Cartridge primer feeder

A cartridge primer insertion device for use in a press including a ram that is movable in axially opposite directions and a holder for retaining a cartridge while a primer is being inserted, said device comprising:

• a trough defining a curved passageway having an upper end into which a series of primers are fed to the passageway and a lower end at which the first in the series of primers exits from the passageway while moving along a horizontal line under the gravitational force exerted by primers above said first primer in the series,
• an element joined with said trough at said lower end of the passageway, said element having a hole whose axis is perpendicular to said horizontal line and whose width is sufficient to accommodate the width of only one primer, said hole having an open side contiguous with said lower end of said passageway such that when said first primer exits the passageway said primer arrives directly and centrally in said hole, and
• a punch member arranged coaxially with said hole and movable through said hole and spring means arranged for retracting said punch member to a position where its nominally upper end is no higher than said lower end of the passageway to thereby enable a primer that has exited from the passageway to be deposited directly on said upper end,
• said punch being driven in one direction in response to movement of said ram in one direction to thereby insert said primer on the end of the punch in said cartridge retained in said holder.