Device for separating bulk goods and sorting system for separately supplying aligned bulk good parts

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for separating bulk goods, such as ammunition parts, for example cases and / or projectiles, comprising an endless conveyor which is arranged in relation to a source of bulk goods such that bulk goods, under the influence of their weight, fall into conveyor bowls of the endless conveyor that are conveyed past the source of bulk goods and in particular are arranged in a row, wherein the conveyor bowls have a receiving space for the bulk goods that becomes smaller during the course of conveying.

Description

[0001] Device for separating bulk material and sorting system for the separated feeding of aligned bulk material parts

[0002] The invention relates to a device for separating bulk material, such as ammunition parts, for example, casings and / or projectiles. Furthermore, the invention relates to a sorting system for the separated feeding of aligned bulk material parts, preferably bulk material parts with at most one axial symmetry. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of corresponding devices and sorting systems. Finally, the invention relates to a system for manufacturing ammunition, which comprises a casing, a firing element, and a projectile.

[0003] Devices for separating bulk material, which are also referred to below as separating devices, are known, for example, from DE 10 2013 208 422 Ai. This comprises an endless conveyor in the form of a transport tray chain, which is conveyed past a bulk material source in such a way that bulk material falls into the conveyor tray under the influence of its weight. The conveyor tray is then conveyed via the chain to a transfer station, where the bulk material is in turn transferred via a chute to a discharge conveyor belt under the influence of its weight. The bulk material parts are then removed from the discharge conveyor belt by a handling robot. Any bulk material parts not removed can be returned to the bulk material source via a return chute. An embodiment is also provided in which the handling robot removes bulk material directly from the transport trays.

[0004] To ensure that no bulk material particles become jammed between the chain links, namely the transport trays, of the transport tray chain, and thus cause the device to stop or be damaged, the transport trays are arranged in such a gap-free manner that their surfaces are interrupted only by receiving pockets and that no significant gaps or crevices form even when two adjacent transport trays pivot along the transport tray chain. This is achieved by articulated, interconnected transport trays, whose mutually facing side edges each have a skirt bent concentrically around the coupling axes, against which the other side edge rests gap-free, regardless of the bend angle between the two transport trays.Furthermore, gap-free operation with respect to the guide of the conveyor link chain is to be achieved by providing the conveyor trays with guide cheeks on both sides, via which the conveyor tray chain is supported on a guide along its entire length.

[0005] However, the proposed transport trays have a more complex structure, making both their design and production time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, the two-sided guidance of the transport trays reduces the flexibility regarding the arrangement of the trays relative to each other.

[0006] Furthermore, there is a need to separate more bulk material pieces in a shorter time (increasing the separation capacity). To achieve this, the conveyor speed of the conveyor tray chain can be increased using the known device. However, this increases the risk of damaging the bulk material or of not picking up any bulk material at all due to the increased speed. Alternatively, the known device can be used to provide multiple receiving spaces in one conveyor tray, allowing multiple bulk material pieces to be separated with one conveyor tray. However, the smaller the receiving spaces become, the higher the risk that they will remain empty when passing the bulk material source. Therefore, even with this solution, an increase in separation capacity is only possible to a limited extent.

[0007] In addition to the separation capacity, especially for bulk material that is to be further processed after separation, there is a need to transfer it reliably to a corresponding processing station while maintaining the previously performed separation. In this regard, the solution known from the conventional device, with a chute and conveyor belt, has proven to be insufficiently reliable. The alternative, using a gripper that removes the separated bulk material directly from the transport tray, is reliable, but significantly reduces the separation capacity.

[0008] A further challenge arises with bulk material with a maximum of one axis of symmetry that requires automated processing after separation. One example of this is casings, which, after separation, are fitted with a firing element and a projectile to prepare ammunition. Automation can be achieved, for example, by transferring the casing to a workpiece carrier after separation, which transports it to various stations where it is processed.

[0009] A particular bottleneck in automated production, however, is the correct alignment of bulk material parts that exhibit at most axial symmetry. For example, to accommodate multiple cores in a workpiece carrier simultaneously to increase production capacity, it is necessary that all cores are mounted in the workpiece carrier in the same orientation, for example, with the core opening facing upwards. A solution that can automate this step is not known in the prior art.

[0010] It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular to provide a separating device and a sorting system which overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular have an increased separating capacity and enable a reliable transfer of the separated bulk material parts to a further processing station, such as a workpiece carrier, in particular to enable an automated further processing of the bulk material parts.

[0011] The object is achieved by the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims. Further advantages, features, and characteristics of the invention are explained in the following description of preferred embodiments of the accompanying drawings:

[0012] One aspect of the invention relates to a device for separating bulk material (separating device), such as ammunition parts, for example casings and / or projectiles. The device comprises an endless conveyor which is arranged relative to a bulk material source in such a way that bulk material falls, under the influence of its weight, into conveyor trays of the endless conveyor which are conveyed past the bulk material source and are in particular arranged in series. As described in detail below, the endless conveyor preferably has a drum around whose axis of rotation the conveyor trays are arranged in series. Particularly preferably, several rows of conveyor trays are arranged next to one another along the axis of rotation. As described in detail below, the bulk material source can have a bulk material supply open towards the endless conveyor.The endless conveyor can be arranged relative to the bulk material source such that it, in particular the drum of the endless conveyor, closes the open side of the bulk material supply, in particular such that the bulk material supply and the endless conveyor together delimit a circumferentially closed bulk material supply space. Preferably, the bulk material supply can have a longitudinal wall, in particular a chute, opposite the endless conveyor, in particular the drum of the endless conveyor. Preferably, the longitudinal wall is inclined relative to the horizontal, in particular inclined upwards, preferably inclined upwards by at least 30°, 40°, 60° or 70°. Particularly preferably, the longitudinal wall and the endless conveyor converge in the direction of gravity, so that the bulk material supply space tapers, in particular in the direction of gravity, in particular in a V-shape or wedge-shaped manner.Furthermore, the bulk material supply preferably has two end walls extending between the longitudinal wall and the transfer station, which delimit the bulk material supply space at the end. In particular, the end walls extend outwards to the drum in the direction of the drum's axis of rotation. In particular, a gap is provided between the end walls and the drum, the dimensions of which permit relative movement of the drum to the end walls, but prevent bulk material from slipping into the gap. In particular, the gap between the drum and the end walls extends, in particular in the axial direction, between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 8 mm, particularly preferably between 3 mm and 5 mm. Preferably, the receiving space is closed in the direction of gravity by the endless conveyor and the bulk material supply, apart from a gap which can have the same dimensions as the gap described above.The bulk material storage space can be opened vertically upwards.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment, in which the endless conveyor is a drum, it is preferably driven in rotation about the drum's axis of rotation such that the drum shell represents a movable boundary wall with respect to the bulk material storage space. The drum is preferably driven in rotation such that the drum shell has a vertically upward movement component. This allows bulk material particles located in the bulk material storage to enter the conveyor bowl in a lower region in the direction of gravity and then be lifted by the rotation of the drum to be fed to the transfer station described in detail below. As described in detail below, the conveyor bowls can be formed by recesses in the drum which extend radially inwards from the drum shell.In particular, this allows bulk material in the lower region of the bulk material supply to fall into the conveyor bowls conveyed past the bulk material source under the influence of its weight. Preferably, the rotation axis of the drum is spaced vertically upwards and / or downwards from the bottom of the bulk material supply, which is preferably defined by the lowest position in the direction of gravity, to which bulk material entering the bulk material supply from above can reach, by a maximum of 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, 5%, 3%, or 1% of the radial extent of the drum. Particularly preferably, the rotation axis of the drum is located vertically substantially at the same height as the bottom of the bulk material supply.This ensures, in particular, that the recesses formed in the drum, upon entering the bulk material storage space, form a hole located below the floor in the direction of gravity, into which the bulk material particles can fall under the influence of their weight. This ensures particularly reliable reception of bulk material particles into the conveyor bowls. Bulk material within the meaning of the present invention is understood to mean, in particular, a plurality of bulk material particles. A bulk material particle is understood to mean, in particular, a single bulk material particle, particularly one separated from bulk material.

