Paintball agitator with anti-jam mechanism

Abstract

A paintball agitator housed within a loader of a paintball gun is provided. The agitator includes a rotatable shaft having a drive end and a second end, and at least one fin extending radially from the shaft adjacent the second end of the shaft. The at least one fin is configured for movement in a substantially perpendicular plane relative to the shaft upon unimpeded rotation of the shaft. The at least one fin is adapted for movement in a plurality of substantially non-perpendicular planes upon contact with an obstruction within the loader, thereby permitting continuous rotation of the shaft and agitation of paintballs contained within the loader. The shaft may include a rigid drive-end segment and a flexible second-end segment, or it may include a flexible drive-end segment and a rigid second-end segment. Alternatively, the entire length of the shaft may be made of flexible and resilient material.

1 . A paintball agitator for use with a paintball loader, comprising: 
 a rotatable shaft comprising a drive end and a second end opposite the drive end, at least a portion of the shaft formed from a flexible material; and    at least one substantially rigid fin extending radially from the shaft adjacent the second end of the shaft, the at least one fin being configured for rotational movement in combination with the shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fin extends from the flexible portion of the shaft.  
     
     
         3 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft is proximate the second end of the shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft is proximate the drive end of the shaft.  
     
     
         5 . The agitator of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor coupled to the drive end of the shaft, wherein the shaft rotates upon actuation of the motor.  
     
     
         6 . The agitator of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft comprises a spring.  
     
     
         7 . The agitator of  claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit for controlling an operation of the paintball loader.  
     
     
         8 . A paintball agitator for use with a paintball loader, comprising: 
 a rotatable shaft comprising    a drive end,    a second end opposite the drive end,    a first rigid portion adjacent the drive end,    a second flexible portion adjacent the second end; and    at least one substantially rigid fin extending radially from the flexible portion.    
     
     
         9 . The agitator of  claim 6 , further comprising a motor coupled to the drive end of the shaft, wherein the shaft rotates upon actuation of the motor.  
     
     
         10 . The agitator of  claim 6 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft comprises a spring.  
     
     
         11 . The agitator of  claim 6 , further comprising a control circuit for controlling an operation of the paintball loader.  
     
     
         12 . A paintball loader comprising: 
 a paintball loader body adapted to receive a plurality of paintballs; and    an agitator mounted within the paintball loader body, the agitator comprising 
 a rotatable shaft comprising a drive end and a second end opposite the drive end, at least a portion of the shaft formed from a flexible material,  
 at least one substantially rigid fin extending radially from the shaft adjacent the second end of the shaft, the at least one fin being configured for rotational movement in combination with the shaft, and  
   a motor for rotating the shaft.    
     
     
         13 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fin extends from the flexible portion of the shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft is proximate the second end of the shaft.  
     
     
         15 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft is proximate the drive end of the shaft.  
     
     
         16 . The agitator of  claim 12 , further comprising a motor coupled to the drive end of the shaft, wherein the shaft rotates upon actuation of the motor.  
     
     
         17 . The agitator of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible portion of the shaft comprises a spring.  
     
     
         18 . The agitator of  claim 12 , further comprising a control circuit for controlling an operation of the paintball loader.  
     
     
         19 . A paintball agitator assembly for an active feed paintball loader, comprising: 
 a shaft comprising a first rigid portion and a second flexible portion, the flexible portion including at least one engagement section; and    a drive cone having a top surface and a bottom surface, the drive cone including a raised central portion, an annular top feed surface extending from the central portion, and at least one fin extending from the central portion adjacent the feed surface, the drive cone including at least one engagement section for matingly engaging the at least one engagement section of the shaft.    
     
     
         20 . The paintball agitator assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a motor coupled to the drive end of the shaft, wherein the shaft rotates upon actuation of the motor.  
     
     
         21 . The paintball agitator assembly of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 a control circuit comprising a microprocessor for controlling operation of the paintball loader, the control circuit including at least one sensor adapted to detect a demand for paintballs by a paintball gun.    
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a paintball loader filled with paintballs, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a rotatable shaft within the body of a paintball loader, the shaft comprising a drive end and a second end opposite the drive end, at least a portion of the shaft formed from a flexible material;    (b) providing at least one substantially rigid fin extending radially from the shaft adjacent the second end of the shaft, the at least one fin being configured for rotational movement in combination with the shaft; and    (c) rotating the shaft with a motor.