A dispenser for dispensing powder for firearm ammunition and associated methods. The dispenser can include a hopper, a conveyor, a scale sensor, a dispensing head, a dispenser controller, and a tangible storage medium storing instructions executable by the dispenser controller. The dispensing head is movable to a plurality of dispensing positions to dispense ammunition powder to a plurality of cases from the plurality of dispensing positions. In some embodiments, the dispensing head moves between a home position, where the dispensing head receives powder from the conveyor, and the plurality of dispensing positions, where the dispensing head delivers loads of powder from the conveyor to individual ammunition cases.

A system, device and method for accurately and efficiently dispensing powder for loading ammunition. The dispenser or loader is configured to autonomously determine the powder type and the dispense rate of powder is determined for selected rotational speeds based on powder type. The most efficient dispensing regime is determined using a number of fixed speeds of barrel rotation wherein switch points among the speeds of barrel rotation, stopping points and trickle rates to approach a target weight without overshooting.

A dispenser for dispensing powder for firearm ammunition and associated methods. The dispenser can include a hopper, a conveyor, a scale, a dispenser controller, and a tangible storage medium storing instructions executable by the dispenser controller. The dispenser controller can execute a powder calibration sequence and/or a dispensing sequence. In the powder calibration sequence and/or the dispensing sequence, the dispenser controller desirably learns the dispense rate of the powder and uses the dispense rate to optimize dispensing of the powder and increase precision in dispensing a target mass of powder. The conveyor can comprise a conveyor tube having a conveyor tube axis oriented to extend at an upward angle with respect to horizontal.

A powder dispensing device is provided including a housing; a hopper sized and shaped to engage the housing to form a reservoir; a first barrel in fluid communication with the reservoir via one or more first apertures and having a first internal diameter; a second barrel in fluid communication with the reservoir via one or more second apertures and having a second internal diameter, wherein the first internal diameter is greater than the second internal diameter; at least one motor coupled to the first barrel and the second barrel, the at least one motor configured to rotate the first barrel and the second barrel; a scale electrically coupled to a scale plate, the scale plate disposed on the housing and below the first barrel and the second barrel; and a user interface in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the scale, the user interface configured to receive a user-input.

A powder compaction device is disclosed. The device has a drive motor operable connected to a compaction rod that moves through a loading platform to a cartridge holding platform. A powder loading station is positioned below the loading platform and above the cartridge holding platform. The compaction rod moves through the powder loading station, which loads a predetermined volume of propellant powder into one or more reliefs defined in the compaction rod. The cartridge holding platform has a removable cartridge fixture designed to receive an ammunition cartridge to be loaded and compacted with propellant powder. The propellant powder is released into the cartridge fixture from the reliefs as the compaction rod passes a funnel defined at an upper end of the fixture. After releasing the powder, the compaction rod continues into an interior chamber of the fixture to compact the powder contained therein.

Herein described is a small caliber ammunition production loading machine with a novel measuring location and device. The machine will load one cartridge at a time and is referred to as a ‘single-out” machine (see FIG. 1). The machine will be similar in nature to existing loading machines with the following key novel aspects: a) The cartridge overall length (OAL) will be measured both as an overall dimension which is industry standard and also at a key datum location on a bullet's ogive. Measuring to a repeatable datum point on the bullet's ogive gives a more accurate representation of the cartridge's ballistic ability.

A powder dispensing device is provided including a housing; a hopper sized and shaped to engage the housing to form a reservoir; a first barrel in fluid communication with the reservoir via one or more first apertures and having a first internal diameter; a second barrel in fluid communication with the reservoir via one or more second apertures and having a second internal diameter, wherein the first internal diameter is greater than the second internal diameter; at least one motor coupled to the first barrel and the second barrel, the at least one motor configured to rotate the first barrel and the second barrel; a scale electrically coupled to a scale plate, the scale plate disposed on the housing and below the first barrel and the second barrel; and a user interface in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the scale, the user interface configured to receive a user-input.

Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products are configured to package products using automated movement of components that fill, then clip bags in a manner that is particularly suitable for packaging blasting powder and/or explosives in shot bags.

The present invention includes a powder compaction device comprising a loading platform positioned above a lower platform; a compaction rod aperture positioned in the loading platform; a vertical tube positioned in communication with the compaction rod aperture; a compaction rod positioned in the compaction rod aperture and extending through the compaction rod aperture, wherein the compaction rod comprises one or more reliefs having a powder volume; a drive motor in communication with the vertical tube and connected to the compaction rod to move the compaction rod through the compaction rod aperture; a first funnel-shaped device positioned below the loading platform, wherein the first funnel-shaped device comprises a first funnel aperture, wherein the first funnel aperture aligns with the compaction rod aperture to move the compaction rod through the compaction rod aperture and the first funnel aperture; an adaptor platform secured to the lower platform and aligned with the compaction rod aperture; an ammunition cartridge fixture slidably secured in the adaptor platform, wherein the ammunition cartridge fixture comprises a funnel-shaped opening, an interior cartridge shaped void, and a funnel aperture connecting the funnel-shaped opening to the interior cartridge shaped void, wherein the funnel aperture is aligned with the compaction rod aperture and the first funnel aperture to accommodate the compaction movement of the compaction rod; an ammunition cartridge positioned in the ammunition cartridge fixture; a powder reservoir positioned in communication with the first funnel-shaped device to transport powder to the first funnel-shaped device; a compaction controller in communication with the drive motor and one or more sensors to control the direction of the motor to control the direction of movement of the compaction rod and the force applied to the compaction rod to control the compaction of the powder; and a powder metering controller in communication with the gate and one or more second sensors to control the amount of powder delivered and he powder is despised.

A non-contacting deviation measurement system projects a first line and a second line upon a surface of an object. The projections of the first line and second line are arranged to overlap at an intersection line oriented at a nominal location such that when the surface is oriented at the nominal location, the intersection line appears on the surface. As the location of the surface deviates from the nominal location, the first line and second line as projected upon the surface move away from one another. The distance between the lines may be used to calculate the deviation from the nominal location. The deviation calculated may be compared to a predetermined maximum allowable deviation.