular projecting shoulder having a circumferential side surface 21. Bases 20 of the dies slidably rest upon the upper surface of plate 15 and are received within a circular groove 25 in the bot tom of plate 23, partially exposing the side surface 21 to an indexing means which will be described in greater detail below.

. Dies 18 are angularly spaced about axis X--X and aligned with a plurality of stationary resizing and reloading tools depending from a tool head 40 affixed at the upper ends of standards 14. Turret 11 is moved upwardly, bringing the spent shells into engagement with the tools, by a drive means 28 (FIGS. 10 13).

Drive means 28 is driven by manual operation of 'an elongated lever or handle 30 which serves to rotate a crank shaft 31. Base 13 journals shaft 31 for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. Shaft 31 operates a crank means 32 to raise or lower the turret on standards 14. Crank means 32 comprises an elbow type mechanical linkage with a pair of crank arms 33 (FIG. 2) each affixed at one end of shaft 31. The other end of each arm 33 is attached to a connecting rod 35 at a pivot 34. Rods 35 extend upwardly from pivots 34 to individual pivot pin mounts 36 (FIG. l) ona support 37 for plates 15 and 23.

Pivotal movement of handle 30 and the resulting responsive movement of crank means 32 is illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13. As shown, movement of lever 30 to the right results in upward movement of turret l1. Pivotal movement of handle 30 to the left as viewed in FIG. 12 results in downward movement of the turret and pivotal movement to the right results in upward movement of the turret.

The individual stationary tools of tool head 40 are angularly spaced about the axis XX defining operating stations, at which each tool performs a separate task in the sequence of resizing and reloading the spent shotgun shells. Several tools are mounted below the turretv The. first tool, in order of the operation reloading se quence, is a cartridge loading ram 42 (FIG. 1) located on base 13 for inserting empty cartridges one at a time, through aperture 16 and into a vertically aligned die 18. Ram 42 defines a first operational station A.

The next successive tool in sequence is a primer removing punch 43 affixed to the head 40, defining an opeation station B where, in the raised position of turret l1, spent primers are removed from the cartridges. The spent primers fall by gravity through an aperture 17 in plate 15. I

Aligned elevationally below punch 43 is a primer insertin'g anvil 44 on base 13, which, when turret 11 is in the lowered position, extends upwardly through aperture 17 to insert a new primer into the spent cartridge.

Thethird station C in the sequence is defined by a powder drop'tube 45 where each successive cartridge receives a measured amount of powder from a p'owde supply magazine 56 on tool head ,40.

A wad is placed within each successive cartridge after receiving a measured amount of powder, by a wad ram 46 at an operational station D. Wads are initially held by a pivotable wad holder 60, mounted to plate 15 for vertical movement therewith. Holder 60 includes a housing section 64 (FIG. 3) slidably mounted on a substantially upright shaft 65. Housing 64 includes a removable, threaded sleeve insert 61 with a bore slightly larger than the diameter of the wad being used for a particular gauge shotgun cartridge. The sleeve 61 removably holds a wad retainer 62 having flexible converging fingers 63 for releasably holding wadding. The fingers 63 are designed to spread apart as the wadding is engaged by ram 46 and forced into a cartridge as turret l1 movesto the raised position. Housing 64 is biased upwardly against a cap stop on shaft 65 by a compression spring 66. Shaft 65 is pivotably mounted to a bracket 68 by a pivot pin 70. Bracket 68, in turn, is rigidly affixed to plate 15. A torsion spring 67 is connected between bracket 68 and shaft 65 to normally bias holder 60 inwardly to a position aligning sleeve 16 with ram 46. The wad holder 60 is pivoted outwardly to permit easy access for placing wadding within sleeve 61 as turret 11 reaches the lowered position. This movement is initiated as a lower curved portion 71 of shaft 65 engages a stationary cam 72 (FIG. 3) affixed to an upright 38 of base 13.

The following tool in sequence is a wadding positioning ram 47 defining an operational station E. Ram 47, as seen in FIG. 6, is threadably mounted to tool head 40 to facilitate vertical adjustment for precisely positioriing the wadding against the previously deposited powder. A locking nut 73 is provided on ram 47 to be tightened against the lower surface of head 40 to lock ram 47 in a selected position.

A pre-measured charge of shot is released into each cartridge at a shotloading station F through a tube 48. Tube 48 receives the shot from a shot magazine 57 which will be described in more detail below.

