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Sensing systems for paintball loaders

a paintball loader and sensor technology, applied in the field of paintball guns or markers, can solve the problem of not disclosing the torque measuremen

Inactive Publication Date: 2014-02-13
MIDDLEBROOK FARRER +2
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a loader for a paintball gun that has a container for holding paintballs and a motor-operated drive for feeding paintballs through an exit tube. The exit tube has sensing means that detect pressure on a static column of paintballs and use it to control the operation of the drive motor. This allows for automatic feeding of paintballs from the container to the gun. The invention also includes a paintball gun fitted with the loader.

Problems solved by technology

Disadvantages of these prior art systems are that, in the former case, there is no differentiation between a paintball which is passing or stacking up in the tube, and in the latter case the torque measurements do not disclose a jam or other problem upstream of the exit tube.

Method used

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  • Sensing systems for paintball loaders
  • Sensing systems for paintball loaders
  • Sensing systems for paintball loaders

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0012]Referring first to FIG. 1 there is a paintball gun of conventional construction with a main body 1, a barrel 2, a front handgrip 3, a rear handgrip 4, a trigger 5 and an exit tube 6 extending from the paintball loader (indicated generally as 7) down to the gun for feeding paintballs into said gun as required.

[0013]With reference to FIG. 2 a hopper 8 in the loader housing is filled with paintballs by opening a latching lid 10. The hopper has a floor which includes a spring loaded ramp 11, as well as a sunken race 12. The sunken race is configured to receive paintballs which can be forced around by the turning action of an impeller 13. A smooth exit from the race is provided in the form of the curving exit tube 6. Power from the batteries 13A is controlled by the use of a power button 14. A circuit board 15 is used to control the power circuit and distribute power to the impeller motor 16. A planetary gearbox system 17 transfers the motor rotation to the impeller.

[0014]In operat...

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Abstract

There is a loader for a paintball gun. The loader includes a container for holding a supply of paintballs, a motor operated drive for feeding paintballs from said container through an exit tube communicating with said gun and sensing means associated with a segment of said exit tube. The sensing means is adapted to control the operation of said drive motor in accordance with pressure by or on a static column of paintballs in said exit tube.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to paintball guns or markers. More particularly although not exclusively it discloses an improved sensing means for controlling the operation of paintball gun loaders.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Paintball guns typically include a loader device which is mounted to the top of the gun housing. The loader is adapted to contain a supply of paintballs which are fed down an exit tube into the firing chamber of the gun as required. The paintballs may be fed into the tube by a rotating agitator disc or impeller means driven by an electric motor. In order to avoid jamming the loader some kind of sensor is necessary to shut down the agitator or impeller when the exit tube becomes full of paintballs. Prior art paintball loaders are known to use electromechanical and / or optical sensors to detect the absence or presence of a paintball in the exit tube. Alternatively prior art sensors may measure the torque applied by the motor or gear system...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): F41B11/53F41B11/57
CPCF41B11/57F41B11/53
Inventor MIDDLEBROOK, FARRERGRUNDY, JAMES CONRADGRUNDY, BOURKE RAYMOND
Owner MIDDLEBROOK FARRER