Importance

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Abstract

A finger assembly includes a holder supported in depending position on a horizontal rail in the case loader. Fingers extend downwardly and outwardly from the holder and are resiliently clamped therein by a retaining member. An elongated fastener extends upwardly through the retaining member and has its upper end secured in the holder. The retaining member is spring biased upwardly against inturned fulcrum defining portions of each finger and said retaining member cooperates with a downwardly open cavity in the holder to define a plurality of finger sockets therebetween. The fingers are held for limited movement toward and away from centered positions associated with pockets defined in the case loader for the articles being loaded, and each finger is also adapted for limited lateral movement in its associated socket, at least when the finger is not in its centered position in a pocket. Two retaining member versions are disclosed, one with an axially symmetrical retaining member, and another with a four sided retainer to avoid the need for a depending skirt on the holder. These retaining members can be used with four fingers per pocket or article passageway, and with two fingers per pocket to reduce the number of holders and retainers (as well as the number of fingers) in a case loader capable of handling a given number of articles in a charge or slug.

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First Claim