[0014] The singling devices and / or sorting systems according to the invention are preferably designed to singulate or align axially symmetrical, in particular rotationally symmetrical, bulk material pieces. They are particularly preferably designed to singulate or align rotationally symmetrical bulk material pieces with a defined front and back along the axis of symmetry and / or whose extension parallel to the axis of symmetry is at least twice as large as their extension orthogonal to the axis of symmetry. It has been found that such bulk material pieces can be singulated or aligned particularly reliably using the devices according to the invention. In particular, the greater extension along the axis of symmetry simplifies alignment into the initial orientation and target orientation described below, in particular by utilizing the force of gravity.In particular, the singling devices and / or the sorting systems are designed for singling or aligning ammunition parts, in particular casings and / or projectiles. For the aforementioned purposes, the receiving space of the conveyor trays can be adapted to the dimensions of the corresponding bulk material parts. In particular, the receiving space of the conveyor trays, in particular regardless of their state, such as the receiving state and the singling state, can have a longitudinal extension along a predefined initial alignment direction of 100% to 195%, preferably 105% to 150%, particularly preferably 110% to 130%, of the extension of the bulk material parts to be singulated along their axis of symmetry, in particular the axis of rotational symmetry. The initial alignment direction is to be understood in particular as the direction in which the bulk material part to be singulated is to be aligned in addition to the singling.For axially symmetrical bulk material parts, the initial alignment refers in particular to the alignment of the symmetry axis, in particular the rotational symmetry axis, of the bulk material parts. Preferably, the symmetry axis of the bulk material part is aligned parallel to the rotational axis of the drum in the initial alignment. This ensures that a bulk material part can be received in the initial alignment in a conveyor bowl in the initial alignment direction, while simultaneously preventing a second bulk material part from adjoining the first bulk material part in the initial alignment direction. This eliminates the need for a reduction in the initial alignment direction during the reduction of the receiving space in the singulation state described below, thus reducing the risk of misalignment.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the conveyor shells have a receiving space for the bulk material that decreases during conveying. This allows a relatively large receiving space to be provided to ensure that at least one piece of bulk material reaches the receiving space, wherein a subsequent reduction in the size of the receiving space ensures that any bulk material pieces received in excess of the one piece of bulk material are forced out of the conveyor shell through the decreasing receiving space. Preferably, the conveyor shells are conveyed from the bulk material source, in particular the bottom of the bulk material supply, in the conveying direction to a further processing station, in particular an alignment station and / or a transfer station, in particular as described in detail below.Preferably, the receiving space decreases in the conveying direction between the bulk material source, in particular the bulk material supply, in particular the bottom of the bulk material supply, and the further processing station. The reduction from a bulk material receiving state, in which the receiving space is at its largest, to a separation state, in which the receiving space is at its smallest, preferably occurs entirely during one rotation of the drum of the endless conveyor by 10° to 180°, preferably by 20° to 150°, particularly preferably by 30° to 120°. 0, most preferably by 50° to 100°. In particular, the reduction takes place during a movement of the conveyor bowl from a three or nine o'clock position to a twelve o'clock position. Preferably, the receiving space reduces during conveying from a bulk material receiving state in which a large number of, in particular identical, bulk material parts fit into the receiving space, to a singling state in which only one singulated piece of bulk material fits into the receiving space. The receiving space preferably has a constant longitudinal extent along the previously described initial alignment direction, in particular along the axis of rotation of the drum. Preferably, the receiving space reduces in a reduction direction which runs transversely, in particular orthogonally, to the initial alignment direction, in particular the axis of rotation of the drum.Preferably, the receiving space decreases in the reduction direction such that the extent of the receiving space in the reduction direction in the singling state is smaller than the extent of the bulk material along its axis of symmetry. This ensures that the singulated bulk material is displaced into the predefined initial orientation direction or falls out of the receiving space in the singling state, so that the receiving space is completely empty. To avoid the latter, the predetermined initial orientation preferably corresponds to an orientation of the axis of symmetry substantially parallel to the horizontal. "Substantially" means, in particular, a deviation of a maximum of ± 30°, 25°. 0 , 20°, 15 0 , 10°, 5 0 , 3 0or 1° from the horizontal. This horizontal initial orientation ensures, in particular, that bulk material parts whose longitudinal extension is at least twice as large as their radial extension are driven into the predefined initial orientation by gravitational force. The previously described constant longitudinal extension of the receiving space additionally ensures that bulk material parts already in the initial orientation are not forced out of it.

[0016] Preferably, the receiving space, particularly in the singularization state, is adapted to the shape of the bulk material in such a way that the bulk material is forced into a predefined initial orientation. In addition to the previously described measures, such as dimensioning, constant longitudinal extent, reduction direction, and horizontal initial orientation, this can additionally be ensured by the receiving space in the singularization state approximating the shape of the bulk material. For example, in the case of cylindrical bulk material parts such as sleeves, this means that the receiving space in the singularization state has the shape of a cylindrical section; in particular, the receiving space in the singularization state can have a semi-cylindrical shape. In particular, the radius of the semi-cylindrical receiving space can be between 100% and 195%, preferably between 105% and 150%, particularly preferably between 110% and 130%, of the radius of the cylindrical bulk material to be singulated.

[0017] Preferably, the receiving space is reduced in size such that any bulk material located in the receiving space beyond a singled-out bulk material falls out of the receiving space, in particular is pushed out of it. As described above, this can be achieved in particular by reducing the receiving space in the radial outward direction, relative to the initial orientation or the rotational axis of the drum. This can particularly preferably be achieved by the movable shell wall described in detail below, in that, when the receiving space is reduced in size from the receiving state to the singling state, this shell wall pushes the excess bulk material out of the receiving space, in particular pushing it out in the radial outward direction towards the drum shell.

[0018] The receiving state is in particular the state in which the receiving space of the conveyor bowls, in particular in the region of the bulk material source, is at its largest. In the receiving state, preferably at least 2, 3, 5, 8, 10 or 12 bulk material pieces fit into the receiving space, whereby preferably only one bulk material piece finds space along the longitudinal extent of the receiving space. Accordingly, it is preferred that the plurality of bulk material pieces that can be received in the receiving state can be received in the predefined initial orientation one above the other, in other words orthogonal to the initial orientation direction. In the singling state, the receiving space can be smaller than the dimension of the bulk material piece to be singulated, as long as the receiving space is still large enough that a singulated bulk material piece aligned in the initial orientation does not fall back into the bulk material source.For this purpose, the receiving space in the singling state can be semi-cylindrical, for example in the case of cylindrical bulk material parts.

[0019] The conveyor shells preferably each have a movable shell wall to reduce the size of the respective receiving space. In particular, the conveyor shells each have a shell base, in particular a concave one, relative to which the respective shell wall is movable. The shell wall is preferably pivotable, in particular pivotably mounted in the conveyor shell. To reduce the size of the receiving space from the bulk material receiving state to the singling state, the shell wall is preferably movable, in particular pivotable, from a bulk material receiving position to a singling position. The shell wall preferably has a recess for receiving the singulated bulk material part in the singling state. The recess is preferably designed in the shape of a cylindrical segment. Particularly preferably, the shell wall extends substantially along a flat surface, relative to which the recess is recessed in the radial direction to the axis of rotation of the drum.

[0020] Preferably, the receiving space is substantially disc-shaped in the bulk material receiving state. In the receiving state, the disc section preferably extends between 10° and 90°, particularly preferably between 20° and 70°, in particular between 30° and 60°. Preferably, the disc-shaped receiving space is delimited on one side by the shell wall in the circumferential direction, in particular with respect to the pivot axis of the shell wall and / or to the central axis of the disc section, and is open towards the bulk material source on the opposite side in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the shell wall moves towards the open side as the receiving space decreases in size, so that the circumferential extent, in particular the angle, of the disc-shaped section decreases.Particularly preferably, in the singling position, the bowl wall assumes the position of the opening side, so that the disc-section-shaped receiving space disappears completely. In this preferred embodiment, in the singling state, the receiving space is formed solely by the recess, in particular in the shape of a cylinder section, in the bowl wall. Preferably, the bowl wall is pivotally mounted on the conveyor bowl. In a disc-section-shaped receiving space, the pivot axis is preferably pivotally mounted on the inside in the radial direction, relative to the central axis of the disc section, in particular substantially (± 20 mm, 15 mm, 10 mm, 5 mm or 3 mm) at the level of the central axis of the disc section, and / or the radially outer shell section is formed by the bowl base, in particular a concavely shaped bowl base.As described in part below, in the preferred embodiment in which the endless conveyor has a drum, the receiving space is in particular completely sunk into the drum shell, in other words formed by a recess which extends from the drum shell in the radial direction, in particular exclusively, inwards.

[0021] A further aspect of the invention also relates to a device for separating bulk material such as ammunition parts, for example casings and / or projectiles. The device also comprises an endless conveyor which is arranged relative to a bulk material source in such a way that the bulk material falls under the influence of its weight into conveyor trays of the endless conveyor which are conveyed past the bulk material source. The device can be designed as previously described, wherein the conveyor trays may or may not have a receiving space for the bulk material which decreases during conveying. For this aspect of the invention, it is only essential that the endless conveyor has a drum around whose axis of rotation the conveyor trays are arranged in series. By using a drum according to the invention, a large number of ammunition parts can be separated in a short time and in a small space.In particular, the large surface area of ​​the drum relative to its radial extension is utilized, which is preferably cylindrical. Furthermore, the curved shape of the drum shell has proven particularly advantageous for conveying the conveyor shells past the bulk material source in such a way that the bulk material particles fall into the conveyor shells under the influence of their weight. Furthermore, the use of a drum for the endless conveyor has proven particularly advantageous for forming the previously described V-shaped or wedge-shaped bulk material storage space.In particular, the curved shell surface, in particular a shell section over between 60° and 120°, for example 90°, can be used as a leg of the V-shaped bulk material storage space, so that the bulk material parts lying therein fall into the conveyor shells by utilizing the force of gravity, which are conveyed along its leg (shell section) past the bulk material storage.

[0022] The conveyor shells are preferably formed by recesses in the drum, which preferably extend radially from a drum shell, in particular exclusively inward. Conveyor shells designed in this way can also be referred to as recessed conveyor shells. The recessed design of the conveyor shells prevents, in particular, protruding blades from damaging bulk material particles in the bulk material source. At the same time, at high drum speeds, it prevents bulk material particles from being ejected from the device by protruding shell elements.Preferably, the conveyor shells, in particular the previously described shell wall and / or the previously described shell base, are recessed in such a way that, at least in the bulk material receiving state, but preferably also in the singling state, they do not protrude, or only protrude insignificantly, in the radial direction relative to the rotational axis of the drum, beyond the drum shell, in particular the theoretical drum shell if no conveyor shells were present. "Protruding only insignificantly" is to be understood in particular as meaning sections protruding relative to the shell surface with a maximum radial extension of 10 mm, 8 mm, 5 mm, 3 mm, or 1 mm and / or convex-shaped sections, for example, between the flat surface and the recess of the movable shell wall.

[0023] The endless conveyor preferably has at least 2, preferably at least 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 rows of conveyor shells, each arranged around the rotational axis of the drum. The individual rows are preferably arranged next to one another in the direction of the rotational axis. The rows are preferably arranged symmetrically to one another such that conveyor shells arranged next to one another in the direction of the rotational axis are aligned with one another. This thereby forms, in particular, in addition to the conveyor shell rows in the circumferential direction, conveyor shell rows along the rotational axis (axial direction). This ensures in particular that several bulk material parts can be separated simultaneously and can also be transferred simultaneously to the alignment and transfer station described below, which enables rapid loading, in particular feeding, of workpiece carriers with several separated bulk material parts.