A precrimp tool 50 depends from tool head 40 at an angular position defining the next successive operational station G. Tool 50 is utilized to partially close the open end of a cartridge by forming corrugations about the cartridge periphery. This tool, which is well known in the reloading art, is described in greater detail by U. S. Pat. No. 3,450,000 granted June 17, 1969. A final crimping tool 51 located at a station H and a shell ejecting ram 52 at a station I are also fairly common and described in detail within the above cited application.

Crimping tool 51 is utilized to completely close the end of a cartridge, and ejecting ram 52 serves to push each loaded cartridge through anaperture 53 (FIG. 4) in plate 15 at the raised position of turret ll. Ejected cartridges are gravatationally guided away from the machine by a slide 54 (FIG. 1) affixed to base 13 directly below aperture 53.

The above described operational stations (A I) are angularly spaced about axis XX and each is in alignment with a complementary tool. An indexing means 75 is operated in response to movement of drive means 28, to incrementally index the dies 18 about axis XX as turret 11 moves upwardly to sequentially position the dies at the stations (A 1).

Index means 75 includes a drive pawl 76 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which is vertically slidably mounted to an oscillatable plate 77 (FIGS. 10 and 14). Plate 44 is mounted to plate for vertical movement therewith and for free pivotal movement about axis XX. Pawl 76 is affixed to a vertical shaft 93 which extends upwardly from plate 77, through an elongated slot 94 in plate 15. Plate 15 includes an annular groove 97 (FIG. 4) formed therein to serve as a guide for pawl 76. A compression spring 95 is mounted between pawl 76 and the plate 77 about shaft 93 to normally urge pawl 76 upwardly against the bottom of plate 23.

Successive dies 18 are engaged along their side surfaces 21 by a vertical edge surface 90 of pawl 76. Thusly engaged, the die, plate 23 and remaining dies 18, are moved in an arcuate path about axis XX from one operational station to the next as plate 77 is pivoted in response to movement of drive means 28. A downwardly protruding drive finger 78 (FIG. 10) is affixed to plate 77, substantially diametrically opposed to pawl 76. The finger 78 is operatively engaged by means responsive to the rotational movement of crank shaft 31 to initiate the indexing movement.

This means includes a crank disc 81 (FIGS. 1043) affixed to an end of shaft 31. A wrist pin 82 is mounted to disc 81 eccentric to the horizontal axis of the shaft 31. Wrist pin 82 is slidably engaged within a vertical elongated slot 85 in a lever 83. The lever 83 is mounted to upright 38 of base 13 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis of a pivot shaft 84. A pair of inwardly extending pins 86 and 87 are fixed to the upper end of lever 83 and are spaced apart adistance sufficient to allow vertical movement of finger 78 therebetween.

Referring now in detail to FIGS, 11, 12 and 13, the oscillating movement of plate 77in response to rotation of crank shaft 31 may be seen as drive means 28 is operated to lift turret 1 1 to the raised position. As the turret starts upward the wrist pin 82 pivots the upper end of the lever 83 to the left as viewed in FIG. 12 to drive the finger to the left and oscillate the plate 77 to in turn move the pawl against a die and move the die forward to the next station. Further upward movement of the turret causes the finger 78 to disengage from the pins 86 and 87 as shown in FIG. 13.

When the drive means 28 is operated to lower turret 11, finger 78 moves downwardly between pins 86 and 87. 'During the later part of the descent, wrist pin 82 pivots lever 83 to move finger 78 to the right as viewed in FIG. 11.

Movement of plate 77 in response to. movement of finger 78 to the right serves to reset pawl 76 for the next indexing movement. An upwardly facing inclined surface 91 (FIGS. 8 and 9) on pawl 76 acts as a cam surface, to lower pawl 76 and allow it to slide relatively freely along the base 20 of the next successive die 18. As turret 11 reaches the lowered position (FIG. 11) pawl 76 moves free of surface 20'and snaps upwardly to engage die 18. The indexing assembly is then ready for another indexing cycle.

Each indexing cycle results in movement of dies 18 forwardly to the next successive operational staions. A die located at station A, for example, would be moved forwardly to station B during one complete indexing cycle.

A releasable indexing stop assembly 100 is utilized to prevent further rotational movement of plate 23 after finger 78 moves from contact with pin 86. The stop assembly includes a spring biased pin 102 (FIG. 2) held within an L-shaped bracket 103 which is rigidly mounted to plate 15. A series of detents 101 are spaced about the periphery of plate 23, each located adjacent a respective operational station and elevationally aligned with pin 102. As plate 23 is indexed forwardly, pin 102 rides along the plate periphery from one detent to the next, successively stopping rotational movement of the dies until the next indexing cycle.

