Abstract: A fill material is for use within a closed interior chamber of a gelatin paintball capsule. The fill material includes a polyethylene glycol and an oil. Each one of the polyethylene glycol and the oil is present in a respective amount that is substantially less than about 90% by weight of the fill material. The fill material additionally includes at least a first additive that is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a dye, a density agent, a thickener, and a surfactant. Preferably, a starch may be used as the density agent, as the emulsifier, and/or as the thickener. Suitable starches may include corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, modified starch, and combinations thereof, among others.

Abstract: A spreader box and method form a bi-laminar paintball shell material. Walls of a box body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a first gel. Walls of a gate body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a second gel. Within the box, the first gel is kept separate from the second gel. The box body aperture dispenses the first gel as a continuous first layer. The gate body aperture dispenses the second gel as a continuous second layer that is adjacent and juxtaposed with the first layer, such that the first gel bonds with the second gel to form the bi-laminar paintball shell material. A paintball, containing a fill material, has a frangible bi-laminar shell including an exterior shell that completely surrounds and contains an interior shell. The paintball is adapted to withstand the normal range of forces sustained in being fired from a paintball gun.

Abstract: A spreader box and method form a bi-laminar paintball shell material. Walls of a box body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a first gel. Walls of a gate body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a second gel. Within the box, the first gel is kept separate from the second gel. The box body aperture dispenses the first gel as a continuous first layer. The gate body aperture dispenses the second gel as a continuous second layer that is adjacent and juxtaposed with the first layer, such that the first gel bonds with the second gel to form the bi-laminar paintball shell material. A paintball, containing a fill material, has a frangible bi-laminar shell including an exterior shell that completely surrounds and contains an interior shell. The paintball is adapted to withstand the normal range of forces sustained in being fired from a paintball gun.

Abstract: A rotary die support and insert die device is for forming gel capsules and for use with a pair of gel ribbons and a fill material. The device includes rotary die supports and insert die members. The rotary die supports rotate towards one another. Each insert die member has a contact rim and inner and outer surfaces. The outer surface extends into an outwardly facing aperture in an exterior surface of one rotary die support. It securely engages the rotary die support in selectively removable relation. The inner surface has an outwardly facing cavity. The ribbons are juxtaposed between contact rims of opposing insert die members mounted on opposing rotary die supports. A web of gel material is formed from the ribbons, with the cavities of the insert die members forming encapsulated pocket portions in the web which are filled with the fill material.

Abstract: A fill material is for use within a closed interior chamber of a gelatin paintball capsule. The fill material includes a starch and a polyethylene glycol and/or an oil. The starch is present in an amount that is substantially more than about 48% by weight of the fill material. Suitable starches may include corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, modified starch, and combinations thereof, among others. The fill material may also include a dye, a surfactant, and/or an additional material, such as, for example, a density agent, an emulsifier, and/or a thickener.

Abstract: A printing roller apparatus and method are for use with ink and a gel carried on an operatively rotating casting drum. The apparatus and method include a print roller and a drive member. The print roller has an exterior print surface rollably engaging the gel. The drive member directly engages the casting drum and operatively rotates the print roller, such that the print surface moves coincident with the gel carried on the operatively rotating casting drum. An even distribution of the ink is transferred from the print surface to the gel, so as to clearly print at least one print indicium thereon.

Abstract: A spreader box and method form a bi-laminar paintball shell material. Walls of a box body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a first gel. Walls of a gate body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a second gel. Within the box, the first gel is kept separate from the second gel. The box body aperture dispenses the first gel as a continuous first layer. The gate body aperture dispenses the second gel as a continuous second layer that is adjacent and juxtaposed with the first layer, such that the first gel bonds with the second gel to form the bi-laminar paintball shell material. A paintball, containing a fill material, has a frangible bi-laminar shell including an exterior shell that completely surrounds and contains an interior shell. The paintball is adapted to withstand the normal range of forces sustained in being fired from a paintball gun.

