Ammunition having surface indicia and method of manufacture
OwnerWilliam Morton, James Yancey Menefee III +1inventors
InventorsWilliam Morton, James Yancey Menefee III, Andrew Resko
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Abstract
Ammunition, such as shotshells used in waterfowl hunting, have indicia applied to substantially all of the external surface to reduce glare normally a problem in conventional ammunition. The indicia, such as a camouflage pattern, is applied either through the use of inkjet printing directly on the shotshell surface or through the application of a heat transfer sleeve to which the indicia has been previously applied. The process of applying the camouflage pattern may be incorporated into the manufacture of the ammunition or may be operable as a standalone process used for pre-manufactured ammunition.
Claims28
Apparatus for printing indicia on an external surface of cylindrical ammunition having an axis comprising:
- a plurality of inkjet print heads for spraying preprogrammed indicia on the ammunition;
- a conveyor for carrying a plurality of cylindrical ammunition thereon and for rotating the cylindrical ammunition about the ammunitions axis while traversing the plurality of inkjet print heads for printing the preprogrammed indicia thereabout;
- and
- a controller for causing the pre-programmed indicia to be sprayed on the ammunition as the ammunition is rotated.
A method of applying indicia about an external surface of cylindrical ammunition comprising:
- providing a plurality of ammunition;
- orienting the ammunition for application of the indicia thereon;
- and
- applying the indicia to a substantial portion of an entire outer surface of the ammunition.
A camouflaged ammunition comprising a substantially cylindrical outer surface, wherein indicia is applied to substantially the entire outer surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.