Small caliber crimping primer and primer feed
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 5 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.
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.
2. 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.
3. The crimping primer machine of claim 2 wherein said primer track is slanted at an approximate 30 degree angle.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. The crimping primer machine of claim 7 wherein said slide cover track is slanted at an approximate 15 degree angle.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. The crimping primer machine of claim 9 wherein said primer slide is actuated by a pneumatic cylinder to extend said primer slide.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. The crimping primer machine of claim 15 further comprised of a crimp housing bolted to said base, which houses and locates said crimping pin.
19. 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.
20. 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.