Referring now to FIGS. 15-19, the powder and shot dispensing mechanism 107 may be seen in greater detail. Mechanism 107 communicates with powder discharge tube 45 and shot tube 48 at station C and F respectively to deliver measured amounts of powder and shot to cartridges 11a at the raised position of turret 11. The mechanism 107 is mounted to tool head 40 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Powder and shot magazines 56, 57 are mounted on a stationary cover plate 112 removably mounted to an upright circular core section 113 of tool head 40. A slidable ring 114 is sandwiched between plate 112 and tool head 40 for pivotal movement about axis X-X in response to manual manipulation of a lever 115 affixed thereto. Ring 114 includes a removable shot receptacle 108 and powder receptacle 111 with chambers 106 and respectively therein. Chambers 106 and 1l0'each include a specific volume for receiving only enough shot or powder to load one cartridge of a specific gauge.

Shot and powder are allowed to fill chambers 106 and 110 respectively as shown in FIG. 16 upon alignment of the chambers'with magazines 56 and 57. Once the chambers are filled, ring 114 may be pivoted to respective positions directly above shot and powder tubes 48 and 45 (FIG. 18). Proper alignment is insured both at the chamber filling position below magazines 56, 57 and at the position above tubes 45,, 48 by a stop pin 116 fixed to too] head 40. Pin 116 stops movement of ring 114 byabutting one end wall of a slot 117 in ring 114 as the chambers reach either of said positions.

The measured amounts of shot and powder are selectively released through tubes 48 and 45 by manual operation of an aperture plate 118 slidably mounted between each tube and ring 114. Aperture plates 118 are circular in configuration and fit within complementary circular recesses in tool head 40. Each plate 118 includes an aperture 120 which may be manually moved by a handle 121 from a closed position to an open position in alignment with a chamber and tube to release the shot or powder (FIG. 19).

From the above detailed description of the invention, its operation may now be understood. To initiate the reloading operation the operator first places an empty cartridge upright on loading ram 42 at station A. He then operates lever arm 30 to bring turret 11 to the lowered position. As the turret moves downwardly, the cartridge is inserted into a die 18 through aperture 16 in plate 15. Forward movement of lever 30 then indexes and raises the cartridge to station E where punch 43 pushes the used primer downwardly. At this point the operator may place another empty cartridge on ram 42 and place a new primer anvil 44, also at station B. Lever 30 may again be operated to lower turret 11 to the lowered position where the new primer is inserted in the first cartridge and the second cartridge is simultaneously inserted into the next successive die 18.

The operator may slide ring 114 to the chamber filling position and then back, bringing the full powder and shot chambers into alignment with the powder and shot tubes 45 and 48 while both aperture plates 118 remaining in closed positions (FIG. 18). Pulling lever 30 forward again will then index and raise the first cartridge to station C. Powder tube 45 extends into the first cartridge at this position, enabling the operator to operate the aperture plate 118 above the tube 45 to release the measured charge of powder into the cartridge. Having done this, the operator places another primer on anvil 44; he may also place a third cartridge on ram 42. A primer is placed in the second cartridge and the third cartridge is inserted into a third die 18 as the op erator again operates lever 30 to move turret 11 to the lowered position.

At this point the operator inserts a wad into sleeve 61 of wad holder 60. The following upward movement of turret 11 brings the first cartridge to station D where ram 46 forces the wad into the cartridge and against the powder. Further, at this point the second cartridge, now at station C, receives powder as the operator again moves ring 1 14 to the chamber filling position to refill chamber 110, then back into alignment with tube 45. If the second cartridge has been inserted into the die 18 directly behind and adjacent the die supporting the first cartridge, the operator need not operate the aperture plate 118 but simply leave it in the open position. The powder may thereby be directly released into the second cartridge as the operator moves ring 114 to bring powder chamber 110 into alignment with tube 45.

Assuming a substantial amount of cartridges are to be reloaded, it may now be understood that each successive time turret l 1 is in the raised position, the operator places an empty cartridge on ram 42 and a new primer on anvil 44, until the cartridge supply is depleted.

