Ammunition assembly apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to ammunition assembly apparatus and in particular to an apparatus for the automated and progressive assembly of cartridges for firearms such as rifles, guns, revolvers and pistols. The apparatus comprises a conveyor subsystem to transport ammunition past the working stations, wherein the working stations and the conveyor subsystem are mounted to a mounting plane such that the conveyor subsystem extends linearly at least sectionwise through the ammunition assembly apparatus and the working stations are arranged rectilinearly along the assembly direction.

1 . Ammunition, in particular cartridge, assembly apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) and working stations ( 5 ), the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) being adapted to transport ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) past the working stations ( 5 ),
 characterized in that   the assembly apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a mounting plane ( 62 ) onto which the working stations ( 5 ) and the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) are mounted such that the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) extends linearly at least sectionwise through the ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) and the working stations ( 5 ) are arranged rectilinearly along the assembly direction ( 6 ).   
     
     
         2 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the previous claim,
 characterized in that   the ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a horizontal bulkhead ( 66 ) and the working stations ( 5 ) and the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) are mounted to the mounting plane ( 62 ) such that an empty space ( 63 ) remains between the surface of the horizontal bulkhead ( 66 ) and the working stations ( 5 ) and the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ).   
     
     
         3 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the previous claim,
 characterized in that   one of the working stations ( 5 ) is a powder filling station ( 18 ).   
     
     
         4 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according any one of the previous claims,
 characterized in that   one of the working stations ( 5 ) is a projectile insertion station ( 27 ).   
     
     
         5 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims,
 characterized in that   one of the working stations ( 5 ) is a crimp station ( 65 ).   
     
     
         6 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims,
 characterized in that   the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) comprises a conveyor belt ( 41 ), comprising compartments ( 42 ), which are separated by vertical ribs ( 45 ) and the conveyor belt ( 41 ) is assembled as a loop ( 55 ) around two pulleys ( 50 ), which lie on an axis and are rotated by means of a driver ( 57 ).   
     
     
         7 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according the previous claims,
 characterized in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a stationary transport guide ( 48 ) through which shells ( 2 ) are moved by the conveyor belt ( 41 ) and wherein said transport guide ( 48 ) comprises powder release slots ( 98 ).   
     
     
         8 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims,
 characterized in that   the working stations ( 5 ) and the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) are mounted to a mounting plane ( 62 ) by means of mounting frames ( 94 ).   
     
     
         9 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the previous claim,
 characterized in that   the mounting frame ( 94 ) comprises a bottom support plane ( 95 ), a top support plane ( 97 ) and a middle support plane ( 96 ), wherein the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) is supported by the middle support plane ( 96 ).   
     
     
         10 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous  claim 8  or  9 ,
 characterized in that 
 the mounting plane  62  comprises a horizontal support edge ( 102 ) onto which the mounting frames ( 94 ) are mounted. 
 
     
     
         11 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims,
 characterized in that   the mounting plane ( 62 ) comprises fixing aids ( 103 ) that can be fixable translated along the assembly direction ( 6 ) and the mounting frames ( 94 ) comprise corresponding grooves.   
     
     
         12 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previously claims
 characterized in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least two assembly lines ( 111 ) comprising working stations ( 5 ) and a conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) and where the assembly lines ( 111 ) are attached to the same side of the mounting plane ( 62 ) on the same side and arranged parallel and side-by-side.   
     
     
         13 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previously claims
 characterized in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least two assembly lines ( 111 ) comprising working stations  5  and a conveyor subsystem  4 , wherein a first of the two of the assembly lines ( 111 ) is attached on one side of the mounting plane ( 62 ), while a second of the two assembly lines ( 111 ) is attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane ( 62 ).   
     
     
         14 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previously claims
 characterized in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least four assembly lines ( 111 ) comprising working stations  5  and a conveyor subsystem  4 , wherein a first pair of the assembly lines ( 111 ) is attached on one side of the mounting plane ( 62 ), while a second pair of the assembly lines ( 111 ) is attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane ( 62 ).   
     
     
         15 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previously claims
 characterized in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least six assembly lines ( 111 ) comprising working stations  5  and a conveyor subsystem  4 , wherein at least three of the assembly lines ( 111 ) are attached on one side of the mounting plane ( 62 ), while another at least three of the assembly lines ( 111 ) are attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane ( 62 ).   
     
     
         16 . Ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previously claims
 characterized in that   the apparatus ( 1 ) comprises at least eight assembly lines ( 111 ) comprising working stations  5  and a conveyor subsystem  4 , wherein at least four of the assembly lines ( 111 ) are attached on one side of the mounting plane ( 62 ), while another at least four of the assembly lines ( 111 ) are attached on the opposite side of the mounting plane ( 62 ).