[0024] Preferably, the conveyor shells are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction (relative to the rotational axis of the drum) and / or in the axial direction (direction of the rotational axis or parallel to the rotational axis) by less than the greatest extent of the bulk material to be separated. In particular, the previously described multiple rows of conveyor shells are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction preferably by at most 50%, particularly preferably by at most 30% or 15%, of the greatest extent of the bulk material to be separated or of the previously described longitudinal extent of the conveyor shells. This allows the required installation space for the endless conveyor, in particular for the drum, to be reduced.In particular, the distance between the rows of conveyor bowls spaced apart in the axial direction can be designed so narrow, in particular by relatively narrow webs between the conveyor bowls, that when passing the bulk material source, bulk material parts lying between the conveyor bowls can fall, in particular tip, over the narrow webs into the receiving spaces of the conveyor bowls.

[0025] Preferably, the receiving space of the respective conveyor shells is adapted to the shape of an axially symmetrical bulk material part in such a way that the symmetry axis of the bulk material part is driven by its weight into a parallel alignment to the rotational axis of the drum. This parallel alignment preferably corresponds to the previously described predefined initial alignment. To ensure this, in particular, the dimensions and / or shape of the receiving space can be designed as described above, the positioning of the endless conveyor relative to the bulk material source can be designed as described above, the lowering of the conveyor shells in the drum can be implemented as described above, and / or the reduction of the receiving space can be implemented as described above.

[0026] For this purpose, the rotational axis of the drum is particularly preferably aligned substantially horizontally. "Substantially" here means, in particular, a deviation of at most + / - 30°, 25 0 , 20°, 15 0 , 10°, 5 0 , 3 0or 1° to the horizontal. Alternatively or additionally, preferably additionally, the initial orientation essentially corresponds to a horizontal orientation of the bulk material to be separated, in particular to the axis of symmetry of the bulk material to be separated. In particular in combination with a direction of rotation which, when conveying between the bulk material receiving state and the separating state, has a movement component directed vertically upwards, the weight of bulk material parts which are not yet in the initial orientation can be used to drive them into the initial orientation. This works particularly reliably for bulk material parts which have an extension in the direction of the axis of symmetry of at least twice their maximum extension orthogonal to the axis of symmetry, in particular in the radial direction.

[0027] The device preferably comprises a bulk material source with a bulk material supply open towards the endless conveyor. The bulk material supply is preferably designed as described above. The bulk material source preferably further comprises a conveying means, in particular a conveyor belt, that moves the bulk material in the bulk material source relative to the endless conveyor. The conveying means preferably conveys the bulk material in a conveying direction and extends orthogonally to the conveying direction along a width direction. The bulk material source preferably comprises a chute that, starting from the conveying means, is inclined downwards in the direction of gravity. Particularly preferably, the chute forms a V-shaped or wedge-shaped bulk material supply space with the drum, in particular as described above.The bulk material source preferably has a frame that partially surrounds the conveying means and is interrupted in the area of ​​the chute so that bulk material can pass from the conveying means to the chute. In order to push the bulk material from the conveying means towards the chute, the frame preferably has a ramp that runs transversely across the conveying means to reduce its width in the conveying direction. In particular, the ramp extends from the side of the conveying means facing away from the chute in the width direction to the side of the conveying means facing the chute in the width direction, so that the width of the conveying means tapers towards the chute in the conveying direction. As a result, bulk material is pushed via the ramp to the chute.

[0028] A further aspect of the invention relates to a sorting system for the singular feeding of aligned bulk material parts, in particular ammunition parts with at most one axial symmetry. The sorting system comprises a singling station for singling bulk material. The singling station can be designed like the previously described device, in particular the singling device, wherein the receiving space of the conveyor trays may or may not decrease during conveying according to the relevant aspect of the invention and / or wherein the endless conveyor may or may not have a drum according to the relevant aspect of the invention.

[0029] According to the relevant aspect of the invention, the sorting system has an alignment station for identically aligning each separated bulk material. Furthermore, the sorting system has a transfer station via which the separated and aligned bulk material can be transferred to a further processing station. Due to the inventive possibility of identically aligning each bulk material part, the bulk material parts can be automatically transferred to a further processing station, such as the workpiece carrier described below, which enables fully automated processing of the bulk material parts. This is particularly advantageous for bulk material parts that are axially symmetrical but have different sides along the axis, in particular a front and a back. This is the case, for example, with ammunition parts such as casings and projectiles.Because they can always be aligned identically, the bulk material parts can be automatically transferred to a workpiece carrier for further processing.

[0030] The alignment station is preferably designed to transfer the separated bulk material part from an initial orientation in the separation station to a target orientation. For this purpose, the alignment station is preferably designed to transfer bulk material parts with a symmetry axis, in particular a rotational symmetry axis, into the target orientation by rotating or tilting the symmetry axis, in particular by 10° to 270°, preferably by 30° to 180°, particularly preferably by 60° to 120°, for example by 90°.In the preferred embodiment, in which the separation station comprises an endless conveyor with a drum, around whose rotational axis the conveyor bowls are arranged in series, the initial orientation preferably corresponds to a substantially parallel alignment of the symmetry axis of the bulk material part to the rotational axis of the drum, and the target orientation corresponds to an orthogonal alignment of the symmetry axis of the bulk material part to the rotational axis of the drum. Particularly preferably, the rotational axis of the drum is oriented substantially horizontally.

[0031] The alignment station preferably has an alignment channel that tapers toward the transfer station in such a way that bulk material parts with a longitudinal axis, in particular a symmetry axis, are forced into a target orientation, in particular under the influence of their weight, in which the longitudinal axis is aligned toward the transfer station. For this purpose, the alignment channel can preferably taper in the circumferential direction, in particular in the circumferential direction in which the drum rotates during conveying, in particular during separation.

[0032] The alignment station is preferably designed to align each individualized bulk material part independently of the other individualized bulk material parts. The alignment station is preferably designed to align individualized bulk material parts from conveyor bowls arranged in series around the rotational axis of the drum, i.e., bulk material parts that are aligned one after the other, independently of one another. Alternatively or additionally, the alignment station is designed to align individualized bulk material parts that are separated in conveyor bowls arranged next to one another in the axial direction, i.e., those that are aligned simultaneously in the alignment station, independently of one another.

[0033] The alignment station preferably has at least one movable alignment means for alignment. In order to also align the bulk material pieces separated in adjacent conveyor bowls simultaneously and independently of one another, the alignment station preferably has at least two, particularly preferably one separate movable alignment means for each row of conveyor bowls arranged adjacent to one another in the axial direction, which are movable independently of one another, in particular movable in different directions. According to one embodiment, the movable alignment means is a gripper designed to grip each separated bulk material, transfer it from an initial orientation to a target orientation, in particular by rotation, and then release it again, in particular transfer it to the transfer station. In particular, the transfer from the initial orientation to the target orientation takes place by a rotation of 90°.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, the at least one movable alignment means is a tilting barrier that can be set into two positions and, depending on the position, causes the bulk material to tilt from its initial orientation in different directions. Preferably, the tilting barrier delimits an alignment channel, in particular the previously described alignment channel, such that it tapers from different sides in the two positions of the tilting barrier. As a result, the target alignment can be achieved by a simple tilting movement, which, particularly compared to the gripper solution, results in significantly increased production capacity, reduced maintenance intensity, and increased reliability. In particular, the tilting barrier is pivotally mounted at its end downstream of the conveying direction, in particular driven to execute a pivoting movement.

[0035] The singulation station is preferably designed to singulate bulk material with an axis of symmetry, in particular a rotational axis of symmetry, such as casings and / or projectiles, by transferring the axis of symmetry of each bulk material part into a predetermined initial direction. For this purpose, the singulation station can be designed as previously described in connection with the singulation devices according to the invention, wherein the previously described aspects of the invention may or may not be implemented. This ensures, in particular, that the singulated bulk material is fed to the alignment station in the predefined initial orientation, thus ensuring reliable alignment into the target orientation.

[0036] The sorting system preferably further comprises an orientation detection device designed to detect an initial orientation of the separated bulk material in the separating station, in particular designed to detect the position of the sides along the symmetry axis in the case of bulk material with distinguishable sides, in particular a front side and a back side, along the symmetry axis. The orientation detection device is preferably designed to detect the initial orientation of each separated bulk material part. In particular, the orientation detection device is designed to detect the individual orientation of each individual bulk material part, even in the case of different orientations of bulk material parts separated in conveyor bowls lying next to one another in the axial direction. For this purpose, the orientation detection device can have at least one optical detection unit, in particular at least one camera.The alignment detection device preferably comprises at least three optical detection devices, which are preferably arranged offset from one another in the axial direction. The alignment detection devices are preferably aligned with the conveyor bowls that immediately follow the conveyor bowls in the conveying direction, the separated bulk material parts of which are being aligned. This avoids the risk of the initial orientation of the bulk material parts changing after detection and before alignment in the alignment station.

[0037] Preferably, the sorting system further comprises a controller configured to control the alignment station differently for different initial orientations, in particular of the bulk material parts. For this purpose, the controller preferably receives signals corresponding to the different initial orientations, in particular from the previously described orientation detection device. Preferably, the controller is configured to control the previously described movable alignment means simultaneously and / or independently of one another.

[0038] The singulating station is preferably designed to simultaneously feed at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve, singulated bulk material pieces to the alignment station. For this purpose, the singulating station is preferably configured as previously described in connection with one or both aspects of the invention relating to the singulating device.

[0039] Preferably, the alignment station is designed to align the at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten or twelve, separated bulk material parts simultaneously and independently of one another, wherein the alignment station for this purpose preferably has at least two, in particular at least three, four, six, eight, ten or twelve, movable alignment means, in particular as described above.

[0040] A further aspect of the invention relates to a sorting system for bulk material parts aligned for the singulated feed, in particular ammunition parts with at most one axial symmetry. The sorting system can be designed as described in connection with the previously described aspect of the invention relating to the sorting system, wherein the alignment station may or may not be suitable for identically aligning each singulated bulk material part. The sorting system comprises a singling station for singling bulk material. The singling station can be designed like the singling device as described in connection with the relevant aspects of the invention, wherein its conveyor bowls may or may not have a receiving space that decreases during conveying and / or wherein the endless conveyor may or may not have a drum.

