Dual sided and dual process bandolier

Abstract

A method of making bullets on a progressive die wherein the progressive dies acts on a work piece having an elongated body with blanks at each end. The work piece is supported by a bandolier which is also formed in the progressive die. The progressive die forms each blank into a bullet, effectively doubling the output of the progressive die relative to a progressive die that acts upon a work piece that supports, or is, a single blank.

1 . A dual sided work piece structured to be carried by a bandolier along a progressive die, said progressive die having a plurality of work stations disposed on opposite sides of said bandolier, said work piece comprising:
 a body having a first end, a medial portion, and a second end;   each of said first end and second end being a blank structured to be acted upon by said work stations; and   said medial portion being a stem structured to support said blanks.   
   
   
       2 . The dual sided work piece of  claim 1  wherein said bandolier includes a plurality of retention members, each said retention member structured to support said work piece, and wherein said stem is structured to be removably coupled to one said retention member. 
   
   
       3 . The dual sided work piece of  claim 1  wherein said blanks are structured to be reshaped by said work stations and wherein said reshaped blanks have a different length and/or a greater cross-sectional area than the original blanks. 
   
   
       4 . The dual sided work piece of  claim 1  wherein each said blank is structured to be reshaped into a bullet. 
   
   
       5 . The dual sided work piece of  claim 1  wherein the blank at the first end has one configuration and the blank at the second end has a different configuration. 
   
   
       6 . The dual sided work piece of  claim 1  wherein the blank at the first end and the blank at the second end are formed into cooperative components. 
   
   
       7 . A dual sided bandoliered work piece comprising:
 a bandolier having a base supporting a plurality of retaining members spaced along said base;   each said retaining member structured to releasably support a dual sided work piece;   each said dual sided work piece comprising:
 a body having a first end, a medial portion, and a second end; 
 each of said first end and second end being a blank structured to be acted upon by said work stations; 
 said medial portion being a stem structured to support said blanks; and 
 wherein the processing of said blanks by said work stations results in two finished products per body. 
   
   
   
       8 . The dual sided bandoliered work piece of  claim 7  wherein said bandolier includes a plurality of retention members, each said retention member structured to support said work piece, and wherein said stem is structured to be removably coupled to one said retention member. 
   
   
       9 . The dual sided bandoliered work piece of  claim 7  wherein said blanks are structured to be reshaped by said work stations and wherein said reshaped blanks have a greater length and/or a greater cross-sectional area than the original blanks. 
   
   
       10 . The dual sided bandoliered work piece of  claim 7  wherein each said blank is structured to be reshaped into a bullet. 
   
   
       11 . The dual sided bandoliered work piece of  claim 7  wherein the blank at the first end has one configuration and the blank at the second end has a different configuration. 
   
   
       12 . The dual sided bandoliered work piece of  claim 7  wherein the blank at the first end and the blank at the second end are formed into cooperative components. 
   
   
       13 . A progressive die structured to utilize dual sided work pieces, said die:
 receiving metal strip material;   receiving metal wire;   forming said strip material into a bandolier comprising a base supporting a plurality of retaining members spaced along;said base;   forming said wire material into a dual sided work piece;   said dual sided work piece comprising:
 a body having a first end, a medial portion, and a second end; 
 each of said first end and second end being a blank structured to be acted upon by said work stations; 
 said medial portion being a stem structured to support said blanks; and 
 wherein the processing of said blanks by said work stations results in two finished products per body. 
   
   
   
       14 . The progressive die of  claim 13  wherein said blanks are structured to be reshaped by said work stations and wherein said reshaped blanks have a greater length and/or a greater cross-sectional area than the original blanks. 
   
   
       15 . The progressive die of  claim 13  wherein each said blank is structured to be reshaped into a bullet. 
   
   
       16 . A method of making bullets using at least a two-out process utilizing a progressive die having a plurality of work stations and through which an elongated carrier moves, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) forming a bandolier from strip material, said bandolier having a plurality of retaining members;   b) inserting a dual sided work piece into each retaining member, said dual sided work piece having a body having a first end, a medial portion, and a second end, each of said first end and second end being a blank structured to be acted upon by said work stations, said medial portion being a stem structured to support said blanks;   c) forming said blanks into bullets; and   d) separating said bullets from said stem.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein substantially similar work stations are disposed opposite of each other oh lateral sides of said bandolier, and wherein said step of forming said blanks into bullets includes the step of:
 actuating said substantially similar work stations at about the same time so that both the work piece first and second end blanks are acted upon about simultaneously, whereby the work piece is less likely to become skewed relative to the longitudinal axis of said bandolier.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said step of inserting a dual sided work piece into each retaining member includes the steps of:
 feeding a length of wire on to the bandolier; and   cutting the wire at an appropriate length.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said progressive die includes at least one coining station, and wherein said step of forming said blanks into bullets includes the step of:
 coining the blank into the shape of a bullet.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said progressive die includes at least one cutting station, and wherein said step of forming said blanks into bullets includes the step of:
 removing material from the blank to create a finished bullet.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said progressive die includes at least one trim station, and wherein said step of forming said blanks into bullets includes the step of:
 trimming flashing from said blank.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said progressive die includes at least one cutting station, and wherein said step of forming said blanks into bullets includes the step of:
 removing material from the blank to create a finished bullet.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said bandolier is further fed into additional devices structured to perform other processes selected from the group comprising, but not limited to: cleaning, coating, and heat treating. 
   
   
       24 . Bandoliered dual sided work pieces comprising:
 a bandolier having a base supporting a plurality of retaining members spaced along said base; and   a plurality of dual sided work pieces, each said dual sided work pieces being releasably retained by a said retention member.   
   
   
       25 . Bandoliered dual sided work pieces of  claim 24  wherein each said dual sided work piece includes a body having a first end, a medial portion, and a second end, each of said first end and second end being a blank structured to be acted upon, and said medial portion being a stem structured to support said blanks. 
   
   
       26 . Bandoliered dual sided work pieces of  claim 24  wherein each said stem is structured to be removably coupled to one said retention member.