Ammunition press and components thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11913763-B2
Application number	US-202117445464-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2021
Priority date	Aug 19, 2020
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

An ammunition press for manufacturing or reloading ammunition cartridges. The ammunition press includes a slide bearing about which the ram of the ammunition press moves to provide smooth operation of the ammunition press. A configurable spent primer system is provided to enable a user to select how they want to collect spent primers or other debris from the ammunition press. According to a user's preference, the ammunition press can also be customized to provide a cam-over or non-cam-over sensation as the user operates the ammunition press. A light is integrated with the ammunition press for illuminating a shell holder that holds the ammunition shells (sometimes called cases). Components of the ammunition press and associated methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ammunition press comprising:
a frame having a base, the base configured to engage a support surface to support the ammunition press on the support surface;
a die holder supported by the frame and configured to hold a die for performing an operation on an ammunition case;
a driver supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame to engage an ammunition case with the die, the driver including a ram, a linkage, and a lever, the ram being movable between a home position and a pressing position for engaging the ammunition case with a die on the die holder, the lever being pivotable with respect to the frame in an actuating direction from a non-actuated position, the linkage being connected to the lever such that pivoting of the lever in the actuating direction moves the ram toward the pressing position; and
a stop having an engagement surface, the stop being arrangeable in a first arrangement and a second arrangement, wherein in the first arrangement the engagement surface is arranged to engage the driver to set the lever in a first actuated position in which the lever is prevented from further pivoting in the actuating direction, the engagement surface facing a first direction when the stop is in the first arrangement, and wherein in the second arrangement the stop is arranged to engage the driver to set the lever in a second actuated position, different from the first actuated position, in which the lever is prevented from further pivoting in the actuating direction, the engagement surface facing a second direction, different from the first direction, when the stop is in the second arrangement.

2. The ammunition press of claim 1 , wherein the first actuated position is farther in the actuating direction than the second actuated position.

3. The ammunition press of claim 2 , wherein the stop is configured to be rotated between the first and second arrangements.

4. The ammunition press of claim 3 , wherein the stop is configured to be rotated about 180 degrees between the first and second arrangements.

5. The ammunition press of claim 2 , wherein the stop includes a recess, the recess arranged to receive the driver when the stop is in the first arrangement.

6. The ammunition press of claim 5 , wherein the engagement surface defines the recess, the engagement surface configured to engage the driver when the stop is in the first arrangement.

7. The ammunition press of claim 6 , wherein the stop includes a second engagement surface opposite the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface configured to engage the driver when the stop is in the second arrangement.

8. The ammunition press of claim 1 , wherein the stop is carried by the driver and configured to move with the driver with respect to the frame when the lever is moved in the actuating direction to move the ram toward the pressing position.

9. The ammunition press of claim 8 , wherein a pivot axis between the linkage and the ram extends through the stop.

10. The ammunition press of claim 1 , wherein the engagement surface, in the first arrangement, is arranged to engage the linkage of the driver to set the first actuated position of the lever.

11. The ammunition press of claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a linkage arm pivotably connected to the base, the engagement surface, in the first arrangement, being arranged to engage the linkage arm to set the first actuated position of the lever.

12. An ammunition press comprising:
a frame having a base, the base configured to engage a support surface to support the ammunition press on the support surface;
a die holder supported by the frame and configured to hold a die for performing an operation on an ammunition case;
a driver supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame to engage an ammunition case with the die, the driver including a ram, a linkage, and a lever, the ram being movable between a home position and a pressing position for engaging the ammunition case with a die on the die holder, the lever being pivotable with respect to the frame in an actuating direction from a non-actuated position to an actuated position in which the lever is prevented from pivoting farther in the actuating direction, the linkage being connected to the lever such that pivoting of the lever in the actuating direction toward the actuated position moves the ram toward the pressing position; and
a stop carried by the driver and configured to move with the driver with respect to the frame when the lever is moved in the actuating direction to move the ram toward the pressing position, the stop arranged to engage the driver to set the actuated position of the lever, the stop being adjustable to change the actuated position of the lever in which the lever is prevented from pivoting farther in the actuating direction.

13. The ammunition press of claim 12 , wherein the stop is arrangeable in a first configuration where the stop is arranged to engage the driver to set the lever in a first actuated position in which the lever is prevented from further pivoting in the actuating direction and a second configuration where the stop is arranged to engage the driver to set the lever in a second actuated position, different from the first actuated position, in which the lever is prevented from further pivoting in the actuating direction.

14. The ammunition press of claim 13 , wherein the stop is configured to be rotated between the first and second configurations.

15. The ammunition press of claim 14 , wherein the stop is configured to be rotated about 180 degrees between the first and second configurations.

16. The ammunition press of claim 13 , wherein the stop includes a recess, the recess arranged to receive the driver when the stop is in the first configuration.

17. The ammunition press of claim 16 , wherein the stop includes a first engagement surface defining the recess, the first engagement surface configured to engage the driver when the stop is in the first configuration.

18. The ammunition press of claim 17 , wherein the stop includes a second engagement surface opposite the first engagement surface, the second engagement surface configured to engage the driver when the stop is in the second configuration.

19. The ammunition press of claim 12 , wherein a pivot axis between the linkage and the ram extends through the stop.

20. The ammunition press of claim 12 , wherein the stop is arranged to engage the linkage of the driver to set the actuated position of the lever.

21. The ammunition press of claim 12 , wherein the linkage includes a linkage arm pivotably connected to the base, the stop being arranged to engage the linkage arm to set the actuated position of the lever.

Assignees

• Aob Products Company

Inventors

• Ball Shane
• Burke Justin
• Lindsay Michael
• Grove Jarrod
• Cottrell Michael
• Tayon James
• Smith Curtis

Classifications

• F42B33/001

  Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts · CPC title

• F42B33/10

  Reconditioning used cartridge cases {(F42B33/004 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F42B33/04 Primary

  Fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes or charges {(F42B33/004 takes precedence)} · CPC title