[0041] According to this aspect of the invention, the sorting system has a transfer station with at least one slide, via which the separated bulk material part can be transferred to a further processing station under the influence of its weight and while maintaining its separation. To utilize the weight, the slide can be inclined downwards in a vertical direction compared to a horizontal one. To maintain the separation of the bulk material part, the slide can have slide channels that are adapted to the dimensions of the bulk material to be separated such that only one bulk material can pass through a channel at a time. Furthermore, if the separation station is designed to simultaneously separate several bulk material parts, several slide channels can be formed, which are designed to maintain the separation of each separated bulk material.For this purpose, each slide channel can have boundary walls that prevent transfer from one slide channel to the other. In particular, the slide channels can each have a channel floor and channel side walls protruding from the channel floor. The channel side walls can extend orthogonally from the channel floor, in particular extending vertically upwards. In particular, the channel walls and the channel floor can define a U-shaped cross-section of the slide channels.

[0042] Preferably, the at least one slide is adapted to the dimensions of the bulk material such that the separated bulk material part passes through the slide in a predetermined orientation. In particular, for this purpose, the distance between the channel side walls of the slide can be smaller than the extension of the bulk material parts in the initial orientation direction, in particular in the direction of their axis of symmetry, in particular the axis of rotational symmetry. This can ensure, in particular, that a bulk material part aligned along its axis of symmetry cannot tilt by 90°, thus preventing rotation of the bulk material part from the target orientation. Preferably, the slide channels taper towards the further processing station in such a way that play for possible tilting movements of the axes of symmetry of the bulk material parts is reduced.Particularly preferably, the distance between the side walls delimiting the slide channels in the region of the loading devices described below is reduced such that the distance is a maximum of 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, or 10% greater than the greatest radial extent of the bulk material parts. This ensures that no or at least no significant tilting of the bulk material parts can occur in the region of the loading device, in particular that the bulk material parts are positively aligned in the region of the loading device. Preferably, the distance between the side walls delimiting the slide channels is also greater in the region of the loading device than the maximum radial extent of the bulk material parts, in particular at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 5%, or 10% greater than the radial extent, in order to prevent the bulk material parts from becoming jammed in the slide channels.

[0043] The slide preferably has an acceleration section inclined in the direction of gravity, in which the bulk material is accelerated under the influence of its weight, and an outlet section inclined less steeply in the direction of gravity than the acceleration section, in particular oriented substantially horizontally, in which the bulk material is decelerated. The acceleration section is preferably curved. In particular, the acceleration section has, in the conveying direction, an acceleration start point adjoining the separating station and an acceleration end point adjoining the outlet section. The acceleration start point preferably has an inclination relative to the horizontal, in particular measured using a tangent at the acceleration start point, of between 30 and 90°, preferably between 50 and 80°, particularly preferably between 60 and 70°.Preferably, the acceleration end has an inclination relative to the horizontal of less than 20°, 15. 0 , 10°, 5 0 , 3 0 or 1°, is particularly horizontally oriented.

[0044] The singling station preferably has a drum, in particular as described above, by means of which the bulk material is singulated in a plurality of conveyor bowls and can be fed to the transfer station, in particular the slide. The rotation axis of the drum is preferably aligned horizontally. Particularly preferably, the singling station transfers the singulated bulk material to the transfer station in a transfer section which preferably extends between a vertically uppermost region of the drum, in particular the drum shell, and a region offset by 90° around the rotation axis of the drum, in particular in the conveying direction, relative to the uppermost region. The transfer section is preferably used as a pre-acceleration section. The transfer section preferably extends in an arcuate shape, in particular complementary to the arcuate shape of the drum shell.Particularly preferably, the pre-acceleration section has at least one pre-acceleration channel, along which the separated bulk material can be accelerated under the influence of its weight and while maintaining its separation in the direction of the transfer station, in particular the slide track. The pre-acceleration channel preferably has at least one base, which is formed in particular by the drum shell, and at least two side walls, which are preferably formed by curved ribs that run, in particular above, the drum shell along its contour. The pre-acceleration channel and the slide track channel preferably merge into one another. Particularly preferably, the pre-acceleration channel and the slide track channel form an S-shaped channel profile. The previously described alignment station is preferably arranged in the region of the apex of the S-shaped channel.“In the region” is preferably understood to mean a region, viewed in the conveying direction, of + / - 300 mm, 250 mm, 200 mm, 150 mm, 100 mm, 80 mm, 50 mm, 30 mm, 20 mm, 10 mm or 5 mm from the apex. Preferably, the previously described movable alignment means of the transfer station, in particular the previously described tilt barrier, is arranged in the S-shaped channel. Particularly preferably, the tilt barrier is arranged centrally in the channel, in particular with respect to the axial direction of the drum, and can be tilted against both of the side walls, in particular ribs, delimiting the respective acceleration channel. Preferably, the acceleration channel tapers from the transition from the pre-acceleration section to the acceleration section, in particular to an axial extent that preferably essentially corresponds to the greatest radial extent of the bulk material to be separated.Particularly preferably, the alignment channel widens again before the outlet section, in particular to avoid jamming in this area. In the outlet section, the alignment channel preferably tapers again, in particular to an axial extent that preferably substantially corresponds to the greatest radial extent of the bulk material to be separated. By substantially, it is to be understood in particular that the axial extent of the channels is at most 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, or 10% greater than the greatest radial extent of the bulk material pieces. Preferably, the transfer station has a loading device that receives the separated bulk material piece from the chute and is designed to transfer it to the further processing station, in particular in the form of a workpiece carrier that is movably guided past the sorting system.Preferably, the loading device has at least one loading channel, which preferably adjoins at least one of the previously described slide channels, in particular adjoins it in such a way that the separated bulk material parts enter the loading channel, in particular slide, in particular enter the loading channel by acceleration in the region of the acceleration section, and are preferably braked by the outlet section adjoining the acceleration section in such a way that they come to a standstill in the region of the loading channel.

[0045] The loading device preferably has a slide which is designed to push the separated piece of bulk material into a receptacle of a further processing station, in particular one which is adapted to said piece. For this purpose, the slide preferably has a drop flap above the loading channel which is designed to allow a piece of bulk material coming from the slide to pass through and to entrain said piece of bulk material during a subsequent movement of the slide in the direction of the processing station, in particular to push it in the direction of the processing station. For this purpose, the drop flap is preferably pivotally attached to the slide, in particular attached to it above the slide, in particular pivotally attached in such a way that the rocker arm projects into the loading channel, in particular due to the force of gravity, and is pivoted out of the loading channel by a piece of bulk material coming from the slide, in particular against the direction of gravity.Preferably, the rocker arm is designed such that, after passing through the bulk material part, it returns to the loading channel, in particular is driven back into the channel by the force of gravity. Preferably, the rocker arm further comprises a contact edge configured relative to the rotational axis of the rocker arm such that, when the slider moves toward the loading device, the rocker arm is not pivoted out of the loading channel, but rather transmits the relative movement of the slider to the bulk material part, in particular pushing the bulk material part into the receptacle of the processing station.

[0046] Preferably, the slider is movable relative to the workpiece carrier and / or, preferably, relative to the loading channel, particularly horizontally. Particularly preferably, the slider is movably mounted via two bolts. In particular, the slider is driven by an actuator, particularly a linear motor. Preferably, the slider is arranged above the at least one loading channel described above.

[0047] The separating station is preferably designed to simultaneously feed at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve, separated bulk material pieces to the transfer station. For this purpose, the separating station is preferably designed as described above.

[0048] The sorting system preferably has at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve, slides, in particular one slide per bulk material simultaneously separated by the separation station, via which the separated bulk material pieces can be simultaneously transferred to a further processing station under the influence of their weight and while maintaining their separation. Preferably, each of the slides is designed as described above and particularly preferably has a slide channel and preferably a pre-acceleration section, in particular as described above. Preferably, each of the slides is assigned a movable alignment means upstream in the conveying direction, in particular as described above.Particularly preferably, a movable alignment means, in particular a tilt barrier, in particular as described above, is formed in each of the previously described S-shaped slides formed between the slide and the pre-acceleration section. Preferably, the individual slides converge toward each other in the direction of the further processing station in order to bring the separated bulk material pieces closer together while maintaining their separation. As described above, the bulk material pieces are aligned in the region of the separation station, in particular along its axis of symmetry, preferably parallel to the rotational axis of the drum, and are then rotated by 90° in the alignment station.For bulk material parts that are to be separated and aligned, which have a greater extension along their symmetry axis than orthogonal to it, the aforementioned rotation allows the separated bulk material parts to be arranged next to each other in a smaller space. The converging slides utilize this circumstance to arrange the separated bulk material parts in the smallest possible space and transfer them to the smallest possible further processing station, especially the workpiece carrier.

[0049] The transfer station preferably has a loading device that receives the separated bulk material pieces from the slides and is designed to simultaneously transfer them to the further processing station, in particular in the form of a workpiece carrier that is movably guided past the sorting system. For this purpose, the loading device preferably has a slider designed as described above. Particularly preferably, the slider has a tilt barrier for each of the slides, via which each separated bulk material piece can be pushed into the workpiece carrier via its own loading channel.

[0050] The invention further relates to a plant for manufacturing ammunition, which comprises a casing, a firing element, and a projectile. The plant can also be referred to as an ammunition manufacturing plant. The plant comprises at least one sorting plant according to one or both of the previously described aspects of the invention relating to the sorting plant, and / or at least one separating device according to one or both of the previously described aspects of the invention relating to the sorting plant. The sorting plant is designed to separate at least one ammunition part, in particular the casing and / or the projectile.

[0051] The system preferably comprises at least two sorting systems, each of which can be configured like the previously described at least one sorting system, in order to separate a casing or a projectile, in particular a casing, with one sorting system and another ammunition part, in particular a projectile, with the other sorting system. For this purpose, the two sorting systems are preferably each adapted to the geometry and dimensions of the ammunition parts to be separated, in particular the projectile and / or casing.