Abstract: A fill material is for use within a closed interior chamber of a gelatin paintball capsule. The fill material includes a polyethylene glycol and an oil. Each one of the polyethylene glycol and the oil is present in a respective amount that is substantially less than about 90% by weight of the fill material. The fill material additionally includes at least a first additive that is selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a dye, a density agent, a thickener, and a surfactant. Preferably, a starch may be used as the density agent, as the emulsifier, and/or as the thickener. Suitable starches may include corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, modified starch, and combinations thereof, among others.

Abstract: A gel capsule has embossed surface configurations that form, in relief, an imprinted design over the entire extent of its exterior surface. An apparatus and method for producing and/or manufacturing an imprinted gel ribbon that is useful in forming the gel capsule. The apparatus includes a spreader box and a rotatable casting drum. The spreader box holds a flowable gel, and has an opening through which the gel flows. The casting drum has an exterior cast surface that is provided with surface configurations in embossed relation thereon. In use, a receiving portion of the cast surface directly receives dispensed gel from the spreader box. The casting drum operatively rotates and drags the dispensed gel from the spreader box opening to solidify and form the gel ribbon, with the surface configurations forming, in relief, the imprinted design in one side of the ribbon.

Abstract: An electrically operated paintball gun operable to shoot paintballs including a barrel, a trigger, and a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, as well as a bolt movable in the breech between a rearward position and a forward shooting position. A spring biases the bolt towards the rearward position. A pneumatic circuit is provided to drive the bolt towards the forward position and includes a control valve in the form of a solenoid valve to receive gas under pressure and direct it into a chamber at the rear of the bolt when the gun is shot. An electronic circuit controls the pneumatic circuit and is operated by an electrical switch operated by the trigger. A gas valve mechanism is opened by engagement by the bolt, when the latter is driven forwardly to the shooting position, to permit the passage of relatively high pressure propellant gas into the barrel to propel a paintball.

Abstract: An electrically operated paintball gun operable to shoot paintballs including a barrel, a trigger, and a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, as well as a bolt movable in the breech between a rearward position and a forward shooting position. A spring biases the bolt towards the rearward position. A pneumatic circuit is provided to drive the bolt towards the forward position and includes a control valve in the form of a solenoid valve to receive gas under pressure and direct it into a chamber at the rear of the bolt when the gun is shot. An electronic circuit controls the pneumatic circuit and is operated by an electrical switch operated by the trigger. A gas valve mechanism is opened by engagement by the bolt, when the latter is driven forwardly to the shooting position, to permit the passage of relatively high pressure propellant gas into the barrel to propel a paintball.

Abstract: A bulk loader for supplying paintballs to a paintball gun including a loader housing for internally storing a quantity of paintballs, this housing having a bottom outlet through which paintballs can sequentially drop. A feed tube is connected to this housing at the outlet and extends downwardly therefrom. A paintball moving device which can take the form of a vibrator housing, is mounted in the loader housing and is capable of vibrating in order to move paintballs located near the bottom outlet. A vibrator, which can include a small electrical motor, causes the moving device to vibrate when a paintball jam must be freed up. Preferably the vibrator is mounted in the housing forming the moving device. A control mechanism controls the operation of the vibrator and includes a switch mounted in or adjacent to the feed tube for sensing the absence of a paintball within the feed tube. The vibrator can include a vibration causing weight that is mounted on the output shaft of the motor.

Abstract: An electrically operated paintball gun operable to shoot paintballs including a barrel, a trigger, and a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, as well as a bolt movable in the breech between a rearward position and a forward shooting position. A spring biases the bolt towards the rearward position. A pneumatic circuit is provided to drive the bolt towards the forward position and includes a control valve in the form of a solenoid valve to receive gas under pressure and direct it into a chamber at the rear of the bolt when the gun is shot. An electronic circuit controls the pneumatic circuit and is operated by an electrical switch operated by the trigger. A gas valve mechanism is opened by engagement by the bolt, when the latter is driven forwardly to the shooting position, to permit the passage of relatively high pressure propellant gas into the barrel to propel a paintball.

