Dispenser for firearm ammunition powder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566878-B2
Application number	US-202016904001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 17, 2019
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A dispenser for dispensing powder for firearm ammunition and associated methods. The dispenser can include a hopper, a conveyor, a scale sensor, a dispensing head, a dispenser controller, and a tangible storage medium storing instructions executable by the dispenser controller. The dispensing head is movable to a plurality of dispensing positions to dispense ammunition powder to a plurality of cases from the plurality of dispensing positions. In some embodiments, the dispensing head moves between a home position, where the dispensing head receives powder from the conveyor, and the plurality of dispensing positions, where the dispensing head delivers loads of powder from the conveyor to individual ammunition cases.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser for dispensing ammunition powder to a plurality of ammunition cases, the firearm ammunition powder dispenser comprising:
a frame;
a hopper configured to hold a supply of ammunition powder;
a conveyor configured to dispense ammunition powder from the hopper;
a scale sensor configured to sense an amount of ammunition powder from the hopper, the scale sensor configured to generate a scale sensor signal representative of the amount of ammunition powder, the conveyor having a moveable powder conveying surface configured to move powder based on the scale sensor signal; and
a dispensing outlet downstream from the hopper configured to deliver ammunition powder to the plurality of ammunition cases, the dispensing outlet supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame to a plurality of dispensing locations for delivering ammunition powder to the plurality of ammunition cases from the plurality of dispensing locations.

2. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a gantry supporting the dispensing outlet, the gantry supported by the frame and configured to move the dispensing outlet with respect to the frame to the plurality of dispensing locations for delivering the ammunition powder to the ammunition cases from the plurality of locations.

3. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the gantry includes a beam supported by the frame, the beam being movable with respect to the frame to move the dispensing outlet to different ones of the dispensing locations.

4. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the beam extends from a first portion of the frame to a second portion of the frame across a gap between the first and second portions of the frame.

5. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the dispensing outlet is movable along the beam for moving the dispensing outlet to different ones of the dispensing locations.

6. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the hopper, conveyor, and scale sensor are supported by the frame.

7. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the dispensing outlet is movable with respect to the hopper and conveyor, the dispensing outlet being movable to a home position for receiving powder from the conveyor, and the dispensing outlet being movable away from the home position to the plurality of dispensing positions.

8. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing head, the dispensing head including the dispensing outlet, the dispensing head being supported by and movable with respect to the frame to locate the dispensing outlet in the plurality of dispensing locations.

9. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the dispensing head includes the scale sensor.

10. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the dispensing head includes a powder receptacle arranged to receive ammunition powder from the conveyor, the scale sensor being arranged to sense weight of ammunition powder in the powder receptacle.

11. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising an ammunition case support, the ammunition case support being supported by the frame and arranged to support the plurality of ammunition cases for receiving ammunition powder from the dispensing outlet from the plurality of dispensing locations.

12. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the ammunition case support is movable upward and downward to reduce a distance between the ammunition case support and the dispensing outlet.

13. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the ammunition case support includes locating structure shaped and arranged to define a predetermined location of an ammunition case tray on the ammunition case support for holding the plurality of ammunition cases in predetermined case locations corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of dispensing locations of the dispensing outlet.

14. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising
a gantry supported by the frame and supporting the dispensing head, the dispensing head movable by the gantry to the plurality of dispensing locations.

15. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the dispensing head includes a load cell comprising the scale sensor, the dispensing head including a beam connected to the load cell, the beam supporting the powder receptacle and connecting the powder receptacle to the load cell.

16. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the dispensing head comprises a plunger having a plunger head movable with respect to the powder receptacle to a closed position to close the powder receptacle to hold ammunition powder therein and to an open position to open the powder receptacle to dispense ammunition powder therefrom.

17. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the dispensing head includes a plunger driver, the plunger driver configured to engage the plunger to move the plunger toward the open position, and the plunger driver configured to be disengaged from the plunger when the plunger is in the closed position.

18. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a rotatable tube configured to move powder by rotation of the tube.

19. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the scale sensor is arranged to sense the amount of ammunition powder from the hopper before the ammunition powder is delivered to the plurality of ammunition cases by the dispensing outlet.

20. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the hopper is supported by the frame and is movable with respect to the frame with the dispensing outlet as the dispensing outlet moves to the plurality of dispensing locations.

21. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser for dispensing ammunition powder to a plurality of ammunition cases, the firearm ammunition powder dispenser comprising:
a frame;
a hopper configured to hold a supply of ammunition powder; and
a dispensing outlet supported by the frame, the dispensing outlet being downstream from the hopper and configured to deliver ammunition powder to the plurality of ammunition cases;
wherein the dispensing outlet is movable with respect to the frame to locate the dispensing outlet with respect to individual ones of the plurality of ammunition cases for delivery of powder from the dispensing outlet to the individual ones of the plurality of ammunition cases;
wherein the dispensing outlet is movable upward and downward with respect to the frame to selectively increase and decrease, respectively, a distance between the dispensing outlet and the plurality of ammunition cases.

22. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 21 , further comprising a stop configured to stop movement of the dispensing outlet to define a decreased distance therebetween between the dispensing outlet and the plurality of ammunition cases from which ammunition powder is dispensed from the dispensing outlet.

23. A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in claim 21 , wherein the stop comprise

Assignees

• Aob Products Company

Inventors

• Burke Justin
• Tayon James
• Kinney Timothy S
• Cottrell Michael
• Cauley Jr Dennis W
• Steere Brian
• Dalton Mark
• Martin Kyle
• Lindsay Michael
• Vesich Anthony
• Eckelkamp Brett
• Wheeler Seth
• Varnum Ryan
• Kinamore Matthew
• Smith Curtis
• Grove Jarrod

Classifications

• F42B33/0285 Primary

  Measuring explosive-charge levels in containers or cartridge cases; Methods or devices for controlling the quantity of material fed or filled (F42B33/004 takes precedence; controlling the quantity of material fed in packaging B65B3/26) · CPC title

• F42B33/0207 Primary

  Processes for loading or filling propulsive or explosive charges in containers · CPC title