[0052] Furthermore, the system preferably has an ignition element insertion station for inserting an ignition element into the casing. Furthermore, the system preferably has a propellant charge filling station for filling the casing with propellant powder. In addition, the system preferably has a projectile assembly station for placing the projectile onto the casing. Furthermore, the system preferably has a circulating conveyor system for transporting or removing a plurality of the ammunition parts, in particular a plurality of casings and / or projectiles, to, from, or between a plurality of production stations. The circulating conveyor system preferably has at least one, preferably a plurality of, workpiece carriers, which are guided past the at least one sorting system in such a way that they are loaded, in particular supplied, with the separated ammunition parts via the transfer station thereof.The system can have multiple manufacturing or processing stations at which the various assembly or manufacturing steps are performed. For example, the multiple manufacturing stations include an ammunition part insertion station, preferably a case insertion station and / or a projectile insertion station, for inserting at least one of the multiple ammunition parts into the system's manufacturing process, multiple quality inspection stations, at least one ammunition part processing station, for example a case forming station, a propellant charge filling station, a projectile assembly station, a projectile marking station, and / or an ejection station for removing the finished ammunition from the system's manufacturing process. The ejection station can also serve to eject rejects from the manufacturing process.The plurality of production stations can be arranged in relation to the production process in such a way that the ammunition parts can be fed to the production stations one after the other in order to carry out the successive production steps.

[0053] The system can further comprise one or more workpiece carriers, each for holding a plurality of the plurality of ammunition parts and for transporting a plurality of the plurality of ammunition parts to or from the plurality of production stations. The workpiece carrier, which can also be referred to as a conveyor system, therefore fulfils at least two functions. Firstly, the workpiece carrier can hold the ammunition parts required for the ammunition and enable the individual production stations to access the ammunition parts or enable the ammunition parts to be processed at the individual production stations. Secondly, the conveyor system is responsible for the, in particular, automated transport or conveyance of the individual ammunition parts along the production process defined by the plurality of production stations.In particular, the workpiece carrier defines a closed, circumferential conveyor track along which the individual ammunition parts are conveyed, at least in sections, depending on their influence on the production process. This conveyor track defines an interior space enclosed by the conveyor track and a separate exterior space. The conveyor track can have an endless racetrack-like structure or shape. In particular, the system comprises a plurality of workpiece carriers, such as slides, distributed along the conveyor track and of particular identical design. The plurality of workpiece carriers can be individually controlled and moved along the conveyor track so that individual production stations can be approached with an individual movement profile for each workpiece carrier. This makes the production process considerably more flexible than if the workpiece carriers were fixed to one another along the conveyor track.

[0054] At least one, in particular several, of the multiple production stations can be arranged in the interior and / or the exterior and act from the inside and / or outside on the workpiece carrier, in particular the ammunition parts conveyed or transported along the conveying direction. The lateral or horizontal plane of action of the production stations on the workpiece carriers or on the ammunition parts conveyed thereby enables a space-saving, tidy design of the system. With such lateral access to the conveyor system, the high demands on production capacity can be better satisfied, because the lateral arrangement with lateral access of the production stations to the workpiece carriers allows the individual production stations to be designed completely independently of the workpiece carriers and to be freely and flexibly positioned, repositioned and swapped with respect to the conveyor system.

[0055] Furthermore, the multiple workpiece carriers can be moved independently of one another from, to, and / or between the multiple production stations. In particular, the system comprises several workpiece carriers, such as carriages, distributed along a conveyor track, particularly identically designed ones. The multiple workpiece carriers can be individually controlled and moved along the conveyor track, allowing individual production stations to be approached with a unique movement profile for each conveyor system. This makes the production process considerably more flexible than if the workpiece carriers were fixed to one another along the conveyor track.

[0056] Furthermore, the system can have at least two propellant filling stations arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. The propellant filling stations are generally designed to fill ammunition parts, in particular the casing, with propellant powder. The propellant filling station can be designed based on gravimetry or operate on the basis of volumetric dosing. Gravimetric dosing can achieve advantages with regard to the accuracy of the dosed quantity. Volumetric dosing can achieve significant advantages with regard to processing speed, which has a positive effect on the cycle rate, particularly when the propellant filling station is integrated into a system for the automated production of ammunition. The device is used in particular for the simultaneous filling of at least two ammunition casings with propellant powder.This means that the filling of the at least two ammunition cases is carried out in a single filling process, in particular without a change of direction of more than 90°. "Simultaneous" does not necessarily mean that the at least two ammunition cases are filled at exactly the same time, but rather that there is a certain time lag between the filling, in particular the complete filling, of the ammunition cases arranged along the path. The device can be designed to fill the at least two ammunition cases each with a defined, in particular essentially identical, quantity, taking into account the inaccuracies inherent in the process.The propellant powder can, for example, be a propellant powder for small caliber ammunition, in particular with a caliber in the range of 4.5 mm to 13 mm, which typically has mono- or dibasic spherical, tubular, rod-shaped or flake-shaped forms and / or is powder-like. Alternatively, extruded propellant powders can also be used. If the propellant powder is spherical, it can, for example, be rolled and have a sphere diameter of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm. In the case of rod-shaped propellant powder, for example for 5.56 mm caliber ammunition, the rods can have a length of up to 1.1 mm and / or a diameter of up to 0.7 mm. The density of the propellant powder used can, for example, be in the range of 0.5 to 1 g / cm3 for nitrocellulose (NC).For such a propellant powder, the bulk density is in the range of 0.6 to 1 g / cm3, for cartridges, for subsonic or blank cartridges up to 0.4 g / cm3.

[0057] Furthermore, one of the multiple production stations can be an ignition element insertion station, which brings an ignition element into the production process of the system and inserts each ignition element into a sleeve. The ignition element insertion station can be designed to insert several, in particular at least two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve, ignition elements simultaneously, in particular in one insertion process, into a corresponding number of sleeves.

[0058] Furthermore, one of the multiple manufacturing stations can be a fluid application station, where a sealing compound is applied in an annular joint between the casing and the ignition element accommodated therein and / or between the casing and the projectile inserted therein, and the annular joint is sealed and / or marked. It has been found that integrating the application of the sealing compound into the automated manufacturing process offers significant advantages in terms of production capacity as well as manufacturing accuracy. Because the system ensures that the individual components are aligned with one another, the fluid application station can benefit from this predetermined alignment of the individual components and apply the sealing compound very precisely.

[0059] Furthermore, one of the multiple production stations can be a quality monitoring station, where the casing and the projectile are monitored individually before assembly. Monitoring can be understood as quality control with regard to predetermined parameters.

[0060] Furthermore, the workpiece carriers and the production stations can be coordinated in cycles, with at least two, at least five, at least ten, or at least twelve ammunition parts being processed into ammunition at the production stations per cycle. Production capacity is achieved, among other things, by the parallel processing of a large number of ammunition parts per cycle.

[0061] Furthermore, the conveyor track can have a rail oriented towards the interior and / or exterior, which runs along the conveyor track and fixes a coupling interface of the conveyor device in a ready position.

[0062] Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a separating device according to one or both of the aspects of the invention relating to this, and / or a sorting system according to one or both of the aspects of the invention relating to this, for the individual feeding of ammunition parts, in particular to a workpiece carrier

[0063] Figure 1a is a perspective view of a sorting system according to the invention with a singling station;

[0064] Figure ib is a side view of the sorting system of Figure la;

[0065] Figure ic is a front view of the sorting system of Figure la;

[0066] Figure id is a bird's-eye view of the sorting system shown in Figure la;

[0067] Figure 1e is an enlarged view of the alignment means from Figure 1a; Figure 2a is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a sorting system according to the invention with a singling station;

[0068] Figure 2b is a side view of the sorting system from Figure 2a;

[0069] Figure 2c is a front view of the sorting system from Figure 2a;

[0070] Figure 2d is a bird’s eye view of the sorting system from Figure 2a;

[0071] Figure 2e is an enlarged view of alignment means from Figure 2a;

[0072] Figure 3a is a perspective view of the drum of Figures 1a to 2e;

[0073] Figure 3b is an enlarged view of a portion of the drum of Figure 3a;

[0074] Figure 3c is an enlarged view of another section of the drum of Figure

[0075] 3a;

[0076] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sorting system from Figure 1a with loading station and workpiece carrier;

[0077] Figure 5a is an exemplary, schematic representation of the interior of the loading station from Fig. 4 with a drop flap and an ammunition part in front of the drop flap;

[0078] Figure 5b is an exemplary schematic representation of the interior of the loading station from Fig. 4 with a drop flap and an ammunition part at the level of the drop flap;

[0079] Figure 5c is an exemplary schematic representation of the interior of the loading station from Fig. 4 with a drop flap and an ammunition part behind the drop flap;

[0080] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary design of an ammunition production plant;

[0081] Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative exemplary embodiment of an ammunition production plant; Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram in greater detail of another exemplary embodiment of an ammunition production plant;

[0082] In the present description of exemplary embodiments of the present inventions, a plant for manufacturing ammunition, also called an ammunition manufacturing plant or reloading plant, is generally designated by reference numeral 1. A workpiece carrier for holding and transporting the multiple ammunition parts to and from and / or between multiple production stations is generally designated by reference numeral 100. The finished ammunition is designated by reference numeral 101.

[0083] According to the exemplary embodiments of the loading system i in Figures 6-8, the loading system i comprises the following production stations: a sorting system in the form of a sleeve insertion station 11, with which bulk material in the form of a sleeve 3 is separated and aligned and then transferred to the workpiece carrier 100; and a sorting system in the form of a projectile insertion station 13, with which bulk material in the form of a projectile 5 is separated and aligned and then transferred to the workpiece carrier 100.Furthermore, the loading system 1, as shown, can comprise the following additional production stations: a propellant charge filling station 15, which is configured to fill cases 3 with propellant powder 9; a case mouth expansion station 46; an ignition element feed station 49 for feeding ignition elements 7; an ignition element insertion station 47 for inserting one of the ignition elements 7 into the cases; an ignition element caulking station 48; a case mouth sealing station 57; several quality monitoring stations 59 and quality inspection stations 69 for optically and / or tactilely ensuring the quality of the ammunition 101; and an ejection station 25 for the final ejection of the finished ammunition 101.