Lever 30 is again moved rear-wardly bringing turret 11 down to the lowered position where wad holder 60 pivots outwardly to receive additional wadding. Another forward pull on handle 30 brings turret 11 up to the raised position with-the-first cartridge indexed to station E where the previously insertedwad is precisely positioned against the powder, by ram 47. The second cartridge, at this position receives a wad at station D while the third cartridge receives a charge of powder at station C and the primer of a fourth cartridge is removed at station B. v

After turret 11 is lowered once again and subsequently raised, the first cartridge is indexed to the shot filling station F. Ring 114 is moved to bring chambers 106 and 1 10 to magazines 57 and 56 to receive slot and powder therefrom. The operator then moves ring 114 back, bringing chambers 106 and 110 into alignment with tubes 48 and 45. Since the aperture plate 118, associated with powder tube 45, is already in the open position, the powder falls freely into a cartridge below. The aperture associated with shot'tube 48, however, must be moved to the open position to allow the shot to fall into the first cartridge below. Both apertures 118 may then be left in the open position throughout the operation of the machine, until the last cartridge to be reloaded is indexed past tube 45. The aperture plate 118 above tube 45 is then moved to the closed position.

The remaining operations, pre-crimping at station G, crimping at station H and, finally, ejection at station I automatically occur in sequence at the raised position of turret 11 as the operator continues to move lever 30 back and forwardly.

It may be understood then that during operation, at the raised position of turret 11, the operator places an empty cartridge on loading ram 42, inserts a fresh primer into anvil 44 and operates ring 114 to simultaneously deliver powder and shot to cartridges at stations C and F. Then at the lowered position of turret 11, he places a wad into holder 60 adjacent station D.

Because of the relatively simple operation of this machine, l have found that reloading speed has increased substantially over that of comparatively priced models. It may become evident from the above description and the attached drawings that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, only the following claims are intended to define the invention.

What I claim 'is: l. A manually operated reloading machine for resizing and reloading spent shotgun shells, comprising:

a base; an upright standard mounted to the base and extending upward therefrom along a vertical axis; a horizontal support plate supported on the support plate for coincident vertical movement therewith and for rotational movement about the vertical axis with respect to the support plate;

said annular die carrier having a plurality of upright shell sizing dies angularly spaced thereon about the vertical axis of receiving spent shotgun shells therein;

a tool support head having a plurality of depending tools mounted thereto angularly spaced intervals about the vertical axis defining a plurality of work stations;

manually operated drive means operatively connected to the horizontal support plate for, during each cycle of operation, moving the shell dies upward to bring the spent shells into working relation with the tools and for moving the shell dies downward to remove the spent shells from working relation with the tools;

automatic indexing means responsive to the operation of the drive means for automatically incrementally indexing the die. carrier in one angular direction about the vertical axis during each cycle of operation to reposition the cartridge dies for a succeeding cycle of operation; and

in which the automatic indexing means includes a reciprocably mounted drive pawl adapted to directly engage a shell sizing die and move the engaged shell sizing die andconsequently the die carrier in the one angular direction in response to the operation of the drive means.

2. The reloading machine as defined in claim .1 wherein the annular die carrier has a plurality of vertical apertures formed therethrough for snuggly receiving the sizing dies therein with each of the dies having a base slidably supported on the horizontal support plate with an exposed side surface and wherein the drive pawl is reciprocably mounted beneath the annular die carrier for engaging the base side surface of a sizing die and slidably moving the engaged die on the support plate in the one angular direction to index the die carrier forward and reposition the sizing dies for a succeeding cycle of operation.

3. The reloading machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the drive pawl is also mounted for limited vertical movement and wherein the indexing means further includes means for raising the pawl into position to engage the base side surface die when the pawl is reciprocated in a forward stroke and means' for lowering the pawl beneath the base of the succeeding die as the pawl is reciprocated in a return stroke to enable the pawl to be moved underneath and into position to engage the base side surface of the succeeding die at the conclusion of the return stroke.

4. The reloading machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the annular die carrier has an annular bottom groove formed therein communicating with the vertical apertures exposing the side base surfaces of the dies and wherein the pawl raising means includes a spring for biasing the drive pawl upward into the annular bottom groove of the carrier.

5. The reloading machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the pawl'lowering means includes an inclined back-surface on the pawl for engaging the base of a succeeding die progressively moving the pawl downward against the bias of the spring until the pawl is clear to move underneath the succeeding die during the return stroke.

6. The reloading machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pawl is supported on an oscillatable plate that is mounted for oscillating movement about the vertical axis.

