Dispenser for firearm ammunition powder

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser for dispensing ammunition powder to a plurality of ammunition cases, the firearm ammunition powder dispenser comprising:
 a frame;   a hopper configured to hold a supply of ammunition powder;   a conveyor configured to dispense ammunition powder from the hopper;   a scale sensor configured to sense an amount of ammunition powder from the hopper, the scale sensor configured to generate a scale sensor signal representative of the amount of ammunition powder, the conveyor being configured to dispense powder based on the scale sensor signal;   a dispensing outlet downstream from the hopper configured to deliver ammunition powder to the plurality of cases, the dispensing outlet supported by the frame and movable with respect to the frame to a plurality of dispensing locations for delivering ammunition powder to the plurality of ammunition cases from the plurality of dispensing locations.   
     
     
         2 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a gantry supporting the dispensing outlet, the gantry supported by the frame and configured to move the dispensing outlet with respect to the frame to the plurality of dispensing locations for delivering the ammunition powder to the ammunition cases from the plurality of locations. 
     
     
         3 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the gantry includes a beam supported by the frame, the beam being movable with respect to the frame to move the dispensing outlet to different ones of the dispensing locations. 
     
     
         4 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the beam extends from a first portion of the frame to a second portion of the frame across a gap between the first and second portions of the frame. 
     
     
         5 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the dispensing outlet is movable along the beam for moving the dispensing outlet to different ones of the dispensing locations. 
     
     
         6 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hopper, conveyor, and scale sensor are supported by the frame. 
     
     
         7 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the dispensing outlet is movable with respect to the hopper and conveyor, the dispensing outlet being movable to a home position for receiving powder from the conveyor, and the dispensing outlet being movable away from the home position to the plurality of dispensing positions. 
     
     
         8 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing head, the dispensing head including the dispensing outlet, the dispensing head being supported by and movable with respect to the frame to locate the dispensing outlet in the plurality of dispensing locations. 
     
     
         9 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the dispensing head includes the scale sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the dispensing head includes a powder receptacle arranged to receive ammunition powder from the conveyor, the scale sensor being arranged to sense weight of powder in the powder receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an ammunition case support, the ammunition case support being supported by the frame and arranged to support the plurality of ammunition cases for receiving ammunition powder from the dispensing outlet from the plurality of dispensing locations. 
     
     
         12 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the ammunition case support is movable upward and downward to reduce a distance between the ammunition case support and the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         13 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the ammunition case support includes locating structure shaped and arranged to define a predetermined location of an ammunition case tray on the ammunition case support for holding the plurality of ammunition cases in predetermined case locations corresponding to respective ones of the plurality of dispensing locations of the dispensing outlet. 
     
     
         14 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser for dispensing ammunition powder to a plurality of ammunition cases, the firearm ammunition powder dispenser comprising:
 a frame;   a gantry supported by the frame;   a dispensing head supported by the gantry and movable by the gantry to a plurality of dispensing locations with respect to the frame for dispensing ammunition powder to the plurality of ammunition cases from the plurality of dispensing locations, the dispensing head including a powder receptacle configured to hold ammunition powder, and the dispensing head including a scale sensor configured to sense an amount of powder held in the powder receptacle.   
     
     
         15 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the dispensing head includes a load cell comprising the scale sensor, the dispensing head including a beam connected to the load cell, the beam supporting the powder receptacle and connecting the powder receptacle to the load cell. 
     
     
         16 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the dispensing head comprises a plunger having a plunger head movable with respect to the powder receptacle to a closed position to close the powder receptacle to hold ammunition powder therein and to an open position to open the powder receptacle to dispense ammunition powder therefrom. 
     
     
         17 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the dispensing head includes a plunger driver, the plunger driver configured to engage the plunger to move the plunger toward the open position, and the plunger driver configured to be disengaged from the plunger when the plunger is in the closed position. 
     
     
         18 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser for dispensing ammunition powder to a plurality of ammunition cases, the firearm ammunition powder dispenser comprising:
 a frame;   a hopper configured to hold a supply of ammunition powder;   a dispensing outlet supported by the frame, the dispensing outlet being downstream from the hopper and configured to deliver ammunition powder to the plurality of cases;   an ammunition case support supported by the frame and arranged to support the plurality of ammunition cases for receiving ammunition powder from the dispensing outlet;   wherein at least one of the dispensing outlet or ammunition case support is movable with respect to the other of the dispensing outlet or ammunition case support to locate the dispensing outlet with respect to individual ones of the plurality of ammunition cases for delivery of powder from the dispensing outlet to the individual ones of the plurality of ammunition cases.   
     
     
         19 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one of the dispensing outlet or ammunition case support is movable upward and downward to selectively decrease a distance between the dispensing outlet and the ammunition case support. 
     
     
         20 . A firearm ammunition powder dispenser as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising a stop configured to stop movement of said at least one of the dispensing outlet or ammunition case support to define a decreased distance therebetween from which ammunition powder is dispensed from the dispensing outlet.