[0084] The workpiece carrier 100 is part of a conveyor system that conveys the workpiece carrier between the multiple production stations 11, 13, 15, 59, 59, 25 along a closed, circumferential conveyor track 29 that defines an interior space 33 enclosed by the conveyor track 29 and an exterior space 31 separated therefrom. According to the exemplary embodiment in Figures 6-8, the conveyor track 29 is constructed from two parallel linear sections 27 that are connected by curved sections 43 to form a racetrack-shaped conveyor track. The production stations are arranged laterally to the conveying direction E in the interior space 33 (Figure 6) or in the exterior space 31 (Figure 7) of the conveyor track 29. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, schematic diagrams of exemplary embodiments of a system 1 are shown. Figure 6 shows a system arrangement in which the ammunition components are introduced into the workpiece carrier 100 from the outside.Figure 7 shows the reverse approach, in which the ammunition components are brought from the interior 33 into the workpiece carrier 100. The basic production sequence is the same for both system arrangements according to Figures 6 and 7. Both system principles have the following production sequence: A workpiece carrier 100 located in a buffer zone 45 is fed to the case insertion station 11 via a curved section 43. This is followed by the projectile insertion station 13, in which the projectiles 5 are fed to the workpiece carrier 100. The entire workpiece carrier 100, with the projectiles 5 and cases 3 located thereon, is then subjected to a visual inspection in a quality monitoring station 59.At the subsequent stations, an ignition element 7 is first introduced into the system 1 via an ignition element feed station 49, then transferred to an ignition element insertion station 47 using a slide 51, before finally being inserted into the rear of the case 3. After insertion, the fired cases 3 are calibrated at a case forming station 17 and then sealed with annular joint varnish at a fluid application station 53. The workpiece carriers 100 are then guided over a second curved section 43, after which a linear section 27 follows with several production stations. Before the cases 3 are filled with propellant powder 9 at the propellant charge filling station 15, a quality monitoring station 59 checks whether the ignition elements 7 have been properly accommodated in the cases 3. After filling, the fill level is checked, in particular tactilely, at a quality inspection station 69.The actual assembly of projectile 5 and case 3 takes place in two stages. First, projectile 5 is lightly brought onto case 3 at the projectile insertion station 19, and finally, in the subsequent step, is pressed into case 3 at the projectile assembly station 21. The resulting finalized ammunition 101 is subsequently inspected at a quality monitoring station 59 and / or a quality inspection station 69 and then discharged via an ejection station 25.

[0085] Figure 8 shows a detailed illustration of system 1. To increase production capacity or production reliability, system 1 can have at least two propellant charge filling stations 15 arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. This special arrangement allows two workpiece carriers 100 to be alternately filled with propellant powder 9. This gives the propellant powder more time per cycle to trickle into the case 3, leading to increased dosing accuracy. Labor-intensive stations can generally be implemented in duplicate in system 1 so that the workload of one station is halved accordingly. An example of a labor-intensive step is the feeding and insertion of ignition elements 7 into the rear of the case 3.Figure 8 shows an exemplary further development of system 1, in which two ignition element feed stations 49 for loading the ignition element insertion station 47 with ignition elements 7 are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction. In Figure 8, the ignition element insertion station 47 is arranged between the ignition element feed stations 49 in the conveying direction E. This has the advantage that production capacity can be significantly increased, since processes can be carried out in parallel.

[0086] The sorting systems according to the invention and the singling devices according to the invention are schematically indicated in Figures 6 to 8. Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment of a sorting system 201 according to the invention with a singling device 203 according to the invention. The singling device 203 has an endless conveyor 205 in the form of a drum, as shown in Figures 3a to 3c. The conveying direction of the singulated bulk material parts is indicated by the arrow F in Figure 4. A bulk material source 207 is arranged upstream of the endless conveyor 205. An alignment station 209 is arranged downstream of the endless conveyor 205. A transfer station 211 is arranged downstream of the alignment station 209, via which the singulated bulk material part is transferred to a loading device 213. The singulated bulk material part is transferred to the workpiece carrier 100 via the loading device 213.

[0087] As can be seen in particular from Figure 1a, the endless conveyor 205 is arranged relative to the bulk material source 207 in such a way that bulk material falls, under the influence of its weight G, into conveyor shells 215 which are conveyed past the bulk material source and are arranged in particular in series. For this purpose, the endless conveyor 205 has a drum 205, around whose axis of rotation 217 the conveyor shells 215 are arranged in series. The direction parallel to the axis of rotation 217 is referred to below as the axial direction A. In the axial direction A, several rows of conveyor shells 215 are arranged next to one another, in particular arranged in alignment next to one another, so that in addition to the rows of conveyor shells arranged in the circumferential direction U around the axis of rotation 217, rows of conveyor shells extending in the axial direction A are formed.As can be seen in particular from Figure 3a, the conveyor bowls 215 are formed by recesses in the drum 205, which, starting from a drum shell 219, extend inward in the radial direction R (relative to the rotation axis 217). In the illustrated embodiment, the endless conveyor 205 has twelve rows of conveyor bowls 215 extending around the rotation axis 217, which are arranged next to one another in the axial direction A. As can be seen in particular from Figure 3b, the distance between the conveyor bowls 215 in the circumferential direction U (relative to the rotation axis 217) and in the axial direction A is smaller than the extension 221 of the conveyor bowls 215 in the axial direction. The axial extension 221 of the conveyor bowls 215 is adapted to the axial extension of the bulk material to be separated, in particular along its axis of symmetry, in particular its axis of rotational symmetry.In particular, the axial extension 221 of the conveyor bowls 215 is slightly larger than the axial extension of the bulk material parts to be separated, so that under the influence of their weight force, they are driven into a lying position (axis of symmetry parallel to the vertical) and into a parallel alignment to the axis of rotation 217 of the drum 205.

[0088] Figures 3b and 3c show close-ups of the conveyor bowls 215 in different circumferential positions 223^223". Figure 3b shows a conveyor bowl 215 in the position 223' marked in Figure 3a, while Figure 3c shows a conveyor bowl in the circumferential position 223" downstream of the conveying direction shown in Figure 3a. As can be seen from the comparison of Figures 3b and 3c, the receiving space 225 for the bulk material decreases during conveying from the circumferential position 223' to the circumferential position 223". Figure 3b shows the conveyor bowl 215 in a bulk material receiving state in which a large number of, in particular identical, bulk material parts fit into the receiving space 225. Figure 3c shows the conveyor bowl 215 in a singling state in which only a singulated bulk material fits into the receiving space 225.The receiving space 225 in the singulated state is adapted to the shape of the bulk material parts in such a way that the singulated bulk material parts are forced into a predefined initial orientation. For this purpose, the receiving space 225 in the singulated state has the shape of a cylindrical section. In the illustrated embodiment, this is delimited by a shell wall 227 having a flat surface 229, opposite which a recess 231 is recessed in the radial direction R to the rotation axis of the drum 205. The recess 231 (recess 231) is formed by a cylindrical shell section which, starting from the flat surface (flat section) 229, extends inward in the radial direction R, in particular in the shape of a cylindrical section. As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 3b and 3c, the receiving space 225 decreases in size in such a way that any bulk material located in the receiving space 225 beyond a singulated bulk material part is pushed out of it.For this purpose, the conveyor bowls 215 each have a movable bowl wall 227 to reduce the size of the respective receiving space 225. The movable bowl wall 227 has the previously described flat section 229 and the recess 231. The bowl walls 227 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 233, which is shown schematically in Figures 3b and 3c. As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 3b and 3c, the respective bowl wall 227 pivots outwards in the radial direction R from the bulk material receiving state to the separation state, relative to the rotation axis 217. Furthermore, the conveyor bowls 215 each have a concavely shaped bowl base 235, relative to which the respective bowl wall 227 is movable, in particular pivotable. In particular, due to the pivotable shell wall 227, the receiving space 225 decreases in size when conveying from the bulk material receiving state to the separation state.

[0089] The bulk material source 207 has a bulk material supply 237 open towards the endless conveyor 205 and a conveying means 239, in particular a conveyor belt 239, which moves the bulk material in the bulk material source 207 relative to the endless conveyor 205. The bulk material supply 237 delimits a bulk material supply chamber 241 open towards the endless conveyor 205. The bulk material supply chamber 241 tapers in the direction of gravity G. The bulk material supply chamber 241 is delimited on opposite sides by a chute 243 of the bulk material supply on the one hand and by the drum 205 of the endless conveyor 205 on the other. In the axial direction A, the bulk material supply 237 is preferably delimited by end walls 245 of the bulk material supply 237. As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, the bulk material storage space 241 or the bulk material storage 237 tapers in the direction of gravity G in a wedge shape, in particular in a V shape.

[0090] The conveyor belt 239 is connected to an upper section, in particular the end, of the chute 243, so that bulk material conveyed along the conveyor belt 239 can reach the bulk material storage space 241 via the chute 243. The conveyor belt 239 is surrounded by a frame 247 that is open towards the chute 243. The frame 247 has a ramp 249 extending transversely across the conveyor belt 239, so that the width 251 (orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt 239) of the conveyor belt 239, on which bulk material can be located, decreases in the conveying direction F of the conveyor belt 239. The illustrated arrangement of the endless conveyor 205 relative to the bulk material source 207 ensures that bulk material falls under the influence of its weight into conveyor bowls 215 of the endless conveyor 205 conveyed past the bulk material source 207.In particular, the design of the conveyor shells 215 as recesses in the drum shell 219 in the radial direction R inward ensures that, as the conveyor shells 215 are conveyed past the bulk material source 207, the bulk material falls into the conveyor shells 215 conveyed past the bulk material source under the influence of its weight. The subsequent reduction in the size of the receiving space 225 of the conveyor shells 215 ensures the separation of the bulk material.

[0091] The alignment station 209 from Figure 4 is shown from the other side in Figure 1e. An alternative embodiment of the alignment station 209 is shown in Figure 2e. Both alignment stations 209 are designed for the identical alignment of each separated bulk material part. For this purpose, both separation stations 203 transfer a separated bulk material part from an initial orientation to a target orientation. The initial orientation in this case corresponds to the orientation of the axis of symmetry of a bulk material part parallel to the rotation axis 217 of the drum 205. The initial orientation is defined in particular by the cylindrical segment-shaped recess 231 in the movable shell wall 227, the cylinder axis 253 of which is formed parallel to the rotation axis 217 of the drum 205.In particular, rotationally symmetrical bulk material parts are brought into this initial orientation by the previously described design, dimensioning and reduction of the conveyor bowls 215, in particular the receiving space 225.