7. The reloading machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the manually operated drive means includes a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the base and a crank means operatively connected between the shaft and the support plate for moving the support plate upwardly when the shaft is rotated in one direction and for moving the support plate downward when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction and wherein the automatic indexing means includes means responsive to the rotation of the crank shaft for moving the oscillatable plate in one direction to reciprocate the drive pawl in a forward stroke when the crank shaft is rotated in the one direction and for moving the oscillatable plate in its opposite direction to reciprocate the drive pawl in a return stroke when the crank shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

8. The reloading machine as defined in claim 7 wherein the automatic indexing means includes a crank disc mounted on the crank shaft having a wrist pin and a lever pivotally mounted on the base for pivotal movement intermediate ends in which one end has a slot formed therein to receive the wrist pin and the other end operatively engages the oscillatable plate.

Claims (8)

1. A manually operated reloading machine for resizing and reloading spent shotgun shells, comprising: a base; an upright standard mounted to the base and extending upward therefrom along a vertical axis; a horizontal support plate supported on the support plate for coincident vertical movement therewith and for rotational movement about the vertical axis with respect to the support plate; said annular die carrier having a plurality of upright shell sizing dies angularly spaced thereon about the vertical axis of receiving spent shotgun shells therein; a tool support head having a plurality of depending tools mounted thereto angularly spaced intervals about the vertical axis defining a plurality of work stations; manually operated drive means operatively connected to the horizontal support plate for, during each cycle of operation, moving the shell dies upward to bring the spent shells into working relation with the tools and for moving the shell dies downward to remove the spent shells from working relation with the tools; automatic indexing means responsive to the operation of the drive means for automatically incrementally indexing the die carrier in one angular direction about the vertical axis during each cycle of operation to reposition the cartridge dies for a succeeding cycle of operation; and in which the automatic indexing means includes a reciprocably mounted drive pawl adapted to directly engage a shell sizing die and move the engaged shell sizing die and consequently the die carrier in the one angular direction in response to the operation of the drive means.

2. The reloading machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the annular die carrier has a plurality of vertical apertures formed therethrough for snuggly receiving the sizing dies therein with each of the dies having a base slidably supported on the horizontal support plate with an exposed side surface and wherein the drive pawl is reciprocably mounted beneath the annular die carrier for engaging the base side surface of a sizing die and slidably moving the engaged die on the support plate in the one angular direction to index the die carrier forward and reposition the sizing dies for a succeeding cycle of operation.

3. The reloading machine as defined in claim 2 wherein the drive pawl is also mounted for limited vertical movement and wherein the indexing means further includes means for raising the pawl into position to engage the base side surface die when the pawl is reciprocated in a forward stroke and means for lowering the pawl beneath the base of the succeeding die as the pawl is reciprocated in a return stroke to enable the pawl to be moved underneath and into position to engage the base side surface of the succeeding die at the conclusion of the return stroke.

4. The reloading machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the annular die carrier has an annular bottom groove formed therein communicating with the vertical apertures exposing the side base surfaces of the dies and wherein the pawl raising means includes a spring for biasing the drive pawl upward into the annular bottom groove of the carrier.

5. The reloading machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the pawl lowering means includes an inclined back surface on the pawl for engaging the base of a succeeding die progressively moving the pawl downward against the bias of the spring until the pawl is clear to move underneath the succeeding die during the return stroke.

6. The reloading machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive paWl is supported on an oscillatable plate that is mounted for oscillating movement about the vertical axis.

7. The reloading machine as defined in claim 6 wherein the manually operated drive means includes a crank shaft rotatably mounted on the base and a crank means operatively connected between the shaft and the support plate for moving the support plate upwardly when the shaft is rotated in one direction and for moving the support plate downward when the shaft is rotated in the opposite direction and wherein the automatic indexing means includes means responsive to the rotation of the crank shaft for moving the oscillatable plate in one direction to reciprocate the drive pawl in a forward stroke when the crank shaft is rotated in the one direction and for moving the oscillatable plate in its opposite direction to reciprocate the drive pawl in a return stroke when the crank shaft is rotated in the opposite direction.

8. The reloading machine as defined in claim 7 wherein the automatic indexing means includes a crank disc mounted on the crank shaft having a wrist pin and a lever pivotally mounted on the base for pivotal movement intermediate ends in which one end has a slot formed therein to receive the wrist pin and the other end operatively engages the oscillatable plate.

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