Paintball loader drive system
AssigneeGi Sportz Direct LLC
InventorsJames T. Christopher, Chris T. Goddard, David M. Banks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a ball feed mechanism and associated method for use in a paintball loader. The ball feed mechanism includes a feeder which conveys or impels balls toward a feed neck, and a drive member which is concentric with the feeder. The feeder is coupled to the drive member. An electric motor is used to rotate the drive member which in turn causes the feeder to rotate. The feed mechanism includes sensors which detect the motion of the feeder and the drive member. A controller determines the position of the feeder relative to the drive member and actuates a motor when necessary.
Claims16
-15. (canceled)
A projectile loader including a feed mechanism and comprising a non-contact sensor configured to detect a change in position of a portion of the feed mechanism via a non-contact sensor.
A method of controlling a feed mechanism of a projectile loader, the method comprising detecting a change in position of a portion of the feed mechanism via a non-contact sensor.
A projectile loader comprising a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to directly detect movement of at least a moveable portion of a feed mechanism of the projectile loader, and wherein the feed mechanism comprises a moveable feeder and a motor for operating the feeder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.