[0092] The transfer of bulk material parts from the initial orientation, in which in particular the axis of symmetry of the bulk material parts is parallel to the rotation axis 217 of the drum 205, to the target orientation is achieved by rotating the axis of symmetry by 90°. In particular, the rotation by 90° occurs around an axis corresponding to a radial direction to the rotation axis 217 of the drum 205, so that the axis of symmetry of the bulk material part in the target orientation is aligned towards the transfer station 211, in particular parallel to a tangent of the drum shell 219. In the two embodiments shown in Figures 1e and 2e, the alignment is achieved by a movable alignment means 255. In both embodiments, a separate alignment means 255 is provided for each of the rows of conveyor shells 215 arranged around the rotation axis 217, so that the bulk material parts in the individual rows of conveyor shells can be aligned independently of one another.

[0093] In the embodiment according to Figure 1e, the movable alignment means 255 is a tilting barrier 255 that can be set into two positions and, depending on the position, causes the bulk material part to tilt from its initial orientation in different directions. For this purpose, the tilting barrier 255 can be pivoted about a pivot axis 257. Preferably, the tilting barrier 255 is tilted back and forth between the two positions via a drive 259. In the position shown, the tilting barrier 255 delimits an alignment channel 285 (cf. Figure 1c), which tapers towards the transfer station 211 in such a way that bulk material parts with a longitudinal axis are forced, in particular under the influence of their weight, into the target orientation in which the longitudinal axis is aligned towards the transfer station 211. In the view of Figure 1c, the tilting barrier 255 is tilted to the left for this purpose. As a result, the alignment channel 285 tapers in the conveying direction F from left to right.This allows, for example, a bulk material part in the form of a sleeve, whose axis of symmetry in the initial orientation runs parallel to the rotation axis 217 of the drum 205 and whose sleeve base is oriented to the right, to be tilted such that the sleeve tilts into the alignment channel 285 with the sleeve base first. In cases where the sleeve base is oriented to the left in the initial orientation, the tilt barrier 255 can be pivoted to the right so that the alignment channel 285 tapers such that the sleeve also tilts into the tapered alignment channel 285 with the sleeve base first. This allows an identical target orientation to be achieved for each bulk material part.In particular, due to the possibility of individually controlling the movable alignment means 255 arranged next to one another in the axial direction A, bulk material parts that are differently aligned in the initial orientation can be transferred to the same target orientation simultaneously and independently of one another.

[0094] In Figure 1e, the singulation station transfers the singulated bulk material to the transfer station in a pre-acceleration section 256, which extends between a vertically uppermost region of the drum shell 219 and a region offset from the uppermost region by 90° around the rotational axis of the drum 205 in the conveying direction F. The pre-acceleration section 256 has a base formed by the drum shell 219 and two side walls 254 formed by arcuate ribs 254 that run above the drum shell 219 along its contour. The pre-acceleration section 256 and the slide channel 287 form an S-shaped channel, at the apex of which the alignment channel 285 is arranged.

[0095] Figure 2e shows an alternative embodiment in which the movable alignment means 255 is designed as a gripper. The gripper 255 is designed to grip each separated bulk material part, transfer it from an initial orientation to a target orientation, and then release it again, in particular to the transfer station 211. Similar to what was previously described for the tilt barrier 255, the gripper 255 can be designed, depending on the initial orientation (e.g., sleeve base on the left or right), to rotate the sleeves by 90° in different directions, for example, anticlockwise or clockwise, in order to transfer them to the target orientation.

[0096] Due to the previously described design of the singulation station 203, several singulated bulk material parts, which have been transferred into an initial orientation, can be fed simultaneously to the alignment station 209. By using one alignment means 255 for each singulated bulk material part that can be fed simultaneously to the alignment station, simultaneous alignment of each bulk material part into the target orientation can be ensured.

[0097] In order to ensure identical alignment of each individual bulk material part, even with different initial alignments of the simultaneously fed bulk material parts, the sorting system further comprises an alignment detection device 261 designed to individually detect the initial alignment of each separated bulk material part. For this purpose, the alignment detection device 261 can have a plurality of cameras 263. The cameras 263 can be aligned with the conveyor trays 215, which in the conveying direction F follow those conveyor trays 215 whose separated bulk material parts are currently being aligned by the alignment station 209. For this purpose, the alignment detection device 261, in particular its cameras 263, can be arranged above the alignment station 209, in particular in the direction of gravity. In particular, the cameras 263 can be attached to a support structure 265. The support structure 265 can be a frame structure.In particular, the holding structure 265 can have a U-shaped structure, the legs of which are attached to the sorting system 201, in particular to the singulation device 203. The sorting system can further have a controller designed to control the alignment station 209 differently for different initial alignments, which are detected by the alignment detection device 261. Following the alignment station 209, the singulated and aligned bulk material parts are transferred to the transfer station 211. The transfer station 211 has a slide 267, via which the singulated bulk material can be transferred to a further processing station (in Figure 4 in the form of the workpiece carrier 100 shown) under the influence of its weight force G and while maintaining its singulation.The slide 267 has an acceleration section 269 inclined in the direction of gravity G, in which the bulk material is accelerated under the influence of its weight G. Furthermore, the slide 267 has an outlet section 271 that is less inclined in the direction of gravity G than the acceleration section 269 and, in particular, is oriented substantially horizontally, in which the bulk material is decelerated. The outlet section 271 adjoins the loading device 213 in the conveying direction F.

[0098] The transfer station 211 here has twelve slides 267, which adjoin one another in the axial direction A (relative to the rotation axis 217) and converge toward the loading device 213 in order to bring the separated bulk material pieces closer together while maintaining their separation. Each of the slides 267 has a slide channel 287 (Fig. 1c) adapted to the dimensions of the bulk material such that the separated bulk material piece passes the slide 267 in a predetermined orientation, in particular the target orientation. For this purpose, the extension 289 of the slide channels 287 in the axial direction A is smaller than the extension of the bulk material pieces to be sorted along their axis of symmetry, thus preventing a tilt of the axis of symmetry in the slide channel 287 by more than 90°.In particular, the slide channel 287 is delimited in the axial direction A by side walls 291 which protrude from a slide floor 293. As can be seen in particular from Figure 1c, the slide channel 287 adjoins the alignment channel 285 in the conveying direction F. From the beginning of the slide 267, seen in the conveying direction F, the slide channel 287 initially tapers in the conveying direction and then remains constant in terms of its width over a certain area in the acceleration section 269. In the transition area to the outlet section 271, the slide channel 287 widens again. Once it has passed into the outlet section 271, the slide channel 287 tapers again in the conveying direction F. At the end of the slide 267, in particular of the outlet section 271, which is downstream of the conveying direction, the bulk material is transferred to the loading device 213. The loading device 213 has a slide 273 and loading channels 275 extending below the slide 273.The slide 273 is designed to be movable relative to the loading channels 275. In particular, the slide 273 is mounted for axial displacement via two bolts 277. The loading device also has a drive 280, via which the slide 273 is displaceable. By displacing the slide 273 in the conveying direction F, the separated and aligned bulk material parts are pushed into the workpiece carrier 100. An exemplary embodiment of the internal workings of the loading device 213 is shown in Figures 5a to 5c. Therein, a bulk material part passing through the loading device 213 is schematically shown in the form of a sleeve 3. The loading channel floor 281 is indicated by the reference numeral 281. A drop flap 279 is pivotally attached to the slide 273 via a pivot axis 283.As can be seen from a comparison of Figures 5a to 5c, with such an embodiment, the drop flap is initially pivoted out of the loading channel by the approaching bulk material part 3 against the direction of gravity G, so that the sleeve 3 can pass through the loading channel 275 (Figure 5b). After passing (Figure 5c), the drop flap 279 falls back into the loading channel 275 due to the force of gravity. The drop flap 279 has a contact edge 295, over which the bulk material part 3 is subsequently pushed into the workpiece carrier 100 by displacing the slide 273 in the conveying direction F. Preferably, such a drop flap 279 is provided for each slide channel 287 or for each adjoining loading channel 275, so that all of the separated bulk material parts 3 can be pushed into the workpiece carrier 100 simultaneously.

[0099] The features disclosed in the above description, the figures and the claims may be important both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in various embodiments.

[0100] List of reference symbols:

[0101] 1 laboratory facility, facility

[0102] 3 Bulk material part, sleeve

[0103] 5 Projectile

[0104] 7 Ignition element

[0105] 11 Sleeve insertion station

[0106] 13 Projectile insertion station

[0107] 15 propellant filling station

[0108] 17 Sleeve forming station

[0109] 19 Projectile insertion station

[0110] 21 Projectile assembly station

[0111] 25 discharge station

[0112] 27 Linear section

[0113] 29 Conveyor track

[0114] 33 Interior

[0115] 43 curve section

[0116] 45 Buffer zone

[0117] 46 Case mud expansion station

[0118] 47 Ignition element insertion station

[0119] 48 Ignition element caulking station

[0120] 49 Ignition element feed station

[0121] 51 sliders

[0122] 53 Fluid application station

[0123] 57 Case mouth sealing station

[0124] 59 Quality Monitoring Station

[0125] 69 Quality inspection station

[0126] 100 workpiece carriers

[0127] 101 ammunition

[0128] 201 sorting system

[0129] 203 Separation device, separation station

[0130] 205 Endless conveyor, drum

[0131] 207 Bulk material source

[0132] 209 Alignment station

[0133] 211 Transfer station

[0134] 213 Charging device

[0135] 215 conveyor bowl

[0136] 217 Rotation axis

[0137] 219 Drum shell

[0138] 221 Axial extension

[0139] 223', 223" circumferential position

[0140] 225 recording room

[0141] 227 shell wall

[0142] 229 flat surface

[0143] 231 Return

[0144] 233 Swivel axis

[0145] 235 Tray bottom bulk material storage[s]

