Progressive ammunition press system
Progressive ammunition press system, components thereof, and associated methods. The press system may include a press control system integrated with the press. The press may include a case carriage including a case carrier supported by a bearing. Case retainer gates may be provided for retaining cases in the case carrier. A bullet feeding system can be arranged to permit bullet feeding and seating in a single station of the press. A primer feeder can be self-contained, gear-driven, and/or recirculating.
1 . A progressive ammunition press system comprising:
a frame configured to be supported by a support surface;
a case carrier supported by the frame, the case carrier including multiple case holders each configured to hold an ammunition case, the case carrier being moveable with respect to the frame to move the case holders to a plurality of stations;
a tool head supported by the frame, the tool head comprising a plurality of press accessory mounts, the tool head being moveable with respect to the case carrier;
a drive system operatively connected to the tool head to move the tool head with respect to the case carrier;
a communications output port supported by and moveable with the tool head; and
a communications input port supported by and moveable with the tool head and operatively coupled to the communications output port to transmit communication signals to the communications output port.
2 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the tool head includes an opening corresponding to the communications input port and the communications input port is accessible via the opening.
3 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the opening is located in an upper surface of the tool head.
4 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board structure, the communications output port and communications input port being connected to the printed circuit board structure, the printed circuit board structure including circuitry operatively coupling the communications input port to the communications output port.
5 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 4 , further comprising at least one LED connected to the printed circuit board structure and configured to receive electrical power from the communications output port, the at least one LED configured to emit light downward to illuminate an area below the tool head.
6 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 4 , wherein the printed circuit board structure is connected to a bottom of the tool head.
7 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 4 , wherein the printed circuit board structure comprises a single printed circuit board.
8 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , further comprising a press controller and a tangible storage medium each supported by the tool head, the tangible storage medium storing press controller executable instructions to generate a command signal to control an operation of the press system based on a sensor signal received from the communications input port.
9 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 8 , wherein the press system includes an audible alarm, and the operation of the press system comprises energizing the audible alarm.
10 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 8 , wherein the press system includes at least one illuminator, and the operation of the press system comprises changing a state of the illuminator.
11 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 10 , wherein the illuminator is oriented to illuminate the case carrier.
12 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the communications signal input port includes an electrical power terminal.
13 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the communications input port comprises a 3.5 mm socket.
14 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the communications output port comprises a USB type connector.
15 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the communications input port is a first communications input port, and the progressive ammunition press system further comprises a second communications input port supported by and moveable with the tool head and operatively coupled to the communications output port to transmit communication signals to the communications output port.
16 . The progressive ammunition press system of claim 1 , wherein the communications input port is a first communications input port, and the progressive ammunition press system further comprises a second, third, and fourth communications input ports supported by and moveable with the tool head and operatively coupled to the communications output port to transmit communication signals to the communications output port.