# US 2023/0296362 A1 · Small caliber crimping primer and primer feed

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- Number: US 2023/0296362 A1
- Document ID: US20230296362A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/202,654
- Filed: 2023-05-26
- Published: 2023-09-21
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-01
- Assignees: Bitterroot Tool & Machine, Inc.
- Applicants: Bitterroot Tool & Machine, Inc.
- Inventors: Randy J. Jones; Jeff C. Hritcu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230296362A1

## CPC

- F42B 33/04: Fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes or charges {(F42B33/004 takes precedence)}
- F42B 33/002: {Orienting or guiding means for cartridges or cartridge parts during the manufacturing or packaging process; Feeding cartridge elements to automatic machines}
- F42B 33/004: {Cartridge loaders of the rotatable-turret type}
- F42B 33/005: {Crimping cartridge cases on projectiles}
- F42B: EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)

## Abstract

As described above, this new primer feed system is both accurate and consistent. The primer feed station begins by loading primers from the vendor packaging into the vibratory feed bowl via the primer chute. The bowl has an adjustable height polycarbonate guard that is inside the main safety polycarbonate doors and exits above the machine. The bowl then orients the primers open side up and discharges them into the primer track. Crimping can be done with 3 or pins or a complete radial crimp. Previous versions of the crimp station on these crimping machines involved a pin mounted to the upper ram and a lower pin actuated by the lower ram. It was difficult to time and adjust properly for a consistent crimp. This new approach to crimping has proved much more reliable, accurate and easier to adjust. It still utilizes an upper pin mounted to the upper moving ram assembly but the lower pin is fixed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A crimping primer machine comprising:
A. A case feed station where empty cases are fed to and inserted into case inserts of a case insert disk;
B. A flash hole check station comprised of a laser check, wherein if there is a flash hole fault said machine will be automatically shut down;
C. A primer feed and initial staking station where primers are fed and positioned for initial staking;
D. A final depth staking station comprising a second staking pin with a contoured end, which completes final seating of said primers;
E. A primer depth checking station comprising a laser micrometer where final primer depth is measured;
F. A reject station wherein if a case with a seated primer fails the primer depth check station, said case is ejected from final production;
G. A crimping station, wherein cases are crimped to said primers to create a final primed case; and
H. An eject station, wherein said primed case is ejected to exit the machine; wherein A motor drives a crankshaft with a chain, sprockets and clutch, which drives an upper and lower ram up and down to perform the operations of the machine; wherein said motor also drives a multi-position indexer, which rotates said case insert disk to rotate said cases through each machine station in order.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The crimping primer machine of claim 1 wherein said primer feed and initial staking station is further comprised of a vibratory feed bowl, which orients said primers open side up and discharges said primers into a primer track.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The crimping primer machine of claim 2 wherein said primer track is slanted at an approximate 30 degree angle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The crimping primer machine of claim 2 wherein air is fed into the top of said primer track to assist said primers to slide down said primer track.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The crimping primer machine of claim 2 wherein said primer feed and initial staking station is further comprised of a camera, which checks the orientation of said primers in said primer track.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The crimping primer machine of claim 2 wherein said primer track is further comprised of a spring-loaded push opening to allow removal of an individual primer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The crimping primer machine of claim 2 wherein said primer feed and initial staking station is further comprised of a slide cover track, which receives primers from said primer track.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The crimping primer machine of claim 7 wherein said slide cover track is slanted at an approximate 15 degree angle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The crimping primer machine of claim 7 wherein said primer feed and initial staking station is further comprised of a primer slide, which receives said primers from said slide cover track.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The crimping primer machine of claim 9 wherein said primer slide is comprised of a recess at the distal end of said primer slide, which receives said primers from said slide cover track.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The crimping primer machine of claim 10 wherein there is a space between the top of said recess and bottom of said slide cover track.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The crimping primer machine of claim 9 wherein said primer slide is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder to extend said primer slide.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The crimping primer machine of claim 12 wherein said primer feed and initial staking station is further comprised of a push rod, which lifts a staking pin to push said primer into said case while said primer slide is extended.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The crimping primer machine of claim 1 wherein said crimping station is further comprised of an upper-case retaining pin mounted to said upper ram.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The crimping primer machine of claim 14 wherein said crimping station is further comprised of a base comprised of a hole on its top surface, which accepts a corresponding bottom end of a crimping pin.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The crimping primer machine of claim 15, wherein said crimping pin is comprised of a pin set inserted into the top end of said crimping pin.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The crimping primer machine of claim 15, wherein said crimping pin is comprised of a pin set machined into the top end of said crimping pin.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The crimping primer machine of claim 15 further comprised of a crimp housing bolted to said base, which houses and locates said crimping pin.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The crimping primer machine of claim 18 further comprised of a spring-loaded guide, which pushes against the base of a primed case, wherein said guide is retained by a cap, which centers said case over said crimping pin and pin set.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The crimping primer machine of claim 19 wherein different calibers and primer sizes can be accommodated by interchanging said crimp housing, guide, crimping pin, pin set, and cap.