Abstract: A bulk loader for supplying paintballs to a paintball gun including a loader housing for internally storing a quantity of paintballs, this housing having a bottom outlet through which paintballs can sequentially drop. A feed tube is connected to this housing at the outlet and extends downwardly therefrom. A paintball moving device which can take the form of a vibrator housing, is mounted in the loader housing and is capable of vibrating in order to move paintballs located near the bottom outlet. A vibrator, which can include a small electrical motor, causes the moving device to vibrate when a paintball jam must be freed up. Preferably the vibrator is mounted in the housing forming the moving device. A control mechanism controls the operation of the vibrator and includes a switch mounted in or adjacent to the feed tube for sensing the absence of a paintball within the feed tube. The vibrator can include a vibration causing weight that is mounted on the output shaft of the motor.

Abstract: An electrically operated paintball gun operable to shoot paintballs including a barrel, a trigger, and a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, as well as a bolt movable in the breech between a rearward position and a forward shooting position. A spring biases the bolt towards the rearward position. A pneumatic circuit is provided to drive the bolt towards the forward position and includes a control valve in the form of a solenoid valve to receive gas under pressure and direct it into a chamber at the rear of the bolt when the gun is shot. An electronic circuit controls the pneumatic circuit and is operated by an electrical switch operated by the trigger. A gas valve mechanism is opened by engagement by the bolt, when the latter is driven forwardly to the shooting position, to permit the passage of relatively high pressure propellant gas into the barrel to propel a paintball.

Abstract: A bulk loader apparatus for supplying paintballs to a paintball gun includes a housing for internally storing a quantity of paintballs, this housing having a bottom outlet through which stored paintballs can drop. A feed tube is connected to the housing at the bottom outlet and extends downwardly therefrom. This feed tube is connectible to the gun and capable of sequentially delivering the paintballs to the gun. An auger-like member is rotatably mounted at the bottom outlet and operable to clear a paintball feed jam or move one or more paintballs located at or near the outlet. The mechanism for controlling the operation of the moving member preferably includes a microswitch mounted in the feed tube for sensing the absence of a paintball within the feed tube. The control mechanism operates and moves the paintball moving member to clear the jam or move paintballs at the outlet when the position of the microswitch indicates the absence of a paintball.

Abstract: A gas operated paintball gun includes a barrel, a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, a movable trigger, a bolt movable in the breech and a hammer connected to the bolt and mounted for sliding movement in a chamber. A pneumatic circuit in the gun operates the hammer and includes a pulse valve, a trigger-activated switch mechanism for operating the pulse valve and a gas regulator for supplying gas to the pulse valve. A further valve mounted in the gun is opened by engagement by the hammer and, when open, releases pressurized gas into the barrel to propel the paintball. The pulse of gas created by the pulse valve is delivered to the hammer chamber and acts to drive the hammer to its firing position.

Abstract: An electrically operated paintball gun operable to fire paintballs including a barrel, a trigger, and a breech connected to a rear end of the barrel, as well as a bolt movable in the breech between a rearward position and a forward shooting position. A hammer is connected to the bolt and movable therewith and is slidable in a sealable chamber between a rearward position and a front shooting position. A spring biases the combination of the bolt and hammer towards the rearward position of each. A pneumatic circuit is provided to drive the hammer towards the front position and includes a control valve in the form of a solenoid valve to receive gas under pressure and direct it into the chamber at the rear of the hammer when the gun is shot. An electronic circuit controls the pneumatic circuit and is operated by an electrical switch operated by the trigger.

Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing tablets in a gelatin layer includes a pair of die assemblies with each assembly including a rotatable, cylindrical die support and a series of die blocks mounted on this support for movement along a circular path. Each block has recesses formed in a top surface thereof and each recess of one assembly cooperates with a similar recess in the other assembly to form a cavity at a nip formed by the two assemblies. Each cavity is dimensioned to receive loosely therein one of the tablets. Two casting drums deliver gelatin strips to the die assemblies and each strip is pulled by one assembly into the nip. A time tablet dispensing mechanism is used to dispense tablets onto one of the strips at a feeding location. The preferred die blocks are made of hard plastics material. In one version of the apparatus, the blocks have substantially enclosed recesses except for their open tops and each block has one or more vacuum applying passageways including one with an open end at one end of the block.