[0146] conveyor belt

[0147] Bulk material storage room

[0148] slide

[0149] front wall

[0150] Frame

[0151] ramp

[0152] Width

[0153] Alignment device, tilt barrier, gripper

[0154] Pre-acceleration section

[0155] Swivel axis

[0156] drive

[0157] Alignment detection device

[0158] camera

[0159] Support structure

[0160] slide

[0161] Acceleration section

[0162] Run-off section

[0163] slider

[0164] Charging channel

[0165] bolt

[0166] drop flap

[0167] drive

[0168] Loading channel floor

[0169] Swivel axis

[0170] Alignment channel

[0171] Slide channel

[0172] Axial extension

[0173] side walls

[0174] Slide floor

[0175] contact edge

Claims

Claims:

1. Device for separating bulk material, such as ammunition parts, for example casings and / or projectiles (5), comprising: - an endless conveyor (205) arranged relative to a bulk material source (207) in such a way that bulk material falls under the influence of its weight into conveyor trays (215) of the endless conveyor (205) which are conveyed past the bulk material source (207), in particular arranged in series; characterized in that the conveyor trays (215) have a receiving space (225) for the bulk material which decreases in size during conveying.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving space (225) decreases in size during conveying from a bulk material receiving state, in which a plurality of, in particular identical, bulk material parts fit into the receiving space (225), to a singling state, in which only one singulated bulk material part (3) fits into the receiving space (225).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the receiving space (225), in particular in the singling state, is adapted to the shape of the bulk material in such a way that the bulk material is forced into a predefined initial orientation.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving space (225) is reduced in size in such a way that bulk material located in the receiving space (225) beyond an isolated bulk material part (3) falls out of the receiving space (225), in particular is pushed out of it.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor bowls (215) each have a movable bowl wall (227) for reducing the size of the respective receiving space (225). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the conveyor trays (215) each have a, in particular concavely shaped, tray bottom (235), relative to which the respective tray wall is movable. Device, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, for separating bulk material, such as ammunition parts, for example casings and / or projectiles (5), comprising: - an endless conveyor (205) arranged relative to a bulk material source (207) such that bulk material falls under the influence of its weight into conveyor trays (215) of the endless conveyor (205) conveyed past the bulk material source (207), characterized in that the endless conveyor (205) has a drum (205) around whose rotational axis (217) the conveyor trays (215) are arranged in series. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the conveyor trays (215) are formed by recesses in the drum (205), which preferably extend radially, in particular exclusively, inwardly from a drum shell (219).Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the endless conveyor (205) has at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve, rows of conveyor bowls (215), each arranged around the rotational axis (217) of the drum (205). Device according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the conveyor bowls (215) are spaced from one another in the circumferential direction and / or in the axial direction by less than the greatest extent of the bulk material to be separated, in particular wherein the rows of conveyor bowls (215) according to claim 9 are spaced from one another in the axial direction by at most 50%, particularly preferably by at most 30% or 15%, of the greatest extent of the bulk material to be separated.Device according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the receiving space (225) is adapted to the shape of an axially symmetrical bulk material in such a way that the axis of symmetry of the bulk material is driven by its weight into a parallel alignment to the axis of rotation (217) of the drum (205). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by - a bulk material source (207) with a bulk material supply open towards the endless conveyor (205) and preferably a conveying means, in particular a conveyor belt (239), moving the bulk material in the bulk material source (207) relative to the endless conveyor (205) - sorting system (201) for the individual supply of aligned bulk material parts, in particular ammunition parts with at most one axial symmetry, comprising: - a separating station (203, 205) for separating bulk material, in particular a device according to one of claims 1 to 12; - an alignment station (209) for identically aligning each separated bulk material part (3); and - a transfer station (211), via which the separated and aligned bulk material part can be transferred to a further processing station. Sorting system (201) according to claim 13, wherein the alignment station (209) is designed to transfer the separated bulk material part (3) from an initial orientation in the singling station (203, 205) to a target orientation. Sorting system (201) according to claim 14, wherein the alignment station (209) is designed to transfer bulk material parts with an axis of symmetry, in particular a rotational axis of symmetry, into the target orientation by rotating the axis of symmetry, in particular by 10° to 270°, preferably by 30° to 180°, particularly preferably by 60° to 120°, for example by 90°.Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the alignment station (209) has an alignment channel (285) which is tapered towards the transfer station (211) in such a way that bulk material parts with a longitudinal axis, in particular a longitudinal axis of symmetry, are forced into a target orientation, in particular under the influence of their weight, in which the longitudinal axis is aligned towards the transfer station (211). Sorting system (201) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the alignment station (209) is designed to align each separated bulk material part (3) independently of the other separated bulk material parts. Sorting system (201) according to claim 17, wherein the alignment station (209) has at least one movable alignment means (255) for alignment. - Sorting system (201) according to claim 18, wherein the at least one movable alignment means is a tilting barrier (255) that can be set into two positions and preferably causes the bulk material part to tilt from the initial orientation in different directions depending on the position, preferably wherein the tilting barrier (255) delimits the alignment channel (285) according to claim 16 such that it tapers from different sides in the two positions of the tilting barrier (255). Sorting system (201) according to claim 18, wherein the at least one movable alignment means is a gripper (255) that is designed to grip each separated bulk material part (3), transfer it from an initial orientation to a target orientation, in particular by rotation, and then release it again, in particular to transfer it to the transfer station (211).Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the singling station (203, 205) is designed to singulate bulk material with an axis of symmetry, in particular a rotational axis of symmetry, such as casings and / or projectiles (5), by transferring the axis of symmetry of each bulk material part into a predetermined initial orientation, wherein the singling station (203, 205) is preferably designed for this purpose as described in claim 11. Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 13 to 21, further comprising. - an orientation detection device (261) designed to detect an initial orientation of the separated bulk material part (3) in the separating station (203, 205), in particular designed to detect the position of the sides along a symmetry axis in the case of bulk material with mutually distinguishable sides along a symmetry axis, in particular a rotational symmetry axis. Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 13 to 22, further comprising - a control system designed to control the alignment station (209) differently for different initial orientations of the bulk material parts. - Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 13 to 23, wherein the singling station (203, 205) is designed to feed at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten or twelve, singulated bulk material pieces to the alignment station simultaneously, preferably being designed according to one of claims 7 to 11. Sorting system (201) according to claim 24, wherein the alignment station (209) is designed to align the at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten or twelve, singulated bulk material pieces simultaneously and independently of one another, wherein the alignment station (209) for this purpose preferably has at least two, in particular at least three, four, six, eight, ten or twelve, movable alignment means, which are preferably designed as described in claims 18 or 20.Sorting system (201), in particular according to one of claims 13 to 25, for the individual feeding of aligned bulk material parts, in particular ammunition parts with at most one axial symmetry, comprising:. - a separating station (203, 205) for separating bulk material, in particular a device according to one of claims 1 to 12; and - a transfer station (211) with at least one slide (267), via which the separated bulk material part (3) can be transferred to a further processing station under the influence of its weight and while maintaining its separation. Sorting system (201) according to claim 26, wherein the at least one slide (267) is adapted to the dimensions of the bulk material such that the separated bulk material part (3) passes the slide (267) in a predetermined orientation. Sorting system (201) according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the at least one slide (267) has an acceleration section (269) inclined in the direction of gravity, in which the bulk material part is accelerated under the influence of its weight, and an outlet section (271) which is less inclined in the direction of gravity than the acceleration section (269), in particular is substantially horizontally oriented, in which the bulk material part is decelerated. - Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the transfer station (211) has a loading device (213) which receives the separated bulk material part (3) from the slide (267) and is designed to transfer it to the further processing station, in particular in the form of a workpiece carrier (100) movably guided past the sorting system (201). Sorting system (201) according to claim 29, wherein the loading device (213) has a slide (273) which is designed to push the separated bulk material part (3) into receptacles of the further processing station, in particular receptacles which are adapted thereto. Sorting system (201) according to one of claims 26 to 30, wherein the singling station (203, 205) is designed to feed at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten or twelve, singulated bulk material parts to the transfer station (211) simultaneously, preferably being designed according to one of claims 8 to 12.Sorting system (201) according to claim 31, comprising at least two, preferably at least three, four, six, eight, ten, or twelve, slides (267) over which the separated bulk material parts (3) can be simultaneously transferred to a further processing station under the influence of their weight and while maintaining their separation. Sorting system (201) according to claim 32, wherein the slides (267) converge toward one another in the direction of the further processing station in order to bring the separated bulk material parts (3) closer together while maintaining their separation. Sorting system (201) according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the transfer station (211) has a loading device (213) which receives the separated bulk material parts (3) from the slides (267) and is designed to simultaneously transfer them to the further processing station, in particular in the form of a workpiece carrier (100) which is movably guided past the sorting system (201).Plant for manufacturing ammunition comprising a casing, an ignition element and a projectile (5). - at least one sorting system (201) according to one of claims 13 to 34 and / or with a device according to one of claims 1 to 12, for separating at least one ammunition part, in particular the casing and / or the projectile (5). System according to claim 35, comprising - at least two sorting systems according to one of claims 13 to 34 and / or each with a device according to one of claims 1 to 12, in order to separate a casing or a projectile (5), in particular a casing, with one sorting system (201) and another ammunition part, in particular a projectile (5), with the other sorting system. System according to claim 35 or 36, further comprising: - an ignition element insertion station (47) for inserting an ignition element into the sleeve; - a propellant filling station (15) for filling the case with propellant powder; - a projectile mounting station (19, 21) for placing the projectile (5) on the casing; and - a circulating conveyor system for transporting a plurality of the ammunition parts, in particular a plurality of casings and / or projectiles (5), to or from a plurality of production stations. System according to claim 37, wherein the circulating conveyor system comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of, workpiece carriers (100) which are conveyed past the at least one sorting system (201) in such a way that they are loaded with the separated ammunition parts via the transfer station (211). Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 12 for separating ammunition parts or of a sorting system (201) according to one of claims 13 to 34 for individually feeding ammunition parts, in particular to a workpiece carrier (100).

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