Automated progressive ammunition, in particular cartridge, assembly apparatus and method with feedback assembly control

Abstract

The invention relates to an automated progressive ammunition, in particular cartridge, assembly apparatus ( 1 ) and method. The automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the invention comprises a conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) and at least one assembly station ( 5 ). The at least one assembly station ( 5 ) comprises an actuator subsystem ( 8 ), a measurement subsystem ( 12 ) and a control subsystem ( 13 ). The conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) is adapted to transport the ammunition ( 2, 3 ) past the at least one assembly station ( 5 ) in an assembly direction ( 6 ) preferably along a rectilinear path. The actuator subsystem ( 8 ) is adapted to move a component ( 9 ), such as a powder or propellant ( 10 ) or a projectile ( 11 ), thereby adding the component to the ammunition. The component thus changes at least one physical parameter (P) of the ammunition. The measurement subsystem ( 12 ) is adapted to measure the at least one physical parameter and output a measurement signal ( 15 ), representative of the at least one physical parameter. In order to be able to meet very tight product specifications, and at the same time allow a quick change between the manufacture of different types of ammunition using the same apparatus ( 1 ), the subsystem ( 21 ) is adapted to control the actuator subsystem ( 8 ) depending on the measurement signal. The at least one assembly station ( 5 ) may, in particular, be a powder filling station ( 18 ) or a projectile insertion station ( 27 ) where powder ( 10 ) or a projectile ( 11 ) is added to the ammunition.

1 . Automated progressive ammunition, in particular cartridge, assembly apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) and at least one assembly station ( 5 ), the at least one assembly station comprising an actuator subsystem ( 8 ), a measurement subsystem( 12 ) and a control subsystem ( 13 ), the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) being adapted to transport ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) past the at least one assembly station in an assembly direction ( 6 ), the actuator subsystem ( 8 ) being adapted to add a component ( 9 ) to the ammunition, the component changing at least one physical parameter (P) of the ammunition, the measurement subsystem ( 12 ) being adapted to measure the at least one physical parameter and output a measurement signal ( 15 ) representative of the at least one measured physical parameter, wherein the control subsystem ( 13 ) is adapted to control the actuator subsystem ( 8 ) depending on the measurement signal. 
     
     
         2 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the control subsystem ( 13 ) comprises a storage member ( 22 ) in which a representation of at least one target physical parameter (T) is retained and wherein the control subsystem ( 13 ) is adapted to control the actuator subsystem ( 8 ) depending on a deviation of the at least one measured physical parameter (P) from the at least one target physical parameter. 
     
     
         3 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of  claim 1  or  2  wherein the conveyer subsystem ( 4 ) comprises a conveyer belt ( 41 ) comprising compartments ( 42 ) configured to receive the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ) and the conveyer belt ( 41 ) extends at least sectionwise linearly to transport the ammunition past the at least one assembly station ( 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the previous claim, wherein the conveyer subsystem ( 4 ) is assembled as a loop ( 55 ) around two pulleys ( 50 ), which lie on an axis and are rotated by means of a driver ( 57 ). 
     
     
         5 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the at least one assembly station ( 5 ) is a powder filling station ( 18 ). 
     
     
         6 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the component ( 9 ) is a propellant ( 10 ) and wherein the at least one physical parameter (P) is powder weight (W) in the cartridge ( 2 ,  3 ). 
     
     
         7 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the measurement subsystem ( 12 ) comprises a net weighing apparatus ( 20   a ) which is arranged in the assembly direction ( 6 ) before the actuator subsystem ( 8 ) and a gross weighing apparatus ( 20   b ) which is arranged in the assembly direction ( 6 ) behind the actuator subsystem ( 8 ). 
     
     
         8 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the measurement subsystem ( 12 ) comprises a weighing apparatus ( 20   a ,  20   b ) which has a weighing cell ( 69 ) that is arranged in line with the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ). 
     
     
         9 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the previous claim, wherein the weighing cell ( 69 ) is mounted flush to a transport plane ( 44 ) an which the ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) stands while being pushed by the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ). 
     
     
         10 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 8  or  9 , wherein the weighing cell ( 69 ) comprises a centering mechanism ( 71 ) which is adapted to move automatically the ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) away from contact with the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) upon transport of the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ) onto the weighing cell ( 69 ). 
     
     
         11 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the centering apparatus ( 71 ) comprises a spring drive ( 72 ) with at least one centering bevel ( 74 ), the spring drive being adapted to be automatically loaded by the ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) transported by the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) onto the weighing cell ( 69 ). 
     
     
         12 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 10  or  11 , wherein the centering apparatus ( 71 ) comprises a spring drive ( 72 ) with at least one centering bevel ( 74 ), in which the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ) is held spaced apart from conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) during a working cycle of the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ). 
     
     
         13 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the measurement subsystem ( 12 ) comprises a weighing apparatus ( 20   a ,  20   b ) comprising a weighing cell ( 69 ) and the apparatus comprises a transport device ( 120 ) adapted to separate the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ) from the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) in order to pass them onto the weighing cell ( 69 ). 
     
     
         14 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to the previous claim, wherein conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) comprises a conveyor belt ( 41 ) configured to transport the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ) within compartments ( 42 ) and the transport device ( 120 ) comprises at least one transport wheel ( 122 ,  123 ) adapted to receive the ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) from said compartments ( 42 ) and transport the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ) onto the weighing cell. 
     
     
         15 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, which apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a projectile insertion station ( 27 ), the component ( 9 ) is a projectile ( 11 ) and the at least one physical parameter (P) is a length (L) of a cartridge ( 3 ) with an inserted projectile ( 11 ). 
     
     
         16 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, which apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of assembly stations ( 5 ), wherein the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) extends linearly at least sectionwise through the automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) and the assembly stations ( 5 ) are arranged rectilinearly one behind the other in the assembly direction ( 6 ). 
     
     
         17 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) according to any one of the previous claims, which apparatus ( 1 ) further comprises a horizontal bulkhead ( 66 ) which separates an upper manufacturing space ( 67 ), in which the conveyor subsystem ( 4 ) and at least one assembly station ( 5 ) are arranged, from a lower bottom space ( 68 ) in a dust-tight manner. 
     
     
         18 . Automated progressive ammunition assembly system ( 110 ) comprising at least two automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatuses ( 1 ) according to any one of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the conveyor subsystems ( 4 ) of the apparatuses are arranged parallel and side-by-side and wherein at least one assembly station ( 5 ) of one automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ) shares at least one reservoir ( 39 ,  90 ,  91 ) with an adjacent automated progressive ammunition assembly apparatus ( 1 ). 
     
     
         19 . Automated progressive ammunition, in particular cartridge, assembly method comprising the steps of adding a component ( 9 ) to the ammunition ( 2 ,  3 ) thereby changing a physical parameter (P) of the ammunition ( 2 , 3 ), of automatically measuring the physical parameter and of automatically modifying the addition of the component depending on the measured physical parameter.